Activity
Homemade Paper Christmas Ornaments
Paper Christmas ornaments are a great DIY holiday craft for kids and adults! In one evening, you and your children can create easy, colorful paper Christmas ornaments using nothing more than a coffee can, window screen, cookie cutters, scrap pieces of colored paper, and a blender. This paper Christmas ornaments project introduces children to papermaking, and is sure to add a special touch to your holiday decorations.
Grade
Subject
Thank you for your input.
What You Need:
- Blender
- Towels
- Coffee can with plastic cover
- Small bowls, dishpan
- Window screen, nylons or plastic mesh
- Nail or bookbinder's awl
- Plastic cup or dishes
- Paper scraps, colored craft paper
- Plastic forks, spoons and knifes
- Handy wipes or felt pads
- Iron or hairdryer
- Sponge
- Glue stick, 3-D gel pens, glitter
What You Do:
- To prepare the pulp, tear small pieces from your sheet of colored paper, about the size of a quarter. Put the pieces in a small bowl of water to soften and prepare them for the blender.
- Fill the blender about half full of water and add about a half sheet of torn paper. Blend at the lowest speed for 10 to 15 seconds. Then change to medium for another 10
seconds then high speed for another 10 to 15 seconds. By varying the speed of the blender you will help prevent it from overheating and binding up. If the blender seems to be having trouble then reduce the amount of paper you put in.
- After the pulp is blended pour it into the strainer that is sitting in a large bowl or plastic tub. This helps drain the water so that you can put the pulp into a plastic cup or dish. Do this for each color that you would like to use.
- The next step is to make our “mold and deckle”. This would be your coffee can and window screen. Take the plastic cover and punch holes into it. You can use a nail, ice pick or bookbinder's awl. This plastic cover holds the screen in place on the bottom of the can.
- Next, cut a piece of your window screen about 3 inches larger than the size of the lid, about 8" square. Lay your screen over the coffee can. Snap the lid tightly so the screen stays flat. Next fill your dish tub, baking dish or even a saucepan with about two inches of water. Insert your coffee can - screen side down - into the water and move it around until the water level rises.
- Scoop out some paper pulp from the color of your choice. The ideal amount is 4 -5 scoops. Stir it around until it's evenly spread out over the screen.
- Lift it straight up and let it drain. Set the can down and gently pull the plastic lid off. Lift the screen out and turn it over onto your felt pad or handy wipe. Sponge the back of the screen and then gently lift the screen off.
- Here's the fun part. Take your favorite cookie cutter and lay it on your wet piece of paper. Begin to fill the inside with the colored pulp of choice.
- Gently lift the shape off and again lay the window screen over it and press with the sponge. At this point you may use a hair-dryer, iron or let it air dry. Repeat the process for the second side.
- Once the pieces are dry you can decorate them with 3-D Gels, Glitter or crayons. Using a glue stick coat both sides, lay your string or ribbon in between and then press the pieces together using two weights, such as phone books.
- This is a fun project for the weekend, and the kids can use their coffee can ornaments for anything, such as gifts, decoration, or door hangers with messages like “In and Out”, “Beware Dirty Room”, and “Enter at Own Risk”.
Related learning resources
Paper Christmas Ornaments
Worksheet
Paper Christmas Ornaments
These easy Christmas ornaments for kids are get your little one involved in holiday decorating. Make easy Christmas ornaments for kids this holiday season.
kindergarten
Arts & crafts
Worksheet
Beaded Christmas Ornaments
Activity
Beaded Christmas Ornaments
Beaded Christmas ornaments add some homemade cheer to your tree. Make these beaded Christmas ornaments with your child this holiday season.
Middle school
Arts & crafts
Activity
Origami Christmas Ornaments
Activity
Origami Christmas Ornaments
Oragami Christmas ornaments make a beautiful addition to your family's tree. Make origami Christmas ornaments out of old wrapping paper this holiday season.
2nd grade
Arts & crafts
Activity
Color Christmas Ornaments
Worksheet
Color Christmas Ornaments
Get creative with your Christmas ornaments, and make your own with these fun printables! Have your little ones help color and decorate these paper ornaments.
1st grade
Arts & crafts
Worksheet
Printable Christmas Ornaments
Worksheet
Printable Christmas Ornaments
Printable Christmas ornaments get you set up for some quick Christmas cheer. Make some printable Christmas ornaments with your child this holiday season.
preschool
Arts & crafts
Worksheet
3D Paper Ornaments
Worksheet
3D Paper Ornaments
Whether it's Christmas, Hanukkah, or the 4th of July, these 3D paper ornaments will look lovely hanging from the ceiling or strung on a garland.
3rd grade
Arts & crafts
Worksheet
Christmas Ornaments to Color
Worksheet
Christmas Ornaments to Color
Christmas ornaments to color are fun for your child during the holidays. Decorate these Christmas ornaments to color after you've lit the tree.
kindergarten
Worksheet
Homemade Christmas Crackers
Activity
Homemade Christmas Crackers
Homemade Christmas crackers add some bang to your holiday celebration. Make a set of homemade Christmas crackers with your child this holiday season.
1st grade
Arts & crafts
Activity
Christmas Ornaments Coloring Page
Worksheet
Christmas Ornaments Coloring Page
Celebrate the arrival of Christmas with a steaming cup of cocoa and this ornaments coloring page.
preschool
Worksheet
Christmas Ornament Coloring
Worksheet
Christmas Ornament Coloring
Christmas ornament coloring is a fun activity for a winter's day. Try our Christmas ornament coloring with your child, and make a set of pretty paper ornaments.
kindergarten
Arts & crafts
Worksheet
Homemade Paper
Activity
Homemade Paper
This science project lets kids explore what happens when water and paper interact, and it produces homemade paper perfect for gift tags or stationery.
kindergarten
Arts & crafts
Activity
Yarn Ornaments
Activity
Yarn Ornaments
Yarn ornaments are a beautiful and crafty way to celebrate the holidays. Make a set of yarn ornaments with your child, then hang them on your Christmas tree.
3rd grade
Arts & crafts
Activity