Easy Buffalo Check Christmas Ornaments

Using extra wide holiday ribbon makes creating these Buffalo Check Christmas Ornaments a cinch.

Whether you call it Buffalo Check or Buffalo Plaid, there’s no denying how wonderful this larger gingham pattern looks on Christmas decorations.

While most people seem to prefer to use the black and white version, I think during the holidays the black and red version goes beautifully with rustic or country decor.

These Easy Buffalo Check Christmas Ornaments were a cinch to make, too, since I used ribbon with the perfect scale for the ornament sizes.

I made these ornaments as part of the 2019 Ornament Exchange Link Party for Trisha from Rosewood and Grace. They should go perfectly with her tree style and color scheme. Be sure to also check out the rest of the ornaments because I’m positive you’ll find something you love and want to make!

Easy Buffalo Check Christmas Ornaments Materials

• Wood Ornament Blanks
• Red Paint
• Paintbrush
• Sandpaper
• 4″-Wide Red & Black Buffalo Check Ribbon
• Scissors
• E6000 Glue, Clear
• Rusted Bells

(Optional if you want to change out the original hanger cord.)

• Red & Black Narrow Ribbon or Cord
• Pliers
• Staple Gun

Easy Buffalo Check Christmas Ornaments Steps

1: Lightly sand the wood ornaments. If you plan to use different cording or ribbon than what came on the ornament for the hanger, pull it and the staples out with some pliers.

2: Paint the sides first, then the back of the ornament with red paint. I recommend using two coats for good coverage. Let them dry completely after each coat. Then paint two coats on the front as well.

3: Sand/ distress the ornament on all of its edges so the wood shows through. They look so cute just at this stage, too!

4: Cut off a piece of ribbon large enough to cover the ornament. Then cut the ribbon out in the shape of the ornament. Don’t worry if it’s too big at first, you can trim it down.

For the round shape, I traced around with a white marker, but that backfired when it left white marks on the ornament (facepalm) so I suggest using something that won’t leave behind marks.

For the tree (or other odd shapes) I just held the ribbon flat against the ornament and trimmed around it. That probably would have worked for the round shape as well, but circles are dramatic and a pain in the asterisk to cut.

5: Squeeze a little of the E6000 glue on to the front of the ornament and smooth it out flat with your finger but not to the edges. Make sure to have a damp paper towel handy to clean your finger off immediately and do not touch anything unless you want to become a permanent part of it. 

6: Center the buffalo check ribbon shape on to the front of the ornament and press it down firmly, smoothing it from the center out. Wipe off any glue that soaks through.

7: Fringe the edges of the ribbon that aren’t glued down. I have some of those super cool Marth Stewart Fringing Scissors, but regular ones work just fine. After you make all of your cuts, rub the edges with your finger to fray and distress them.

8: If you’re replacing the hanger cording, keep reading, if not, add some rusted bells and you’re done, good job, you can skip ahead, take a wine break, admire your work…
For those of us who obsess over fine details, wrap the cord/ ribbon around your hand so you have enough to go around it once and cut. The cord/ ribbon, not your hand.

9: Add some rusted bells (or ones painted brown to create the illusion of aged rust) to the cord and staple it to the back of the ornament.

Now if I had left it like that, the bells would have awkwardly fallen to the back of the ornament so I finessed some E6000 glue under the bells so they would just stick to the top of the ornament and stay in place like good bells should.

For the bells on the round ornament, I actually strung them on a separate strand of cord and looped that through the other one and glued it in place. 

And you’re done! Nine steps seem like so many, but not including paint drying time, these two Easy Buffalo Check Christmas Ornaments took very little time to make! Actually, while I was waiting for the paint to dry, I worked on my experimental, Handpainted Buffalo Check Ornament. That one took much longer to make but it was really fun to try.

As for these two, I am heading back to Michael’s to grab some more ornament blanks because I have an entire roll of Buffalo Check ribbon to use up!

I’m thinking these might sell well at a holiday bizarre and you could even add a little iron-on vinyl decal to them as well. Lots of possibilities!