Make a salt shaker tassel in 10 minutes with pipe cleaners and ribbon. An easy repurposed DIY with ideas for Halloween, Christmas and more.
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Salt shaker tassels turn an ordinary shaker into a pretty piece of holiday decor, and you can make one in about 10 minutes.
This easy repurposed craft uses a pipe cleaner, a bundle of ribbon and a salt shaker, and the finished tassel works for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and everyday home decor.
Quick Project Snapshot
- Time: About 10 minutes per tassel.
- Skill level: Easy. No sewing or special tools needed.
- You need: A salt shaker with an opening on the bottom, a pipe cleaner, assorted ribbon and tweezers.
- Finished size: About 6 inches long.
- Cost of the shaker: I paid 98 cents each for Halloween shakers at Cracker Barrel.
- Best for: Hanging on doorknobs, trees, garlands, lamps, drawer pulls or gifts.
What Are Salt Shaker Tassels?
Table of Contents
A salt shaker tassel is a decorative tassel that uses a small salt or pepper shaker as the cap, with a bundle of ribbon hanging from the bottom and a loop at the top for hanging.
They are popular because they are inexpensive, quick to make and easy to match to any season.
I found the Halloween shakers at Cracker Barrel and adapted a lemon salt shaker tassel idea from My Eclectic Treasures that I spotted on Pinterest.
The shakers I chose are festive on their own, and the ribbon is where you can really make each one your own.
Supplies for DIY Salt Shaker Tassels
- Salt shakers. Choose shakers that have an opening on the bottom. Vintage shakers where the top is removed will not work for this method.
- Pipe cleaners. Twine also works, but the wire in a pipe cleaner makes it much easier to pull through the holes and keep the loop in shape.
- Ribbon. Pick an assortment in different sizes, designs and colors. I bought a ribbon bundle at Michaels at 50% off, which saved time and money.
- Tweezers. They make it easy to pull the pipe cleaner through both holes and the bottom opening.
- Scissors to trim the ribbon ends.
How to Make Salt Shaker Tassels (Step by Step)
Follow these five steps to make one tassel. Once you have the first one done, the rest go even faster.
Step 1: Thread the Pipe Cleaner Through the Top
Push one end of a pipe cleaner through one hole on the top of the shaker, then back down through the second hole so it forms a loop.
Step 2: Pull the Pipe Cleaner Out of the Bottom
Use tweezers to grab the end of the pipe cleaner and pull it through the opening on the bottom of the shaker. You can discard the rubber cover.
Step 3: Size the Hanging Loop and Knot It
Twist the loop on top until it is the size you want for hanging. Then tie a knot large enough that it cannot slip back through the holes.
Step 4: Attach the Ribbon
Tie the pipe cleaner at the bottom to a bundle of ribbon. I made my tassels about 6 inches long, which looks full without being heavy.
Step 5: Wrap the Top and Trim
Wrap another piece of twine or ribbon around the top of the tassel for decoration, then trim the edges so everything hangs evenly.
Salt Shaker Tassel Ideas for Every Holiday
The method never changes. Swap the shaker and the ribbon colors and you have a new tassel for every season. Make a few at once so you can mix and match.
Halloween Salt Shaker Tassels
Look for black cat, pumpkin, ghost or skeleton shakers, then pair them with black, orange, purple and cream ribbon.
Burlap and plaid ribbon add a rustic touch. Hang them from a doorknob, a mantel garland or a party table. For more spooky projects, see these 55 DIY Halloween decorations.
Thanksgiving and Fall Salt Shaker Tassels
Turkey, pumpkin, acorn and leaf shakers look great with rust, mustard, deep green and cream ribbon. Tie one to the back of each dining chair or hang a few from a garland for a harvest table.
They go well with my teal and orange Thanksgiving tablescape and these fall centerpiece and Thanksgiving tablescape ideas.
Christmas Salt Shaker Tassels
Santa, snowman, gingerbread and Christmas tree shakers make charming holiday ornaments. Use red, green, white, gold or neutral ribbon.
Hang them on the tree, tie one to a wrapped gift or turn one into a stocking tag. See how they look on a neutral gingerbread Christmas tree.
Valentine’s Day Salt Shaker Tassels
Heart, lovebird and mini strawberry shakers are sweet for February. Use red, pink and white ribbon and give one to a friend, a teacher or a neighbor.
Spring, Easter and Summer Salt Shaker Tassels
Bunny, carrot and floral shakers pair well with pastel ribbon for Easter and spring. For summer, a lemon shaker with yellow and green ribbon is a fresh option, and red, white and blue ribbon works for the Fourth of July.
How to Decorate with Salt Shaker Tassels
Salt shaker tassels are small, so they work almost anywhere you want a little color. Here are my favorite ways to use them:
- Add them to a wood bead garland. Tassels look great hanging from a wood bead garland. See my oyster shell blessing beads tutorial.
- Hang them on the Christmas tree. Christmas shakers make cute ornaments. See my wood bead tassel ornaments for more tassel ideas.
- Make a keychain or stocking tag. Add a key ring to the top loop, or follow my wood bead Christmas stocking tag tutorial.
- Hang them around the house. Loop them over doorknobs, lamps, cabinet knobs and furniture handles.
- Top a gift. Tie one to a wrapped present so the tassel doubles as a small gift.
Love this style? Browse my 25 DIY wooden bead crafts, farmhouse wood bead napkin rings, Pottery Barn inspired wood bead lamp and wood bead hoop wreath.
Where to Find Salt and Pepper Shakers for Tassels (Cracker Barrel and More)
The fun part of this craft is hunting for shakers. Before you buy, flip each one over and make sure it has an opening on the bottom.
Here are the best places to look:
- Cracker Barrel. The gift shop has seasonal shakers, which is where I found my Halloween set for 98 cents each.
- Craft and home stores. Check Hobby Lobby, HomeGoods, JoAnn and local specialty shops.
- Thrift stores, yard sales and flea markets. These are great for budget finds and one-of-a-kind shapes.
- Antique stores. Fun for unique shakers, but see the note below on vintage sets.
- Amazon. These mini strawberry shakers and lovebird shakers are cute options (affiliate links).
If you find an older or vintage set, check whether it might be collectible before you repurpose it. You may want to keep a valuable set as it is and use a plain thrift store shaker for your tassel.
Tips for Making Salt Shaker Tassels
- Start with a ribbon bundle. A pre-made assortment gives you matching colors and textures without much shopping.
- Use seasonal shakers year-round. A holiday shaker can double as an ornament or a small gift.
- Mix ribbon types. Combine satin, burlap, plaid and sheer ribbon for a fuller, richer tassel.
- Make several at once. Set up an assembly line: thread all the pipe cleaners first, then tie on the ribbon.
- Keep one finished tassel nearby as a guide so the rest match in length.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying a shaker without a bottom opening. Check the base before you buy.
- Tying a knot that is too small. If it can slip back through the holes, the tassel will fall apart. Make it big.
- Skipping the tweezers. The pipe cleaner is hard to grab inside the shaker without them.
- Using twine instead of a pipe cleaner. Twine works, but the wire makes threading and shaping much easier.
- Not leaving enough ribbon. Tie on plenty, since you can always trim the ends in the last step.
How to Style Fuller, Prettier Salt Shaker Tassels
The ribbon is what makes each tassel look special, so spend a little time on it:
- Layer widths. Combine wide, narrow and skinny ribbon so the tassel has depth.
- Stick to a palette. Two or three main colors, plus one accent, keeps the tassel from looking busy.
- Mix textures. Satin, burlap, velvet and plaid together give a cozy, collected look.
- Cut the ends on an angle. An angled or V-shaped cut looks neat and helps stop fraying.
- Match the shaker. Pull a ribbon color from the shaker itself, such as the orange of a pumpkin or the red of Santa’s hat.
Salt Shaker Tassel Gift Ideas
Because each tassel takes about 10 minutes, they make a great handmade gift. Try these ideas:
- Hostess or housewarming gift. Give a matching salt and pepper pair.
- Teacher, neighbor or coworker gift. Pick Christmas shakers and wrap one with a small treat.
- Party favors. Make mini tassels in the colors of your party theme.
- Gift topper. Tie a tassel to the ribbon on a present so the topper becomes part of the gift.
- Stocking stuffer. Add a key ring and tuck one into a stocking.
Frequently Asked Questions About Salt Shaker Tassels
Salt shaker tassels are decorative. Hang them on doorknobs, Christmas trees, garlands, lamps and furniture handles, or tie one to a gift. Add a key ring and one becomes a keychain or stocking tag.
Thread a pipe cleaner through the two holes on top of the shaker, pull the end out of the bottom opening with tweezers, and knot the top into a hanging loop. Tie the bottom end to a bundle of ribbon, wrap the top with twine or ribbon, and trim the edges.
About 10 minutes for one tassel. The time drops once you have the process down.
Use a shaker with an opening on the bottom. Vintage shakers where the top is removed will not work with this method.
Yes. Twine works, but the wire in a pipe cleaner makes it easier to thread through the holes and shape the hanging loop.
Mine are about 6 inches long. Tie on more ribbon for a fuller look, then trim the ends.
Cracker Barrel’s gift shop carries seasonal shakers. You can also check Hobby Lobby, HomeGoods, JoAnn, thrift stores, yard sales, flea markets, antique stores and Amazon.
Yes. Make one tassel for each shaker and use the same ribbon colors so they match.
Make Your Own Salt Shaker Tassels
Now it is your turn. Which holiday shaker will you make first? Leave a comment below or share a photo on Pinterest. I would love to see your tassels!
Please pin this image to save the tutorial for later.
Let me know if you are inspired to make your own salt shaker tassels. Just tag @ourcraftymom on Facebook or Instagram.
It totally makes my day.
Thanks so much for stopping by. Happy Halloween!
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