Posted by Yana Smakula
on November 05, 2026
Create beautiful handmade felt Christmas ornaments featuring a cardinal, decorated Christmas tree, and Santa Claus using the Christmas Felt Stitch & Create Dies by Nichol Spohr. In this step-by-step tutorial, you'll learn how to die cut wool felt, add decorative stitching, embellish with beads and sequins, stuff dimensional felt ornaments, and assemble heirloom-quality holiday decorations.
These festive felt projects are perfect for holiday decorating, handmade gifts, wreath embellishments, stockings, pillows, gift toppers, and more. The stitching holes are built directly into the dies, making the projects beginner-friendly while producing polished results.
Hi there! It’s Andrea Shell, and I’m thrilled to be back as a guest on the Spellbinders blog! Today I’m sharing a step-by-step photo tutorial featuring the Christmas Felt Stitch & Create Collection by Nichol Spohr. These dies make the cutest felt décor items and would also work beautifully for papercrafting projects.
Project Snapshot
| Project Details | A collection of dimensional felt Christmas ornaments featuring a cardinal, Christmas tree, and Santa Claus embellished with stitching, beads, and sequins. |
| Skill Level | Beginner to Intermediate |
| Approximate Time | 45–90 Minutes Per Ornament |
| Project Type | Handmade Felt Christmas Ornaments |
| Techniques | Die Cutting Felt, Hand Stitching, Ornament Construction, Embellishing, Dimensional Assembly |
| Occasion | Christmas, Holiday Decorating, Handmade Gifts |
| Finished Size | Varies by Ornament Design |
| Featured Products | Christmas Felt Stitch & Create Cardinal Dies, Christmas Felt Stitch & Create Tree Dies, Christmas Felt Stitch & Create Santa Dies |
What You'll Need
Spellbinders Products
-
Felt Winter Cardinal Etched Dies by Nichol Spohr
- Felt Festive Trees Etched Dies by Nichol Spohr
-
Felt Vintage Santa Etched Dies by Nichol Spohr
- Platinum SIX Die Cutting Machine
Other Supplies
- Wool Felt
- Embroidery Floss
- Needle
- Embroidery Clips
- Beading Needle
- Sequins
- Seed Beads
- Gold Cord
- Scissors
- Hot Glue
- Hot Glue Gun
- Polyfil
How to Make Felt Christmas Ornaments
Begin by die cutting all felt pieces using the Platinum SIX Die Cutting Machine and the Christmas Felt Stitch & Create Dies. Before assembly, remove all of the negative pieces from the stitching holes to make sewing easier.
How to Make a Felt Cardinal Ornament
Step 1 – Die Cut the Cardinal Pieces
For the cardinal ornament, die cut:
- 2 bird bodies
- 2 wings
- 2 tails
- 2 eye patches
- 1 beak
Although two beaks are shown in the photo, only one is needed for the final ornament.
Step 2 – Stitch the Tail
Using three strands of embroidery floss and a running stitch, stitch the feather details onto one tail piece. Once you reach the end, return through the empty holes to complete the stitched pattern.
Repeat for the second tail piece, stitching on the reverse side so the finished stitching faces outward when both pieces are placed back to back.
Stack the tail pieces together with the stitched sides facing outward. Use three strands of coordinating embroidery floss and a running stitch to sew around the tail. Return through the remaining holes to complete the stitch line.
Step 3 – Stitch the Wings and Eye Patches
Use three strands of embroidery floss and a running stitch to add stitched details to each wing. Stitch one wing on the reverse side so both stitched surfaces face outward when assembled.
Attach the eye patches using three strands of embroidery floss and add a black bead to each eye.
Step 4 – Assemble the Cardinal
Attach each wing to the corresponding bird piece, leaving the outer wing stitches open so they can be closed later after stuffing. Add the decorative body stitching beneath the wings.
Create a cord loop for hanging. Stack the two bird pieces together with the tail and hanging loop sandwiched between them. Stitch around the bird using a running stitch, leaving the wing openings accessible.
Insert a small amount of polyfil before finishing the stitching. Return through the remaining holes to complete the seam.
Close the top of the wings with a running stitch.
Attach the beak. Andrea used hot glue for this step after trimming one side of the beak slightly.
Your cardinal ornament is complete.
How to Make a Felt Christmas Tree Ornament
Step 5 – Die Cut and Stitch the Tree
Die cut:
- 2 tree triangles
- 1 scalloped border
- 1 medium snowflake
- 1 tree panel using the decorative snowflake stitching die
Using three strands of white embroidery floss, stitch the snowflake details using either a back stitch or running stitch.
Add a sequin and seed bead to the center of each stitched snowflake using one strand of floss.
Step 6 – Assemble the Tree
Create a hanging loop from gold cord and place it between the two tree layers. Position the scalloped border between the layers as well.
Stitch around the tree using a running stitch, leaving an opening for stuffing.
Add a small amount of polyfil, then complete the stitching and return through the empty holes to finish the seam.
Add a sequin and bead to the center of the die-cut snowflake and secure it to the tree using a small dab of hot glue.
How to Make a Felt Santa Ornament
Step 7 – Die Cut and Assemble Santa
Die cut all the felt pieces shown, including the beard using the decorative stitching-detail die.
Using three strands of ivory floss and a running stitch, add the decorative stitching details to the beard.
Attach the face to the beard using a running stitch.
Attach the first hat brim to the face and beard.
Stitch one hat piece to the brim.
Attach the second hat and brim to the hair piece.
Stack the Santa layers together and stitch the pom poms around the top.
Create a hanging loop from cord and place it between the hat layers. Stitch the hat edges together.
Continue stitching around the remainder of Santa. Add a small amount of polyfil before closing the final opening.
Attach the holly leaves and berries using coordinating floss.
Finish by hot gluing the eyes, nose, eyebrows, holly leaves, and berries into place.
Tips for Better Felt Christmas Ornaments
- Remove all felt pieces from the stitching holes before beginning assembly.
- Use three strands of embroidery floss for strong, visible stitching.
- Stitch one layer on the reverse side when creating mirrored elements such as wings and tails.
- Add stuffing gradually rather than overfilling the ornament.
- Use clips to hold layered felt pieces together during assembly.
Ways to Customize These Ornaments
- Change the felt colors to match your holiday décor.
- Add bells, charms, or ribbons instead of beads.
- Use them as gift toppers or stocking embellishments.
- Create a coordinated ornament collection for your tree.
- Use metallic embroidery floss for extra sparkle.
- Add initials or monograms for personalized gifts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of felt works best for these ornaments?
Wool felt works exceptionally well because it die cuts cleanly and holds its shape when stitched and stuffed.
Do I need a sewing machine?
No. These ornaments are designed to be hand stitched using the pre-cut stitching holes created by the dies.
Can I use these dies for papercrafting projects?
Yes. The dies can be used with cardstock to create dimensional embellishments, tags, and handmade cards.
What can I use instead of polyfil?
Small scraps of felt, batting, or stuffing from other craft projects can work well as alternatives.
Conclusion
These Christmas Felt Stitch & Create Dies make it easy to create charming handmade ornaments that can be treasured for years to come. Whether you choose the cardinal, tree, Santa, or all three, the combination of stitching, texture, and dimensional felt creates beautiful holiday decorations full of handmade charm.
They're perfect for decorating your Christmas tree, embellishing gifts, or creating meaningful handmade gifts for family and friends.
About the Designer
Andrea Shell
Andrea Shell enjoys creating paper crafting and mixed-media projects that combine texture, dimension, and creative techniques. Her seasonal projects often feature detailed handmade elements and approachable tutorials designed to inspire crafters of all skill levels.
For more inspiration, visit Andrea on Instagram and her blog.
