Turn thrifted scrapbook paper and a little creativity into beautiful, vintage-inspired Christmas ornaments!
I love vintage Christmas decorations, especially those adorable mid-century illustrations featuring sweet little deer, cheerful Santa faces and colorful holiday scenes.
For this project, I wanted to recreate that nostalgic Christmas look using materials I already had on hand.
I started with some scrapbook paper I’d picked up at the thrift store and paired it with a vintage-inspired deer illustration I created using ChatGPT.
The result was an adorable accordion-folded paper ornament with a sweet little deer in the center, pink glitter around the edges and a simple ribbon hanger.
This isn’t a new crafting technique. Paper rosettes have been around for generations, but they’re an easy and inexpensive way to create custom Christmas decorations.
And the best part? You can make them in any color or style you like!
Supplies You’ll Need
- Scrapbook paper (mine came from the thrift store)
- A printed Christmas illustration or image on cardstock
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks or craft glue
- Glitter
- Ribbon/twine for hanging
- Additional embellishments, if desired
How to Make Accordion-Folded Christmas Ornaments
Step 1: Cut Your Scrapbook Paper
Start by cutting two strips of scrapbook paper approximately 2 inches wide.
The width of your strips will determine the size of your finished ornament, so you can adjust the measurements depending on the image you plan to use.
I actually ended up trimming my strips a little smaller because my center image was smaller than I originally anticipated.
That’s the beauty of crafting. You can make adjustments as you go!
Step 2: Accordion-Fold the Paper
Take each strip of paper and fold it back and forth, accordion style, creating a series of even pleats.
Once both strips are folded, glue one end of the first strip to an end of the second strip.
Then glue the remaining two ends together to create one continuous circle of folded paper.
Step 3: Create Your Paper Rosette
Now comes the fun part! And by fun I mean slightly crazy making because the paper is going to fight you a little during this process. Don’t give up! you are stronger than the paper.
Carefully push the folded paper inward so that the accordion pleats spread out into a circular rosette.
Apply glue to the center to hold everything together. I used hot glue because it dries faster. You can use a different glue if you have a way to hold it in place until it dries.
Step 4: Add Your Christmas Illustration
For my ornament, I wanted something that reminded me of the adorable Christmas decorations from the 1950s and 1960s.
I used ChatGPT to create a vintage-inspired illustration of a sweet little deer with big eyes, long eyelashes and a pink bow.
Once I had the image I wanted, I printed it on card stock, and cut it into a circle to fit the center of my paper rosette.
You can certainly use an old Christmas card, a favorite holiday illustration or another image you already have.
If you’re using a Christmas card, simply find the portion you’d like to feature, trace around a round object and cut it out.
Glue your image to the center of the rosette.
Step 5: Add a Little Sparkle
No vintage-inspired Christmas ornament is complete without a little glitter!
I added glue along the outside edges of my folded scrapbook paper and sprinkled pink glitter over the glue.
I then rolled the rossette in a pile of glitter making sure all the glue was coated.
I’ve seen people use glass glitter for that really nostalgic look but you can use any glitter you have.
You can also add glitter or other embellishments to the center image. you’re only limited by your imagination as far as decorating these. I’ve seem people add greenery to them, beads and more. Go crazy and get creative! Just tag me when you post it because I love seeing your creativity.
Step 6: Add a Ribbon Hanger
To finish the ornament, create a loop from a piece of ribbon and glue it to the back.
Allow everything to dry completely before hanging your ornament on the Christmas tree.
That’s it!
You’ve created a beautiful, vintage-inspired Christmas ornament using inexpensive materials.
Make Them Your Own!
One of my favorite things about this project is how easy it is to customize. You could use vintage Santa illustrations, snowmen, Christmas bells, reindeer or even family photographs.
And while I used ChatGPT to create my deer illustration, you don’t need AI to make these ornaments. Old Christmas cards, recycled greeting cards and illustrations you already have will work just as well.
These would also make adorable package toppers, garland decorations or handmade gifts.
A Quick Word About Hot Glue Gun Safety
Hot glue guns are handy tools, but they can cause serious burns. I recently learned that lesson the hard way! I’m still waiting for feeling to return to my finger tip after burning myself while making the pipe cleaner trees.
Silicone finger protectors are an inexpensive accessory worth considering when you’re working with hot glue, especially on small projects like these ornaments. And ESPECIALLY if your kids want to use the glue gun. A bowl of cold water is not a enough. Trust me on this one!
Always use caution when handling hot glue, and supervise children around hot glue guns.
Vintage Christmas Charm on a Budget
One of the things I love most about crafting is finding ways to use materials that might otherwise go to waste.
These scrapbook-paper ornaments are a perfect example.
With some thrifted paper, a printed illustration and a little glitter, you can create something that looks like it came from your Grandmas Christmas tree.
And because you can customize the colors and illustrations, no two ornaments have to look alike.
Sometimes the simplest projects turn into the sweetest Christmas decorations.
Happy crafting!
Re-love, Re-imagine, Restore, Reuse, Relax.
Stacy
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