DIY decorations for graduation ceremonies: a collection of simple yet striking decoration ideas
With the graduation ceremony approaching, many of you might be wondering how to handle the decorations.
Since it’s a special occasion, you probably want to create heartfelt, handmade decor.
But when it comes time to get started, it’s easy to feel unsure about where to begin.
In this article, we’ll introduce ideas for DIY decorations for the graduation ceremony.
We’ve gathered a variety of ideas, including garlands, balloon art, and displays that let you look back on memories, so please use them as inspiration!
Handmade decorations for graduation ceremonies: a collection of simple yet impressive decor ideas (1–10)
Heart Garland
If you want to decorate the graduation ceremony venue cutely, try making a heart-shaped garland! Divide a rectangular sheet of construction paper into 16 strips.
Stack the strips in pairs and staple one end.
Open each pair to form a heart shape, then staple the other end as well.
Make lots of these and staple them together to complete the garland! You can use various colors to create a gradient effect or keep it simple with a single color—finish it in the style you like.
It’s also recommended to change the strip sizes to make hearts of different sizes!
balloon topiary
https://www.instagram.com/p/DEhj-EbTj0W/Topiary is an art form where plants are trimmed into desired shapes.
Let’s try making an easy version using balloons! Put a ball of oil-based clay into a plastic bag, then place it inside a paper cup.
Attach two straws together and tape them to an inflated balloon to make a balloon stick.
Insert the straw end into the clay in the paper cup, then fill the cup with tissue paper flowers to cover the clay.
Drape tulle over the balloon, and near the inflation point attach a tissue-paper flower and a ribbon to finish! Make lots using different colors of tissue paper and ribbon, and decorate the venue with them.
flower curtain
Flowers are a motif that strongly evokes hope for a new departure, so let’s incorporate them well and make the send-off festive.
One idea is to lay out flowers made from origami and the like, use them as a base, and decorate it with messages celebrating the journey ahead.
If you hang them from above so they gently sway, the softness of the flowers will stand out—highly recommended.
Using just one color can look too simple, so try to use many colors to create as cheerful an atmosphere as possible.
paper fan
Paper fans that you can easily make with construction paper or origami paper are handy decorations—great on their own or combined with other ornaments.
There are various ways to make them.
One method is to attach the ends of an accordion-folded sheet of paper, prepare a frame sized to the folded paper, and open it out within the frame.
Another method uses two accordion-folded sheets connected together and spread into a circle.
Try using papers in different colors and making fans in various sizes, and decorate them all around the venue!
Giant Flower
If you want a bold, eye-catching decoration with large flowers, try making a giant flower! Prepare 24 strips of construction paper cut into long, narrow rectangles.
Combine them by making sets of three and attaching each set end-to-end to create one long strip.
Twist each strip as if drawing a figure eight, then secure it at the center.
Apply double-sided tape to the centers and stack all the pieces together, and your giant flower is complete.
Make them with construction paper in different colors and patterns to brighten up the graduation ceremony venue!
Certificate and trophy
To celebrate their achievements once again, display the certificates and trophies your graduating children earned at each tournament.
To make it clear who won what, you could also add photos with decorations around the certificates and trophies, along with their names.
When younger members can visually see how hard their seniors worked, it becomes a source of motivation for them, too! It’s a display that conveys your renewed congratulations and inspires everyone to keep doing their best moving forward.
Photo panel
How about decorating with photos that capture past games, everyday practice scenes, and casual moments with the team members? Once you print the photos you want to display, cut an adhesive-backed board to the shape of each photo and mount the photos on it.
If there’s any excess around the edges, trim it with a craft knife.
You can place them on an easel as is, or stick them on the wall—both work! Compared to sticking printed photos directly, this adds dimension and a stylish touch, so it’s recommended.
For better visibility, it’s best to print the photos slightly larger.
Celebrate the graduating members with lots of memories!