hanging Paper Christmas decorations

Paper Angel Ornament

for Window or Tree

1.Cut 2 strips of paper 11 in. x 3/4 in. (30cm. x 2 cm.) Cut one strip in half.
2.Make a loop out of the longest strip by gluing or stapling the ends together.
3.Pinch the loop near one end so that the head is formed. Staple or glue in place.
4.Make the 2 wings by gluing or stapling the ends of the 2 shorter strips together. They should be tear-drop shapes rather than loops. (see photo below)
5.Glue or staple the wings next to the neck, just under the head.
6.Pinch or fold the large part of the loop in 2 places so that it looks like a dress.
7.Optional: make a strip of a longer piece of paper, glue or staple it into a circle, and hang the angel in the middle of the circle.
8.Use a needle and thread to make a loop for hanging.

Note: a paper cutter makes preparation for this craft much faster than scissors, especially if you can cut several sheets at once.

Paper Star Ornament

for Window or Tree

1.Cut 5 strips of paper 8 1/2 in x 3/4 in. (21x2 cm.) . Cut 5 more strips of paper that are 6 x 3/4 in. (15 x 2 cm.) .
2.Make all 10 strip into a loop by gluing or stapling the ends together.
3.Fold all 10 loops flat.
4.Open the loops, then put the fold lines together and fold flat again.
5.Open all 10 loops that should now be diamond shapes.
6.Glue or staple the 5 small diamonds inside the 5 large diamonds.
7.Glue or staple the 5 large diamonds together to form a star.
8.Use a needle and thread to make a loop for hanging.

Note: if you can’t find paper that is 2 different colors on the two sides, then you can achieve the same result with 2 sheets of different colored paper. However, don’t glue the 2 sheets together since they are likely to buckle when you fold them. Just glue them together when you are forming the loops.

Paper Heart Ornament for Window or Tree

1.Cut 2 strips of paper 8 1/2 in x 3/4 in. (21x2 cm.) These measurements don’t have to be exact.
1.Cut 2 strips of paper 6 x 3/4 in. (16 x 2 cm.) This doesn’t have to be exact.
2.Glue or staple the 2 ends of a short strip together to form a teardrop shape.
3.Place a long strip over the short strip that has already been made into a teardrop shape and glue or staple the ends in place. (see photo below)
4.Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the remaining short and long strip.
5.Glue or staple the 2 teardrop shapes so the glued ends are together to form a heart.
6.Use a needle and thread to make a loop for hanging.

If all that sounds too complicated, try this--cut all 4 strips the same length--the width of the paper. Then hold two strips together on the ends. Pull on the middle one to make it shorter, and cut off the excess. Glue or staple the ends.

Hang these easy paper decorations on a door, the refrigerator, a narrow wall, or in a window. They only cost pennies because they are made out of paper, or make them out of foam sheets for more durability.

String the decorations together with needle and thread. Add interest by stringing beads between the ornaments. Keep the beads from crushing the paper ornaments by running the thread through the hole in the bead twice (one strand will stay on the outside of the bead.) This will still enable you to move the beads up and down, but keep the beads from sliding down on top of the paper ornaments. Some dollar stores (100 yen stores) sell wooden or plastic beads, but if you can’t find these, buy a necklace or bracelet, cut it apart and use the beads. You can also roll paper into beads by rolling narrow triangles of paper, and the narrow end of the triangle will make the middle of the bead fatter than the ends.

Add a circle of paper around the middle angel. Glue 2 strips of paper together to make it more sturdy. Make paper spirals, “S’s” or “C’s” by rolling a strip of paper around a skewer, toothpick, or nail. Finally, glue them around the outside of the paper circle.

To make a spiral, roll the whole strip in the same direction. To make a “C” roll both ends up to the middle. For an “S” roll up one half like the “C” but flip it over to roll the other end so that the curls are on opposite sides of the paper strip.

Crafts > Crafts for Adults by Season > 15 Paper Christmas Tree Ornaments > Hanging Paper Christmas Decorations