'German Bells' Christmas Card Ornament

We're finally starting to receive 'real' Christmas cards in the mail. For a couple of weeks, all we've been receiving are the preprinted ones from the newspaper carrier, chiropractor, dentist, and insurance agent. I usually don't display these. Instead, I use the most beautiful ones to make ornaments.

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Origami Christmas Card Ornaments (German Bells)

Materials:

• Christmas card 
• scissors or paper trimmer
• craft glue
• rubber band
• yarn or ribbon

Steps:

Cut the card into a square. It doesn't matter how large the square is, though the ornament is somewhat easier to make with a larger square. You can center the main image or not. I usually don't. 

Fold the card in half from top to bottom with the right side showing. Open it back up and fold it in half from left to right, again with the right side showing. Open the card fully and look at the back- the fold lines should make a plus sign.

Fold the card in half on one diagonal. Open and fold it along the other diagonal. These fold lines make an X.

Here is what the inside of your card should look like. I used a pencil to darken the lines for the purposes of the picture; yours won't have pencil lines.

Starting at one corner, make a 'paper airplane' fold. Unfold, then repeat for the three remaining corners.

Here's what your fold lines will look like when you are done with all the folds.

Hold the card in one hand and pinch the sides together as shown. Continue pinching until the points meet at the top.

Make a loop of ribbon to form a hanger. Slip the knot of the ribbon into one of the points of the ornament so that it gets trapped under the fold.

Add glue along the sides of the ornament and secure with a rubber band. Set aside until dry.

You can hang these ornaments from the tree, use them to decorate presents, or even place a small gift inside of one! 

Give it a try!