Swedish Paper Chains
Difficulty: Average
Average User Rating:
Parental supervision is recommended
The only thing missing with these links is the glue. These elegant gold or silver foil Swedish Paper Chains make a great addition to your Christmas tree.
What you'll need:
- A roll of paper-backed foil paper, gold or silver in color (often sold as gift wrap or to put on doors at Christmas)
- A piece of thin cardboard or a plastic lid (to make the pattern on)
- A yardstick or ruler
- Scissors
- A printout of the pattern page
- Paper cutter to be used with adult help
How to make it:
- Make pattern— cut out the Christmas Decoration Craft: Swedish Paper Chain pattern and trace it onto the cardboard or plastic lid. Cut it out carefully, as slight irregularities will affect how the chain fits together. Mark on your pattern the dot and line markings from the paper pattern.
- Cut up the paper into strips as wide as the unfolded chain link you're making is long (see pattern page for the exact dimensions). Then cut the strips into rectangles of the correct size. A paper cutter will speed up the process here.
- With the foil side on the inside, fold each paper piece in half widthwise, and then lengthwise.
- Trace the pattern on to the folded paper, with the flat edges of the pattern on the longer fold of the paper, and the part of the pattern with the dot and line markings on the corner fold of the paper, lining it up with both folded edges.
- Cut out the link on the lines you drew using the pattern. After making several, unfold the links completely, then fold one in half widthwise with the foil now on the outside. Slightly curl another unfolded link and insert it through the holes of the first link. Fold the link over the open side of the first link. Check to see that your links are fitting together well and adjust your pattern if necessary.
