What to Put Inside Clear Ornaments: Ideas and Fog Tips

You can put almost anything small and completely dry inside a clear fillable ornament: confetti, tinsel, mini pom-poms, a rolled-up photo or note, dried flowers, sand and shells from a trip, ribbon, feathers, or keepsakes like a scrap of fabric or a ticket stub. The one rule that matters most is dryness. Anything damp, fresh or living, such as fresh flowers, greenery or real food, can fog the inside or go moldy once the cap is on.

What to put inside Christmas ornaments: easy ideas

Classic sparkle. Tinsel, metallic shred, sequins, glitter or iridescent confetti.
Snowy look. Faux snow, white feathers, or cotton balls pulled apart into wisps.
Color themes. Shredded tissue paper or crinkle-cut paper in your tree’s colors, or a coil of curling ribbon.
Natural and cozy. Dried orange slices cut small, cinnamon sticks, star anise, or tiny pinecones, all fully dry.
Little scenes. A miniature bottle-brush tree, a small figurine or a tiny toy on a bed of faux snow.
Something to give. A rolled-up gift card, folded cash or a handwritten coupon, which turns the ornament into the wrapping.

Ideas for kids to fill

Children love filling ornaments, and plastic ones are the safer choice for small hands because they do not shatter. Good kid-friendly fillers:

Mini pom-poms in their favorite colors.
Paper confetti they punch or snip themselves.
A rolled-up drawing or a short letter to Santa, with the year written on it.
A strip of paper with their handprint traced or stamped on it, rolled up.
Small plastic figures, building-block pieces or beads (for older children, since these are choking hazards for little ones).
Wrapped candy for an ornament that is opened soon. Unwrapped candy can get sticky and is not a good long-term filler.

Ask them to write their name and the year on a tag tied to the hanger. Years from now, that is the part everyone looks for.

Photo ornament ideas

A rolled photo. Print a photo on regular paper, roll it loosely and slip it in; it will unroll against the inside of the ball.
A flat photo inside a flat ornament. For flat clear disc ornaments, trim the photo to the inner shape and slide it in, perhaps with a little confetti around it.
A photo on clear film. Printing on transparency film lets light pass through, so the picture looks like it floats inside.
A photo plus a note. Print a photo on one side and a date or a short message on the back.

Use a copy, not the only print you have. For photo keepsakes made by a maker instead of at home, our guide to custom photo Christmas ornaments compares the common styles.

Memorial keepsake ornament ideas

A clear ornament can hold something small that belonged to the person you are remembering:

A scrap of a shirt, scarf or blanket they used, cut into a small piece or strips.
A copy of a note, recipe or signature in their handwriting, rolled up.
A flower or petals from the service, dried completely first.
A small white feather, if that has meaning for your family.
For a pet, a bit of fur, a copy of their tag, or a small piece of their collar.
A short tag with their name and dates, tied to the hanger or written on the ornament.

For something to write on the outside, see our ideas for what to write on a memorial ornament. Because a memorial ornament is one of a kind, it is worth gluing the cap in place and choosing plastic if it will hang where it could fall.

Wedding keepsake ornament ideas

A copy of the invitation cut into strips or shredded, so the wording shows through.
Dried petals from the bouquet or the boutonniere.
Confetti or a little of the send-off petals, ribbon or lace from the day.
Sand from a unity sand ceremony, or from a beach wedding.
A rolled copy of your vows or the first dance lyrics.
A small piece of fabric matching the wedding colors.

Write the names and wedding date on the outside or on a tag. Our guide to what to write on a Christmas ornament has short wording ideas.

How to fill a clear ornament without fogging

Fog inside a clear ornament is moisture: water vapor trapped inside condenses on the cooler plastic or glass. You prevent it by keeping water out from the start.

Make sure the ornament itself is dry. If you rinse it to remove dust, leave it open, upside down, until the inside is completely dry.
Use only dry fillers. Dry flowers and herbs until they are crisp and papery. Fresh flowers, fresh greenery and real fruit hold water and will fog or rot.
Let paint or glue dry with the cap off. If you swirl paint inside or glue items to the inner wall, leave the ornament open until it is fully dry before you add anything else.
Fill in a dry room. Avoid filling right next to a boiling kettle, a steamy kitchen or a bathroom.
Close it and keep it away from big temperature swings. Hanging it right next to a heat vent or a cold window, or storing it in an attic or garage, makes condensation more likely. Our guide on how to store Christmas ornaments has more on packing them.

Practical filling tips

Roll a sheet of paper into a funnel for confetti, glitter and sand.
Use a chopstick or a wooden skewer to push in and arrange larger pieces.
Faux snow and glitter cling to plastic because of static. Wiping the outside gently with a dryer sheet can help them settle.
Put lighter items in first and something heavier at the bottom only if you want it to sit there.
Do not overfill. Leaving some empty space lets the contents move and catch the light.
A dab of glue around the rim before snapping the cap on stops it from coming loose.

Quick answers

What can you put inside a clear ornament? Anything small and dry: confetti, tinsel, photos, notes, dried flowers, sand, ribbon or small keepsakes.
What should you not put inside? Fresh flowers, greenery, real food, or anything damp.
Why is my clear ornament foggy? Moisture got trapped inside. Open it, let it dry fully, and refill with dry items.
Glass or plastic? Plastic for children and for keepsakes that could fall; glass for a clearer look.