These decoupage baubles aren’t just for Christmas but would look great all year round. I know baubles normally hang from the Christmas tree, but these ones are designed to be displayed in a vase, like flowers.

But if you want to hang them from a tree, like traditional Christmas ornaments that can be done easily.

These decoupage baubles are actually a Nordic Christmas decoration, as I used my favourite Marimekko paper napkins for the decoupage.

This is a very easy and affordable craft that can be done in an evening.

What You Need To Decoupage Baubles

• I used a mixture of polystyrene balls in various sizes, ranging from 3cm-7cm in diameter. You can normally buy a mixed bag of foam balls in the dollar/pound store.
• Paper napkins with a busy pattern. I used Marimekko napkins for my baubles as I’m a huge fan of their designs. A busy pattern looks best. The main design was called Marimekko KAALIMETSÄ rose.
• Mod Podge Matte
• Green floristry wire and floristry tape

How To Decorate The Polystyrene Balls

Step 1: Measure the arc of the polystyrene ball from the top to the bottom, following the curve.

Step 2: Using this measurement, cut a length of paper napkins the same height. Then draw adjourning leaf shapes onto the back of the napkin. It is easy to decoupage a sphere using strips of this shape rather than straight rectangles.

Step 3: Cut out a leave shape. Then separate out the napkin layers (ply), so that you just use the top printed ply.

Step 4: Paste the polystyrene bauble with Mod Podge. Then carefully lay the paper napkin leaf onto the bauble. Use a scrunched up piece of plastic wrap to press the napkin down and to iron out bubbles. Then decoupage the next piece of paper napkin to the first segment.

It will be difficult to match the pattern exactly on the curve of the ball but do it as close as you can. If you use a busy pattern then any pattern overlap will not be so obvious.

Step 5: Carry on adding paper napkins segments to fully decoupage the baubles. When the Mod Podge has dried, stick the bauble on a piece of forestry wire. Then cover it all over in a top layer of Mod Podge, this will act as a protective varnish.

When the Mod Podge has fully dried you can simply add hanging caps to the baubles to make them into hanging ornaments. Or move onto the next stage and turn them into a fun decoupage baubles flower display.

How To Make A Decoupage Bauble Flower Decoration

Step 6: Make a collection of baubles in different sizes and with different patterned paper napkins.

Step 7: Wrap the stiff floristry wire in green floristry tape, all along the stem. Make one for each bauble and then stick the decoupage bauble into the top of the wire.

The wire will just stick right into the polystyrene ball, no need to use any glue.

Step 8: Finish off by displaying these baubles like flowers in a vase. They look best if you display each bauble at a different height, simply cut or bend the wire to change the height.

You can use different paper napkins for different holidays. These bauble flowers don’t just have to be for Christmas.

I made these baubles for my mantle, they compliment many of my other DIY Scandinavian Christmas decorations. Like these Nordic wood slice Christmas decorations also made with Marimekko paper napkins.

For other decoupage bauble ideas, check out these fun vintage dictionary baubles. You may also like the Marimekko rainbow pom pom flowers I made with yarn.