There’s something so cozy about homemade Christmas ornaments, and these cinnamon stick star decorations are the perfect mix of simple and rustic. Made from real cinnamon sticks and a few embellishments, they add homemade charm to your tree while making your whole house smell amazing!
Whether you’re decorating for Christmas, hosting a holiday craft night, or looking for a sweet DIY gift idea, these star ornaments are as fun to make as they are beautiful to display. Plus, you can make one in 15 minutes or less!
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How to Make a Cinnamon Stick Star
Equipment:
- 16 gauge wire (or paper clip)
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Prepare your supplies
- To make this ornament you’ll need 5 cinnamon sticks and you’ll connect the sticks using decorative baker’s twine.
- To add the string we recommend cutting a piece of wire longer than your cinnamon sticks. Then bend the end into a needle eye.You can do this without the wire, but we highly recommend it — it makes things so much easier.
- Tie the end of the twine around the “needle eye”, so it’ll stay in place.
Step 3: Add the cinnamon sticks to the twine
- Place the needle into the cinnamon stick, pushing it through. This will be easier on some cinnamon sticks compared to others. Look for ones that have larger openings on the end.
- Pull the wire all the way through so the twine is threaded through the cinnamon stick.
- Repeat, adding the other 4 cinnamon sticks onto the same length of twine, pushing them down each time when you add a new one.Cut off the twine, leaving at least 6 inches on either side.
- Tie the ends of the cord together next to the cinnamon sticks.
Step 4: Make the star ornament
- Create an ornament hanger by tying the two cords together in a knot, about 3 inches above the cinnamon sticks. Cut off the excess twine above the knot.
- Arrange the cinnamon sticks like a house with flat bottom, 2 walls, and a pointed roof.
- Fold the left side over to the right, holding the top right stick in place while you do this.This crosses the former right “wall” over the right “roof”, and the bottom of the house is now on the left side.
- Fold the bottom point up, creating the star shape.
- Turn the ornament so the hanger is on top again. Add 2 dots of hot glue where the horizontal cinnamon stick meets the bottom layer.
- Press the top layer back down, arranging the sticks into a nice star shape.
Step 5: Decorate the star (optional)
- Gather Christmas greenery to decorate your star ornament.We cut a small piece of greenery from a garland and 3 holly berries and a mini pinecone from a candle wreath.
- First glue the greenery into place so it sticks out the top side of the star.
- Then attach the pinecone and the berries. If your berries are loose, add a bit of glue between them so they’re nice and secure.
- Your cinnamon stick star ornament is complete!
Helpful Tips:
- Choose your cinnamon sticks carefully: Try to pick straight cinnamon sticks that have wide openings. This makes it much easier to thread the wire and/or twine through.
- Experiment with different string: Baker’s twine, macrame cord, jute, or even thin ribbon all work beautifully for this ornament. Each gives a slightly different look, from rustic to refined!
How many cinnamon sticks do I need for each star ornament?
You’ll need five cinnamon sticks for each star ornament. But it’s a good idea to have a few extras on hand in case one cracks while you’re working.
Can I glue my cinnamon stick star ornament together instead of using twine?
Yes, you can glue the sticks together, but we found the twine method much easier to manage. Cinnamon sticks aren’t perfectly straight, so gluing can make it tricky to line up the angles just right. Whereas with twine, you can adjust the shape as you go and just add a few tiny hidden dots of glue to secure everything in place.
How can I decorate my cinnamon stick star ornament?
You can leave the star as-is, since the natural beauty of the shape and the warm tones of the cinnamon makes it lovely all on its own. Or, you can dress up your ornament with some festive touches.
If you’d like to decorate, try adding:
- Christmas greenery: Look for small arrangements or faux stems from the dollar store to pull apart and mix together.
- Mini jingle bells: A cute and festive touch that adds a little colour and sparkle.
- Twine or raffia bows: For extra texture and a cozy, natural look.
- Star anise or dried citrus slices: These natural elements pair beautifully with the cinnamon scent and give your ornaments a cozy, old-fashioned charm.
- Faux snow or glitter: For a subtle shimmer that catches the lights on your tree.
These cinnamon stick star ornaments bring such a warm, natural charm to your Christmas decorating. Their rustic texture and spicy scent instantly make any space feel festive and inviting.
Hang them on the tree, tuck them into a wreath, or tie one onto a gift for an extra homemade touch. No matter where you place them, these DIY ornaments will fill your home with the scent of the holidays.
Here’s even more easy Christmas ornament ideas:
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