Decoupage with paper napkins is a beautiful DIY project that turns plain baubles into designer, heirloom-style Christmas ornaments. Plus, it's an easy and budget-friendly way to give your tired old Christmas decorations a fresh new look.
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Whether you're crafting at the kitchen table with kids, decorating your home for the holidays, or looking for an easy way to give your Christmas decorations a makeover on a budget, these DIY paper napkin decoupage Christmas ornaments are a fun project to try this season.
Made using everyday materials and completed in just an afternoon, these ornaments transform plain baubles into one-of-a-kind keepsakes using festive paper napkins and a little glue.
Perfect for cosy December crafting, this technique is beginner-friendly, budget-conscious, and endlessly creative-making it an ideal way to slow down, get creative, and add a personal touch to your Christmas tree.
Looking for more handmade Christmas decorations to make? Check out my Baking Soda Christmas Ornaments and Air Dry Clay Christmas Tree Ornaments.
Why you'll love these DIY decoupage ornaments
- Budget-friendly - Achieve a designer look for less
- Give your old Christmas baubles a makeover
- Each ornament is completely unique, with endless design possibilities to match your theme
- Customise to suit your Christmas style-traditional, vintage, minimalist, or modern
- A relaxing, mindful craft perfect for slowing down during the holidays
- Quick to make, ideal for afternoon or weekend crafting
- Add a handmade, heirloom feel to your Christmas tree
Materials you will need
- White Christmas baubles-or give coloured baubles a quick coat of matte white spray paint first
- Paper napkins with pretty designs-choose a festive Christmas print or any pattern and colour to suit your theme
- Measuring tape
- Mod Podge water-based glue and sealer-I've opted for the matte finish
- Small bowl
- Skewer to fit the bauble opening (optional)-helpful for holding the bauble while you apply the glue and napkin strips to the second half of the bauble
- Soft paintbrush-I used a flat number 8 brush
Tip: Use a tablecloth or cover to protect your work surface.
Method
Step 1: Gently remove the hanger from the bauble and put it aside for later.
Step 2: Measure the circumference of the bauble. You will use this measurement to calculate the size of the paper napkin strips needed to cover the bauble.
You will need eight strips of napkin in total. The length of each strip should be half of the circumference, while the width should be one-eighth of the circumference, plus approx. 1cm added (0.4 inch) to overlap each strip.
For this 25cm (9.8 inch) bauble, I used eight 12.5cm (4.9 inch) x 4cm (1.6 inch) strips. And don't worry! If your math ain't mathin, just go by eye, using inch wide strips.
Step 3: Separate the top printed layer from your paper napkin. To do this, gently rub a corner of the napkin between your fingers until the layers begin to separate. Dampening your fingers with a little water can help. Once you see an opening, slide a skewer into the gap and carefully lift the printed layer away from the plain layers underneath.
Step 4: Cut the top layer of the paper napkin into 8 strips using your calculations.
Step 5: Brush a thin layer of Mod Podge onto half of the ornament.
Step 6: Lay the first strip of napkin over the glue, starting from the top of the bauble and finishing at the bottom. Paint over the strip with Mod Podge, smoothing down the edges as you go.
Step 7: Place the second strip next to the first, overlapping the edges by about half a centimetre (at the circumference) so none of the bauble underneath is showing. Continue glueing and applying two more strips until the first half of the ornament is covered.
Step 8: Insert the skewer into the ornament (use some Blu Tack or left over napkin to wedge it into the opening to stop it wobbling around too much). This will help you apply the rest of the strips without getting too much glue on your hands.
Step 9: Apply Mod Podge to the other half of the bauble and continue adding the remaining four napkin strips until the bauble is fully covered.
Step 10: Gently apply a final layer of Mod Podge on top of the napkin strips, smoothing down any wrinkles as you go.
Step 11: Leave the bauble on the skewer and place it in a container to dry.
Step 12: Once dry, re-attach the bauble hanger.
Tips
- Check if the napkins are two or three-ply and separate the napkin layers carefully to ensure you're only using the top printed layer of the napkin. The thinner the paper the better the result will be.
- Apply glue in thin, even layers to avoid wetting the napkin too much.
- Work in small sections rather than covering the whole ornament at once.
- Use a soft brush and gentle strokes to prevent the napkins from tearing.
If you try this project and love it, please leave a comment below. Your support means so much and helps me share my tutorials for free. Tag me on Instagram @pineapple.farmhouse, I'd love to see what you make!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Paper napkins are great to use for decoupage because the top layer is very thin and easier to apply in strips to a rounded surface like a Christmas bauble.
Yes Christmas ornaments can be decorated with decoupage. For best results follow this tutorial and use white Christmas bauble ornaments or spray paint coloured baubles white before covering them.
Gently rub a corner of the napkin between your fingers until the layers begin to separate. Dampening your fingers with a little water can help. Once you see an opening, slide a skewer into the gap and carefully lift the printed layer away from the plain layers underneath. Check the packaging to see if the napkins are two or three-ply to ensure you separate each layer individually.
Yes, regular paper can be used for decoupage, however paper napkins are usually thinner and better suited for applying in strips to rounded Christmas ornaments.
Yes, paper napkins can be used with Mod Podge for decoupage decoration. Simply follow the steps in this tutorial to see how.
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Hi, I'm Emily!
I'm a mum of two who is passionate about making real food from scratch, homesteading and creating a cosy handmade home. Here on my blog you'll find recipes, DIY projects and inspiration for simple living.
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