Cardstock dumpling shaker ornament with a smiling face hanging from gold twine on a lit Christmas tree

How to Make a Dumpling Shaker Ornament With Cardstock and Acetate

November 10, 2026

To make a dumpling shaker ornament, cut a white cardstock front and back, a clear acetate window, and a spacer from the Dumpling Shaker Ornament SVG. Glue the black and light pink face onto the acetate, then stack the front, acetate, foam tape (or cardstock "donuts"), a little shaker fill, and the back. The finished ornament is about 4" x 3.8".

This little guy is my favorite ornament on the tree this year. He has rosy cheeks, a happy smile, and a belly full of sequins that shake every time you touch him. Here's exactly how I made him.

Get the Dumpling Shaker Ornament SVG · Shop clear acetate · Shop white foam tape

Cardstock dumpling shaker ornament with a smiling face hanging from gold twine on a lit Christmas tree

What is a dumpling shaker ornament?

A dumpling shaker ornament is a layered paper ornament shaped like a soup dumpling, with a clear window in the middle and loose sequins sealed inside. The space between the layers lets the fill move, so it shakes. Mine is all cardstock, acetate, and foam tape, with a hanger loop cut right into the front and back.

What's in the SVG file

The file has every layer you need, sized at about 4" x 3.8":

Front frame: the dumpling outline with the pleated top and a hanger loop
Acetate window: the clear piece the face sits on
"Donut" spacer: a cardstock ring that makes room for the shaker fill
Back: a solid dumpling shape with a matching hanger loop
Face pieces: 2 eyes, a smile, and 2 cheeks

Dumpling shaker ornament SVG layers: front frame, acetate window with face, foam donut spacer, and back

What you'll need

Dumpling Shaker Ornament SVG
White cardstock for the front, back, and spacer
Black cardstock for the eyes and smile
Light pink cardstock for the cheeks
Clear acetate for the shaker window
White foam tape, or extra white cardstock if you'd rather stack spacers
Shaker fill (I used iridescent sequins)
Craft glue for the face pieces
Ribbon, twine, or cord to hang it
A cutting machine with a scoring tool (scoring stylus or scoring wheel)

Dumpling shaker ornament supplies: finished ornament, white foam tape roll, and a bag of iridescent sequins

How to make a dumpling shaker ornament: step by step

Step 1: Upload the SVG and pick your spacer

Upload the SVG to Design Space (or your machine's software) and ungroup it so you can see each layer. Now decide how you're making the shaker space:

Using foam tape? Delete the "donut" layer. The foam tape is your spacer, so you don't need it.
Not using foam tape? Keep the donut layer and cut several of them, enough that your shaker fill has room to move once they're stacked.

Step 2: Mark the face on the acetate with the scoring tool

This is my favorite trick for this project. I used the scoring tool to mark the acetate where the face pieces go. Put copies of the eyes, smile, and cheeks on top of the acetate window, set them to Score, and attach them to the acetate. Your machine draws a light outline on the acetate before it cuts, and gluing the face on straight is easy.

Step 3: Cut every layer

Cut the front frame, back, and any donuts from white cardstock, the eyes and smile from black, the cheeks from light pink, and the window from clear acetate. Use your machine's acetate setting for the window.

Step 4: Glue the face onto the acetate

Glue each face piece right on its scored mark. A tiny bit of glue goes a long way here, since any extra shows through the clear acetate.

Close-up of the dumpling ornament face glued to clear acetate with sequins inside the shaker window

Step 5: Attach the acetate to the front frame

Flip the front frame face down and attach the acetate window to the back of it, with the face lined up in the opening.

Step 6: Build the shaker wall

Run white foam tape all the way around the edge of the acetate, with no gaps, so the sequins can't sneak out. If you're not using foam tape, glue your stack of cardstock donuts in place instead.

Step 7: Add the fill and close it up

Pour a small scoop of sequins into the middle. Peel the foam tape liner, line up the hanger loops, and press the back on. Thread ribbon or twine through the loop and it's ready for the tree.

Side view of the dumpling shaker ornament showing the foam tape layers between the cardstock and acetate

Tips for the cutest dumpling

Don't overfill it. Leave room for the sequins to slide around. That movement is the whole fun of a shaker.
Seal every edge. Any gap in the foam tape or donut stack is where the fill will escape.
Line up the hanger loops on the front and back before you press them together, so the ornament hangs straight.
Keep glue off the acetate window except right under the face pieces.

Want more shaker ideas? My shaker ornament guide covers the basics for any shape.

Kawaii dumpling Christmas ornament with pink cheeks hanging on the tree

Frequently asked questions

Do I need foam tape to make a shaker ornament?

No. Foam tape is the quick way to make the shaker space. If you don't have it, cut several of the cardstock "donut" spacers from the SVG and stack them. If you do use foam tape, delete the donut layer before cutting.

How do I line up the face on the acetate?

Use your machine's scoring tool to mark the acetate where the face pieces go before it cuts. Then glue each piece on its mark.

What size is the dumpling ornament?

About 4" x 3.8" finished. It's a vector file, so you can resize it. Keep it proportional so every layer still lines up.

What colors of cardstock do I need?

White for the front, back, and spacers, black for the eyes and smile, and light pink for the cheeks.

What can I use for shaker fill?

I used iridescent sequins. Anything small and light that moves freely will work.

Go make a happy little dumpling