AUSTIN, Texas – There are all sorts of ways to customize, upgrade, or even create new ornaments from scratch to brighten up your Christmas tree or serve as a perfect, personalized gift.

Most of us are no longer listening to CDs these days but still have a pile or two collecting dust in the closet. Use a sharp pair of scissors to cut unique shapes and glue them to an ornament bulb for an abstract look.

If you have any clear, glass bulb ornaments around the home or find them in bulk at your local store, you can easily add colorful cheer by filling them with rainbow, candy sprinkles.

A great way to turn trash into a treasured ornament is with glass bottle caps. Simply glue three together in a row, spray paint the inside white, and you have the base for a snowman which you can customize to your heart’s content. A similar version can be done with wood popsicle sticks.

Are you a wine cork collector? It is time to put a few of those corks to a quirky use. Use a glue gun and a pair of scissors to create reindeer, cats, or even serve as a base with which to attach colorful ribbons and bells.

Ojos de Dios, or God’s Eye, is an ornament made by weaving a design out of yarn upon a wooden cross. Often several colors of yarn are used and the cross can be made out of tree branches or popsicle sticks. Tie a knot around the center of the cross and weave the yarn over and under with varying colors until all four ends are covered.