paper christmas tree ornament tutorial
November 30th, 2010
a paper christmas tree ornament
This as simple as it gets. A few scraps of paper, one seam and in minutes you’ve make a pretty, handmade ornament. I used paint chips (in lovely martha stewart colors) from the hardware store because I had them on hand, but cardstock or thin cardboard or old christmas cards would all work well.
Cut out one star and three to five strips of paper. If you’d like to use the same measurements I used, you can download the pattern pictured below. If you would rather do it freehand, cut progressively longer strips for the tree, as wide as you like, and cut a good size trunk.
You are going to sew a seam down the middle of everything on your sewing machine. Sewing on paper is really not that much different than sewing on fabric, except that you use a slightly longer stitch and it’s ok to use a dull needle. If you are anything like me, there is one in your machine right now! Make a bunch of paper tree ornaments with that perfectly dull specimen and then do yourself a favor: take it out! And get a nice, new sharp one in there for the rest of your christmas sewing.
First make sure you have about three inches of slack from the bobbin and past the needle before you begin sewing. Then place the star under the presser foot of your machine take one stitch forward and then one stitch back (a little sewing dance!) to secure the thread and then sew down the middle of the star. Before you get to the bottom nudge the shortest strip of paper under the presser foot and sew down the middle of it. And so on, with the rest of the strips and the trunk.
When you get to the bottom of the trunk, sew back and forth a few times to secure the thread again. Tie the ends on top of the ornament together, so it makes a loop for hanging. Snip the thread ends on the bottom of the trunk and you’re done!
variations
I included a pattern for a snowman in the PDF pattern as well, but a million other things are possible: candy canes, bells, santas, pretty much anything you can think of to cut out and sew together!
a christmas present for my lovely readers: a week of handmade ornament tutorials!
- monday: straw and pompom garland
- tuesday: paper christmas tree ornaments
- wednesday: felt dove ornament
[…] tuesday: paper christmas tree ornaments […]
those are precious and fun to do with my kids! great idea!
This is an absolutely cool idea!! I definitely need to try this with my girls!
Aewsome! We are definitely going to do this.
I love love love sewing paper – I think it’s the ‘shuch shuck’ noise the needle makes going through the paper. Your ornaments are pretty!
sooo pretty! my kids will love to make these!
paper + sewing: what could be better?! love it!
Gorgeous! Your tree must look divine.
Yeah! Now I know the rules (or lack there of) to sew paper. These little ornaments are just darling.
Brilliant! And I LOVE that you used paint cards – this is a great project to do with my daughter, she’ll LOVE it!
By the way, I have only once before sewed with cards: Lili’s great grandfather was turning 92 so we stitched together two store bought cards: one for Happy 90th, and one for Happy 2nd. It was cute :)
These are just swell! I’m definitely adding these to my project list this year.
What a great idea! I love the Christmas tree! I bet it is fun to watch it move whenever there is a breeze.
[…] Must. Make. These! […]
These are great! My daughter is all ready to get going on the machine now. I think she came up with about 10 different paper designs to sew up before going to bed. You are always a great inspiration to us, thanks!
Hey—these are great. I just did a tutorial on my blog for another very simple kind of paper ornament/ decoration—-3-D trees made with recycled thin cardboard—no glue or fasteners. Check it out.
[…] tuesday: paper christmas tree ornaments […]
This is adorable!
I’d love for you to link up on my blog. I will be featuring 25 ornaments in the next 25 days!
Here is the link:
http://singingthreelittlebirds.blogspot.com/2010/11/christmas-ornament-link-up-singing.html
awesome idea – i’ve been wanting to use paint sample cards for something. look out hardware store, here I come!
I love them! What a great idea! And the instant gratification thing is lovely too.
[…] Marley from her own blog at elsiemarley.com shows us how to make sewn paper ornaments and a felt dove […]
[…] Cute paper Christmas tree ornament tutorial. […]
OH I love these p aper trees!
oh, now how cute is that? the paint chips – so clever. i’ve been too chicken to try sewing paper on my machine, but if you say it can be done…
[…] Paper Christmas Tree Ornament by Elsie Marley […]
[…] Marley shows you how to make these ornaments using paper and a sewing machine. Click here to go to the tutorial. You may also […]