Here’s a simple Crown of Thorns. It’s perfect for decorating during Lent or if your kids or RE class is performing a passion play.
It’s made from brown construction paper and can be sized to whatever size you like.
This technique is often used to make a crown of thorns with blesses palm branches (see below), but you wouldn’t want to let kids play with blessed palms! Although, the palms would be great if you are only looking to make a small crown of thorns for decoration.
You will need:
- Brown paper (I used a 12 x 18-inch sheet to make mine)
- Scissors
- Stapler
I cut 12 x 18-inch paper into 4 long parts
Cut one of the sections into three parts but leave them together on one end.
Now braid it!
Have you ever braided hair?
If so this will be easy!
If you are new to braiding you might what to try it with string or hair first.
Paper braiding can be a bit tricky.
I’ll see if I can explain braiding…
You always use one of the side strips to cross over the middle one and the middle strip always changes. Always switch the strip that you use to cross the center one. First, the right strip crosses the center one, then the left strip crosses the NEW center one, which is actually the strip that was on the right.
Now the right strip, which was the center strip in the first step, crosses the center and so on…
When braiding paper:
Flip the strips of paper as it crosses the center strip. (The top of the strip is now the bottom)
-As shown in the pictures below. (Don’t flip the first two times you cross the center strip – because it doesn’t work!) If you don’t flip the third strip and those after it, the paper will just curl up as you braid and that will be difficult to manage.
Also, make sure that you don’t try to make the braid tight or the paper will rip.
Staple the ends.
Make as many as you need to get the size crown that you want.
Now staple the end of one to the end of another.
Staple them together to make a circle
Snip small “thorns” in the edge of the braided strips.
Cover the entire braided wreath with these points.
You may need to curl the thorns out so you can better see them.
The braiding may take a little bit to figure out, but once you can braid paper this project is easy!! Here is a picture of our Lenten cross with the paper crown of thorns hanging on it.
You can also make a crown of thorns with a palm. This is the same technique as the Paper Crown of Thorns, the only difference is you tie the two ends together.
God Bless.
~Jen-Marie
Oooooooooooooo I like this !!!!!
Wonderful. God bless you.
It's really easy and fun to make. (:
Wow. First-class.
Thank you…I will do it at home and church
Wonderful and simple.. love it..