9 Cute Decorations You Can Make Out of Paper
Grab the scissors and get snipping with these crafty ideas that will bring festive spirit to your home
DIY paper decorations tick many boxes – to name a few, they’re quick, they’re easy and they’re budget-friendly. Plus they’re a fun activity to keep the kids entertained – therefore a hot commodity during the school holidays. And finally, paper decorations can be made with many of the items you already have in the cupboards. Christmas and New Year’s Eve are just around the corner, so get busy with these ideas – there’s a project to suit everyone, from toddlers through to the more seasoned crafter.
Eye-catching and colourful, paper chains are one of the simplest garlands to make and are a great Christmas craft project to do with children. All you’ll need are strips of paper and glue.
Tip: There’s no need to stick with block colours – recycle old wrapping paper, sheet music or magazine pages to make your decorations, and have fun experimenting with glitter, ribbon and patterned tape.
2. Paper cone wreath
This handmade wreath was made using vintage sheet music, but you can use Christmas paper or metallic cardboard for a more seasonal look. Hang yours from a windowsill or entranceway for festive flair
This handmade wreath was made using vintage sheet music, but you can use Christmas paper or metallic cardboard for a more seasonal look. Hang yours from a windowsill or entranceway for festive flair
To assemble your wreath, roll rectangular pieces of paper into cones, using a circular piece of cardboard as the wreath base for the cones to be glued to. Cones will need to be shorter as you move towards the middle of the wreath, so trim as needed and get your hands on a hot glue gun for maximum hold.
Tip: If you steer clear of festive colours and opt instead for pastels or neutral hues, your wreath can look lovely hanging in your home all year round.
Tip: If you steer clear of festive colours and opt instead for pastels or neutral hues, your wreath can look lovely hanging in your home all year round.
3. Paper snowflakes
If Jack Frost won’t be stopping by your home this Christmas, then these delicate paper snowflakes will make add some extra Christmas cheer and be a dreamy addition to your window. Start with square pieces of paper, folding diagonally three times. Experiment with snipping out shapes before opening, or find endless stencils online to make your very own blizzard at home.
If Jack Frost won’t be stopping by your home this Christmas, then these delicate paper snowflakes will make add some extra Christmas cheer and be a dreamy addition to your window. Start with square pieces of paper, folding diagonally three times. Experiment with snipping out shapes before opening, or find endless stencils online to make your very own blizzard at home.
4. Honeycomb paper decorations
Here’s a sweet idea for Christmas, New Year’s Eve, or your summer garden party. All you need are a few sheets of tissue paper, a glue stick, a pair of scissors and shiny ribbon to string them up anywhere from along the bannisters to in the trees.
DIY honeycomb decorations
Here’s a sweet idea for Christmas, New Year’s Eve, or your summer garden party. All you need are a few sheets of tissue paper, a glue stick, a pair of scissors and shiny ribbon to string them up anywhere from along the bannisters to in the trees.
DIY honeycomb decorations
5. Mini swing tags
Paper swing tags – either handmade or repurposed gift tags – can double as stylish and unique decorations. If you don’t have a full-sized Christmas tree, improvise with the nicest branch you can find in your backyard for a small-space alternative, adding handmade paper tags featuring carols or well wishes.
Paper swing tags – either handmade or repurposed gift tags – can double as stylish and unique decorations. If you don’t have a full-sized Christmas tree, improvise with the nicest branch you can find in your backyard for a small-space alternative, adding handmade paper tags featuring carols or well wishes.
These cute, printed tags make a sweet adornment to a mantelpiece or windowsill. Simply use letter stickers or stamps – or your own lovely handwriting – to add a Christmas word or message to each card, using mini pegs to string them up along a piece of ribbon or twine. Next up, clip on the Christmas stockings.
6. Table origami
Extra touches can make a Christmas meal memorable, and if you’re crafty with your hands then why not fold a few of your own little Christmas cranes to accompany lunch? The art of origami isn’t as tricky as you might think, look to the World Wide Web for a variety of templates including cranes shown here, trees, stars, Santa and even origami reindeer.
Extra touches can make a Christmas meal memorable, and if you’re crafty with your hands then why not fold a few of your own little Christmas cranes to accompany lunch? The art of origami isn’t as tricky as you might think, look to the World Wide Web for a variety of templates including cranes shown here, trees, stars, Santa and even origami reindeer.
7. Soft and feathery pompoms
You’ll want to leave these cloud-like beauties up long after Christmas entertaining is over. They’re light enough to be hung up with sticky tape, so there’s no need for hooks in your ceiling. Try mixing metallics with neutral colours such as charcoal and white – and they look even more magical when suspended with twinkling fairy lights.
Easy paper pompom DIY
You’ll want to leave these cloud-like beauties up long after Christmas entertaining is over. They’re light enough to be hung up with sticky tape, so there’s no need for hooks in your ceiling. Try mixing metallics with neutral colours such as charcoal and white – and they look even more magical when suspended with twinkling fairy lights.
Easy paper pompom DIY
8. Christmas wall art
This quick and easy project will bring a little Christmas spirit to a bare wall. Using a large piece of cardboard, paint your backdrop white. After drying, use a stamp with a Christmas motif such as a tree or star – carve your own potato stamp for a cute, homemade look – to print a repeating pattern.
This quick and easy project will bring a little Christmas spirit to a bare wall. Using a large piece of cardboard, paint your backdrop white. After drying, use a stamp with a Christmas motif such as a tree or star – carve your own potato stamp for a cute, homemade look – to print a repeating pattern.
9. Folded gift accessories
These folded paper accessories are super simple and would brighten up any Christmas gift or card … and you could even tie two halves together to form a Christmas tree decoration. Too easy!
Folded paper decorations DIY
These folded paper accessories are super simple and would brighten up any Christmas gift or card … and you could even tie two halves together to form a Christmas tree decoration. Too easy!
Folded paper decorations DIY
Beautifully wrapped gifts are great Christmas decorations in their own right – think ribbons, twine and swing tags on pretty printed paper. Stack them in a neat little pile on your hall stand to make a colourful display, pairing with a mini tree for the perfect holiday vignette.
Tip: While there are plenty of cute swing tags available to buy, making your own is super simple and allows you to customise the design. Recycle last year’s Christmas cards or try using old maps and atlases for a unique and non-traditional look, doubling up the paper and gluing together to create a card-like thickness.
More adorable gift wrapping ideas
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Have you made your own Christmas decorations this year? Share your photos in the Comments.
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Browse more fun DIY projects
More adorable gift wrapping ideas
TELL US
Have you made your own Christmas decorations this year? Share your photos in the Comments.
MORE
Browse more fun DIY projects
There’s no simpler way to spread your Christmas message than to literally spell it out. Once you’ve decided on a yuletide greeting, you’ll need some paper or cardboard – metallic silver or gold looks a treat – and some letter stencils to get started. Simply cut out the letters and stick them to a piece of string to hang along the window or mantel.