4. Tiny Brick House Ornaments
Tiny houses made from brick-textured pieces are some of the most heartwarming ornaments you can hang on a tree. They look like something out of a storybook village, and they’re a lovely way to add architectural interest to your holiday decor.
Build a simple house shape from craft wood, basswood, or even layered cardboard. Cut five small pieces: a square front, a square back, two rectangular sides, and a triangular roof. Glue them into a cube shape, then add the roof on top. For the brick texture, you can glue a thin scored piece of paper, use textured paint, or apply a layer of paper clay and score the brick lines while it’s still soft.
Once dry, paint the brick sections in your chosen palette. Many people like a soft red with white mortar lines, but a gray brick with snowy white roof looks just as charming. Add a small door with a black marker, a few tiny windows, and a dab of glitter or faux snow on the roof peak.
This project takes about an hour and a half and is a great weekend craft. The difficulty is moderate, mostly because of the precise cutting. Customization is endless. You can build a whole village over several weekends and use them as a mantel display when the tree comes down.
Helpful tip: Glue a small loop of twine inside the roof peak before you attach the two roof pieces. That way the hanger is hidden and your ornament looks clean from every angle.