DIY Gift Wrap Medallion Ornaments: Elevate Your Holiday Decor with Handmade Charm

The holiday season is a time for joy, warmth, and the enchanting glow of festive decorations. While store-bought ornaments certainly have their place, there’s an undeniable magic that comes with handmade touches. This year, infuse your Christmas tree and gift presentations with a unique, personalized flair using our incredibly easy Gift Wrap Medallion Ornaments. Perfect for crafters of all ages, these charming decorations are not just simple to make but also offer a wonderful opportunity to repurpose leftover holiday wrapping paper, adding a sustainable touch to your celebrations.

Embracing the Holiday Spirit, One Craft at a Time

Confession time: I’ve been humming Christmas tunes for weeks, eagerly anticipating the moment I can transform my home into a winter wonderland. My husband, Chris, has a steadfast rule – no decorating before Thanksgiving. While I respect the tradition, it doesn’t mean I can’t start preparing for the festive season! And what better way to channel that holiday excitement than with a delightful, afternoon craft?

These Gift Wrap Medallion Ornaments are precisely what you need to kickstart your Christmas spirit. They’re quick, they’re charming, and they provide the perfect excuse to dive into your stash of holiday wrapping paper. Imagine the satisfaction of crafting beautiful, unique ornaments that reflect your personal style, all while using materials you likely already have on hand. It’s a win-win for both your holiday decor and your crafting budget!

Why You’ll Love Crafting These Medallion Ornaments

Beyond their undeniable visual appeal, these DIY ornaments offer a multitude of benefits, making them a must-try for your holiday crafting:

Eco-Friendly Crafting: This project is a fantastic way to utilize leftover wrapping paper scraps. Instead of tossing those beautiful remnants, transform them into something spectacular, giving them a second life and reducing waste. It’s a small step towards a more sustainable holiday.
Budget-Friendly: With just a few basic supplies like wrapping paper, tape, scissors, and small embellishments, you can create a stunning collection of ornaments without breaking the bank. Many items can be found around the house!
Kid-Friendly Fun: The simple folding and taping steps make this an ideal craft for children. It’s a wonderful activity to do together as a family, fostering creativity, developing fine motor skills, and creating lasting holiday memories that kids will cherish.
Personalized Decor: Choose wrapping paper patterns and colors that perfectly match your existing holiday theme, allowing for truly customized decorations that reflect your unique taste and style.
Versatile Applications: These medallions aren’t just for the tree! They make exquisite gift toppers, adding an extra layer of thought and beauty to your presents. They can also be strung together to create festive garlands, or even used as unique place settings or festive accents around your home.
Instant Gratification: Watch your creations come to life in minutes! The speedy assembly means you can craft several medallions in a single afternoon, quickly building up your holiday decor collection without a lengthy time commitment.

Gather Your Supplies: What You’ll Need

The beauty of this project lies in its simplicity and the minimal tools required. Before you begin, gather these essential materials to ensure a smooth and enjoyable crafting experience:

Holiday-Patterned Gift Wrap: Opt for sturdy paper with festive designs. A crucial tip for ease: look for wrapping paper that has grid lines on the back. These lines will be your best friend for making straight, consistent folds, leading to perfectly symmetrical medallions. Choose patterns and colors that evoke the holiday spirit and complement your existing decor.
Sharp Scissors: A good pair of sharp scissors will ensure clean cuts and crisp edges for your paper rectangles. This is important for a professional-looking finish.
Ribbon: Choose a thin ribbon or string (about ¼ to ½ inch wide) that complements your chosen wrapping paper. This will be used to create the hanging loop for your ornaments. Twine, baker’s string, or even fishing line can also work.
Mini Bows or Other Embellishments: These small decorative elements will add the perfect finishing touch to the center of your medallions. Think mini bows, glitter, buttons, small beads, stick-on gems, or even a tiny photo for a truly personal touch.
Scotch® Double-Sided Tape: High-quality double-sided tape is key for securing your folds and assembling the medallion seamlessly. Its strong hold ensures your ornaments will last throughout the season.
Scotch® Double-Sided Tape Applicator with Refills: While not strictly necessary, an applicator makes the taping process incredibly quick, neat, and efficient, especially when making multiple ornaments. It’s a great tool for precision and ease.

Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting Your Gift Wrap Medallion Ornaments

Let’s turn those beautiful scraps of festive paper into stunning holiday decor! Follow these simple, clear steps to create your own collection of beautiful medallion ornaments. Remember, the process is as enjoyable as the outcome!

Step 1: Prepare Your Paper Rectangles

Begin by rolling out your chosen gift wrap. The overall size of your finished medallion will directly correlate with the dimensions of the rectangles you cut. For a well-proportioned medallion, you’ll need to cut three identical rectangles. Here are some guidelines to help you:

Width: When folding accordion-style, you’ll want an even number of grid squares across the width of your paper. For instance, aiming for 8 or 10 squares wide is ideal. If your paper has 1-inch grids, an 8-inch wide rectangle will give you 8 squares, which translates to 4 folds on each side when folded in half. A 10-inch width will give you 5 folds. The key is consistency across all three pieces.
Height: The height of your rectangle will determine the diameter of your finished medallion. If you desire a 5-inch diameter medallion, cut your rectangles 5 inches tall. Adjust this measurement to create a variety of sizes for visual interest on your tree.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different sizes! Once you make your first medallion, you’ll easily be able to adjust dimensions for larger, more dramatic ornaments or smaller, more delicate ones.

Step 2: Master the Accordion Fold

This is where the grid lines on the back of your wrapping paper become invaluable, making the folding process incredibly precise!

Flip your paper over so the convenient grid lines are facing up.
Starting from one of the shorter sides, fold the paper over precisely along the first grid line. Press firmly to create a crisp crease. The sharper the crease, the better your medallion will look.
Flip the paper over to the other side (this is the “accordion” part), and make your next fold along the adjacent grid line, ensuring it’s parallel to the first fold. This creates the classic fan-like pattern.
Continue this back-and-forth folding technique, using the grid lines as your guide, until the entire rectangle is transformed into a neat, compact accordion.
Once fully folded, gently fold the accordion in half, bringing the two short ends together. It should now resemble a charming paper fan, ready for the next step.

Repeat this precise process for all three of your cut rectangles, ensuring each paper fan is identical in size and fold quality.

Step 3: Secure Your Fans with Double-Sided Tape

Now it’s time to secure the folds of each fan, ensuring they hold their shape for the medallion. The Scotch® Double-Sided Tape Applicator makes this step a breeze, offering clean and quick application!

Open one of your folded fans. Locate the inside flap where the two sides meet when folded in half.
Place your Scotch® Double-Sided Tape Applicator flat against this inside flap.
Smoothly move the applicator across the entire length of the flap to apply a continuous, even strip of tape. This ensures a strong bond.
Once you reach the end of the paper, gently pull the yellow button on the applicator up and back to cleanly cut the tape.
Carefully press the opposite side of the fan onto the taped flap, firmly adhering the two inside edges together. This action transforms your open fan into a semi-circular, closed fan piece.

Repeat this taping process meticulously for the remaining two fans. By the end of this step, you should have three perfectly formed, semi-circular paper fans, each ready to become an integral part of your medallion.

Step 4: Assemble Your Medallion

With your three sturdy fan pieces ready, it’s time to bring them together to form a beautiful, full-circle medallion. This is where your ornament truly takes shape!

Take one of your semi-circular fans. Using the double-sided tape applicator, apply a generous and continuous strip of tape along one of its straight, outer edges. Ensure the tape goes from top to bottom for maximum adhesion.
Carefully align a second fan piece with the taped edge of the first, pressing firmly along the entire seam to secure them together. Pay attention to aligning any patterns neatly if your wrapping paper has a directional design.
Repeat this process with the third fan piece: apply tape to its outer edge and attach it firmly to the second fan, creating a three-quarter circle.
Finally, apply tape to the remaining open edge of your first fan. Carefully bring it around to meet the open edge of the third fan, pressing them together to complete the circle. You should now have a robust and beautifully circular paper medallion!

Step 5: Add a Hanging Ribbon

To transform your stunning medallion into a hangable ornament or a convenient gift tag, you’ll need to add a simple ribbon loop.

Cut a short piece of ribbon – typically about 6-8 inches is sufficient for a sturdy and well-proportioned loop. The length can vary based on how low you want your ornament to hang.
Wrap a small piece of double-sided tape firmly around each end of the ribbon. This will help secure it within the paper folds.
Carefully insert one taped end into one of the folds of your medallion, near what you intend to be the top edge. Press it firmly into place, ensuring it’s tucked securely between the layers of paper.
Take the other taped end of the ribbon and insert it into a different fold, a short distance away from the first, creating an elegant loop. Secure it firmly, ensuring the tape adheres well.

Double-check that the ribbon loop is strong enough to hold the ornament and that it’s positioned centrally for balanced hanging on your tree.

Step 6: Embellish the Center

The final touch is to adorn the center of your medallion, giving it a polished and professional look while adding an extra dash of sparkle or charm.

Using your double-sided tape applicator or small, precise pieces of tape, adhere a mini bow or your chosen decorative piece (like a glittery sticker, a button, a small sprig of faux holly, or even a personalized initial tag) directly to the very center of the medallion.
Press down firmly on your embellishment to ensure it’s securely attached. This not only adds beauty and personality but also cleverly conceals the central meeting point of your paper fans, giving your ornament a flawless finish.

Congratulations! You’ve successfully crafted your first Gift Wrap Medallion Ornament. Now, repeat these steps to create a charming collection of varying sizes and patterns. Hang them proudly on your Christmas tree, use them as elegant gift toppers, or incorporate them into other holiday decorations for a truly custom look.

Tips for Crafting Flawless Medallions

To ensure your Gift Wrap Medallion Ornaments turn out spectacular every time, and to elevate your crafting experience, keep these expert tips in mind:

Paper Quality Matters: While most wrapping papers will work, thicker, sturdier paper (often found in higher-quality rolls) tends to hold its shape better and creates more defined folds. This results in a more robust and elegant medallion. Avoid very thin or flimsy paper if possible, as it can tear easily.
Precision is Key: Take your time with the cutting and folding. Even slight inaccuracies can lead to a less symmetrical medallion that doesn’t quite form a perfect circle. The grid lines on the back of the paper are your best asset here – use them diligently!
Crease Power: For super crisp, professional-looking folds, use a bone folder or the blunt edge of a ruler to press down firmly on each crease. The sharper your creases, the more defined and elegant your medallion will look. This small detail makes a big difference.
Tape Application Strategy: When joining the fans, apply tape close to the edges of your paper. This provides maximum adhesion and minimizes any visible tape lines. If you don’t have an applicator, use small, precise strips of regular double-sided tape, making sure they are firmly pressed down.
Embellishment Variety: Don’t limit yourself to just mini bows! Consider other creative embellishments like glitter, small buttons, sequins, stick-on gems, tiny jingle bells, or even cut-out shapes from contrasting paper. This is where you can truly let your personality and creativity shine, making each ornament unique.
Batch Production: If you plan to make many ornaments (which we highly recommend!), consider a batch approach. Cut all your rectangles first, then do all your accordion folds, then all your taping, and finally all your assembly and embellishments. This systematic method can be more efficient and save time.
Involve the Kids Safely: This is a fantastic craft for children, but always supervise them, especially with scissors. Younger children can help with folding and embellishing, while older kids can manage the cutting and taping.

Beyond the Tree: Creative Uses for Your Medallions

These versatile and charming ornaments are far too beautiful to be confined to just the Christmas tree. Here are some inspiring ideas for incorporating your handmade Gift Wrap Medallions into your wider holiday decor, gifting, and entertaining, adding a consistent theme throughout your home:

Elegant Gift Toppers: Ditch the traditional store-bought ribbon bow and use a handmade medallion instead. It adds a sophisticated, personalized touch that instantly elevates your gift and shows extra thought.
Festive Garland: String multiple medallions together with coordinating ribbon or rustic twine to create a stunning garland for your mantelpiece, doorway, window frames, or staircase railing. Mix different sizes and patterns for visual interest.
Unique Place Settings: Attach a small medallion to each napkin ring, place card, or even the stem of a wine glass at your holiday dinner table for a charming, decorative element that ties into your festive theme.
Wall Decor: Arrange a cluster of medallions of varying sizes and patterns on a feature wall, above a buffet, or on a door for a dynamic and festive display that creates a focal point.
Wreath Enhancements: Glue a few carefully selected medallions onto a plain evergreen wreath (real or faux) for an instant pop of color, texture, and handmade appeal.
Window Decorations: Hang them individually in windows at varying heights, allowing natural light to filter through and highlight their beautiful patterns, creating a cheerful display from both inside and outside.
Mobile or Chandelier Accent: Create a simple mobile by hanging medallions from a small hoop, or tie them to an existing chandelier for a whimsical touch above your dining table.

The Joy of Handmade Holidays

There’s something uniquely fulfilling and heartwarming about decorating your home with items you’ve crafted yourself. Each Gift Wrap Medallion Ornament tells a small story – a story of creativity, patience, and the warmth of the holiday season. They are not just decorations; they are tangible memories in the making, perfect for sharing with loved ones or cherishing year after year as they become part of your family’s holiday traditions. The act of creating together fosters connection and embodies the true spirit of Christmas.

So, gather your supplies, put on your favorite Christmas playlist, and get ready to create some holiday magic. These easy Gift Wrap Medallion Ornaments are an enchanting, budget-friendly, and personalized way to add a festive touch to your home and gifts this season. Happy crafting, and may your holidays be filled with joy and beautiful handmade creations!

Explore More Christmas Craft Ideas!

Looking for more festive inspiration to keep your hands busy and your home beautiful? Dive into these other delightful holiday crafts:

Festive Stocking Silverware Holder

Holiday Gift Garland

Wood Snowman Ornaments

Candy Cane Mice

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Disclosure: I have been selected to be a brand ambassador for Scotch Brands. I have been compensated for my time. All opinions expressed are 100% my own!