Handmade winter garlands: cute ideas that are easy to make
In winter, we tend to spend more time indoors, and many of us may find ourselves thinking, “I want to make something,” or “I want to decorate my room to brighten the mood.”
In this article, we’ll share DIY ideas for winter garlands.
We’ve gathered cute and stylish ideas using origami paper, felt, leaves, and nuts.
Each one is simple to make, so give them a try if you like!
There are also ideas inspired by winter events like Christmas.
If you enjoy crafts—kids to seniors alike—these are perfect for you.
Handmade winter garlands: 10 cute and easy-to-make ideas (1–10)
Garland of dried flowers and lights
Let’s make a garland light that beautifully illuminates your room! Prepare a store-bought garland light and some dried flowers, then attach the dried flowers to the string sections between the lights wherever you like.
Using a glue gun makes the gluing easy.
The process is very simple, but you’ll probably struggle with balance—deciding which dried flowers to attach where.
It’s a good idea to spread out the lights first, lay out the dried flowers, and visualize the arrangement before you start attaching them.
[Felt] Fluffy Winter Garland
![[Felt] Fluffy Winter Garland](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7IqY2Y1DeGw/sddefault.jpg)
Let me share an idea for a felt ball garland.
Make a circular template with a radius of 1.8 cm and use it to cut out felt circles.
The number you cut depends on how many balls you want to make, but you’ll need six circular pieces for each ball.
Fold each circle in half and use a hot glue gun to glue only the center part along the edge.
Do the same for all six pieces, then divide them into two sets of three, stack each set, and glue them together along the folded edge.
Next, sandwich the string between these two half-ball pieces and glue them together.
Space the balls 7 cm apart for a neat finish.
Icicle garland
https://www.instagram.com/nijiirokobo/p/CmgH52sJDs1/Introducing an icicle garland that lets you enjoy the frosty chill of winter right in your room! It’s very easy to make, so give it a try.
You’ll need baking paper, string, a hot glue gun, refill glue sticks, scissors, and tape.
Lay down the baking paper, stretch the string across it, and tape it in place so it doesn’t move.
Using the glue gun, create icicles by drawing them from the string downward—imagine you’re drawing icicles with hot glue.
Once dry, peel the icicles off the baking paper, remove any wispy strands of plastic, and you’re done!
[Felt] Setsubun Garland
![[Felt] Setsubun Garland](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PaEUx9NALKI/sddefault.jpg)
This is a garland made by crafting various must-have Setsubun motifs out of felt and stringing them together—Setsubun being one of the major events of winter.
Since the oni (ogre) is the most iconic motif, place it at the center and arrange other motifs around it.
The size you make the oni and the expression you give it will affect how cute it looks, so it’s important to aim for a design that complements the softness of felt.
If you only layer flat felt pieces, everything can feel too two-dimensional, so it’s a good idea to add volume by incorporating items like an ehomaki (lucky sushi roll) made by wrapping felt, and placing them effectively.
Origami Snowflake Garland
Here’s an ornament idea that you can also use as parts for a garland.
First, cut a 15 cm sheet of origami paper into four equal squares.
Use two of these small squares to make one snowflake.
Fold the paper into a triangle three times, then round off the edges with scissors.
Draw two evenly spaced curved lines on the inside and cut along them to make slits.
Open the paper, then bring the inner sections between the two slits toward the center at four points and glue them together.
Make the other piece the same way, then offset it slightly and glue them together at the base.
Your snowflake is complete! It also looks cute if you reverse the colors of the origami paper.
Create with envelopes! Paper fans & garlands
This is a three-dimensional paper fan and a garland you can write messages on, made simply by connecting and cutting envelopes.
First, stack the envelopes and secure them with a clip.
Apply glue in a T shape and stick them together, then punch two holes through the stack and thread a string.
Next, cut the stacked envelopes so that the glued T can split apart; this creates a garland of connected triangles.
When you unfold the envelopes you just cut, you’ll have a three-dimensional paper fan.
It’s also recommended to add letters or drawings to the garland, or use envelopes in different colors to make it more festive.
Garland of nuts and berries
Here’s an idea for a nut/seed garland I recommend as a Christmas decoration.
Simply attach screw eye hooks to your favorite natural pods or nuts and thread them onto a string—an easy, straightforward project.
Assorted decorative nuts and cones are sold for crafting, so using those can be convenient.
Of course, you can also prep and use pinecones and acorns you’ve picked up on a walk.
Try painting the pieces white, or gluing on cotton or pearls—decorate them however you like to create a lovely garland.
Pinecone Garland
When it comes to Christmas decorations, pinecones are often used, aren’t they? Some of you may have collected lots of them while out for a walk and have them at home.
So this time, we’re introducing ideas for a garland made with pinecones.
Along with the pinecones, please prepare cinnamon sticks, glass ornaments, cotton pods, bells, and snowmen to decorate together.
Pre-treat the pinecones and attach a screw eye to the base.
Basically, all you need to do is hang or glue the items you’ve prepared onto a string.
Adjust the balance as you go to finish it off cutely.
Christmas garland made with yarn
Let’s make cute Christmas ornaments that are finished simply by cutting and tying yarn, then turn them into a garland! Wrap white yarn around a wooden ring to create a beard, wind red yarn around a circular piece of thick paper to make a hat, and connect them with yarn threaded through a wooden bead—voilà, a Santa Claus! You can also make trees and wreaths.
Add star or ball-shaped embellishments for extra sparkle.
Make several in different colors and link them together to create a garland.
Snowman garland
Here’s an idea for a winter-themed snowman garland.
Cut a milk carton into long strips, roll them up, and staple them to make two bases for the snowman—one large and one small.
Wrap each base with two sheets of tissue paper that you’ve crumpled once to add texture, then glue them in place.
For the snowman’s hat, cut a toilet paper roll to create a cone-shaped base and wrap it with red tissue paper in the same way.
Add a white pom-pom as a decoration.
Attach the hat to the snowman, make the face with origami paper or similar, and hang it on a string.
It looks cute if you add snowballs and poinsettias made from tissue paper alongside the snowmen.