How to Make Laser Cut Wreath Ornaments (FREE FILES)

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5:30 AM

How to Make Laser Cut Wreath Ornaments (FREE FILES)

If you’re looking for a Christmas ornament project that’s fast, fun, and endlessly customizable, this tiny laser-cut wreath base is going to be your new favorite file.

I designed a simple 1/2" wreath shape with a built-in loop for hanging—perfect for creating wooden ornaments, attaching embellishments, or experimenting with unique materials you already have in your craft stash.

I cut mine on my xTool S1 20W, but you can use just about any diode laser cutters, next laser, or even a custom laser setup as long as you have sufficient laser power to get clean cuts.

Basswood was my main choice, but I’ll walk you through plenty of standout materials, plus the pros and cons of each.

At the end of this post, you’ll also find the laser cut file—free to download so you can make these for your own tree, as gifts, or as small laser cut art pieces to sell.

Let's get started!

A simple round frame with a top loop means it’s ready for decorating without being locked into any one style.

Once you open settings menu in your software of choice, I use xTool Creative Space--it seems like the best software for the machine.

You’ll be able to size, duplicate, or modify the design easily—add a company logo, or a personalized name.

This project is also perfect if you’ve got a lot of laser projects going on and want something quick.

Each wreath cuts in seconds and uses only scraps or cuts multiples at a time on a 1x1 ft sheets of wood.

Materials You Can Use (and What to Avoid)

One of the biggest perks of using a laser is trying out new and creative laser cut gift ideas with various grades of materials.

Here’s a quick breakdown of effective options, plus safety notes:

✔ Wood-Based Materials

Basswood, masonite cuts, baltic birch plywood, and other usual wood options
Easily sourced from home improvement stores, Home Depot, local woodworking stores, or plywood suppliers
Cuts beautifully with a diode laser thanks to moderate density
Strong option for durable ornaments

✔ Mat Board

Inexpensive, colorful, and available at art stores and any local art store
Lightweight, easy to glue to, and ideal for fast batch cutting

✔ Cardboard

Virtually free
Easy to cut loads of blanks for an ornament making event for the library, church youth group or a girls craft night.

✔ Cast Acrylic

Gives a crisp, modern look and smooth edges
Perfect if you’re going for a polished metal look or bright color palette
Requires experienced laser handling for best results
Best on dark colors of cast acrylic (black, green, and various opaque colors)

✔ Plastic-Based Materials (Use caution)

Not all plastics are safe.
Avoid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) — when cut, it releases toxic chlorine gas and harmful fumes.
Always buy acrylic from specialized suppliers who clearly label the material type.

✔ Exotic Woods

If you want a premium look, specialty veneers or thin hardwood sheets can elevate your design.
Check home improvement stores, local woodworking stores, or online specialized suppliers for unusual species.

When choosing the best material, think about the final use: Will it hang on the tree, gift packaging, or scale up for larger laser cut designs?

Each behaves differently under laser beams, so test small cut pieces first.

My Five Sample Laser Cut Wreath Ornament Ideas

I made five completely different ornaments using the exact same base—proving just how versatile a tiny frame can be.

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How to Make a Nuka Cola Bottle Cap Wreath

Attach bottle caps on the wreath form to add fun texture and shine.

A fun way to reuse materials and add a quirky vibe.

I used E6000 glue to glue bottle caps all around the wreath form, leaving the little hole opening accessible to add some twine to at the end.

I added 3 of the Fallout themed Nuka Cola bottle caps and tied it off with some velvet ribbon to make it the perfect Wasteland ornament.

How to Make a Button Wreath Ornament:

Buttons in Green and a few Red
Hot Glue Gun

Vintage buttons—bright, mismatched, or themed—make an ornament that feels delightful and handmade.

Simply hot glue a layer of buttons all over the base of the ornament wreath.

Then add a second layer with bright colors and clusters to mimic holly berries.

Tie off the top of the ornament with some velvet ribbon--super fun craft for kids too--just use glue dots instead of the hot glue.

How to Make a Conversation Hearts Ornament Wreath:

Glue pastel hearts around the circle for a sweet Valentine-inspired twist.

If you have an old bag of conversation hearts, like me, this ornament is cute and easy to make...and it would be cute in a couple months to make these for Valentine's day, so save this idea!

My best advice is to glue the hearts with the text down, I just couldn't find enough of the hearts that actually had legible text on them...they were just so sloppy.

So simplistic and cute, tied off with some chiffon ribbon for the perfect pastel heart ornament that will instantly be recognized!

How to Make an Ornament Wreath with Natural Acorns

Acorns, pebbles, tiny pinecones, feathers, etc.
Hot Glue Gun/Sticks or Glue Dots
Twine for hanging

Small woodland acorns glued around the circle create the cutest natural Christmas decor.

Perfect with twine or jute for a rustic finish.

Head out on a nature walk and collect little treasures...acorns, rocks, pine needles, dried grasses, tiny pinecones and other things to adorn a little wreath with.

This fun craft is perfect for all the kiddos to help with.

This darling ornament will feel right at home in a pine tree!

Add a ribbon bow or leave it all natural, your choice!

How to Make a Wreath Ornament with Yarn Wrapping

Wrap the frame tightly with bulky yarn for a soft, cozy look.

After wrapping around the wreath form, I decided to wrap back and forth through the center for some visual fun.

You could hot glue a photograph inside the yarn wrapped wreath or add a big bow and call it good.

There are so many variations you can make with this simple wreath form.

Each of these came from simply attaching objects to the wreath.
No complicated assembly, no difficult steps—just creativity.

Step-by-Step Tutorial

1. Prepare Your File

Download the free laser cut file at the end of this post.

Import it into your best software (I use xTool Creative Space) and open settings menu to adjust material thickness or scaling if needed.

2. Choose Your Material

Pick from wood-based materials, mat board, cast acrylic, or something more unusual.

Just avoid plastic-based materials like PVC that create harmful fumes.

3. Set Up Your Machine

Load your material into your xTool S1 or whichever power tool you’re using.

Check that your laser beams are aligned for clean cuts.

Choose settings appropriate for:

Basswood
Baltic birch plywood
Masonite cuts
Acrylic
Exotic or usual wood

4. Cut the Wreath Bases

Use decent power for smooth cutting--I just use the preset settings for my material and it works out perfectly.

Expect perfect circles and crisp edges—diode lasers handle thin wood beautifully.

5. Decorate

Use hot glue, craft glue, or double-sided tape to attach your chosen unique materials:

Acorns
Yarn
Buttons
Bottle caps
Conversation hearts
Or anything else your imagination sparks.

Where This Project Fits in the Larger Laser Community

One of the things I love most about working with lasers is the community support. Makers across the heart of the internet share ideas, settings, troubleshooting tips, and experiments with the best material sources. Whether you shop from home improvement stores, specialized suppliers, or your local art store, there’s always a better way to approach a project, and someone out there has tried it.

If you’re just getting into laser crafting, these smaller ornaments are an excellent introduction to materials, software, and scaling designs. They help you gain confidence before tackling bigger projects or experimenting with exotic woods and larger sheet sizes.

That's it!

This laser-cut wreath base is one of those small but mighty projects that sparks endless creativity.

It’s fast, beginner-friendly, and a great place to test new materials and ideas.

Whether you’re making ornaments for your own tree, giving them as personalized gifts with a company logo, or simply having fun experimenting, they make delightful laser cut art pieces.

If you have further questions or want personalized advice on settings, materials, or ideas, feel free to reach out—I’m always happy to offer additional insights.

Your free wreath laser cut file is below—enjoy making your own little forest of wreaths!