Looking for budget-friendly holiday projects you can make in an afternoon? Creating your own paper decor for christmas is one of the easiest ways to add handmade charm to your home.
Paper doilies aren’t just for serving cakes—their delicate, lace-like patterns make them ideal for vintage-inspired ornaments, stars, and wreaths.
Discover 6 simple DIY projects using round, rectangular, and heart-shaped paper doilies. Grab your glue gun, some twine, and let’s craft!
1. Accordion Paper Doily Wreath
Turn a simple cardboard into an elegant, snow-white holiday wreath.
- What you’ll need:
- 10–12 round paper doilies (about 21.5 cm)
- Cardboard
- White crepe paper or white paint
- Glue
- Stapler
- Twine
- How to make it:
- Cut a ring base out of cardboard using two different-sized plates as templates. Wrap the ring with white crepe paper (or paint it white).
- Accordion-fold each doily with small, even folds.
- Fold each accordion piece in half, cut at the center fold, and staple each base.
- Glue the folded doily segments all around the cardboard hoop, slightly overlapping them for a full, layered look.
- Add a twine loop to the back and a small bow to hang it up!
2. 3D Honeycomb Bauble Ornament
These delicate hanging globes look sophisticated on the tree, proving that handmade paper decor for christmas can look just as elevated as store-bought pieces.
- What you’ll need:
If you want to make a large paper ornament, use 14 paper doilies of 21.5 cm each.
- How to make it:
- Fold each doily in half and apply glue in the center so it stays folded into a semi-circle.
- Stack and glue the folded doilies together by dabbing two stripes of glue, near the edges.
- Make a loop with a piece of twine. glue both ends of the twine down the center spine.
- Fan the paper out and glue the first and last sections together to form a full 3D sphere. Slide some wooden beads for a finished touch.
3. 5-Minute Accordion Star Ornament
A quick and easy star that brings classic Scandinavian vibes to your holiday tree.
- What you’ll need:
- 1 rectangular paper doily (or 3 for a jumbo version)
- String
- Scissors
- Glue
- How to make it:
- Accordion-fold the rectangular doily across its width..
- Tie a piece of string securely around the exact center of the folded strip.
- Cut both ends of the paper doily into angled points.
- Fan out both sides and glue the adjoining edges together to create a multi-point star.
For a larger version, fold 3 rectangular doilies lengthwise like an accordion and glue them on top of each other . Once you have one large accordion-folded piece, repeat steps 2 through 4 above to form the star.
4. Modern Heart Doily Hoop Wreath
A simple, elegant wreath combining the delicate texture of vintage lace with a clean, modern look.
- What you’ll need:
- 10-12 round paper doilies (16.5 cm)
- A metal hoop (gold looks great)
- Glue
- String
- How to make it:
- Accordion-fold each round doily from one edge to the other.
- Fold each strip in half and add a dot of glue in the center fold to create small fan-heart silhouettes.
- Glue each piece evenly along the curve of your metal hoop.
- Tie a simple string loop to the top for hanging.
Look closely at this minimal, elegant wreath—depending on how your eye catches it, you’ll either see a ring of delicate hearts or a bold central star.
5. Sweet Paper Doily Angel
This timeless angel ornament makes a lovely gift tag, tree topper accent, or tree decoration.
- What you’ll need:
- 2 round paper doilies (16,5 cm)
- wooden beads (for head and hands)
- pipe cleaner
- glue
- twine
- How to make it:
- Cut one doily in half. Roll one half into a cone to form the angel’s dress, gluing a hanging loop inside the tip.
- Cut smaller wedges from the remaining half to roll into two tiny arm cones, glue small wooden beads at the ends for hands.
- Thread a larg wooden bead onto the string to create the head.
- Accordion-fold the second doily, fold it in half, and glue it to the back to form wings.
- Shape a small piece of pipe cleaner into a halo and glue it behind the head.
- Use a sharpie to draw eyes on the bead (optional).
6. Spiral Ornament
An eye-catching, dimensional medallion crafted from layered heart doilies that makes a standout piece of paper decor for christmas.
- What you’ll need:
- 8 heart-shaped paper doilies
- A paper sheet for the template
- Glue
- Twine
- How to make it:
- Fold a square piece of paper into 8 radiating guide lines (diagonals and center folds) to use as your alignment template.
- Fold eight heart-shaped doilies down the center.
- Following your guide lines, glue each folded heart next to each other in a circle, aligning each crease with the template mark.
- Join the first and final hearts together and let dry before displaying as an ornament or a dimensional tabletop accent.
Watch the Step-by-Step Video
Want to see all the folding techniques and assembly in action? Watch the full tutorial on 6 Easy Ways to Turn Paper Doilies into Christmas Decor | DIY Holiday Crafts.
Which Craft Will You Make First?
Crafting your own holiday pieces is such a calming way to welcome the season, and simple doilies give you endless options for beautiful, affordable decorating.
What is your favorite paper doily craft from this list—are you making the accordion wreath, the sweet angel, or one of the stars? Let me know in the comments below!
If you’re eager for even more holiday inspiration, don’t miss my other video featuring 5 Easy Christmas Decoration Ideas | Paper Crafts | Snowflakes Paper Doilies for more creative ways to deck your halls this season.
Happy crafting!
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Want to remember it? Save these Paper Decor for Christmas on your favorite Pinterest board
These paper-doily Christmas ideas are such a clever, budget-friendly way to make festive decor in an afternoon. I especially like how simple materials can still look so pretty on a tree or table.
Thanks Andy! Glad you like these ideas! Enjoy decorating for Christmas🎄