Make your own paperchains

Make Christmas Magic With Paper Decorations Inspired By Nature.

Decorating my home for Christmas is one of the best parts of the festive season.

 Memories of Christmas past, as dusty cardboard boxes are opened to the delight of my daughters. Glass, wood and paper decorations lovingly unwrapped to the familiar sound of carols, laughter and the occasional disagreement.

 The simple, natural, handmade decorations bring the most joy and beauty to our home. On winter walks, we gather freshly cut evergreens like pine, holly, mistletoe and Ivy. Over the coming days, we’ll add popcorn strings, cranberry garlands, dried orange and pear slices and baked cinnamon stars.

A favourite family tradition is making paper decorations, a perfect way to use any wallpaper offcuts.  

We’ll make chains to hang from the ceiling, paper rosettes to go in the window, leaf garlands for the beams and handmade crackers for the table.

To make Paper Chains:

Paper chains are a wonderful way to use up left over wallpaper. I have made these chains out of mixed designs, which means even the tiniest strip of paper doesn’t go to waste-but they also look beautiful and a little more minimal when made from single patterns .

You will need:

•Wallpaper offcuts

•Scissors

•Glue, tape, or staples.

Instructions.

-Cut paper into narrow strips, that are all the same width and length. A larger strip of paper will make a looser chain and a tiny strip will make a tighter, more sculptural chain.

-Make the first strip into a loop and fasten the ends together using glue, or washi tape or staples.

-Thread another strip through the loop and join the ends together and you have the beginning of a chain.

-Add more links to the chain until it is the length you want and hang it on a tree, a decorative branch, a beam, in front of a window where ever takes your fancy. They also look beautiful hanging on a contrasting wallpapered wall in multiple strands.

Photography by @catherinerachelphotos