Lovely handmade crafts

Let's make our own shimenawa! A collection of stylish ideas you can create with paper and artificial flowers

Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

Shimenawa to decorate your front entrance for the New Year.

Ready-made ones are lovely, but wouldn’t you like to try making one yourself? In this article, we introduce a variety of DIY shimenawa ideas using artificial flowers, different kinds of paper, yarn, craft tape, and more.

There are plenty of ideas that suit not only Japanese-style homes but also Western-style interiors.

We’ve gathered a wide range of variations, so please use them as inspiration.

Why not prepare for the New Year by making your own original shimenawa with simple materials and have fun in the process?

Let's make a handmade shimenawa! A stylish collection of ideas using paper and artificial flowers (21–30)

Phalaenopsis orchid shimenawa wreath

How to Make a New Year’s Shimenawa Wreath with Phalaenopsis Orchids (DIY)

Phalaenopsis orchid shimenawa wreath

Recommended for those who want to make a compact shimenawa wreath! It may be small, but with the right decorations you can create a wreath with a big impact.

If you have limited space to display it or prefer a smaller wreath, be sure to use this as a reference.

The materials you’ll need include colored paper cord, TANT paper, double-sided origami paper in red and gold, a circular craft punch, a large heart-shaped craft punch, a small heart-shaped craft punch, wood glue, and a glue container.

By cutting the materials and arranging them like mizuhiki cords, and using origami to create a fan-like finish, it looks like a craft you can enjoy making together with children while helping each other.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

New Year’s wreath with young pine branches

Shimenawa wreath with Japanese black pine – welcome the New Year with a classic New Year’s decoration

New Year’s wreath with young pine branches

Simple yet strikingly dynamic design is the charm! It’s an idea we’d love even beginners or those who feel they’re not good at handmade crafts to try.

You’ll need three branches of young pine (wakamatsu), three sprigs of nandina berries, ten stalks of rice ears, three strands of club moss (hikage-no-kazura), a 15 cm shimenawa wreath, garden shears, and floral wire.

You can find these at florists and similar shops, so gathering the materials should be exciting too.

The video carefully explains the key points and steps, so be sure to use it as a reference.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Let's make a shimenawa by hand! A stylish collection of ideas you can create with paper and artificial flowers (31–40)

Horseshoe-shaped New Year’s wreath

[100-Yen Store Artificial Flowers] Horseshoe-Shaped New Year’s Wreath ♡ Flower Arrangement

Horseshoe-shaped New Year’s wreath

Decorate your room or entrance with an elegant, beautiful wreath to welcome the New Year! You’ll need a paper shimenawa, four peonies, a mum, two micro rose spray nuances, cotton, two dancing orchids, golden enkianthus, wire, and more.

You can find all the materials at a 100-yen shop, so feel free to give it a try.

It’s built on a U-shaped wreath base, and the charm is that you can keep it up as interior decor even after the New Year! It also looks fun to play around with the arrangement and balance of the flowers.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Shimenawa made with chunky yarn

This is a warm and cute shimenawa made with fluffy chunky yarn.

Prepare two colors of chunky yarn cut to about 80 cm, and wrap them around an embroidery hoop so the colors alternate.

Once it’s fully wrapped, tie it off to secure.

Then add decorations as you like.

It’s also recommended to cut and glue on parts from New Year’s ornaments sold at 100-yen shops, or to attach artificial flowers or mizuhiki cords.

If you’d like to welcome the New Year with a slightly Western-style decoration, give this a try!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Shimenawa made with raffia

This is a stylish shimenawa decoration made with raffia, a material derived from the raffia palm.

Gather a bundle of raffia and secure one end with a rubber band, then braid it as if making a three-strand braid.

Once you finish braiding, form it into a ring and fasten it with wire.

Trim any excess, then attach your choice of decorations such as artificial flowers, mizuhiki cords, and paper shide to complete it! Raffia comes in a variety of colors, so choose shades you like or ones that suit New Year’s celebrations and give it a try.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Rapunzel-style shimenawa

This is an adorable shimenawa that brings Rapunzel to mind.

You can make it with materials from a 100-yen shop, which makes it easy and convenient to try.

Once you’ve secured the yellow yarn—braided into three strands—to the shimenawa, trim the stems of artificial flowers in your preferred colors and start decorating.

With Rapunzel in mind, choosing soft pinks and purples works well.

While shimenawa decorations are typically Japanese-style and associated with New Year’s, this Rapunzel-inspired version is very stylish and would blend nicely with your interior decor.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

A shimenawa decoration that uses the base horizontally

A handmade shimenawa decoration is a charming item that makes you feel attached and cozy.

This one can be made using materials from a 100-yen shop, so it’s easy to try, which is great.

Fix dried flowers and ornaments to the shimenawa, then wrap twine over them to secure everything firmly.

The trick is to wrap it in a crisscross pattern.

To keep the twine from showing, wrapping a ribbon over it looks cute.

The simple design blends well with interiors, so it would make a delightful gift for friends.

Pick your favorite ornaments and give it a try!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem