Selling Handmade Christmas Ornaments: A Small Batch, a Fair Price and a Safe Tag
Handmade ornaments are one of the sweetest things to sell in November. People buy them as gifts, as keepsakes and to remember a year. If you already enjoy making them from wood slices, felt, salt dough, beads or scrap fabric, a small batch could bring in a little money this season. It might help toward a bill like a $15 streaming plan, though results vary and nothing is guaranteed.
Start small and keep it simple
Choose one or two designs you can make well and make again. A simple ornament you can finish in fifteen minutes is easier to price and easier to restock than a fancy one that takes an afternoon. Try a first batch of 12 to 20, then see what sells.
Work out a price that covers you
Add up what each ornament costs in materials, including ribbon, glue and packaging. Then decide what an hour of your time is worth to you and add that. Many beginners forget the time, and then wonder why the money feels thin. Our guide to pricing handmade crafts walks through this step by step.
Where to sell them
- Holiday craft fairs and church bazaars. Table fees are often modest, but ask early because many fill up by mid-November.
- A local gift shop or coffee shop that carries handmade goods. Some buy outright, and some take a share of each sale.
- Friends, neighbors and your own community groups, by word of mouth.
- An online shop such as Etsy, if you are comfortable shipping. Check the current listing and selling fees on the site before you list.
Keep ornaments safe
Ornaments are decorations, not toys. Still, a buyer may hang one low on a tree where a toddler can reach it. The Consumer Product Safety Commission bans small parts in products meant for children under 3, and its guidance describes a small part as anything that fits inside a test cylinder about the size of a young child’s throat. If you make anything meant for little ones, read the CPSC small parts guidance first. For ornaments, a simple tip is to attach beads and buttons securely and add a note on the tag: “Decoration. Not a toy.”
A word about taxes and benefits
Money you earn from selling crafts can count as income. The IRS explains how it separates a hobby from a business on its hobby or business page. Side income can also affect some benefits, such as SSI or Medicaid, and the Social Security earnings test applies if you collect retirement benefits before full retirement age. This is general information only. Check your own situation at ssa.gov or with a tax preparer, and keep a simple record of what you spend and earn.
More on Replace a Bill
- Selling Your Handmade Crafts at Holiday Craft Fairs: A Simple Plan
- Pricing Your Handmade Crafts So Your Time and Materials Are Covered
