DIY Cardboard Christmas Decorations (try this!)

Snowflakes and stars and Santa – oh my! And let’s throw in a reindeer, just for good measure.

That’s right. If you’re looking for some quirky, rustic, crafty, environmentally friendly* decorations to add to your Christmas collection, your friends at National Storage have you covered.

*The environmentally friendly part assumes you’ll recycle all those failed attempts that you won’t be telling your guests about. Don’t worry; your secret’s safe with us.

What you’ll need to make these cardboard Christmas decorations:

Our templates

DOWNLOAD THE CARDBOARD CHRISTMAS TEMPLATES

Some cardboard
A box cutter
A pen or screwdriver
A cutting mat or a couple of chopping boards (because the last thing you need is a reindeer carved into your dining table)
Sticky tape
String
Glitter

Short on supplies? Don’t sweat it. Grab some moving boxes from our Box Shop. Think of it as a Christmas present from us to you (but you have to pay for it… sorry).

Cardboard Glitter Snowflakes

Just because it’s 100 darn degrees outside doesn’t mean you can’t have a lovely White Christmas in your lounge room. Deck your tree and the walls (maybe even the ceiling) with these cardboard glitter snowflakes, then blast the air-con. Your kids will be so excited for Santa, they won’t know the difference!

Our printable template includes 3 snowflake patterns. Choose your favourite or mix ‘n’ match to your heart’s content.

How to make your cardboard glitter snowflakes:

Choose your template(s).
Place your cutting mat or chopping boards on a flat surface.
Lay your cardboard on top.
Use sticky tape to secure the snowflake template onto your cardboard.
Using a box cutter*, follow the template and carefully cut into the cardboard (away from yourself!).
Apply glue and glitter.
Using a pen or screwdriver, create a hole at the top of your snowflake.
Tie string through hole and hang on your tree.

*All cardboard cutting should be done under adult supervision or by a responsible adult (i.e. before your afternoon margarita, not after).

Cardboard Christmas Stars and Baubles

These delightful ornaments are made much the same way as the snowflakes above.

The only catch is that you need to cut them out twice and mesh them together. Hello, 3D effect!

How to make your cardboard stars and baubles:

Place your cutting mat or chopping boards on a flat surface.
Lay your cardboard on top.
Use sticky tape to secure the star or bauble template onto your cardboard.
Using a box cutter*, follow the template and carefully cut into the cardboard (again, away from yourself).
Repeat for the second template.
Apply glue and glitter (optional).
Slide the 2D stars/baubles together at their slits to create the 3D illusion.
Using a pen or screwdriver, create a hole at the top of your ornament.
Tie string through hole and hang on your tree*.

*For the star at the top of your tree, we suggest using some double-sided tape.

*All cardboard cutting should be done under adult supervision or by a responsible adult (i.e. before your afternoon cosmo, not after).

Cardboard Santa Claus (with NEW sleigh!)

It’s just not Christmas without those ho ho hos.

This cardboard Santa may not speak, but he’ll look very merry indeed nestled in the tree (or perhaps chilling on the coffee table).

How to make your cardboard Santa and sleigh:

Place your cutting mat or chopping boards on a flat surface.
Lay your cardboard on top.
Secure the Santa and sleigh templates onto your cardboard with sticky tape.
Use a box cutter* to cut into the cardboard following the templates.
Use the box cutter* to cut out three strips of cardboard to hold the sleigh together underneath.
Assemble the sleigh.
Add your Santa!

*All cardboard cutting should be done under adult supervision or by a responsible adult (i.e. before your afternoon pina colada, not after).

Cardboard Reindeer

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and… um… oh man, I’m drawing a blank on the other two.

But their names aren’t important. What is important is that you cut out enough of these cardboard reindeer to fill your whole home with Rudolph-y joy.

How to make your cardboard reindeer:

Place your cutting mat or chopping boards on a flat surface.
Lay your cardboard on top.
Use sticky tape to secure the reindeer template onto your cardboard.
Use a box cutter* to cut into the cardboard following the template.

*All cardboard cutting should be done under adult supervision or by a responsible adult (i.e. before your afternoon mojito, not after).

All done? Nice.

Now take your Christmas cheer to the next level (and make your neighbours look like crappy parents in comparison) with our awesome DIY cardboard Christmas tree guide. Because why would you hang your cardboard Christmas decorations on a regular Christmas tree when you could hang them on a cardboard Christmas tree?