How to Make Paper Tassels That Are Perfect for Parties

Whether you're celebrating a birthday or having a holiday extravaganza, decorations are a must. Get creative with these cute and simple DIY tassels. Customize them to be the ideal shape, size, and color for your celebration. You can use these tassels on their own or string them into a garland for added impact. Once finished with this party-ready craft, place it over a mantel, above a doorway, or on a wall. Your guests will have no idea you made these festive decorations yourself.

How to Make Paper Tassels

We've all opened a gift that's stuffed to the brim with tissue paper. Instead of throwing the paper away, put it to use with this cute tassel craft. All you need is tissue paper, scissors, wire, and some twine. Different shades of pink were used for this tassel garland to create an ombre effect, but feel free to get creative with colors. Use black and white, the colors of the rainbow, holiday hues, or whatever shades of tissue paper you have on hand.

What You Need

• Tissue paper (20 x 20-inch sheets)
• Scissors
• Wire
• Ribbon or twine

Step 1: Cut and Fold Paper

Take one sheet of tissue paper, and cut it to your desired size. Fold it several times to create layers, and unfold. Then fold the paper in half vertically. At this point, you will have three open edges and one closed edge.

Step 2: Cut Fringe

Starting on the open end of the paper, cut through the layers toward the closed side. Make cuts every inch or so. Do not cut through the folded side.

Step 3: Open and Roll

Carefully open up the paper. You should have identical cut strips on each side of a 2-inch uncut area in the center. Tightly roll along the uncut center area.

Step 4: Fold and Loop

Fold the rolled paper in half, and twist the tip of the tassel. Secure with wire, cutting away any excess. Create a loop at the tip of the tassel, and thread a piece of wire through. Hang multiple tassels on ribbon or twine to create a garland. Now it's time to party!

How to Make Yarn Tassels

With any knitting or crochet project, leftover yarn is unavoidable. Put those extra scraps of yarn to use at your next celebration by recycling them into a tassel garland. This cozy DIY decor is perfect for any winter celebration. Depending on the thickness of your yarn, the tassels will range from full and fluffy to long and fanciful.

Editor's Tip: Create a random color pattern for the tassels to make use of all leftover yarn.

What You Need

• Yarn
• Scissors
• Cardboard or stock paper
• Ribbon or string (optional)
• Wooden beads (optional)

Step 1: Cut Cardboard

Take a piece of cardboard and trim it to the desired length of the tassel.

Step 2: Wrap Yarn

Take your choice of yarn and continuously wrap around the cardboard square. Keep track of the amount of times you circle the yarn around the cardboard. This way you can easily make the tassels uniform without any guessing games.

Step 3: Tie Knot and Snip Yarn

Cut a piece of yarn, ribbon, or string that's around eight to 12 inches long. Take this strand and loop under the wrapped yarn. Pull to the top of the cardboard, then tie it into a knot.

Step 4: Cut Yarn

Take your scissors and place one end between the wrapped cardboard opposite of the tied off end. Cut the yarn to create two equal halves that have a tie in the middle. Cut off any excess yarn.

Step 5: Tie Top of Yarn

Cut an additional piece of yarn. Hold the two ends of the tassel together and tie the string around the top third of the tassel. This should create a tassel shape with the tails of the ribbon pointing upward. Trim the bottom of the tassel so all strands are equal lengths.

Step 6: Attach Tassels to Garland (Optional)

Take wire or string and cut to your desired length to be used as the garland. Evenly space your tassels on the string. Attach the tassels by placing the tassel through the loop of yarn at its top. If you want, you can add a bead to the top of each tassel. Tie off the ends of the garland.