You know that mountain of crumpled wrapping paper and curly ribbon scraps littering your floor on Christmas morning? Don’t bag it for recycling just yet.
I see those torn edges and twisted bows, and I think: free art supplies. Seriously, your kids can turn this “trash” into tree-worthy ornaments before the turkey even cools.
My living room looked like a paper tornado hit it last year. Then my five-year-old grabbed a scrap and asked, “Can I tape this to the tree?” Genius. Let’s get messy.
1. Ribbon Weave Stars
Grab those skinny ribbon leftovers from all those gift boxes. You know the ones—too short to save, too pretty to toss.
Cut two ribbon scraps the same length. Fold each into a loop and interlock them like a chain link. Flatten and you have a star shape.
Tie a tiny knot at each point to hold it. Add a hanging loop from another scrap. Boom—instant star ornament that took ninety seconds.
2. Scrap Paper Snowflakes
Remember making paper snowflakes as a kid? Same deal, but with wrapping paper scraps.
Fold a square of leftover wrapping paper into a triangle, then again, then again. Cut random shapes along the edges—squares, triangles, curves. Unfold slowly so you don’t tear it.
Your kid will shriek with delight when that unique snowflake appears. I had one taped to my fridge for three years. No regrets.
3. Bow-Tied Baubles
Find those sticky-back bows that came off presents. They still have adhesive, right?
Press a bow onto a plain cardboard circle (cut from a shipping box). Layer smaller ribbon scraps underneath the bow like a tail.
Hang it with a loop of baker’s twine. This one’s almost too easy. Perfect for toddlers who want to “help” without using scissors.
4. Wrapping Paper Bead Garland
Cut wrapping paper scraps into long triangles—wide at one end, pointy at the other. Roll each triangle tightly around a toothpick starting from the wide end, gluing the tip down.
Slide the bead off the toothpick. Make twenty of these in different patterns. String them onto ribbon or yarn.
You just made a custom garland for your tiny tree. My daughter wore hers as a necklace first. I let it slide.
5. Cardboard Tube Angels
Save those inner tubes from wrapping paper rolls. Flatten one and pinch the middle to make an hourglass shape—that’s the dress.
Cut two smaller strips for wings. Glue a ribbon scrap as a halo. Draw a little face with markers.
I made these as a kid, and my mom still hangs them on her tree. They’re gloriously wonky and perfect.
6. Scrap Collage Ornaments
Cut a cardboard circle. Hand your kid a pile of tiny wrapping paper shapes—stars, trees, circles.
Let them glue pieces all over like a puzzle. No rules. Overlap patterns. Make it ugly on purpose.
Punch a hole and add ribbon. This kills an hour on Christmas afternoon when everyone’s tired and cranky. Trust me.
7. Ribbon Tassels
Gather a handful of short ribbon scraps in coordinating colors. Fold them in half over a longer piece of ribbon.
Tie a knot right below the fold. Trim the ends evenly—or not, if you like chaos.
Hang these from lower branches where little hands can reach. They flutter when the heat kicks on.
8. Paper Strip Baubles
Cut wrapping paper scraps into strips of the same width but different lengths. Form each strip into a loop and glue the ends together.
Arrange the loops into a sphere shape, gluing where they touch. Flatten one loop at the top for a hanger.
This looks way harder than it is. My seven-year-old made three in one sitting while watching “Frosty.”
9. Gift Tag Ornaments
Remember those gift tags you peeled off presents? Turn them into ornaments.
Write the year and the giver’s name on the back. Punch a hole and thread a ribbon scrap through.
Now you have a memory ornament. Last year’s tag from Grandma becomes a keepsake. I cry a little every time I hang ours.
10. Scrap Paper Pinecones
Cut brown wrapping paper scraps into small petal shapes. Layer them onto a cardboard cone (rolled from a scrap) starting at the bottom and working up.
Each row overlaps the one below. By the top, you have a pinecone.
Paint the tips white for a snowy look. My son calls these “dragon egg ornaments.” I’m not correcting him.
11. Ribbon Spools
Take a short cardboard tube (from wrapping paper or toilet paper). Wrap ribbon scraps around it in alternating colors, covering the whole tube.
Slide the ribbon wraps off the tube carefully. They’ll hold their cylinder shape.
Fluff the ends slightly. You made a miniature spool ornament that looks like a tiny gift.
12. Fringed Paper Baubles
Cut wrapping paper scraps into strips. Snip fringe along one long edge of each strip, stopping half an inch from the other edge.
Roll the strip into a tight coil, fringed side out. Glue the end. Fluff the fringe.
These look like fuzzy little pom-poms. My toddler calls them “hairy balls” and laughs hysterically. Kids are weird.
13. Woven Paper Hearts
Cut two different wrapping paper scraps into heart shapes. Cut a slit from the center bottom to the middle on one, and from the top center to the middle on the other.
Weave them together by sliding the slits into each other. Add a ribbon loop.
This is an old Scandinavian craft. Your kids will feel like master weavers. You’ll feel like a Pinterest god.
14. Ribbon Wreaths
Bend a pipe cleaner into a circle. Wrap ribbon scraps around the circle until it’s completely covered, tucking ends under.
Glue on tiny bows or paper scraps as “berries.” Hang with another ribbon.
These take five minutes and use up those weird half-inch ribbon bits. I keep a jar of these bits just for this craft.
15. Scrap Paper Lanterns
Fold a wrapping paper scrap in half lengthwise. Cut slits from the fold toward the open edge, stopping an inch short.
Unfold and roll into a cylinder, gluing the short edges together. Pinch the top and bottom slightly to make a lantern shape.
Slide a battery tea light inside (supervised, obviously). It glows through the paper slits. Magic.
16. Cardboard Tube Snowmen
Cut a wrapping paper tube into three short sections. Glue them in a stack—biggest on bottom, smallest on top.
Paint white or leave brown. Draw a face. Wrap a ribbon scrap as a scarf.
Add tiny twig arms from the yard. This snowman won’t melt. I know because ours survived until July last year.
17. Bow Collage Frame
Cut a cardboard circle with a smaller circle cut out of the middle—like a donut. Glue sticky bows all around the donut, overlapping them.
The bows create a fluffy, textured ring. Hang it as is, or put a photo in the center hole.
My daughter made one for each grandparent. They pretended to love them. I think they actually did.
18. Paper Chain Countdown
Cut wrapping paper scraps into strips. Link them into a paper chain with glue or tape.
Make the chain 25 links long. Remove one link each day of December until Christmas. Hang the removed links on the tree as mini ornaments.
This doubles as an advent calendar. Plus, your kid practices counting down. Sneaky learning, I love it.
19. Ribbon Scrap Mobiles
Tie several ribbon scraps of different lengths to a small branch or a wire hanger bent into a circle.
Space them out so they don’t tangle. Hang the whole thing from the ceiling or a high tree branch.
It catches the light and moves with every draft. My cat thinks this is a toy. Keep it out of reach.
20. Scrap Paper Rosettes
Fold a long wrapping paper scrap back and forth like an accordion. Pinch the middle and fan out the ends into a circle.
Glue the ends together. Add a paper circle on top to hide the center pinch. Attach ribbon.
These look like fancy Victorian ornaments. Your kid will feel very sophisticated. Then they’ll stick it on their head like a hat.
21. Gift Box Minis
Cut small squares of wrapping paper. Fold each into a tiny gift box using origami box instructions (it’s just a few folds).
No lid needed—just fold the top flaps inward. Glue a ribbon scrap as a bow.
These fit in the palm of your hand. Make a dozen and hang them in a cluster. Insanely cute.
22. Torn Paper Mosaic
Tear wrapping paper scraps into tiny irregular shapes. Glue them onto a cardboard shape (star, circle, tree) filling every gap.
The torn edges give a beautiful textured look. No scissors needed, so even the youngest kids can help.
My three-year-old made a “Christmas blob.” I called it modern art and hung it prominently.
23. Ribbon Strip Trees
Cut a triangle from cardboard. Wrap ribbon scraps horizontally across the triangle, gluing each strip at the back.
Overlap them slightly so no cardboard shows. Trim the edges flush.
You get a striped tree ornament that looks store-bought. But you made it from trash. High five.
24. Spiral Paper Snakes
Cut a circle from wrapping paper. Cut a spiral from the outer edge all the way to the center.
Hang the spiral from its center point. It dangles and twists in the air.
Paint or draw patterns on it first. My kids race to see whose spins longest. Winner gets first cookie.
25. Bows-on-Bows
Take your biggest leftover bow. Stack smaller bows on top of it, gluing each one slightly offset.
Keep going until you have a bow tower. Attach a ribbon loop to the biggest bow’s back.
This is ridiculous and wonderful. We made one that was half the size of the toddler. She carried it everywhere.
26. Scrap Paper Envelopes
Cut wrapping paper scraps into small squares. Fold into mini envelopes (bottom flap up, side flaps in, top flap down).
Slide a tiny note or a chocolate inside. Seal with a sticker or a ribbon scrap. Punch a hole and hang.
Hide these on the tree for Christmas morning surprises. Just don’t forget which ones have chocolate. Ask me how I know.
27. Ribbon Scrap Wreath
Bend a wire hanger into a circle. Tie ribbon scraps onto the wire using simple knots, packing them tight.
Fluff all the ribbons so they cover the wire completely. Add a big bow at the top.
This wreath uses every last scrap in your pile. Hang it on a door or above the fireplace. Or on the tree if you have a massive tree.
You just turned your post-gift mess into twenty-seven homemade ornaments that actually mean something. That wrapping paper wasn’t trash—it was a craft supply waiting to happen.
Go raid your recycling bin right now. Grab the kids, some glue, and those sad ribbon ends. Make a mess. Laugh when the snowflake looks like a potato. Hang it up anyway.
Next year, you’ll start saving scraps on purpose. I already do. My husband thinks I’m hoarding. I’m “curating ornament materials.” Same thing, right?