In about twenty minutes, two strips of everyday cardstock become a pleated paper rosette that looks like it came from a boutique Christmas market. It is one of those rare crafts that is genuinely beginner-friendly, costs almost nothing, and gets a little addictive once you find the folding rhythm — plan on 15 to 20 minutes of hands-on time per ornament, or roughly one hour for a set of three. A free printable supply list and step checklist is included below, so you can gather your paper and start right away.
At a Glance
- Difficulty: Beginner — you only need a paper trimmer or scissors, cardstock and glue
- Hands-on time: 15 to 20 minutes per ornament, about 1 hour for a set of three
- Drying/curing: none for the paper itself; let the glue set a few minutes before hanging (30 minutes if you use liquid craft glue)
- Cost level: Low — two sheets of cardstock plus twine and glue make up to eight ornaments
What You’ll Need
Everything on this list is easy to find, and most of it is probably already in your craft drawer.
- Red cardstock, one letter sheet 8.5 x 11 in (yields eight strips of 1-1/4 x 8-1/2 in)
- Cream cardstock, one letter sheet (same strip yield)
- Twine or thin ribbon, 8 in per ornament
- Cardstock scraps for 3 in center circles, two per ornament, plus a 1/2 in scrap strip for the fold guide
- Buttons or 1 in paper circles, optional front centers
- Glue stick and/or liquid craft glue
- Paper trimmer or ruler plus scissors
- Scoring board or bone folder (optional, helps even folds)
- Fine glitter or metallic marker (optional)
Note: one red strip plus one cream strip make one ornament, so two sheets are enough for up to eight. A set of three uses three strips of each color.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cut a folding guide. Cut a scrap strip 1/2 in wide to use as a folding guide, or set a scoring board to 1/2 in. Every fold matching the last is what keeps the rosette even, so this tiny step is worth the effort.
- Cut the strips. From each sheet of cardstock, cut strips 1-1/4 in wide by 8-1/2 in long; you will get eight per sheet. One red strip and one cream strip make one ornament.
- Join the two colors. Glue the red strip to the cream strip end to end with about a 1/2 in overlap, keeping the long edges aligned, so you have one strip about 16-1/2 in long. Handle it gently to avoid wrinkles.
- Accordion-fold the strip. Fold 1/2 in forward against your guide and crease firmly. Flip the paper over, fold the next 1/2 in, crease, and keep flipping and folding all the way to the end so the strip becomes a springy zigzag.
- Close the ring. Bring the two short ends together with a 1/2 in overlap so the red and cream colors alternate around the ring, and glue them to form a zigzag ring.
- Fan it into a disc. Press the ring flat on the table so the pleats fan out into a disc about 5 in across. Nudge the pleats until they are evenly spaced and all leaning the same way.
- Add the hanger and centers. Slide an 8 in twine loop under the back of the disc as a hanger. Glue a 3 in cardstock circle centered on the back and hold for 30 to 60 seconds, then glue a second 3 in circle, or a button over it, on the front to finish the center.
- Optional finishing touches. Glue a small button in the center and run a thin metallic line or a little glitter around the rim. For a mini garland, simply thread finished rosettes onto a length of twine.
- Repeat for a set. Make three rosettes, about 5 in each, which is right for a tree, gift toppers and a garland. If you used liquid glue, let the ornaments dry 30 minutes before hanging.
Safety note: handle scissors and paper trimmers carefully and keep the blade retracted between cuts. If you substitute hot glue, use a low-temperature gun and have an adult help kids — hot glue burns.
Why Paper Rosettes Work So Well at Christmas
Pleated paper medallions have a clean, Scandinavian look that reads as handmade Christmas decor without any fuss. They use paper you already own, so the project starts with no shopping trip, and a finished rosette is far more versatile than it looks: hang it on the tree, tape it to a wrapped gift as a topper, or string several onto twine for a mini garland. Because they store flat and weigh almost nothing, they are easy to tuck into a card box with your other decorations and bring out year after year.
Easy Variations: Colors, Sizes and Finishes
Once you have made one rosette, the variations are endless and nearly free. Scale the strip length to change the size: 12 in strips make 4 in minis that are perfect for a small tree or a tiered tray. Pair colors to match your decor, such as classic crimson and cream, forest green with kraft brown, or blush with gold. Swap the front circle for a favorite button, add a ribbon rim, or glue a tiny gift tag in the center instead of a button. You can also run a metallic marker line along the folded edge for a subtle sparkle.
Troubleshooting: Uneven Pleats and Other Fixes
Uneven pleats almost always come down to fold width, so pull out your 1/2 in guide, re-crease the wobbly folds and trust the guide rather than your eye. If the rosette will not lie flat, make sure the back circle is glued dead center and check that all the pleats lean the same way, since mixed leans are the most common cause. If glue shows through, switch to a glue stick for the paper itself and use only tiny dots of liquid glue near the center. And if you are sizing a custom ornament, the math is friendly: the finished diameter is roughly the total strip length divided by 3.1, so a 16-1/2 in strip fans into a disc about 5 in across.
Storing and Gifting Your Paper Rosettes
Paper rosettes are sturdier than they look, but they do like to stay dry. Store them flat in a card box away from damp basements, and keep them off food gifts as a topper; use them on the ribbon or the box lid instead. A set of three tied together with twine makes a lovely handmade gift on its own, and because the whole project costs so little, it is easy to make in multiples for neighbors, teachers and hostess gifts.
Your Free Printable
Your free printable is a two-page PDF that walks you through everything in this tutorial. Page 1 is a What You’ll Need checklist covering the cardstock sheets, paper trimmer, glues, twine, 3 in center circles, and the optional button, glitter and fold-guide scrap. Page 2 is a Step by Step checklist with the ten short actions from cutting the strips through folding, forming the ring and disc, adding the center circles and hanger, and letting the glue dry.
Print it, tape it to your craft table, and you can fold a whole set of rosettes without scrolling back to this page. Grab your cardstock and happy folding — your tree will thank you.
