How to Make Tissue Paper Garland
In early America, garland was handmade from Christmas greens such as pine, spruce and cedar trees, according to the Christmas Decoration & Gifts Store website. Other natural items, including corn husks, moss, dried fruits and red berries, also were used. At the turn of the 20th century, however, as natural foliage decreased, artificial garland hit the marketplace. Today, use items you already have and create handmade garland to add a special touch to your holiday decor.
Things You'll Need
- Large Christmas tree cookie cutter
- Cardboard (cereal boxes)
- Scissors
- Hole punch
- Tissue paper in green, red and white
- Strong glue
- Thin ribbon
- Wide ribbon
- Red paper clips
Instructions
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1
Trace outlines of the cookie cutter (or draw your own design) onto the cardboard 10 to 20 times, depending on how long you want your garland.
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2
Cut out the shapes with scissors.
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3
Punch holes at the tips of the trees.
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4
Wad small pieces of each color of tissue paper into small balls.
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5
Cover a small section at a time with plenty of glue, starting at the top--but don't cover the punched hole. Cover the top point with the green tissue paper balls and include a few red balls as ornaments. Glue strips of white wads at intervals to represent lights. Continue with the green, red and white balls of paper until each tree is covered.
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6
Allow your trees to dry for at least an hour.
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7
String the thin ribbon through each tree's punched hole and tie it together. String the Christmas trees onto the wide ribbon and secure them into place with the paper clips.
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8
Loosely tie strips of red and white tissue paper onto the wide ribbon in between the Christmas trees. Cut or tear short slits into the edges for a frayed effect. Hang your garland on a wall or fireplace mantel.
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Tips & Warnings
Instead of Christmas trees, use a candy cane, Santa Claus, snowman or any other holiday shape and its corresponding tissue paper colors.
Make this garland for any holiday. For an Easter garland, use bunny or egg cookie-cutter shapes; for a Valentine garland, use heart or cupid cookie cutters, etc.
Decorate both sides of the trees if your garland will be hanging in an archway.
Your hand may get sore cutting out all that cardboard, so use sturdy scissors.
