Cupcake Liner Christmas Crafts: 15 Dollar Store Ideas Your Guests Will Swear You Bought

Cupcake Liner Christmas crafts might be the cheapest way to make your home sparkle this year, and they look nothing like the little paper cups hiding in your baking drawer. One short video of a liner tree pulled in more than ten million views, and it is easy to see why. A pack of foil or paper liners costs about a dollar, the colors are already festive, and the ruffled edges fold into petals, bells, stars and snowflakes with almost no skill at all. Below you will find 15 projects, from a shimmering tabletop tree to a fluffy front door wreath, each with a short supply list and simple steps. Put on a holiday playlist, clear the kitchen table and get ready to surprise everyone who asks where you bought it..

Cupcake Liner Christmas Tree That Shimmers on the Table

This is the project that started the whole trend. Rows of gold and silver foil liners are stacked around a paper cone, and the ruffled edges catch the light like real tinsel. Make one tall tree for the center of the table, then a few smaller ones to group around it. Guests always lean in to look closer, and almost nobody guesses it began as a two dollar pack of baking cups. Which colors will you pick for yours..

You will need: a paper or foam cone, about 80 foil cupcake liners in gold and silver, a glue stick or tacky glue, a small star or bead for the top.

How to make it: 1. Flatten each liner and fold it in half twice to make a ruffled wedge. 2. Starting at the bottom of the cone, glue the wedges in a ring with the ruffles facing out. 3. Overlap each new row by half and keep going to the tip, then glue a small star on top.

Foil Liner Wreath for the Front Door

A cardboard ring and a stack of foil liners turn into a wreath that glows every time the porch light hits it. Overlap the liners like fish scales and mix two metals so it looks rich and layered. A big velvet bow finishes it in seconds. Hang it on the door or over a mirror inside if your porch gets wet weather. Would you go all silver or mix in some gold?

You will need: a cardboard ring cut from a cereal box, 50 to 60 foil liners, tacky glue, a wide red ribbon, a hook.

How to make it: 1. Cut a ring about 12 inches across from sturdy cardboard. 2. Pinch the center of each liner and glue it to the ring, overlapping as you go around. 3. Add a second layer for fullness, then tie on a big bow.

Cupcake Liner Christmas Poinsettia Ornaments

Cupcake Liner Christmas poinsettias are the easiest flower you will ever make. Flatten a red liner, snip the ruffles into pointed petals, layer two together and glue a cluster of gold beads in the middle. Add a loop of ribbon and they are ready for the tree. Make a dozen in one sitting and tuck the extras into gift bows or a centerpiece. How many do you think will fit on your tree?

You will need: red paper cupcake liners, small scissors, gold beads or brads, glue dots, thin ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Flatten two liners and cut five pointed petals around each edge. 2. Stack them so the petals sit between each other and glue the centers. 3. Glue gold beads in the middle and attach a ribbon loop on the back.

Little Liner Angel for the Mantel

This sweet angel looks like a vintage keepsake, yet she is three folded liners and a wooden bead. A white liner shaped into a cone becomes the gown, a gold one makes the wings, and a pinch of tinsel becomes a halo. Line up a choir of them on the mantel or give one tucked into a holiday card. Who in your family would love one of these?

You will need: white and gold cupcake liners, a wooden bead, a small paper cone or cardstock, tacky glue, gold pipe cleaner.

How to make it: 1. Wrap a white liner around a small cardstock cone and glue. 2. Fold a gold liner in half, pleat it like a fan and glue it to the back as wings. 3. Glue the bead on top and twist a tiny gold pipe cleaner ring for the halo.

Cupcake Liner Christmas Snowflake Garland

Remember cutting paper snowflakes as a kid? White liners make it faster, because the round shape and ruffled edge are already done for you. Fold, snip and open, and every one comes out different. String them on twine across a window and the daylight turns them almost lacy. It is a calm, cozy job for a winter evening. Do you remember the first snowflake you ever cut?

You will need: white paper cupcake liners, sharp small scissors, a hole punch, natural twine.

How to make it: 1. Flatten a liner, fold it in half, then into thirds like a slice of pie. 2. Snip small shapes along the folds and the tip. 3. Open it, punch a hole near the edge and thread it onto twine with a knot on each side.

Ruffled Green Cone Tree

Green liners make a soft, feathery tree that looks like it came from a boutique window. Instead of folding them, glue each liner flat and let the ruffles stand up so the rows look like real branches. Use two or three shades of green for depth. It is perfect for a side table, a desk or a kids room. Would you keep it plain or add tiny bead ornaments?

You will need: a foam or paper cone, green paper cupcake liners in two shades, hot glue with adult help or tacky glue, small beads.

How to make it: 1. Pinch the bottom of each liner so the edge flares out. 2. Glue rows from the base up, mixing the shades. 3. Finish with a single liner turned upside down as the top and add beads if you like.

Cupcake Liner Christmas Star Tree Topper

Skip the store bought topper this year. Gold foil liners folded into points make a bright, layered star that is light enough to sit on any tree. Glue the points around a cardboard circle, add a second ring behind it for depth, and fix it to a cardboard tube that slips over the top branch. It catches every twinkle light in the room. Does your tree wear a star or an angel?

You will need: 12 to 16 gold foil cupcake liners, a cardboard circle, a cardboard tube, tacky glue, a clothespin to hold pieces while drying.

How to make it: 1. Fold each liner in half and then fold the sides in to make a point. 2. Glue the points around a cardboard circle, then add a second ring behind. 3. Glue the star to a cardboard tube and slide it over the top of the tree.

Liner Flower Gift Toppers

Plain kraft paper looks instantly special with a liner flower on top. Layer three liners in different sizes, scrunch the edges and glue a button in the middle. They cost pennies, and they do not crush in a gift bag the way ribbon bows do. Make a basket of them while you watch a holiday movie and you will be set for every present. Which color would you pair with kraft paper?

You will need: red, pink and white cupcake liners in mini and regular sizes, buttons, glue dots, kraft wrapping paper.

How to make it: 1. Stack a regular liner, a mini liner and a cut down liner. 2. Scrunch the edges upward so they look like petals. 3. Glue a button in the center and stick the flower on top of the wrapped gift.

Snowman Card Made With Liners

Handmade cards are coming back, and this one takes about five minutes. Three flattened white liners stacked up make a snowman with a lovely textured edge. Add a paper scarf, a few dots for buttons and a little paper hat. Kids can help with the dots while you do the folding. Grandparents keep cards like this for years. Who is first on your card list?

You will need: white paper cupcake liners, folded cardstock, red and black paper scraps, a glue stick, a black marker.

How to make it: 1. Flatten three white liners and trim them into small, medium and large circles. 2. Glue them in a stack on the front of the card. 3. Add a paper scarf, a hat and marker dots for buttons.

Cupcake Liner Christmas Place Card Trees

These tiny Cupcake Liner Christmas trees turn a simple dinner table into a party. Thread mini foil liners onto a wooden skewer from big to small, push it into a cork base and tie on a name tag. Every guest gets a little tree to take home. They are cheaper than store bought place cards and far more fun to make. How many seats will you set this year?

You will need: green mini foil cupcake liners, wooden skewers, wine corks, kraft paper tags, thin ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Cut a few liners smaller so you have a range of sizes. 2. Poke the skewer through the centers from largest to smallest. 3. Push the skewer into a cork and tie a name tag on with ribbon.

Foil Liner Bell Garland

A foil liner pressed over a thimble or a small cup turns into a perfect little bell. Thread a bead inside as the clapper and string a dozen on red ribbon. Swag it along the mantel, a staircase or a kitchen shelf and it shines like vintage tinsel garland. It is also a lovely job for older kids. Where would you hang a string of bells?

You will need: gold and silver foil cupcake liners, a small cup to shape them, beads, a needle, red ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Press each liner over an upside down small cup and pinch it into a bell shape. 2. Poke a hole in the top and thread a bead on a short string inside. 3. Tie the bells onto ribbon a few inches apart.

Winter Village Shadow Box

A thrifted shadow box becomes a snowy little world with liner trees, paper houses and a handful of cotton snow. White and silver liners folded into cones make frosty pines, and a string of battery fairy lights tucked in the back gives a soft glow with no flame. It looks like a keepsake from a gift shop window. What would you put in your own little village?

You will need: a deep shadow box or frame, white and silver liners, cardstock for houses, cotton balls, a small battery fairy light string.

How to make it: 1. Fold liners into cones and stack two or three for each tree. 2. Cut and fold small cardstock houses. 3. Arrange the trees and houses on cotton snow and tuck the battery lights behind them.

Cupcake Liner Christmas Pom Pom Wreath

This is the showstopper of the Cupcake Liner Christmas list. Hundreds of scrunched liners packed tightly on a foam ring look like a giant fluffy pom pom. Red and white feels like a candy cane, while all white looks soft and snowy. It takes an evening, but it lasts for years. If you love dollar store makeovers, our Dollar Store Christmas Decor ideas are a great next step. Red and white, or all white?

You will need: a foam wreath ring, about 300 red and white paper cupcake liners, straight pins or tacky glue, a ribbon for hanging.

How to make it: 1. Scrunch each liner from the bottom so the edges fan out. 2. Pin or glue them tightly around the ring, alternating colors. 3. Fill any gaps, then add a ribbon loop to hang it.

Silver Petal Ornament Balls

Old or plain ornaments get a glamorous new look when you cover them in foil liner petals. Cut each liner into a few rounded petals and glue them on in rings like a pinecone. Pile them in a glass bowl for a coffee table centerpiece or hang them on the tree. The shine is so close to mercury glass that guests will want to know where you found them. Silver or gold for your bowl?

You will need: plain or old ornament balls or foam balls, silver foil cupcake liners, scissors, tacky glue, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Cut each liner into four rounded petals. 2. Starting at the bottom, glue petals in overlapping rings up the ball. 3. Finish the top with a ribbon loop and a single gathered liner.

Cupcake Liner Christmas Kissing Ball

End the list with a little romance. A Cupcake Liner Christmas kissing ball is a foam ball covered in liner flowers and hung from a ribbon in a doorway, just like old fashioned mistletoe. Pink and red feel sweet and vintage, and it is lovely in a nursery or a bridal shower too. For more liner inspiration, watch the viral cupcake liner Christmas craft video. Which doorway will you choose?

You will need: a foam ball, pink and red cupcake liners, straight pins or glue, green satin ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Scrunch each liner into a small flower. 2. Pin or glue the flowers all over the ball so no foam shows. 3. Pin a long ribbon loop to the top and hang it in a doorway.