How to Paper Fold Wreaths

Paper folding is a popular pastime. This how-to is about tea bag folding and an easy paper folding wreath for Christmas cards or all occasion cards, as well.

Paper folding using tea bag folding techniques is easy and a bit addicting. It has an element of surprise because the finished project pops color in ways that can not be predicted.

If you add a little psychology it is "variety is the spice of life" approach. Creating something that is different almost every time. You get a little of something new with each folding project.

We are talking subtlety here. So get some paper to fold and start your card embellishments or scrapbook wreaths now.

First you need to find paper.

Make copies or use old sheets of music to cut squares. Any pretty paper will do.

Try a few and see if you like the process and then we will go into assembling the card. I have many ideas for that, even reusing old cards.

Yellowed sheet above is used to cut eight 2-inch squares, or tiles, keeping in mind to have the motif at three of the corners of the tile. (Or else the tile will pop plain paper or no motif.)

Click each photo below for the step by step task.

Now that you have practiced the Christmas wreaths and decided to make your own Christmas cards I will outline what you will need and the best places to get it.

At right are a few examples of what you can do. The two wreaths at the top are made from tiles that are identical. 8 tiles can be cut from a notepad like the one shown or other paper that has repeat printing.

A page of old music can be copied on your printer eight times to make several wreaths without even leaving home. My preference.

• Craft Card Blanks - The big craft stores have these in boxes of fifty or smaller packages. The wreaths I show here will fit nicely on A2 size cards or 4.25 X 5.5 inches. The white or cream cards could be used with coordinating background papers to put the wreath on.
• Ribbon - In various colors for tying bows on the wreaths.
• Glue and scissors or a paper cutter.
• Coordinating background papers or old Christmas cards - Do not forget to look at Tuesday Morning, Big Lots, and the Dollar Store for holiday-themed papers for backgrounds. You can go through your cards sent to you in years past and find motifs that will match your wreaths.

I like to get all my color components in one place. This way, I can take one wreath and glance through all the colors and mix and match up the best eye pleasing combination. Round up the blank cards your finished wreaths, background papers, and glue.

Find the matches you like the best, glue the wreath to the background paper or directly on the card.