If you’re anything like me, you probably have plenty of Amazon packages arriving at your door, especially during the holiday season. Instead of tossing those paper mailers into the recycling bin, why not turn them into something beautiful?
This is one of my favorite Christmas projects because it takes something we would normally throw away and transforms it into a charming, vintage-inspired ornament.
These handmade ornaments are easy to customize, inexpensive to make and a wonderful way to give those shipping materials a second life.
Supplies You’ll Need
- Amazon paper mailers or other sturdy paper shipping mailers
- Christmas images, vintage Christmas cards or printed designs
- Scissors
- Glue or hot glue
- Ribbon or wire for hanging
- Quilt batting, cotton balls or shredded paper for stuffing
- Glitter and other embellishments
- Aging glaze (optional)
- Clear coat (optional)
- Paint (optional)
How to Make Recycled Paper Christmas Ornaments
Step 1: Choose Your Image
Start by selecting the image you want to feature on the front of your ornament.
You can use old Christmas cards, print your own designs on cardstock or even print images on regular paper.
For my ornaments, I purchased the images of the Christmas Birds from an Etsy seller. You can still purchase and download the same images if you want these exact birds by clicking HERE. I printed them on card stock but you can print them on plain paper and then glue them another piece of the Amazon mailer so they are sturdier.
Step 2: Cut Out Your Ornament
Place your image on top of the paper mailer and cut around it, making sure the front and back of your ornament are exactly the same size and shape.
The sturdy kraft paper from the mailer makes a great backing for these ornaments.
Step 3: Add Your Hanger
If you’re using ribbon to hang your ornament, glue it into place before sealing the edges.
If you prefer wire, you can wait until the ornament is finished and punch holes for the wire hanger.
Step 4: Glue and Stuff Your Ornament
This part is similar to making a tiny pillow. Glue around three sides of your ornament, leaving an opening large enough to add stuffing.
I used quilt batting, but cotton balls work just as well. You could even use shredded paper if you want to incorporate more recycled materials. Add just enough stuffing to give your ornament a slightly puffy appearance.
Once you’re happy with the shape, glue the remaining edge closed.
Step 5: Add Your Embellishments
Now comes the fun part. You can embellish these any way you want. I added glitter to certain areas of my images to make the details stand out.
You can also use aging glaze to create a more vintage appearance or apply a clear coat over the entire ornament.
For one of my ornaments, I painted the back so it was white instead of the original brown kraft paper. On another, I left the back untouched so you could still see that it started out as an Amazon mailer!
I also added a decorative bow to the corner of one ornament and used additional glitter and aging glaze on another.
Make Them Your Own
The possibilities for decorating these ornaments are practically endless.
Whether you prefer traditional Christmas colors, vintage holiday images or something a little more whimsical, you can customize these ornaments to match your holiday decorating style.
You can keep them simple or add as many embellishments as you’d like. You’re creating something beautiful from materials you already have around the house which is a huge win no matter how you dress it up. 😉
A Little Holiday Magic From the Recycling Bin
I love projects that give discarded materials a new purpose, and these ornaments are a perfect example.
With a little creativity, some glue and a few embellishments, an ordinary Amazon mailer can become a handmade Christmas decoration you’ll enjoy hanging on your tree.
So before you toss those holiday shipping packages into the recycling bin, save a few and give this project a try!
Re-love, Re-imagine, Restore, Reuse, Relax.
Stacy
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