30 Christmas Garland DIY Projects for Mantels and Doorways

Holiday decorating gets more fun when the mantel fills with something you made at the kitchen table—felt, pasta, pine cones, paper bags, bay leaves—rather than only store-bought greenery. Gather the household for an evening of stringing and gluing; the mess is temporary, and the garlands come back every December. Below are thirty handmade directions drawn from the original photo set. Keep the local images as your visual guide; skip the old outbound tutorial spam.

Most projects need thread or twine, a needle or hot glue, scissors, and a clear stretch of table. Paint and glitter are optional. Work in batches so drying time does not stall the whole night.

1. Felt ball strand

Needle-felt or buy wool balls in a holiday palette, then thread them on sturdy cord with even spacing. Soft spheres read playful on a tree or staircase rail. Knot end loops so hanging does not shed your color sequence onto the floor.

2. Painted bow-pasta garland

Farfalle becomes tiny bows when painted red, green, gold, or white and strung through the center pinch. Kids can paint; adults should handle the needle. Seal with a clear coat if you want them to survive storage in a humid attic.

3. Button cascade

Raid the button jar for reds, creams, and metallics. Thread through shanks or sew through holes, mixing sizes for rhythm. A button garland is quiet luxury on a bookshelf—no glitter required.

4. Mini Christmas-tree cutouts

Cut simple tree silhouettes from felt, cardstock, or scrapbook paper and punch tops for hanging. Alternate heights or add a tiny trunk rectangle. Flat trees stack flat in a box after New Year’s—practical charm.

5. Cookie-tin lid medallions

Vintage cookie-tin lids become shiny discs when punched and linked. Sand sharp edges. The graphics do the decorating—snowmen, holly, old logos—so you barely need paint.

6. Crochet star drops

Crochet small stars, block them flat, and string with spaces of chain or twine between. Soft yarn stars suit nurseries and reading nooks. Make extras as package toppers.

7. Paper cup bells

Paint or wrap small paper cups, punch rims, and hang inverted like bells along a cord. Lightweight and loud on color. Keep away from open flames and curious pets who chew.

8. Felt mitten line

Stitch or glue miniature mittens from felt scraps, stuff lightly, and clip or thread them in a row. Embroider initials for each family member. Instant mantel personality.

9. Festive mixed-ornament string

Combine leftover ornaments, ribbon scraps, and small greenery sprigs on one cord when you want abundance over a single motif. Edit ruthlessly so it does not look like a craft drawer exploded.

10. Folded glass-look stars

Fold translucent or mirrored paper into dimensional stars that catch light like glass without the breakage. Hang at different lengths for a mobile effect across a window.

11. Glitter star cutouts

Cardstock stars, glue, and glitter—classic sparkle. Work over newspaper and seal the glitter face so it sheds less on the sofa. Alternate sizes for a constellation rhythm.

12. Mini present boxes

Fold tiny gift boxes, wrap in scrap paper, tie with thin ribbon, and thread through the bows. A string of miniature presents reads joyful above a desk or kids’ table.

13. Mini wreath links

Wrap embroidery hoops or cardboard rings with yarn, greenery, or fabric strips, then join them into a chain of tiny wreaths. Each ring can hold a different texture.

14. Painted pine-cone run

Dry cones thoroughly, paint tips white or gold, drill or wire the tops, and space them on twine. Natural scale looks best on a rustic mantel or porch (covered from rain).

15. Patchwork heart banners

Sew scrap-fabric hearts, stuff lightly, and string point-down or sideways. Patchwork loves mismatched plaids and leftover quilting cottons. Soft enough for a child’s doorway.

16. Rick-rack wave

Layer zig-zag trim in holiday colors, stitch or glue into long waves, and hang as a graphic ribbon. Fastest project on the list when you already own the trim drawer.

17. Santa and reindeer cutouts

Paper or felt Santas alternating with reindeer silhouettes keep a storybook parade across the wall. Add names on the backs if you want an informal seating chart for Christmas Eve.

18. Paper snowflake chain

Fold, snip, unfold—then tape or sew snowflakes onto a clear line. No two flakes match, which is the point. White on a dark wall photographs beautifully.

19. Crochet granny star strand

Granny-square logic turned into stars: join motifs with chains for a lacy, vintage Christmas. Leftover yarn scraps shine here. Block before hanging so points stay sharp.

20. Mini stocking advent line

Sew or buy tiny stockings, number them 1–24, and clip along a ribbon as a garland-calendar hybrid. Fill with notes, candy, or kindness dares. Functional décor earns its storage space.

21. Sugar-lace cookie lookalikes

Create lace-like ornaments from dough, clay, or paper that mimic iced cookies, then hang them in a sweet bakery row. Keep real food garlands away from moisture and pests if you go edible.

22. Bay laurel and floral trimmings

Wire bay leaves, eucalyptus, and small blooms onto a rope for a fresh, fragrant swag. Mist lightly; replace as leaves dry. Elegant on a dining table runner or door lintel.

23. Vintage scrap and ephemera string

Old postcards, ticket stubs, sheet music, and lace snippets clipped to twine make a nostalgic timeline. Use copies of irreplaceable photos. Sepia and cream beat neon here.

24. Woven Danish heart baskets

Interweave two colored papers into classic Jul hearts, fill with a few treats if you like, and hang in a row. A Scandinavian craft that rewards careful cutting.

25. Woven magazine stars

Strip colorful magazine pages, weave or fold into stars, and string them for a recycled galaxy. Glossy pages catch light; matte craft paper softens the look.

26. Yogurt-cup flower medallions

Cut clean yogurt cups into petal shapes, paint, and assemble into plastic blossoms for a upcycled bloom strand. Wash thoroughly first. Surprising polish from a recycling bin.

27. Rainbow-dipped pine cones

Dip cone tips in a spectrum of paint instead of classic white. Cheerful on a kids’ mantel or classroom. Dry completely before stringing so colors do not smear.

28. Color-block ornament garland

Paint plain baubles in bold geometric blocks—two or three colors max—then hang at even intervals. Modern and graphic against white walls. Let paint cure before the tree shed tests your patience.

29. Paper-bag tags and shapes

Flatten paper bags, stamp or cut stars, trees, and tags, and punch for hanging. Kraft brown plus one ink color keeps the look calm. Save patterned bags for accent pieces.

30. Paper-bag gratitude notes

Write short thanks on bag tags and string them where guests will read while coats come off. The garland becomes a conversation, not only decoration. Add new notes through December until the cord is full.

Choose three projects that match your supplies and your patience, not thirty that match a wish list. A felt-ball strand, a bay-leaf swag, and a gratitude bag line will dress a whole doorway. When the season ends, photograph the mantel once, then pack the sturdy pieces and compost the greenery. Next year you will be glad you labeled the box.