30 DIY Doily Crafts
New or old, paper or crocheted – the DOILY has endless DIY craft uses! That’s what makes these 30 DIY Doily Crafts so great! The many shapes and patterns…each one is so pretty!
Just like repurposed neckties, doilies are great to craft with.
Of course, they are perfect for anything vintage! I couldn’t help sharing a few “art” projects at the end of the post – I was blown away by the creativity!
I hope you are inspired to create with the DOILY! If you have created a doily project, please share the comments. I would love to see it!
Doily Paper Crafts
One of the best ways to create delicate home decor accents around your home is to make some faux lace doilies out of paper. You can achieve the same look but at a fraction of the cost.
The money that you save isn’t the only thing you’ll love about making paper doily crafts. It’s also amazing how easy it is to make thousands of different designs and patterns! It’s so much easier than making them out of lace or yarn.
What Is A Doily?
The dictionary defines a doily as, “a small ornamental mat made of lace or paper with a lace pattern, typically placed on a plate under a cake or other sweet foods.”
They are usually small – around 6-10 inches from one side to the other.
And even though the dictionary says that the ornamental lace object is usually placed under sweet foods, there are many other ways to use them.
As you can see in the following craft projects, you can use doilies to make lanterns. hold petals at a wedding. You can also make envelopes out of them!
What To Do With Old Doilies
Do you have old doilies lying around the house or in storage and you want some new craft ideas to make with them? I have the perfect ideas for you!
If they are in good enough shape, sew them together to make a Boho scarf. Or use them as a stencil to add designs to painted furniture or curtains.
You can even use oil doilies to make cupcake liners or to wrap around pumpkins for fall or rustic decor.
Scroll through these ideas and click through to your favorites!
More Upcycled Ideas
Here are some more ways to repurpose and reuse things that you might have.
- Repurposed Necktie Ideas
- Upcycled Ceramic Pots Craft
- Wine Cork Angel
- Vintage Chair Drink Stand
- Mason Jar Terrariums
30 DIY Doily Craft Projects
Here you go! These are thirty creative and innovative ways to use paper and lace doilies. You’re sure to find something new to make!
Get inspired by these unique doily crafts and let your imagination run wild.
DIY Doily Crafts
Dive into the world of doily craft projects and discover a whole new level of creativity. Whether you're looking to upcycle old doilies or incorporate them into your DIY projects, there are endless possibilities.
From delicate lace doily mobiles for baby showers to colorful doily wreaths for home decor, these projects will add a touch of vintage elegance to any space.
Add an elegant touch with these beautiful doily lanterns! You are going to use mod podge (or another medium like it) to firm your doilies over a round shape. You can then use ribbon to seal two pieces together.
Take regular jars you already have at home and add this touch to them. Cover your jars and then seal them with glue or mod podge. Add tealight candles or battery-operated lights to your jars.
Simple Fall Doily Leaf Napkin Ring is perfect for all the Fall celebrations.
These doily angels made with clothespins make a great keepsake or to hang on the tree. Easy for kids to make!
Need something quick and easy? Take white paper bags and glue smaller doilies on the outsides in various designs. Add battery-operated lights and you're ready to go!
While not made from actual doilies, you can make your own crochet doily design rug! Crochet rugs are durable and long-lasting!
Add your own colorful pop on book covers with this doily paint art. Use your favorite paint colors and different doily designs.
Repurpose and paint an old stool with your favorite base color and then add a doily painted top.
Dress up that regular clear shower curtain with larger doilies added on the outside.
You can create this classic look with doilies, a wreath, and fairy lights!
Create custom stationary envelopes like these with ease! These aren't designed for actual mail BUT you could add an inner layer to secure your mail.
Perfect for weddings! This doily wrapping paper is chic! Wrap in regular solid colored wrapping paper (white will be easier) and then just glue a doily on top and finish with a ribbon.
Using a smaller thread you can create these simple and classy soap savers.
If your local Dollar Store sells doilies (not the paper version) you only need about 10 to make these adorable scarves!
This is an easy but detailed craft that's perfect for the holidays! Use wooden beans are the angel's heads and hand paint faces on the wooden beads.
These doily roses are easy and quick to make! You may only be able to find red doilies around Valentine's Day or Christmas but these make for an easy decor idea!
Create something unique and chic with this FREE doily cupcake template so you can make them right at home!
Found old doilies and not sure what to do with them? Wrap them around solid bangles to add a whole new look!
Use construction paper or foam in solid colors and wrap white doilies around them to create "snowy" trees!
In order to make these classy luminaries for your events, you will need around the surface to form your doilies around (you can find inflated balls at your local dollar store usually). Use fabric stiffener to harden the doilies to the shape you prefer and add your light source.
Use faux pumpkins and doilies to create a chic festive home decor option.
Take your favorite doily pattern piece and turn it into a necklace you can make or pass down to your family. You will need sewing glue to reinforce the edges and attach your jump rings and chain.
Create a matching pair of earrings to go with your new doily necklace by using the same technique of sewing glue on edges and adding your rings and earring hardware.
With old doilies, you'll find they have a center. You can apply images onto the center of the doily or directly onto the pillow and cut away the center spot. Attach your doily via sewing onto your pillow.
Cut along the outer edges of a doily to create these beautiful designs. Then attach with thread edges along a ring. Attach ribbon and beads along the lower part of your ring.
Cut a part of your doily out and then fold your edges together to form a cone. Add a cutout star from construction paper or foam to create a holiday tree.
You can attach your favorite fabrics to the center of doilies. Fold two doilies together to form a hanging piece.
Dress up your new journal by adding a doily in your favorite color! You can also use a doily and add paint overtop to add the design but not the actual doily to the cover.
This magnificent wall hanging actually started with a much smaller doily. Add your own design via crochet hook and cord.
Recycle old doilies by turning them into clever bulletin board note pockets. Use buttons at the corned to secure them to the board.
Turn larger doily pieces into something new by covering a traditional wire hanger and securing the doily to cover the entire middle.
Instead of adding a layer to your bag, this reverse method adds the whole doily to the middle section of your bag.
By upcycling old doilies or exploring new ways to incorporate them, you can add a unique touch to your crafting endeavors.
So, gather your doilies, unleash your creativity, and embark on a journey of transforming these simple pieces of lace into stunning works of art.
Let the beauty of doily crafts inspire you to create something truly special and make your space more beautiful and enchanting.
What an honour to have my doily cookies included in this fantastic line up!! You’ve given me tons of inspiration. Thank you!
They are super cute – happy to share them!
Thank you for the feature!
What a wonderful collection! I love using doilies for crafting. Thanks so much for including my shower curtain project~
I really love it! I collect these things , I simply adore them. Thank you so much for inspiration. 🙂
beautiful sight loved all the great ideas thanks!!
Help! I have seen somewhere in a magazine , a blind made from different sized cloth doilies.
It was obviously on a backing fabric but cant remember anything else about it. I have inherited loads of doilies and now would love to make a blind for my granddaughters bedroom. Have you any ideas? Would be so grateful if you could help. Not sure if it was a roman blind or just a ‘hanging’.
Many thanks, Maggie Pothan.
Hi Maggie,
Have you looked for ideas on Pinterest or google images? I will take a look and see if I can find any ideas for you…it might take me a few days to get back to you!