Maybe the easiest, least expensive way to transform a wall—or a whole space—is with paper garlands. (We mean, look here…and here…and here.) And this super-simple DIY paper vine garland can help you turn your room into a jungle, add a woodsy vibe to an entryway, or make a gift feel like you pulled it out of the garden. It just takes twine and tissue paper…which you’ve already got at home, right? 

HOW TO MAKE A DIY PAPER VINE GARLAND

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• GREEN AND GOLD TISSUE PAPER

• GOLD STRING OR TWINE

• CARD STOCK

• PENCIL

• SCISSORS

Pro tip

Vary the tissue paper colors and string or twine to get completely different vibes. For example:

• Woodsy: Green and brown tissue paper and natural jute
• Garden-y: Various shades of green tissue paper and white twine
• Unicorn-y: Glitter-flecked green and hot pink tissue paper with metallic bakers twine
• Teeny-tiny: Whatever color tissue paper with embroidery floss instead of twine

TRACE AND CUT OUT LEAF TEMPLATE

On your card stock, draw a simple leaf shape with a bit of a stem —ours is about 2″ long. You’ll use the stem to secure the leaf to the twine, so it shouldn’t be too delicate. 

Pro tip

You can make tiny vines with embroidery floss and itty-bitty leaves.

COLLATE AND FOLD THE TISSUE PAPER

For the leaves, stack four sheets of tissue paper, alternative colors (gold, green, gold, green).

Fold the bottom edge of the paper up, using the existing creases in the paper as a guide

Crease it firmly—use your hand, the pencil, or a bone folder—and repeat, folding from the bottom, until you get to the end. If you have a little tissue sticking out past the final fold, just cut it off.

TRACE AND CUT OUT LEAVES

Using your leaf template, trace leaf outlines across the length of the tissue paper. Leave a little space in-between outlines to make cutting easier.

Cut them out with a super-sharp pair of scissors.

Pro Tip

Don’t worry about being too precise: A little variation among the leaves will make the paper vine garland look more natural.

CUT TWINE TO LENGTH AND TIE LOOSE KNOTS

Measure the space where you’ll want to hang the vine and add a few inches—knots will take up some of the length.

Cut a piece—or pieces—of twine to that length.

For long tissue paper vines, make a loose knot every six inches or so along the twine. Don’t pull the knot closed. 

Pro Tip

If you’re making a short vine or want yours to be more lush than minimalistic, move the knots closer together.

TIE TISSUE LEAVES TO TWINE VINES

Hold two leaves together—they don’t have to match up perfectly—and poke the stems through an open knot.

Gently pull the knot tight to hold the leaves in place.

Repeat until every knot has been filled.

Pro Tips

If the leaves don’t separate a bit on their own when they’re tied, gently spread them apart for a more organic look.

To add dimension, crease the leaves down the center before adding them to the twine—or add more leaves to each knot.

SET YOUR IMAGINATION FREE

• String multiples across a wall for a dramatic background.
• Drape vines and add photos with mini clothes pins.
• Use garland as ties for helium balloons.
• Tie paper vine garlands around packages in place of ribbon.
• Wind them around table legs and drape across windows.
• Make a teeny one decorate a cake.

And just like that, your party goes from mild to wild. We’d love to see the clever ways you use DIY paper vine garlands to decorate your world. Share it on Instagram and tag @think.make.share.

— Lisa R.