DIY Ribbon Garland – Easy Tree & Mantel Decorating Idea

Updated 11/22/25

This post has been around for years, but the pins just keep circulating on Pinterest! So I thought… why not dust it off, update it a bit, and share it again.))

The inspiration for this project originally came from the Peppermint Parlor Christmas Tree by RAZ. That tree is just beautiful with all the candy stripes and peppermint accents, and it sparked the idea for creating a simple ribbon garland that gives you that same sweet, peppermint look without a lot of fuss.))

I love everything about this tree! The huge peppermint lollipops, candy canes, ball picks, and all those sweet little candy details. And that unexpected pop of icy blue? I never would’ve thought to add that color to a tree, but it gives the whole look a cool, frosty sparkle.

My favorite part, though, is the red and white old-fashioned paper garland. Haven’t we all made paper garlands at some point? Or helped our kids or grandkids make a whole chain of them?

That garland is what really caught my eye. It reminded me of a ribbon we carry that looks almost identical—an icy, glittered 1.5" ribbon that has the same nostalgic feel. So I decided to try making a “paper” garland out of ribbon… and here’s what I found!

Watch How Easy This Ribbon Garland Is to Make

If you’re more of a visual learner (or just love a quick craft video), you can watch me walk through the whole process step-by-step. It’s such an easy project, and seeing it in action really helps! Just click the link below to watch the ribbon garland come together.))

The ribbon I used for this garland was RW7620F3, a red and white vertical stripe with wired edges. It gave the perfect old-fashioned paper-chain look. This exact ribbon is sold out now, but the good news is that any wired ribbon will work—as long as it’s 1.5" or narrower. Stripes, solids, peppermint prints, glittered styles… just pick something that fits your theme and you’ll get the same sweet, nostalgic effect.

There are so many ribbon options you can use for this project! And if you’re a crafter or wreath maker, chances are you’ve got a whole stash of short ribbon tails tucked away. This is a great way to use up those scraps. Mix in different Christmas patterns and you’ll have the cutest, most colorful garland in no time.

I even experimented with some jelly ribbon in Halloween colors too. That particular style has sold out now, but it made the cutest little garland!))

Update Nov 2025:

When I first made this ribbon garland, I used 1.5" ribbon and it worked great. But now we have several 5/8" and 7/8" ribbons in stock that would be even better for this project! Some of the newer styles are heavily glittered, which would make the cutest, sparkliest little garland. And you don’t even have to use hot glue—a simple stapler works just fine for the smaller widths.

Be sure to browse our ribbon selection and take a look at some of those newer narrow styles. Another fun option is to make a garland from scrapbook paper, just like the paper chains we made as kids. Scrapbooking paper is so pretty now and definitely a big step up from the construction paper we all used back then.))

Thanks for visiting our blog! If you have any questions or comments, we’d love to hear from you. Just leave us a note here: Contact Trendy Tree Blog.))

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