Paperchains have been having a bit of a moment. They’ve gone from a kids’ wastepaper project to a high value festive must-have, with crafters selling classy premade garlands in creative, tasteful colours.
Making a paperchain is so easy, and it’s a satisfying, meditative task. Cut strips of your chosen papers. Fasten one strip into a loop using tape, glue or a stapler, or use strips with a locking notch cut into them. Then make a second loop linked with the first, and carry on until you’ve made enough garland for the room you’re planning to adorn.
Paperchains can be fixed with Blutack or tape (if the paintwork will hold up to it) or even drawing pins. Small cup hooks attached to the ceiling are a good solution if you want garlands throughout the year.
1. Recycled paperchains
Paperchains can be made from purchased purpose-cut papers – Cambridge Imprint has a beautiful luxurious range. But you can also use paper you already have at home. Try cutting up the Argos catalogue, or use last-year’s wrapping paper. Vintage sheet music is another festive-looking print commonly used for Christmas decs. Paperchains can be a good way of using up off-cuts from other crafts such as card-making, origami or bookbinding.
2. Thick and thin
Wider strips made up into chunky paperchains can be really striking, particularly in solid contrasting colours. Tiny chains made from thin strips are very pretty draped around a Christmas tree. And a mix of wide and narrow strips also gives an interesting effect.
3. Textured paperchains
Cutting strips with pinking shears or patterned scissors brings a textured look. Or you can opt for a lacy paper, or foiled sheets. Using a few links of basic paper to every textured link gives a contrasting effect and will make the more expensive paper go further.
4. Put a twist in it
Twisting each link is a great way to take full advantage of double-sided paper, and it adds texture and movement to your garland.
5. Extra links
You can connect more than one loop for various effects. For example, you can make a four-way paperchain from the centre of the room to the corners. Or you could attach your paperchain garland in swags and add an extra loop at the highest or lowest point.
6. Paperchain wall hanging
Shorter strips of paperchain hung in a chevron from a pole on the wall can make a striking display, particularly with an ombre effect.
7. Long legs
Another quirky decoration uses paperchains as long legs for Christmas characters like an elf, Santa or a reindeer.
8. Re-useable paperchains
A quick search of any craft site turns up knitted or crocheted paperchain-style garlands, which can be re-used year after year. If you don’t fancy buying them, these could be an easy project for a beginner crafter, and could be a way of using up short lengths of yarn. Or you could use the garland to memorialise wool projects, with a link for each as you complete it.
Paperchains made with a locking notch can be dissembled and re-made next year. Cheaper paper tends to fade, even if the paperchains are kept in the dark, so it might not be worth trying to reuse them. Instead, they can go in the recycling. You can also – carefully – pack paperchains made from good quality paper into a rigid container and bring them out again in future years.
Making the link
Paperchains are fun to put together, and are a stylish addition to your Christmas décor.
