What makes a template "decor" rather than a box?

It holds nothing. A box is sized by what goes inside it; a lamp shade, a lantern or a hanging star is sized by where it will hang or stand. They are drawn by the same tool — type your size, print at 100%, cut the solid lines and fold the dashed ones — but they are kept apart from the boxes so you never open one expecting packaging.

Can I put a light in them?

Only an LED: an LED bulb in a lamp shade, a battery tea light or an LED string in a lantern. A filament or halogen bulb against paper, or any real flame, is a fire risk.

Which paper should I use?

Ordinary 160–250 gsm card folds cleanly at the sizes these open with. For the lamp shades and lanterns, a translucent or vellum card glows all over; plain white card lets light out only through the cut-outs.

Do they print at home?

Yes. Every one opens at a size that prints on A4 or US Letter, and each piece prints whole on a page. Bigger sizes print in numbered sections that glue together.

Free Paper Decor Templates — Lamp Shades, Lanterns, Stars

Not for packing. Every template in this section is made to be looked at: lamps, hanging pieces and show pieces for a room, a party or a festival. Each one is drawn to the size you type, and each picture below is the finished piece built from the same numbers as its template.

Sphere template

A paper ball built from gores — the orange-peel segments a globe is made of. No folding at all: the paper takes the curve on its own.

Also called paper ball or globe template
3D star template

A star with every point raised out of the plane, in two halves that meet back to back. Christmas tree toppers, hanging decorations, window stars.

Also called 3d paper star or christmas star
Lamp shade template

A faceted pendant shade from three to twelve panels, open at the bottom, with a top ring that the lamp holder clamps — the way a shop-bought shade hangs. Diamond cut-outs let a pattern of light out through every panel. For LED bulbs only.

Also called paper lampshade or pendant lamp shade
Paper lantern template

The classic slit-paper lantern: a strip cut into ribbons, rolled into a tube and pressed down so the ribbons bow out. A crease across the middle gives the pointed Chinese-lantern shape. Diwali, Chinese New Year, Ramadan, parties and classrooms.

Also called chinese paper lantern or diwali lantern
Low-poly vase template

A faceted vase of triangles: a base, a belly, a neck and a lip, each turned half a step from the last so every band is a zigzag of flat faces. Build it round a jar of water for fresh flowers, or stand dried ones straight in it.

Also called geometric vase or paper vase template
Star lantern template

The akash kandil: a star-shaped lantern with a window in each face and a band round the points, hung from a cord through the top point. Diwali, Christmas, porches and balconies.

Also called akash kandil or diwali star lantern
Bunting template

Garland flags that fold over a string: triangles, swallowtails or round-bottomed pennants, as many as you want, all the same size. Birthdays, weddings, classrooms, shop windows.

Also called paper bunting or flag banner template
Paper rosette template

A fan medallion: a pleated strip joined into a ring and pressed flat into a disc, with a round centre on each side to hold it. Backdrops, walls, party tables and award rosettes.

Also called paper fan medallion or paper rosette backdrop
Polyhedron lantern template

A twelve-sided dodecahedron lantern with a window in every face and a hole in one for the cord. Hang it over an LED bulb or fill it with fairy lights.

Also called dodecahedron lantern or geometric paper lantern
Pleated lamp shade template

An accordion-pleated shade: one long strip of even pleats, rolled into a ring and drawn in at the top by a cord through every pleat, so the bottom fans open. No cutting patterns, no glue on the pleats. LED bulbs only.

Also called accordion lamp shade or pleated paper lampshade
Tea-light lantern template

A table lantern of three to twelve walls, each with an arched window, standing on a base. An LED tea light inside throws the window shapes onto the table. Diwali, weddings, dinner tables.

Also called paper candle lantern or luminary template
Pinwheel template

The paper windmill: a square slit from each corner towards the middle, with the holes already marked for the four points that fold in. Pin it to a stick and it spins. Kids' crafts, garden and party decorations.

Also called paper windmill or pinwheel craft
Gift tag template

Gift tags with a ribbon hole, in a classic clipped-corner tag, a rounded rectangle or a circle — flat, or folded so they open like a little card. As many as you want on a sheet.

Also called gift tags printable or present tags
Paper crown template

A party crown with a row of points, sized to the head it goes on: type the head measurement and the band comes out exactly that long, plus the overlap that glues it shut. Birthdays, Christmas crackers, Epiphany, school plays and royal parties.

Also called paper crown or birthday crown template
Circle ball ornament template

The classic paper ball from circles: each circle is creased along a triangle, the flaps fold out and glue to the next circle, and 20 of them close into a round ornament (or 8 or 4 for a smaller, pointier one). Christmas trees, garlands and mobiles.

Also called paper ball ornament or circle ornament template
Paper chain template

Strips for a paper chain, each exactly long enough to loop to the size you choose plus its glue overlap. Number them for a countdown chain: tear one link off each day. Christmas, Advent, Ramadan, birthdays and classroom garlands.

Also called paper chain strips or countdown chain
Paper boat template

A cut-and-glue boat: a flat bottom with a square stern and a pointed bow, and walls that lean out like a real hull, with a sail on a straw if you want one. Any size. Kids' crafts, party tables, nautical decor and pirate parties.

Also called paper boat or paper ship template
Slot-together tree template

A 3D Christmas tree from two flat pieces: one is slit down from the top, the other up from the bottom, and they slide into each other and stand on their own. Christmas tables, window sills, village scenes and cake toppers.

Also called 3d christmas tree or paper christmas tree
Photo frame template

A standing photo frame: a front with a window a little smaller than the photo, a back the photo slides into from the side, and an easel leg so it stands leaning back. Sized to your photo. Gifts, weddings, desks and school photos.

Also called picture frame or paper photo frame
Paper pumpkin template

A round paper pumpkin from strips that bow out into a ball, with a stem and a leaf on top. Halloween tables, autumn decor, Thanksgiving and classroom crafts.

Also called 3d paper pumpkin or halloween pumpkin craft

Questions

What makes a template "decor" rather than a box?: It holds nothing. A box is sized by what goes inside it; a lamp shade, a lantern or a hanging star is sized by where it will hang or stand. They are drawn by the same tool — type your size, print at 100%, cut the solid lines and fold the dashed ones — but they are kept apart from the boxes so you never open one expecting packaging.
Can I put a light in them?: Only an LED: an LED bulb in a lamp shade, a battery tea light or an LED string in a lantern. A filament or halogen bulb against paper, or any real flame, is a fire risk.
Which paper should I use?: Ordinary 160–250 gsm card folds cleanly at the sizes these open with. For the lamp shades and lanterns, a translucent or vellum card glows all over; plain white card lets light out only through the cut-outs.
Do they print at home?: Yes. Every one opens at a size that prints on A4 or US Letter, and each piece prints whole on a page. Bigger sizes print in numbered sections that glue together.

Origami templates · Looking for packaging? All 84 box templates.