Honeycomb Christmas Decor: 15 Paper Bell and Ornament Ideas That Look Like Vintage Store Displays
Honeycomb Christmas decor is the cheapest way to make your home look like a vintage department store window. Those fold out tissue bells that hung in shop windows and in grandma’s front room are back, and they cost only pennies in paper. Each piece starts flat, then fans open into a full round shape with that famous cell pattern. Below you will find 15 ideas for doorways, trees, tables, shelves and windows, plus simple supply lists and steps for each one. Most use tissue paper, cardstock, a glue stick and a little patience, so they make a great project for a slow winter afternoon. Pick one idea to start, or mix several for a room that feels like a charming old holiday shop..
Honeycomb Christmas Decor Starts With a Red Bell in the Doorway
One of the quiet giants of holiday craft video is a cardstock honeycomb ornament tutorial from GiftWrappingLove, and her step by step video has topped 12.5 million views. The secret is simple: thin sheets glued in alternating lines open into a full cell pattern. A single red bell hung in the middle of a doorway is the traditional way to begin. That bell is still the heart of honeycomb Christmas decor today. It greets everyone who walks through and pairs well with other handmade bells around the house..
You will need: 12 sheets of red tissue paper, a bell template, a glue stick, sharp paper shears, red cardstock, red satin ribbon, a small ceiling hook.
How to make it: 1. Stack the tissue, gluing each sheet to the next in thin lines that shift position on every layer. 2. Trace the half bell on the stack and cut it out. 3. Glue cardstock to the flat sides, fan the bell open and hang it from the ribbon.
A Bright Rainbow Sphere for the Porch
Not every honeycomb piece has to be red and white. This rainbow sphere hanging by a garden fence shows how cheerful the folded cells look when each layer is a new color. Hang one on a covered porch or in a playroom for a fun, kid friendly look that still feels retro. It proves honeycomb Christmas decor can be playful as well as nostalgic. Keep it under a roof, since rain will flatten tissue fast. If you love bold color, pair it with a few colorful handmade ornaments on a small porch tree.
You will need: Tissue paper in 6 to 8 colors, a round template, a glue stick, paper shears, two cardstock half circles, fishing line.
How to make it: 1. Stack the colors in rainbow order, gluing in alternating lines. 2. Cut a half circle from the stack. 3. Glue the cardstock covers on, open it into a full sphere and clip the edges together.
Honeycomb Christmas Decor on the Tree: Two Tone Ornaments
Two tone ornaments look like the pricey ones in boutique catalogs, yet each one takes under half an hour. GiftWrappingLove also has a two tone version that has been watched close to 5 million times. You simply switch paper color halfway up the stack, so the top half opens red and the bottom half opens white. Make a set of 8 in red and green with white, then spread them evenly on the boughs. They weigh almost nothing, so even thin boughs hold them well, just like light hand painted ornaments.
You will need: Cardstock or heavy paper in two colors, a circle punch or template, a glue stick, a ruler, thin gold cord.
How to make it: 1. Cut 16 circles, 8 in each color, and fold each one in half. 2. Glue the folded halves together in alternating lines, switching color halfway. 3. Glue the cord inside the last layer, then open and join the ends.
A Scalloped Paper Garland in Bold Bands
A honeycomb garland is just a long run of the same cell pattern, and it is one of the easiest pieces to make for a large space. This scalloped version in bands of color shows how pretty the edges look from the side. Of all the honeycomb Christmas decor projects here, this one covers the most space for the least effort. Hang it across a mantel or over a wide window, or swag it along the top of a bookcase. For a calmer Christmas look, use only red, white and green. You can find more ideas for easy homemade garlands that layer well with this one.
You will need: Tissue paper in 3 colors, a scallop template, a glue stick, paper shears, cardstock end pieces, removable wall hooks.
How to make it: 1. Glue a long stack of tissue in alternating lines. 2. Cut scallop shapes across the stack and glue cardstock to each end. 3. Pull the ends apart to open the garland and hang it on the hooks.
Giant Honeycomb Christmas Decor Over the Dining Table
Nothing says vintage holiday dinner like oversized paper spheres floating above the table. Hang three at different heights for a playful, layered look that guests notice the moment they sit down. Red, white and soft green keep it timeless without feeling busy. Large sizes are faster than they look, because you use full sheets of tissue and only a few cuts. If you like a statement over the table, browse these chandelier ideas for the holidays for more ways to dress the space. Giant honeycomb Christmas decor like this folds flat after the holidays, so storage is easy too.
You will need: Large tissue sheets in 3 colors, a 14 inch half circle template, a glue stick, long shears, poster board covers, clear fishing line, ceiling hooks.
How to make it: 1. Glue 30 to 40 full tissue sheets in alternating lines. 2. Trace and cut the large half circle. 3. Add poster board covers, open into a full sphere, and hang each one at a different height.
Vintage Bell Shapes Worth Copying
Before you cut your first honeycomb bell, look at old bell ornaments for shape ideas. This lacy white bell has the traditional flared rim and rounded top that vintage paper bells copied. Trace that outline onto cardstock, add a small loop at the top, and you have a template that will open into a perfect bell. Thrift stores and flea markets are full of old bells that make great guides. A good template is what makes honeycomb Christmas decor look store bought instead of homemade. For more inspiration, browse these vintage holiday ornaments from past decades.
You will need: An old bell ornament or photo, tracing paper, cardstock, a pencil, paper shears.
How to make it: 1. Trace half of the bell outline onto tracing paper along a straight center line. 2. Transfer it to cardstock and cut it out. 3. Use this template on every honeycomb stack for matching bells.
Honeycomb Christmas Decor Santa on a Shelf
Vintage store displays almost always had a jolly paper Santa with a round honeycomb belly. You can make one with a red tissue sphere body and a simple cardstock face, beard and hat glued to the front. Stand him on a shelf next to evergreen sprigs and a little wooden sled for a scene that feels straight out of the 1950s. He stays light enough to move anywhere, so try him on a holiday bookshelf or a side table too.
You will need: Red tissue paper, a half circle template, a glue stick, white and red cardstock, a black marker, a paper cup base, cotton fluff.
How to make it: 1. Make a red honeycomb half circle and open it fully. 2. Draw and cut a face, beard and hat from cardstock. 3. Glue the face to the front, set the body on the paper cup base and add cotton trim.
White Tissue Snow Puffs for a Winter Bowl
Soft white paper spheres look like fresh snow, and they are a sweet cousin to the honeycomb style. This fluffy white tissue pom shows how full plain white paper can look when the layers fan out. Make a few in different sizes and pile them in a wide bowl on the coffee table, or tuck them along a mantel with greenery. They pair well with these faux snow ideas for a soft winter corner.
You will need: White tissue paper, floral wire, paper shears, a wide serving bowl.
How to make it: 1. Stack 8 sheets of tissue and fold them like a fan. 2. Twist wire around the center and trim both ends round. 3. Pull each layer up and out to form a full white snow puff.
Kraft Paper Honeycomb Stars
Kraft paper gives honeycomb pieces a warm farmhouse look that fits rustic trees and natural trims. A star template turns the same method into five pointed 3D stars that open flat and then pop into shape. Tie each one with natural twine and hang them on the tree, or leave a few on the table as place settings. Mix them with these folded paper stars for a full paper tree that costs almost nothing. Kraft honeycomb Christmas decor also recycles easily at the end of the season.
You will need: Brown kraft paper or grocery bags, a star template, a glue stick, paper shears, natural twine.
How to make it: 1. Cut 12 stars from kraft paper and fold each one in half. 2. Glue them together in alternating lines. 3. Add the twine loop in the last layer, then open and glue the two ends together.
Kraft Wrap Ready for a Honeycomb Topper
A small honeycomb piece makes a charming gift topper that looks far pricier than a store bow. Simple kraft paper wrap like this, with a red ribbon and a plain tag, is the perfect base. Tuck a mini honeycomb sphere or bell under the ribbon, and the gift looks like it came from a vintage shop. It is also a keepsake, since the topper can go right onto the tree. It is a tiny piece of honeycomb Christmas decor that guests get to keep. Find more ideas for holiday gift packaging to pair with it.
You will need: Kraft wrapping paper, red ribbon, plain gift tags, a mini honeycomb sphere or bell, double sided tape.
How to make it: 1. Wrap the gift in kraft paper and tie the ribbon. 2. Make a mini honeycomb piece about 3 inches wide. 3. Slip its loop under the ribbon and secure it with a small piece of tape.
Book Page Honeycomb Christmas Decor With Gold Cord
Old book pages make some of the prettiest honeycomb pieces, because the printed lines turn into a soft pattern when the cells open. Use a worn book from a thrift store, never a family treasure. Hang them with thin gold cord on a green tree for a quiet, vintage reading room look. They also look lovely in a bowl on a reading table. See more ways to reuse old books for holiday crafts.
You will need: Pages from an old book, a circle template, a glue stick, paper shears, gold cord.
How to make it: 1. Cut 16 circles from the pages and fold each one in half. 2. Glue them together in alternating lines. 3. Lay the gold cord inside the last fold, then open the ornament and join the ends.
Folded Paper Stars to Mix With the Honeycombs
A bright red folded star is a natural partner for honeycomb pieces. Its sharp points contrast nicely with the round, soft cells of your spheres and bells. This kind of star works on a tree, in a window or as a topper on a stack of books. Make several in red and white, then hang them between your honeycomb ornaments for variety. Try these no glue paper crafts for more folding ideas.
You will need: Red or white paper squares, a bone folder or ruler, thin thread.
How to make it: 1. Fold each square into a small point unit. 2. Slot the units together one by one to form the star. 3. Thread a loop through one tip and hang it.
Honeycomb Christmas Decor for a Woodland Tree
Honeycomb mushrooms are a sweet twist for anyone who loves a forest style tree. Make a red honeycomb half dome for the cap, glue white paper dots on top and add a cream cardstock stem. Hang them among pinecones and dried orange slices for a cozy cabin feel. They also look darling on a mantel with moss and small wooden animals. For more forest touches, see these mushroom holiday ideas.
You will need: Red tissue paper, a half dome template, a glue stick, white paper dots, cream cardstock, thin cord.
How to make it: 1. Make a small red honeycomb half dome and open it. 2. Cut a stem from cream cardstock and glue it under the cap. 3. Add the white dots and a cord loop at the top.
A Pinecone Door Wreath Ready for Honeycomb Bells
A simple evergreen and pinecone wreath on a painted front door is the perfect base for small honeycomb bells. Tie two or three mini red bells at the bottom with a short ribbon, and the wreath gets an instant vintage look. Since tissue does not like rain, use this idea on a covered porch or an inside door. For more ways to style a wreath, see these ornament wreath ideas.
You will need: An evergreen and pinecone wreath, 2 or 3 mini honeycomb bells, red ribbon, a wreath hanger.
How to make it: 1. Make mini bells about 3 inches tall. 2. Tie them with ribbon to the bottom of the wreath. 3. Hang the wreath and adjust the bells so they turn outward.
A Window Full of Red and White Bells
The grand finale is a window filled with red and white honeycomb bells at different heights, just like old shop windows. It is the most eye catching honeycomb Christmas decor of all, and it costs only a few dollars in tissue. Use 5 to 7 bells in mixed sizes and hang them from a tension rod with white ribbon. Neighbors will see the cheerful bells from the street all day. Find more holiday window ideas to finish the look.
You will need: 5 to 7 red and white honeycomb bells in mixed sizes, white ribbon, a tension rod.
How to make it: 1. Make the bells in at least three sizes. 2. Tie ribbon of different lengths to each one. 3. Hang them along the tension rod and space them evenly in the window.
