Make Paper Holders for Holiday Knick-Knacks
Make decorative paper holders to display small holiday knick-knacks using child-safe scissors, folding, and gluing; decorate and test stability for festive tabletop displays.
About this activity
Make decorative paper holders to display small holiday knick-knacks using child-safe scissors, folding, and gluing; decorate and test stability for festive tabletop displays.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Pick one small holiday knick-knack you want to display.
- 2
Step 2
Trace around the base of your knick-knack on the colored paper with a pencil.
- 3
Step 3
Use a ruler to draw a border at least 2 cm outside your tracing for the holder's walls.
- 4
Step 4
Draw four small tabs on the outer border so you have flaps to glue later.
- 5
Step 5
Cut out the outer shape along your border with child-safe scissors.
- 6
Step 6
Fold up along the inner edge of the border to create the holder's walls.
- 7
Step 7
Fold the small tabs inward so they become glue flaps.
- 8
Step 8
Apply glue to each tab using the glue stick.
- 9
Step 9
Press each tab to the inside wall and hold for a few seconds so the walls stick.
- 10
Step 10
Decorate the outside and inside of the holder using coloring materials and stickers or ribbons.
- 11
Step 11
Let the glue and any wet decorations dry completely.
- 12
Step 12
Place your knick-knack in the holder.
- 13
Step 13
Gently tap the table near the holder to check if your knick-knack stays steady.
- 14
Step 14
Share your finished paper holder on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do you make paper holders for holiday knick-knacks?
Start by choosing sturdy paper or lightweight cardstock and measure a base about the size of your knick-knack. Cut the paper with child-safe scissors, fold along marked lines to create a box, pocket, or cone shape, and glue tabs with a glue stick or school glue. Reinforce the base with folded layers or tape. Let glue dry, decorate with stickers, markers, or washi tape, then place the knick-knack and test stability, adjusting folds or adding weight as needed.
What materials do I need to make paper holders for holiday knick-knacks?
You'll need lightweight cardstock or construction paper, child-safe scissors, a ruler and pencil for measuring, a glue stick or school glue, clear tape for reinforcement, stickers, markers, washi tape, and optional embellishments like sequins or ribbon. For extra stability you can use a small strip of corrugated cardboard or a second paper layer. Avoid hot glue or small choking hazards for younger children.
What ages is making holiday paper holders suitable for?
This craft suits children aged about 4–12. Ages 4–6 can fold, glue, and decorate with heavy supervision and guided cutting; use pre-cut shapes if needed. Ages 7–9 can measure, cut, and assemble simple holders independently. Ages 10–12 can design more complex structures and test stability. Always supervise scissors and small decorations, and match complexity to your child's fine motor skills and attention span.
What are safety tips, benefits, and variations for making paper holders?
Benefits include fine motor development, creative expression, and basic measuring and problem-solving while making a festive display. Safety tips: use child-safe scissors, non-toxic glue, keep small embellishments out of reach of toddlers, and supervise trial placements. Variations: make themed holders (mini stockings, gingerbread houses), use recycled cardboard, add weight to the base for fragile items, or scale designs for ornaments or table centerpieces.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use instead of colored paper or a glue stick if we can't find them?
Trace and build the holder from plain printer paper colored with markers or from thin cardboard cut from a cereal box, and use double-sided tape or a small dab of white school glue in step 7 instead of a glue stick.
My holder's walls collapse or the tabs don't stick—what should I check and how can I fix it?
Make sure you drew at least a 2 cm border in step 3, folded sharply along the inner edge in step 5 and folded the tabs inward in step 6 before applying glue in step 7, and if it still collapses reinforce the inside seams with clear tape or add an extra tab to glue.
How can I adapt this activity for younger children or older kids?
For toddlers, have an adult pre-cut the outer shape and do the folding/gluing while the child traces and decorates (steps 2 and 10), and for older kids, challenge them to measure precise borders with the ruler, build holders from layered cardboard, or add a lid and hinge when folding and gluing (steps 3–9).
How can we personalize or enhance the paper holder beyond basic decorating?
After decorating in step 10, personalize the holder by lining the inside with felt or tissue, adding a ribbon handle glued to opposite walls, creating a matching lid, or gluing a small battery tea light under the knick-knack for display before sharing on DIY.org in step 12.