DIY Paper Christmas Ornaments: 24 Beautiful Ideas You Can Make This Week
DIY Paper Christmas Ornaments: Budget-Friendly, Beautiful, and Easy to Make
If you’re looking for affordable, eco-friendly Christmas decorations, paper ornaments are your answer. They’re wonderfully versatile: you can make them from newspaper, origami paper, book pages, or colourful craft paper. Best of all? They’re some of the easiest DIY Christmas ornaments to make, especially with kids.
Paper ornaments have a charm that no mass-produced bauble can replicate. Whether you’re after minimalist sophistication, playful patterns, or delicate 3D designs, paper gives you endless creative possibilities… and they cost pennies to make!
What You’ll Discover In This Post:
- Easy tutorials perfect for beginners (and kids!)
- Step-by-step guides with video demonstrations
- Projects using materials you likely have at home
- Ideas for every style: minimalist, rustic, colourful, elegant
- Eco-friendly alternatives to plastic ornaments
Pro Tip: Paper ornaments are also fantastic for gift-wrapping. Attach a small paper bauble to a present and you’ve instantly elevated your gift presentation.
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Simple Paper Bauble Ornaments
Maggy from Red Ted Art walks you through a super simple paper bauble tutorial. This is an incredibly beginner-friendly introduction to making paper ornaments—if you can fold paper and glue, you can make this.
This is a super simple papier mâché Christmas tree bauble idea. Papier mâché ornaments are incredibly cost-effective (use newspaper!) and create a surprisingly professional finish.
This video tutorial takes you through how to make a more involved paper bauble—a honeycomb ball that makes a lovely architectural addition to any Christmas tree. The 3D effect is stunning and surprisingly easy to achieve.
Try out this easy paper Christmas angel craft activity with kids. These timeless angels are relatively simple to make, and the result is adorable.
3D & Sculptural Paper Ornaments
Paper can be a really cost-effective way to craft homemade Christmas decorations. This is a lovely tutorial for making gorgeous 3D paper snowflakes. These are so striking when they catch the light, and they're surprisingly sturdy.
Sometimes simplicity is perfection. These gorgeous simple white paper house Christmas ornaments are architectural, elegant, and look far more complex than they actually are to make.
Feb 2, 2026 — Christmas paper crafts that transform your home into a festive wonderland. Simple tutorials for beautiful handmade decorations. Start creating magic today! | Christmas paper lights, Paper christmas ornaments diy, Diy paper christmas decorations
Nature-Inspired Paper Ornaments
This is one for literary fans... and honestly, everyone should be a fan of this one. These book page Christmas ornaments look absolutely beautiful. There's something about the simple black on white that brings an upscale vibe to these easy-to-make DIY decorations.
All you need is strips of paper and a glue gun...
Interactive & Fun Paper Ornaments
Now these origami waterbomb Christmas decorations really put the fun in crafting homemade Christmas decorations! There's a video tutorial alongside the step-by-step guide, so you really can't go wrong. They're lightweight, look visually stunning when hung together, and are absolutely mesmerizing to look at.
This simple but clever idea takes you right back to making Christmas decorations at primary school. The fabulous thing about making these salt crystal snowflake decorations is that they get a craft session AND a science lesson at the same time! Plus they're made using everyday household items.
Materials You May Not Have Considered
This handmade sweet angel ornament, made from coffee filters and a few basic craft supplies, is beautiful hanging on a tree. Coffee filters are surprisingly versatile, they hold their shape beautifully when folded and have a delicate, ethereal quality.
Who would have thought that using cupcake cases would be an easy way to create a honeycomb style Christmas bauble...
Use up last year's festive napkins to make Christmas star baubles.
This is a brilliant Christmas decoration to make with toddlers and young children. Paper mâché is such a sensory delight for little hands, and newspaper is free. The resulting ornaments look far more professional than their humble origins suggest.
Scandi Inspired Shapes
These paper santa and reindeer garlands are Scandi-inspired perfection! There is a free template you can download. Use the garland to decorate a mantlepiece or you could make mini versions and use them to add a finishing touch to Christmas gifts.
This paper lantern advent calendar garland is so strikingly beautiful it is hard to believe that it is actually homemade.
Fancy making a gingerbread star garland without baking? Here's a brilliantly easy way to make a look-a-like gingerbread star garland using craft paper to create a lovely Christmas decoration
Tips for success with paper ornaments
Choosing Your Paper:
Lightweight/tissue paper: Best for delicate, translucent ornaments | Cardstock: Great for structured shapes like houses and geometric designs | Specialty papers: Book pages, sheet music, magazine clippings add visual interest | Origami paper: Perfect for folded projects
Storage & Durability:
Paper ornaments are surprisingly sturdy but delicate compared to plastic. Store them in a flat box with tissue paper between layers to prevent crushing and folding.
Personalisation Ideas:
- Use your child’s handwriting or artwork on paper ornaments
- Include the year and names
- Make them as gifts with a handwritten note attached
Eco-Friendly Bonus:
Unlike plastic or glass ornaments, paper ornaments are 100% recyclable at the end of their life. They’re the guilt-free decoration choice.
Also read: 42 Beautiful homemade Christmas card ideas for kids to make
FAQS
Can you make paper ornaments with kids? Absolutely! Most paper ornament projects are toddler and kid-friendly. Papier mâché, simple baubles, and snowflakes are particularly good for younger children.
How long do paper ornaments last? With proper storage, paper ornaments last for years. Keep them in a cool, dry place away from humidity. They’ll gradually yellow or fade, which some people love for a vintage aesthetic.
What’s the cheapest way to make paper ornaments? Papier mâché using newspaper is the most budget-friendly option. Coffee filter angels are also nearly free if you have the supplies at home.
Can paper ornaments survive humidity? Paper doesn’t love moisture, so avoid hanging them near windows in humid climates or in steamy kitchens. If humidity is an issue, coat them with a thin layer of mod podge or acrylic sealer for protection.
For more seasonal projects, explore our Christmas crafts and decorations.
Hello, I’m Luci, founder of Mums Make Lists. The site is full of useful and fun ideas for life and seasonal celebrations. Plus a growing selection of instantly downloadable fun printables and party planners. Read more.