Handmade Paper Plate Doves

Bring your holiday decorations to life with these Handmade Paper Plate Doves! By using paint-covered paper plates, or any colorful paper, you can create stunning ornaments and garlands that are as unique as they are meaningful. This project is easy to customize to match your holiday style and makes a beautiful statement in any space. Plus, it’s a thoughtful way to reuse and repurpose materials creatively.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve built up a collection of paper plates that I’ve used as paint palettes. When working with acrylic paints, I squeeze the colors onto a paper plate and use it as my palette. I reuse each plate several times—flipping it over to use both sides. As you can imagine, after multiple uses, the plates take on a life of their own. Each becomes a unique combination of colors and marks, holding the history of the artwork it helped create. Not wanting to toss the plate palettes, I found inspiration in their vibrant patterns and decided to give them new life as Christmas décor. I thought they could bring a beautiful and unexpected pop of color to my holiday decorations.

Before I dive in, I want to credit two of my favorite artists who inspired this project: Amanda Evanston and Peggi Kroll Roberts. I greatly admire these artists and even had the privilege of studying with them. They also use paper plates as palettes and have found creative ways to repurpose these otherwise discarded items. Their work planted the seed for this idea.

In recent years, I’ve tried to be more intentional with my Christmas décor. There was a time when I spent hundreds of dollars each year on new decorations, but I realized it just wasn’t sustainable—for my wallet or my storage space. It wasn’t just the expense; the overwhelming amount of “stuff” started to feel like more of a burden than a joy. Now, I try to make do with what I have, adding only one or two new pieces each year (and letting go of something old if I do).

When it came to this project, I hesitated to share it as a tutorial. After all, not everyone has a stack of paint-covered paper plates lying around. However, as I thought about it, I realized this idea could be adapted in many ways. Any colorful paper would work—think discarded children’s artwork (with their permission, of course), old Christmas cards, leftover wrapping paper, or even abstract art you create yourself. The possibilities are endless.

Ultimately, this project reminded me that meaningful décor doesn’t have to come from a store. Sometimes the most special pieces come from reimagining what you already have and turning it into something you love. Whether using materials with a story or creating something that sparks joy, I hope this inspires you to craft something uniquely personal for your holiday décor.

Why You’ll Love This Project

• This festive project turns something as simple as used paper plates into meaningful and colorful décor, making it budget-friendly and environmentally conscious. Plus, the results are as unique as the palettes themselves, ensuring no two doves are exactly alike.
• The versatility of this project allows you to tailor it to your style and holiday décor. Whether you create a garland, ornaments, or gift toppers, these doves can be customized to suit your preferred colors, patterns, or theme. It’s a wonderful way to add a handmade, personal touch to your holiday decorations.
• This is a project anyone can enjoy, making it perfect for a solo crafting session or a fun family activity. Kids and adults alike can get involved, creating memories while making art. It’s easy enough for beginners but still satisfying for seasoned crafters.
• Handmade décor like this reminds us that meaningful and beautiful decorations don’t have to come from a store. The personal connection you create through crafting makes your holiday décor even more special, giving your home a touch of charm that’s uniquely yours.

Love making your Christmas decor?  Me too! In recent years it’s been one of the highlights of my holiday season. I have an entire post dedicated to all my favorite handmade Christmas decor I know you’ll love. 

Materials

Let’s get into the materials list. This is just a general list as you may or may not need all of these or these specific items.

• Used paper plate palettes: If you don’t have paint-covered palettes, create abstract art on thick paper. Kids can join in the fun, too! Any colorful paper—wrapping paper, greeting cards, or magazine pages—will work beautifully. For the paper plates, I like just like the cheap plates and prefer the uncoated ones.
• Dove pattern: I drew my own, and while it’s not anatomically perfect, I think that adds to the charm. You can search for “folk dove” or “dove illustration” online, then redraw or print one as your template.
• Scissors: Sharp, small scissors work best for cutting intricate patterns.
• Paint, paint pens, markers, pencil, etc.: Basic acrylic paints and paint pens (like Posca marker) work great. I also recommend a gold paint marker for a little extra shine.
• Twine: I used this one, but any sturdy string or twine will do.
• Tape or glue: I used artist masking tape to attach my doves to the twine, but tacky or hot glue also works well.

How To Make

Okay, ready to make these colorful doves? Let’s do it!  I’ll still take you through the steps below. I’ve also provided a list of materials and detailed instructions in the printable card below. 

1. Start by sketching or printing out a dove pattern onto a piece of paper. Cut out your template.
2. Use a pencil to trace the pattern onto your painted or colorful paper.

1. Cut out the traced shape with scissors.
2. To enhance the design without overshadowing the organic patterns, use paint, paint pens, or markers to add small details like lines, textures, or extra colors.

1. Allow the paint to dry completely.
2. Repeat the process to make as many doves as you’d like.
3. To make a garland, attach a piece of twine to the back of the doves using tape or glue.
4. To use the doves as ornaments, simply tuck them into your tree branches—they should stay in place. If you prefer to hang the doves, use a hole punch to add a hole at the top and tie on a ribbon or piece of twine.

And that’s it!

There’s something so satisfying about turning everyday materials into something beautiful. These Handmade Paper Plate Doves are a perfect example of how creativity and a little effort can transform even the simplest items into meaningful holiday décor. 

I hope this project inspires you to look around your home and reimagine what you already have. With a little creativity, those “discards” might just become the standout pieces of your holiday display.

Oh, and you make have gotten a little sneak peek of my vintage Christmas deer collection. It’s one of my favorite things. I have a post where I shared more about them.

Project Notes

• My paint palettes didn’t have a cohesive color scheme. Consequently, after all my doves were cut out, I felt the variety of colors was a bit too distracting. To bring some consistency, I mixed up blue and green paints to cover any colors that felt out of place. I was careful not to cover too much because I loved the unexpected patterns, but this small adjustment helped the doves feel more unified as a set.
• I encourage you to get creative and have fun with your colors, shapes, and designs. Create something that works for you, your space, and your design aesthetic. Keep it easy and fun with zero pressure to make anything perfect. 

More Handmade Holiday Decor You’ll Love

• Vintage Bobbin Christmas Garland
• DIY Christmas Cookie Bags
• Rustic Star Anise Christmas Wreath
• Bottle Brush Tree Drink Stirrers
• Cookie Cutter Wreath

And that’s a wrap on these Handmade Paper Plate Doves! Whether you’re tucking these doves into your Christmas tree, stringing them together for a garland, or gifting them to loved ones, they’re sure to add a touch of handmade charm to your season.

And don’t forget—you can adapt this idea to suit your style, colors, and materials. However you choose to make and display them, I’m certain these doves will bring joy, creativity, and a personal touch to your holiday celebrations. If you try this project, I’d love to hear what you think! Please stop back and leave a comment and a 5-star rating below. 

Want more from Inspired by Charm? Join the IBC Mailing List for inspiration in your inbox! Follow along on Instagram and TikTok for daily updates and behind-the-scenes looks at my processes. There’s even more inspiration on Facebook and Pinterest! 

Handmade Paper Plate Doves Christmas Decor

Bring your holiday decorations to life with these Handmade Paper Plate Doves! By using paint-covered paper plates, or any colorful paper, you can create stunning ornaments and garlands that are as unique as they are meaningful. This project is easy to customize to match your holiday style and makes a beautiful statement in any space.

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Home Decor Craft

Cuisine: American

Keyword: christmas, christmas decor, christmas garland

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Ingredients

• Used paper plate palettes or other colorful paper/art
• Dove pattern
• Scissors
• Paint, paint pens, markers, pencil, etc.
• Twine
• Tape or glue

Instructions

• Start by sketching or printing out a dove pattern onto a piece of paper. Cut out your template.
• Use a pencil to trace the pattern onto your painted or colorful paper.
• Cut out the traced shape with scissors.
• To enhance the design without overshadowing the organic patterns, use paint, paint pens, or markers to add small details like lines, textures, and/or extra colors.
• Allow the paint to dry completely. Repeat the process to make as many doves as you’d like.
• To make a garland, attach a piece of twine to the back of the doves using tape or glue.
• To use the doves as ornaments, simply tuck them into your tree branches—they should stay in place. If you prefer to hang the doves, use a hole punch to add a hole at the top and tie on a ribbon or piece of twine.

Notes

My paint palettes didn’t have a cohesive color scheme. Consequently, after all my doves were cut out, I felt the variety of colors was a bit too distracting. To bring some consistency, I mixed up blue and green paints to cover any colors that felt out of place. I was careful not to cover too much because I loved the unexpected patterns, but this small adjustment helped the doves feel more unified as a set.