Decoupage for the Holidays: Festive Ideas for Ornaments, Cards, and Gifts

Decoupage provides the perfect medium for adding homemade magic to holiday crafting. With papers, embellishments, and some creativity, decoupage transforms plain gifts, ornaments, and decorations into personalized festive keepsakes for loved ones. Thoughtfully cutting and layering cozy winter or joyful Christmas imagery from recycled gift wrap and cards elevates handmade holiday items with cherished connections. Follow these tips for sourcing nostalgic imagery, designing yuletide decoupage, and gifting heartfelt decoupaged holiday creations that spark treasured memories for years to come.

Gathering Inspiring Vintage Holiday Imagery

Look in vintage archives for classic holiday graphics and typography to decoupage.

Old Christmas Cards

Peruse thrift stores for discarded Christmas cards from past decades to cut apart for images.

Nostalgic Wrapping Paper

Seek interesting retro roll wrap designs at estate sales and antique shops to repurpose.

Winter Postcards and Photos

Collect old winter scene postcards or family photos showing snowy fun to include.

Children’s Holiday Books

Salvage vintage holiday book imagery through library discards and thrifted finds.

Holiday Ephemera

Rescue old holiday pamphlets, catalogs, guides, and brochures from obscurity.

Candy Tins and Packaging

Cutout graphic tins and wrappers make sweet decoupage accents.

Creating Cohesive Holiday Decoupage Compositions

Thoughtfully arrange salvaged imagery into festive designs.

Repeating Motifs

Use multiples of the same cutout image like snowflakes or santa heads to create rhythm.

Mixing Vintage Variety

Allow a diversity of old imagery to interact across layers for interest.

Framing with Borders

Frame central imagery with cutout vintage ornament graphics or decorative typography.

Background Cohesion

Tie disjointed imagery together with consistent background colors or patterns.

Dimensional Touches

Affix tiny decorative items like buttons, beads, or bows for additional depth.

Metallic and Shimmer Accents

Incorporate reflective silver, gold, or holographic paper bits for shine.

Seasonally Inspired Holiday Decoupage Mediums

Use decoupage materials that complement winter and Christmas themes.

Glitters and Mica Powders

Brush on iridescent powders over designs to add magical shimmer.

Metallic Foils

Apply brilliant copper, silver, and gold leaf detailing.

Crackle Mediums

Create vintage weathered effects reminiscent of icy windows.

Flocking Powders

Strategic fuzzy accents resemble falling snow.

Fragrant Oils

Add scents like pine, cinnamon, and cloves to decoupage for sensory nostalgia.

Holiday Confetti

Press tiny holiday confetti shapes into decoupage layers before sealing for whimsy.

Holiday Decoupage Ornament Ideas

Let decoupage imagery turn ordinary ornaments into meaningful tree décor.

Glass Sphere Ornaments

Decoupage personalized imagery onto clear glass ball ornaments to display.

Wooden Ornaments

Adorn plain wooden disc or stamped shapes with nostalgic decoupage.

Ornament Photo Keepsakes

Apply cutout frames with vintage flair around tiny family photos to ornament hooks.

Nature-Inspired Ornaments

Use pinecones, nuts, pods, and wood cookies as bases for woodland decoupage.

Holiday Bauble Coloring Book Upcycling

Decoupage over used holiday coloring book pages to recycle them into ornaments.

Etched Glass Ornaments

Use decoupage to embellish reverse-etched glass ornaments with color and imagery.

Ideas for Holiday Decoupage Cards and Tags

Let decoupage imagery personalize your seasonal correspondence.

Nostalgic Postcards

Create one-of-a-kind vintage replica postcards to mail from the North Pole.

Tree Tag Place Cards

Customize tree gift tags for family by decoupaging old holiday photos onto cardstock tags.

Handmade Gift Wrap

Cut and decoupage discarded holiday papers into custom gift wrap sheets.

Secret Message Cards

Use two-way decoupage to conceal hidden messages inside holiday cards.

Pop-up Cards

Make dimensional fold-out greeting cards using decoupage layers and cutouts.

Holiday Gift Enclosures

Decoupage small boxes, pouches, or gift card envelopes with nostalgic graphics.

Unique Holiday Gift Ideas Using Decoupage

Surprise loved ones with handmade decoupaged holiday gifts.

Memory Albums

Cover blank journal covers in nostalgic papers and imagery from holidays past.

Sentimental Ornament Boxes

Adorn keepsake boxes for collectors with decals of their favorite vintage ornaments.

Retro Recipe Card Holders

Decoupage custom recipe card dividers with yuletide graphics for baked holiday gift exchanges.

Upcycled Glassware

Jazz up glassware with decoupaged holiday patterns to elevate as gift toppers.

Game Boards and Pieces

Cozy up game nights with decoupaged holiday imagery on chessboards, playing cards, or puzzles.

Holiday Desk Accessories

Brighten up plain office supplies like notepads, trays, and pen holders with merry decals.

Reconnect loved ones through decoupage gifts steeped in nostalgia. Spread retro holiday cheer through heartfelt handmade keepsakes.