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Paper bell ornaments bring a touch of classic holiday charm to your Christmas tree or festive decor. With their soft curves, metallic finishes, and ribbon bows, these handmade bells look elegant and timeless — yet they’re surprisingly easy to make. You can hang them on the tree, string them into a garland, or use them as accents for gift wrapping.
Crafted from colored cardstock, these bells are lightweight, durable, and fully customizable to match your holiday theme.
This project is perfect for adding a handmade, traditional feel to your holiday season.
How to Make Paper Bell Ornaments with Ribbon
You can make each bell unique by experimenting with colors like gold, red, green, and white, or by layering paper cutouts and adding ribbon ties for an extra festive touch.
Materials
- Colored cardstock or metallic paper (gold, red, green, or white)
- Scissors or craft knife
- Craft glue or double-sided tape
- Pencil and ruler
- Ribbon (red, green, or gold)
- Hole punch (for threading ribbon)
- Small bell or bead (optional for inside)
Shop the materials
The steps
Step 1: Cut the Bell Shape
Start by drawing a bell shape onto your cardstock. It should resemble a dome or half-sphere when rolled. Use a ruler for clean, straight lines at the edges and smooth curves for the top.
Cut out the shape carefully using scissors or a craft knife. If you’re making several ornaments, use the first one as a template for consistency.
Step 2: Form the Bell
Gently curve the paper into a cone or bell shape by rolling it along your fingers or the edge of a pencil. Overlap the straight edges slightly to form a neat seam, and secure it with craft glue or tape.
Hold the shape in place for a few seconds until the glue sets. You can adjust the width of the overlap to make wider or narrower bells, depending on your preference.
Step 3: Add Decorative Layers
Cut small strips or scalloped shapes from contrasting paper colors to create bands, patterns, or lace-like edges. Glue them around the base or middle of the bell for added texture and design.
For extra detail, punch small holes or cut out simple patterns like stars, holly leaves, or snowflakes before assembling. This lets light shine through beautifully if you hang them near Christmas lights.
Step 4: Attach the Ribbon and Clapper
Use a hole punch to make a small hole at the top of your bell. Thread a ribbon through and tie it into a loop for hanging.
For a realistic touch, you can glue a small bead or jingle bell inside the paper bell to act as a clapper. Finish by tying a bow at the top using the same ribbon or a different color for contrast.
Step 5: Display and Enjoy
Once your ornaments are dry, hang them on your Christmas tree, along a garland, or on door handles for a festive touch.
The combination of shimmer, color, and ribbon makes these paper bells stand out beautifully.
They’re a charming handmade addition to your holiday decor and make lovely gifts for family and friends, too.
