Looking for a beautiful and budget-friendly Christmas craft to make this holiday season? These rustic DIY Christmas bell ornaments are a perfect handmade decoration for your Christmas tree, front door, mantel, or holiday centerpiece.
The best part? You can make these charming Christmas bells using simple cups and inexpensive craft supplies. With natural jute twine, lace, blue gingham ribbon, greenery, berries, pinecones, and a little creativity, ordinary cups become gorgeous farmhouse-style Christmas decorations.
They’re also a fun Christmas craft for adults, teens, and older kids and make thoughtful handmade gifts for friends and family.
🎄 Why You’ll Love This Christmas Craft
These DIY Christmas bells combine several popular holiday craft styles—rustic, farmhouse, vintage, and cozy Christmas decor—into one easy project.
They’re:
- Easy and inexpensive to make
- Great for using simple craft supplies
- Perfect for handmade Christmas decorations
- Customizable with your favorite ribbon and embellishments
- Beautiful as Christmas door decor
- Great for Christmas craft fairs and handmade gifts
- A fun way to add a personal touch to your holiday decorating
🛒 Materials You’ll Need
To make these rustic Christmas bell ornaments, gather:
- 2 lightweight paper or cardboard cups
- Natural jute twine
- White or cream lace trim
- Blue gingham ribbon
- Artificial pine or Christmas greenery
- Blue decorative berries
- Small pinecones
- Snowflake embellishments
- Small gold jingle bells
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Scissors
- Small piece of twine for hanging
You can easily change the colors to match your Christmas decor. Try red and black buffalo plaid for a traditional farmhouse look, or use velvet ribbon and gold accents for a more elegant Christmas style.
✂️ How to Make DIY Christmas Bells
Step 1: Prepare the Cups
Start with two clean paper or cardboard cups. These will form the basic bell shape.
If your cups have printed designs, you can cover them completely with twine, so there’s no need to worry about the original pattern showing through.
Step 2: Wrap the Cups With Jute
Beginning near the top of the cup, carefully wrap natural jute twine around the outside.
Apply small amounts of hot glue as you work to keep the twine securely in place. Continue wrapping until the entire outside of the cup is covered.
Try to keep the rows of twine close together for a neat, textured finish.
Tip: Don’t use too much glue at once. Small sections make it easier to keep the twine straight and prevent visible glue bumps.
Step 3: Add the Lace Trim
Once the cup is completely covered, glue a strip of cream or white lace around the bottom edge.
The delicate lace creates a beautiful contrast against the rough texture of the jute and gives the finished bell a charming vintage feel.
Step 4: Make the Christmas Bow
Create a layered bow using blue gingham ribbon and a small piece of natural burlap or coordinating ribbon.
Glue the bow securely to the front of the bell.
Step 5: Decorate Your Bells
Now comes the fun part!
Arrange small pieces of:
- Evergreen greenery
- Blue berries
- Pinecones
- Snowflake decorations
around the bow.
Before gluing everything permanently, experiment with the arrangement until you find a combination you love.
Step 6: Add the Jingle Bell
Attach a small gold bell underneath the cup using a piece of twine.
The bell adds the finishing touch and gives your handmade decoration the look of a traditional Christmas bell.
Step 7: Add a Hanging Loop
Finally, attach a loop of sturdy twine to the top so your Christmas bells can be displayed on a door, wall, Christmas tree, staircase, or mantel.
And that’s it!
Your simple cups have been transformed into beautiful rustic DIY Christmas bell decorations.
🎁 Creative Ways to Use Your Handmade Christmas Bells
There are so many ways to decorate with these handmade bells.
Christmas Door Decor
Hang the pair together on your front door for a warm, welcoming Christmas display.
Christmas Tree Ornaments
Make smaller versions and hang them directly on your Christmas tree.
Mantel Decoration
Place several bells along your mantel with evergreen branches, pinecones, and candles for a cozy holiday arrangement.
Handmade Christmas Gifts
These bells also make lovely handmade gifts. Package a pair in a simple kraft box or gift bag with a festive ribbon.
Christmas Craft Fair Idea
If you sell handmade decorations, these can be an inexpensive project to make in batches. Change the ribbon and embellishments to create several different styles.
🎨 Easy Ways to Customize the Design
One of the best things about this DIY Christmas craft is how easy it is to personalize.
Try:
Traditional Christmas: Red ribbon + green greenery + gold bells
Farmhouse Christmas: Buffalo plaid + burlap + pinecones
Winter Wonderland: White ribbon + silver accents + white berries
Elegant Christmas: Velvet ribbon + gold greenery + pearl embellishments
Rustic Christmas: Natural jute + lace + pinecones + wood accents
You can also experiment with different cup sizes to create large statement bells or small Christmas tree ornaments.
💡 Tips for Making the Perfect Jute Christmas Bells
Keep the twine tight. Loose rows can make the finished bell look uneven.
Use a low-temperature glue gun if possible. It can make detailed crafting easier and reduce the risk of burns.
Plan your decorations first. Arrange the greenery, ribbon, berries, and pinecones before gluing them down.
Make them in pairs. Two matching bells create a much more dramatic display.
Don’t be afraid to change the colors. The basic technique works with almost any Christmas color palette.
🎄 A Budget-Friendly Christmas Decorating Idea
You don’t need expensive supplies to create beautiful holiday decorations. This project shows how everyday materials can be transformed into something that looks carefully designed and store-bought.
If you enjoy DIY Christmas decorations, farmhouse Christmas crafts, rustic Christmas decor, and handmade holiday projects, this is a great project to add to your seasonal crafting list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use plastic cups?
Yes. Lightweight plastic cups can work, although paper or cardboard cups are generally easier to cover with glue and twine.
Can I make these without a hot glue gun?
You can use strong craft glue, but you’ll need additional drying time. Hot glue makes the project faster and helps secure the twine and decorations.
Can I use different decorations?
Absolutely! Swap the pinecones, berries, snowflakes, or greenery for whatever you already have in your craft supplies.
Are these Christmas bells suitable for outdoor use?
They’re best displayed indoors or in a sheltered area because paper, cardboard, fabric, and natural twine can be damaged by moisture.
❤️ Final Thoughts
These DIY Christmas bell ornaments made from cups are proof that beautiful Christmas decorations don’t have to be complicated or expensive.
With a few simple supplies, some jute twine, and your favorite festive embellishments, you can create a pair of charming rustic bells that look wonderful on a Christmas door, mantel, or tree.
And because the design is so easy to customize, you can create a completely different look simply by changing the ribbon and decorations.
Save this Christmas craft idea for your holiday crafting session and give these simple cups a festive makeover! 🎄🔔