Besides traditional Christmas ornaments, there’s cartoon character ornaments and ornaments made to look like mini toys, but rarely, if ever, do you see a nautical ornament. For those who love boats, the sea and the wide open skies, it can be a little disappointing. If you manage to find a store that sells nautical ornaments, there will probably be little variety, but a high price tag. Nautical ornaments are easy to make using some recycled objects and some craft items. Glue two jar lids together then glue a different boat picture on each side. It can be cut from cloth or paper. If possible, laminate the paper to make it more durable. After you’ve glued the pictures to the lids, glue a small piece of thread or cord to the top of the ornament, then wrap the sides of the ornament in red, white and blue cord or use rope to cover the sides. Instead of putting a bow at the top, try a small anchor or shell.
A craft so easy even the kids can do it, consists of gluing two clam shells together. Place a loop of thread in between them before gluing, then hang them all over your tree. Other shells can be hung on the tree by simply gluing a loop of thread to the top of the shell. They can be covered in gold or silver glitter to fit the season.
You can find fabric in prints like starfish or seahorses, then cut out the shapes. Sew two shapes together, fill with stuffing and stitch closed. Sew a thread loop on top to hang the stuffed ornaments on your tree.
Buy small wooden boat, anchor and helm shapes to paint for ornaments. Paint them in traditional colors or use Christmas shades. Hang on your tree or glue them onto a wreath. Or tie a Christmas ribbon onto them, place them on a suction cup, and hang them all over the windows.
Buy a wooden, circular base and a clear, glass globe. The bases and globes can be found in many shapes and sizes, some small enough to make ornaments. Choose the size you want to use and paint the base blue, then glue a small boat on the base. Lay out a piece of fishing net, shells, starfish, or whatever you want, then place the globe over the top and glue it to the base. Make sure that the shells or starfish are proportionate to the boat. To make it more holiday-like, wrap pine branches around the base, then glue a red ribbon or a group of shells in the front.
Purchase styrene balls in various sizes, then use decoupage glue to cover the spheres in nautical fabric. Or, cover the balls in fishnet, then attach tiny dolphins or fish. For a Santa-goes-nautical look, cover the balls in fishnet, then attach a Santa and reindeer to the netting.
Foam shapes are available in just about any theme, but they are thin and look cheap. Give them more dimension by gluing a small stack of them together, inserting a loop hanger, then gluing on another stack. Make sure the string is in the middle of the stack or the ornament won’t hang correctly. Paint the shapes, be they anchors or fish, then hang them on the tree. Or just get little ceramic or clay lighthouses, fish, shells, dolphins, sharks, seahorses and crabs, attach the hangers, and have a very nautical Christmas.
