These decoupage baubles aren’t just for Christmas but would look great all year round. I know baubles typically hang from the Christmas tree, but these 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 quickly.

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

This straightforward and affordable craft 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 generally 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 massive 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 top to bottom, following the curve.

Step 2: Using this measurement, cut a length of a paper napkin 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 leaf shape. Then separate the napkin layers (ply) to 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 plastic wrap to press the napkin down and iron out bubbles. Then decoupage the next piece of paper napkin to the first segment.

It won’t be easy to match the pattern exactly on the curve of the ball but do it as close as you can. Any overlap will not be so apparent if you use a busy pattern.

Step 5: Add paper napkin segments to decoupage the baubles fully. Stick the bauble on a forestry wire when the Mod Podge has dried. Then cover it all over in a top layer of Mod Podge; this will act as a protective varnish.

When the Mod Podge has thoroughly dried, 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 with extra patterned paper napkins.

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

The wire will stick right into the polystyrene ball; no glue is needed.

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 and cut or bend the wire to change the height.

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

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

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