Sometimes a small aside becomes the most asked-about part of a story. Case in point: after John’s third triathlon, we posted a photo on Instagram and Facebook with the caption, “Third triathlon complete for this beast (and yes, we make Christmas ornaments for our tree from his medals, because we are nerds).” That tiny mention generated so many questions that we figured a tutorial was due — yes, even if it’s July.
Good news: turning medals into ornaments is fast, inexpensive, and ridiculously simple. You can do it while watching reality TV and still keep track of whoever’s on the screen. Below are straightforward, no-fuss steps to convert race medals into charming tree ornaments.
We first thought of this after John ran a “Tacky Light Run” a few holidays back. Those night runs finish in neighborhoods that go all-out with decorations, and the medals they handed out looked a lot like ornaments already. The idea to hang race medals on our tree stuck, and over time more of John’s medals joined the collection.
Here are the easy steps:
Step 1: Gather the medals and make sure the owner is okay with altering them. John was happy to have his medals repurposed for the tree rather than left in a box.
Step 2: Cut off the original thick ribbon threaded through each medal so you can attach thinner, ornament-friendly ribbon. A small pair of scissors is all you need.
Step 3: Cut a shorter length of ribbon — we usually make ours about 7 inches long. Loop the ribbon through the medal’s hole where the old ribbon was and secure it with a tight double knot.
Step 4: Admire your handiwork. If you feel especially pleased, give yourself a playful crafty nickname — mine is Bertha Stewart.
Step 5 (optional): If it’s summer and you don’t want to drag out your tree for photos, take your new ornaments outside and hang them on a pine or evergreen for a quick shoot. Neighbors will probably think you have good reasons. Wink knowingly.
Bonus option: If you prefer hooks, thread a metal ornament hook through the medal’s loop instead of tying ribbon. Many craft stores and home retailers sell sturdy ornament hooks; they’re quick to use and look tidy on the tree.
And that’s it — a simple way to celebrate races all year long by turning medals into meaningful ornaments. If you have lots of athletic friends (or enjoy speed-eating chicken nuggets enough to warrant a medal), you could easily fill an entire tree.
We’ve shared other ornament tutorials here over time, including wood-slice ornaments, glittered glass ornaments, and a collection of handmade tabletop-tree ornaments. We’ve also talked about holiday decor favorites and occasionally share related projects and podcast episodes.