The holidays are approaching quickly and New Year’s Eve is nearly here, so I wanted to share a holographic DIY project. I’ve been loving the holographic trend on clothing, pillows, and art, and this season felt like the perfect time to incorporate it into festive decorations.
I collaborated with Fiskars to test their Thick Materials Punches and created a holographic garland that doubles as party decor and a photo booth backdrop.
Using the right tools made this project quick and simple—much faster than cutting each star and circle by hand. Fiskars Thick Materials Punches easily handle heavy and specialty materials (they can cut aluminum cans, cardboard, balsa wood, milk jugs, and foam), so they were perfect for this garland. If you plan to try a similar project, these punches are highly recommended.
Below is the materials and supplies list and step-by-step instructions to make your own holographic garlands.
Materials:
- Fiskars Circle Thick Materials Shape Punch (available in small, medium, and large sizes)
- Fiskars Star Thick Materials Shape Punch (available in small, medium, and large sizes). I used small, medium, and large for both shapes.
- Fiskars Amplify Mixed Media Shears
- Holographic paper
- String
- Hot glue gun
Instructions:
- Begin by punching out circles and stars in various sizes from heavy cardstock or holographic paper using the Fiskars Thick Materials Punches. You can punch multiple sheets at once to save time.
- Measure and unroll a length of string for each garland (mine were about 5 feet long). Apply a small bead of hot glue to the center on the back of a star or circle, press the string into the glue, and then add another identical shape on top to create a sandwich. Repeat this along the entire length of the string.
To achieve a fuller display—especially if you plan to use the garlands as a photo booth backdrop—make several garlands and hang them closely together, strung back and forth. I made six or seven garlands to get the dense look shown in the photos.
Another quick way to add volume is to create garlands from closely spaced strips of holographic paper. Cut 1/2-inch strips using the Fiskars Amplify Mixed Media Shears, then follow the same gluing method to attach the strips to the string. This variation adds texture and variety to the overall arrangement.
These holographic garlands are versatile: although they’re perfect for New Year’s Eve, they also work well for the holiday season. Hang them early and leave them up through the new year for extended use.
If you want a photo booth backdrop, secure a roll of colorful paper (I used pink) to the wall, then hang multiple garlands across it to create an eye-catching background for photos. They also look great draped across a fireplace mantle or along a stairway banister.
Photography by Rachel Brewer
Concept and styling by Brittni Mehlhoff
Will you try this for New Year’s Eve? And what are your plans for ringing in the new year?
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This post is in partnership with Fiskars. Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep Paper & Stitch running.