How to Wreaths for Home Decor and Cards
Paper folding is a popular pastime. There are many ways to fold paper. This how-to is about tea bag folding and an easy paper folding wreath for Christmas cards or all occasion cards for anytime.
Paper folding using tea bag folding techniques is easy and a bit addicting. It has an element of surprise because the finished project pops color in ways that can not be predicted.
If you add a little psychology it is "variety is the spice of life" approach. Creating something that is different almost every time. You get a little of something new with each folding project. We are talking subtlety here. So get some paper to fold and start your home decor wreaths or cards now.
Paper folding using tea bag folding techniques is easy and a bit addicting. It has an element of surprise because the finished project pops color in ways that can not be predicted.
If you add a little psychology it is "variety is the spice of life" approach. Creating something that is different almost every time. You get a little of something new with each folding project. We are talking subtlety here. So get some paper to fold and start your home decor wreaths or cards now.
Getting Started with Paper Folding Christmas Wreaths
Paper Crafts
I am going to present the How to on the paper wreath for cards first. Make copies or use old sheets of music to cut squares. Any pretty paper will do.Try a few and see if you like the process and then we will go into assembling the card. I have many ideas for that, even reusing old cards.
I took the yellowed sheet at right and cut eight 2 inch squares, or tiles, keeping in mind to have the motif at three of the corners of the tile. (Or else the tile will pop plain paper or no motif.)
Click each photo below for the step by step task.
How To Paper Folding Christmas Wreath
Make Your Own Holiday Cards
Cut eight 2 inch squares or tiles from old music paper.
Assemble Paper Wreath
Put a dab of glue as in the picture. To assemble the wreath match up the two edges indicated by the arrows. Put the left side on top of the tile on the right matching the light green dots.
Ready to Make Christmas Cards?
Now that you have practiced the Christmas wreaths and decided to make your own Christmas cards I will outline what you will need and the best places to get it.At right are a few examples of what you can do. The two wreaths at the top are made from tiles that are identical. 8 tiles can be cut from a notepad like the one shown or other paper that has repeat printing.
A list of paper sources can be reviewed on my card making page.
A page of old music can be copied on your printer eight times to make several wreaths without even leaving home. My preference.
What You Will Need
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Blank Cards
The big craft stores have these in boxes of fifty or smaller packages. The wreaths I show here will fit nicely on A2 size cards or 4.25 X 5.5 inches. The white or cream cards could be used with coordinating background papers to put the wreath on. -
Ribbon
In various colors for tying bows on the wreaths. - Glue and scissors or paper cutter.
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Coordinating background papers or old Christmas cards.
Do not forget to look at Tuesday Morning, Big Lots, and the Dollar Store for holiday themed papers for backgrounds. You can go through your cards sent to you in years past and find motifs that will match your wreaths.
buy craft card blanks
Assembly of Your Holiday Wreath
I like to get all my color components in one place. That way I can take one wreath and glance through all the colors and mix and match up the best eye pleasing combination. Round up the blank cards your finished wreaths, background papers, and glue.Find the matches you like the best, glue the wreath to the background paper or directly on the card. I use Yes! Paste. I thinly spread it on with a medium stiff brush. This paste leaves the paper wrinkle free.
One note: After a rainy few days the red wreath had partly come apart! This was under the porch and it did not actually get wet. If your wreath is going to be outdoors I suggest a glue that is is not water soluble.
Card Crafting Glue
Scrapbooking adhesive
Gane Yes All-Purpose Stik Flat Glue, 1-Pint
Amazon Price: $6.84 (as of 06/01/2012)
List Price: $11.49
Wrinkle free gluing. This tub lasts a long time. I have had mine for over 8 months and it is not even half used.
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Some of the Papers I Gathered Together
Use backgrounds; then glue on card
Papers I thought I will use.
If You Liked This Tea Bag Folding Technique
Tea bag Folding can be learned from the Internet. I have gathered all the good websites on this page.
Tools for Card Making
Completed Christmas Wreath Holiday Cards
These are the assembled cards using the printed blanks available in a box of fifty. The colors match nicely and there is enough balance for the eye that I decided not to add ribbon to the wreaths.
The two cards on the lower right are 8.5 X11 inch card stock cut in half to make an A2 sized card. I scored them for a clean fold. Notice that I used the green paper for the background on the middle card. That same paper was used to make the green wreath on the right.
The card (top right) I used recycled card samples that would have been thrown away. The green background on the lower wreath is old packaging materials from Starbucks. I keep scraps like this for use in the future.
Used cardstock I cut myself for the two Christmas cards above. The music wreath is the one I started at the beginning of this page
More Christmas Crafts
If you would like to try a Christmas tea bag folding tree for cards click below.
The second link is paper star ornaments.
The second link is paper star ornaments.
Other Paper Wreath How-to's Online
- Awesome Paper Cone Wreath Tutorial
- Use old books for this one.
- Paper Christmas Wreath Tutorial
- Gorgeous
- Librarians, Please Avert Your Eyes by Lindsay on November 2, 2009
- More printed pages.
- Make a Black Paper Wreath
- Black crepe paper and a foam ring.
- Buther Paper Spring Wreath
- I like the creamy white of this wreath.
- Vintage Paper Leaf Wreath
- Old books, again. I like the look very much.
Christmas Card How-To
The Valentine's Day Wreath
This section of How to Make Paper Folding Wreaths is dedicated to Valentine's Day. Make a similar paper folding wreath for a decoration to adorn your front door or porch. The tea bag folding technique is identical to the Christmas card wreaths. You are going to use 12 X 12 inch paper instead of 2 inch paper tiles.The green wreath shown is scrapbooking paper that was on sale at Michael's, 5 for $1.00. I spent less than $2.00 dollars on this decoration. The other paper, cardboard and cloth came from my house hold inventory.
I had a pack of red paper that I purchased several years ago and had not used. I had bought four packs because $1.00 was a huge bargain. I am thrilled that I have one pack to make a Valentine themed wreath.
Step by Step for A Valentine Day Door Wreath
Pack of eight 12 X 12 inch scrapbooking paper
Assemble the Door Wreath
Go to the small paper wreath assembly instructions to glue your pieces together.
Paper Crafted Door Wreath
Paper Wreath Support Ring
Find a used shipping box for making the cardboard ring. Trace the inside of your wreath.
Finishing the Door Wreath for Valentine's Day
I also scanned the fabric and printed it to make 3 inch squares to put inside the square folds to rid the wreath of white from the backside of the paper.
Close up below.
The Red Wreath
At this point you can put a cloth or ribbon bow on your newly crafted wreath.For the red wreath I did not put any 3 inch tiles into the Square folds because the paper bow I made has white in it. The white flash from the folds coordinates with the white in the bow.
A/o 4/14/11 During the Valentine season I had the red wreath hanging on the porch. One day it rained. The wreath did not get wet but it came unglued. Several parts of it were on the floor. The Yes! glue is water based and does not hold up to moisture. I will need to find something else to glue it back together.
Paperfacets Tea bag Folding Web Pages
Do you have new ideas for the paper wreaths?
Enjoy paper folding, tea bag folding or your next paper crafts project.
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ArtByLinda Feb 21, 2012 @ 1:04 pm | delete
- These are so amazing, love it. I have to pin this to my pinterest board so I can come back when I am ready to try one. Blessings to you!
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MissionBoundCreations
Feb 11, 2012 @ 9:48 pm | delete
- Simply put BEAUTIFUL. Sooooo many uses, cheap to make what more could a craft nut want.
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sheilamarie Jan 5, 2012 @ 3:37 pm | delete
- Very pretty! You've done a great job with this page. I'll try it.
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grannyann
Dec 31, 2011 @ 4:43 pm | delete
- Wow, I had never heard of tea bag paper folding. What a neat idea. I loved your lens and I am definitely going to try this. Now I know what I can do with all that scrapbooking paper I got for Christmas!!! Here is a some SquidAngel dust for this lens and I hope your holidays are wonderful.
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KM9999999
Dec 3, 2011 @ 1:37 am | delete
- I really like the ones with the sheet music.
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paperfacets
When not designing handmade greetings, I write on Squidoo.
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Paper Crafts Glue
Gane Yes All-Purpose Stik Flat Glue, 1-Pint
Amazon Price: $6.84 (as of 06/01/2012)
I use this paste on all my card crafts.
Christmas Themed Paper Pack
for Christmas wreath cards
Making Memories Noel Specialty Paper Pack, 8-Inch by 8-Inch
Amazon Price: (as of 06/01/2012)
Other Paper Crafts by Paperfacets
