pending time outdoors in your garden, on your patio, or in your backyard can be incredibly relaxing and rejuvenating. Surrounding yourself with nature, fresh air, and sunshine does wonders for your mental and physical health. Making your outdoor space feel cozy, inviting, and personalized can enhance that experience even more.
One easy way to spruce up your outdoor area is with handmade paper crafts and decorations. With just paper, scissors, and a bit of creativity you can DIY beautiful and budget-friendly accents for your patio, porch, or garden.
Paper Flowers
Paper flowers are a gorgeous way to bring color and life to your outdoor space. They last much longer than real flowers, without needing water or care. Paper flowers are perfect for decorating porches, patios, pergolas, and garden beds.
There are many different techniques for crafting paper flowers, from origami to Cricut. A simple way to make them is by cutting petal shapes from cardstock in varied sizes and layering them together with glue. Add stems and leaves cut from green paper. Cluster paper flowers together in pots or hang them from ribbons. You can find free paper flower templates online to make the process easy.
Paper flowers
Here are some other ideas for paper crafts for the outdoors:
- Paper lanterns: Paper lanterns are a fun and festive way to decorate your outdoor space. You can make them from simple paper cones or use more intricate templates. Hang them from trees, porches, or patio railings.
- Paper butterflies: Paper butterflies are a beautiful and delicate way to add some whimsy to your outdoor space. You can make them from simple paper cutouts or use more detailed templates. Hang them from trees, shrubs, or even your front door.
- Paper animals: Paper animals are a fun way to add some personality to your outdoor space. You can make them from simple paper cutouts or use more detailed templates. Hang them from trees, place them on tables, or even use them as placemats.
- Paper signs: Paper signs are a great way to add some fun and personality to your outdoor space. You can make them with simple messages or use them to direct guests to your garden or patio.
Mobiles are a breezy way to decorate covered outdoor areas. Cut or punch shapes from lightweight paper like tissue, crepe, vellum, or wrapping paper, then string them together with ribbon or string. Add beads, buttons, or tassels for extra whimsy. Hang the finished mobile from hooks or branches to bring a pop of color and motion. Bird or butterfly themes work nicely for garden mobiles. Keep them simple or get intricate by crafting origami birds to hang on them. Let your creativity fly!
Paper lanterns illuminate and decorate patios beautifully. Using cardstock, trace and cut lantern shapes. Decorate them before assembling using rubber stamps, painting, or decoupage. For an organic look, cover the lanterns in leaves, ferns, or other natural materials pressed under decoupage medium. Add a battery-operated LED light inside. Hang the lanterns from shepherd hooks or trees using fishing line or invisible thread so they seem to float overhead. They’ll cast a magical glow as dusk falls.
Bring artwork outside by framing kids’ drawings, botanical prints, or favorite photos in weather-resistant materials. Purchase basic picture frames with weather-resistant glass, then print and frame your picks. Or decoupage images right onto the glass itself for an artful look. Hang framed pieces from exterior walls or fences using hardware meant for outdoor use. You can also display artwork leaning on railings or benches. Rotate pieces seasonally to keep your outlook fresh.
Adorn garden fences or walls with inexpensive wind chimes. Make them from items like sea shells, polished stones, metal washers, or ceramic tiles that make tinkling sounds. Attach them to pieces of driftwood or weather-treated bamboo cut into segments. Hang the chimes at intervals along a piece of fishing line or soft cord. Position them where the breeze will catch them so you can enjoy their soothing sounds. The glass or ceramic pieces will shimmer in the sunlight for an added pop.
Paper garlands dress up porches, pergolas, stair railings, and mailboxes. Craft them from strips or circles of paper in coordinating colors or designs.Use a paper punch to cut circles, then thread them onto twine or baker’s string. Or curl strips of paper into spirals using scissors. Adhere or link them into a garland using tape. You can intersperse other objects like pom poms, faux leaves, or paper flowers. Drape your garland across railings or wrap posts. Allow the ends to flutter freely in the wind.
Cut or punch bird, butterfly, flower, leaf, or geometric shapes from old books, maps, sheet music, wallpaper samples, or wrapping paper. Glue them magnetically onto cookie sheets to make unique placemats for outdoor dining tables. Or magnetize bottle caps and turn them into markers for garden beds. Handmade magnets also transform bland metal surfaces like tool sheds or rain barrels into works of art. Get the whole family crafting together on this project.
Picture frames make fun place card holders or favors for outdoor parties and barbecues. Clip clothespins onto the frames so guests can attach their name cards or flags marking their meal choices. For a garden party favor, fill the frames with seeded paper embedded with wildflower or herb seeds. Guests can plant the paper and enjoy flowers or herbs. Adhere a card with care instructions to the back. What a unique party favor!
Cut or paint wooden shapes like flowers, insects, or animals to embellish outdoor steps. Paint them bright colors and seal with outdoor acrylic sealer. Arrange them in clusters along the stairs. You can also decouage napkins, tissue paper, or scrapbook paper onto the wooden pieces for a patterned look before adding sealant on top. These stair decorations add personality and make stairs safer to navigate.
Mosaic address plaques lend uniqueness to home entries. Glue tile, glass, or mirror fragments in geometric or nature-inspired shapes onto a weather-treated wooden cutout of your house number. Add grout between the pieces once dry, then seal and affix the finished plaque near your door. The pieces will glitter in the sun by day, and shine with porch light at night. Your address will certainly stand out in an artistic way.
With a little imagination and creativity, handmade paper crafts allow you to personalize your outdoor space on a budget. They add color, interest, and decor to areas like gardens, porches, patios and decks. Crafting the decorations yourself makes the space feel more meaningful. Display these handmade touches to delight your family and impress visitors. The only limit is your creativity!
Paper crafts are a fun and easy way to add some beauty and personality to your outdoor space. With just a little bit of creativity, you can make your outdoor area look and feel more inviting.