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!
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Handmade decorations for the graduation ceremony: A collection of simple yet striking decoration ideas (21–30)
Chenille flowers
Fresh flowers and artificial ones are lovely, but here’s a recommended idea for those who want to prepare flowers by hand.
Bundle about eight pipe cleaners of similar colors, and use one of them to tie the bundle together.
Starting with the color you want on the outside, twist each pipe cleaner inward toward the center.
For the one that will be in the middle, cut it slightly to shorten it before you start twisting—this gives the whole piece more depth.
Shape everything, add a stem, and you’re done.
Make several and display them in a vase or similar container.
Character wall decoration
If you put up popular characters from the team around the graduation ceremony venue, the graduating members are sure to love it! If you’re not confident in drawing, you can easily make characters by using ballpoint pen pressure.
Print an image of the character you want to make, and place construction paper in the main colors of the character underneath it.
Trace firmly along the character’s outline with a ballpoint pen so that the pressure marks transfer to the construction paper.
Cut along the indented lines to create the overall shape.
Make the smaller parts the same way and stick them onto the large base of the character, and you’re done! Try making a variety of characters.
Handmade decorations for the graduation ceremony. A collection of simple yet eye-catching decoration ideas (31–40)
large three-dimensional ribbon
A perfect idea for wall decorations! Here’s a way to make a three-dimensional ribbon.
First, cut out the top part of the ribbon, the knot, and the bottom parts from construction paper.
Next, overlap and glue the ends of the top ribbon piece together at the center.
When you do this, round out the creases on both sides to give it a three-dimensional look.
Finally, attach the knot and the bottom pieces, and you’re done! Try placing it above the phrase “Congratulations on graduating from the team,” or extend the bottom pieces to use it as a frame decoration.
Cherry blossom mobile
Let’s try making a cherry blossom mobile, a popular ceiling decoration that adds a festive touch to graduation celebrations.
This idea comes with templates you can download and use—just cut the parts out of construction paper and attach them to thread to finish.
Drawing evenly spaced petals is surprisingly tricky, so the templates are a big help.
Gather your favorite paper and give it a try.
If you use it as a wall decoration, it might also be lovely to stick memorable photos on some of the blossoms.
life-size painting
If you want decorations that will wow the graduating members, try displaying life-size drawings of them! Make sure you know each member’s height, and you can draw while looking at photos, or have the graduates lie down on a large sheet of paper to trace their outlines—either way works.
Draw each picture with care and with the graduates in mind, and they’re sure to love it! You can draw them on separate sheets or put everyone together on one large sheet.
Post the drawings all over the venue’s walls to celebrate the graduates!
paper pom-poms
Let’s make paper pom-poms to brighten up the walls at the graduation ceremony venue! Stack 7–8 sheets of tissue paper and fold them in an accordion.
Secure the center of the accordion fold with nylon thread or similar, then gently pull apart each sheet of tissue to shape it like a flower—done! Before you fluff the petals, you can round the ends with scissors or add jagged cuts to create a unique look.
If you layer different colors of tissue paper for a single pom-pom, it will turn out even more colorful—highly recommended.
Play around with sizes, too, and decorate the venue in a vibrant way.
Rainbow Arch
A rainbow-colored arch that’s sure to draw gasps the moment it comes into view.
It’s a rainbow arch made using the familiar paper flower decorations often seen at events like graduation and team send-off ceremonies.
The basic method is the same as for making the paper flowers.
The key is not to use just one color, but to combine different colors to create a rainbow effect.
Even by itself, it makes a dazzling wall decoration! Hang the finished flower garlands from the ceiling in an arch shape, and your rainbow arch is complete! Not only the main players, but all participants will be filled with excitement.
