You guys, I'm sharing the cutest paper Christmas tree craft today! I've had this idea kicking around ever since I made these paper cone Santas. I guess I'm stuck in a paper cone phase. (And what a fun phase to be stuck in! They make the most amazing crafts!)
So cute, right? I know. The hardest part is deciding how to decorate (or not decorate): Glitter glue or polka dots? Personally, I was in love with the polka dots until the kids and I pulled out the glitter glue pens at the last second. There's just something about glitter!
Ready to make your own? Let's get started! I've included a video tutorial and written instructions.
Paper Christmas Tree Craft Idea
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Materials:
- Green 12 x 12 scrapbook paper (solids and patterns)
- Round hole punch
- Elmer's glitter glue pens (I like the classic colors for Christmas)
- Elmer's CraftBond Flexible Dual Tip Glue Pen (has a fine point for details and a wide spreader tip -- so cool!)
- Elmer's School Glue
- Empty toilet paper tube (optional for trunk)
- Paper scraps in various colors (I used red, blue, silver and gold)
- Cotton balls (you may or may not need these)
- Scissors (I tried the Xacto Multi-Material Scissors, and they are awesome!)
- Pencil or pen
A special thank you to Elmer's glue for sponsoring this Christmas craft. I received materials and compensation for using their products to create a fun project for you. All opinions are my own. I only endorse products that I believe my readers will love!
Instructions:
- Trace a large circle onto a sheet of 12 x 12 scrapbook paper and cut it out. Find the center of the circle by folding the circle in half and making a small crease in the middle. Repeat, folding the circle in another direction.
- Draw three lines from the center like the image above to create three different-sized pie shapes. Cut out the shapes.
- Roll the pie shapes into cones and secure with glue. (For more detailed instructions on creating cone-shapes, see this post.) Allow the glue to dry for a few minutes before continuing to the next step.
- Using scissors, cut vertical slits in the bottom of each cone to create fringe. Slits should be about 1.25-1.5 inches long, and can be as far apart as you like. Mine are about an inch apart.
- Roll each piece of fringe upward around a pencil or a pen.
- Stack the fringed cones from largest to smallest and glue in place. Optional -- Add a toilet paper tube as a trunk. (If you want to make a glitter tree, save these steps until after you decorate.)
Here's a quick fix if your cones don't stack well:
Rip a cotton ball in half and poke a hole in the center of one half. Gently stretch it to form a donut. Slide the donut over the top of the cone and glue it in place. Add glue to the cotton ball donut and stack the next cone on top. Repeat with the final cone.
Now let's get to the decorating!
Polka Dot Paper Christmas Tree
Punch polka dots from scrap paper to create ornaments for your paper trees. Randomly glue dots to the trees, avoiding the fringe because dots there won't really show. (This is where I really like Elmer's glues with the fine point.) Allow to dry, and step back and enjoy the cuteness.
Glitter Paper Christmas Tree
Before stacking and gluing together the three layers of your tree, first decorate each layer with glitter glue and allow the glue to dry completely. (Don't skip the dry time!) For the lowest two layers, you only need to decorate the very bottom of each cone -- just above where the fringe starts to curl. Once the glitter glue has dried completely, glue the layers in place.
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Which tree is your favorite?
Thanks for stopping by today! Be sure to check out more Christmas crafts by clicking on the images below. Images are linked to posts.
Rosey
They did turn out really cute. I love that you can make them with paper!
Heidi
Thanks, Rosey. They are kind of addicting. It's hard to stop making them!
Fatima Zehra
OMGOSH! These are so adorable and so fun to make!
Heidi
Thanks, Fatima. The best part is that they are so easy!
Leah
Those are super cute! We had a snow day today! I bet my daughter would love to make those!
Heidi
Thanks, Leah. I h9pe you and your daughter enjoyed your snow day. We don't get many of those here in the desert!
Julie
I love the small polka dot paper tree with the glitter. This craft looks really fun. I think my kids are a little young this year, but I'll be saving it for down the road.
Heidi
Thanks, Julie. That one turned out to be my favorite, as well, and it was just a last-minute try! (I guess sometimes those last-minute ideas work out.) Have fun with your little ones. Enjoy them while they're young, because they'll be grown up in a flash!
Becki Svare
Cute and easy craft! We'll have to give this one a try at our annual craft night. Thanks!
Heidi
Thanks, Becki. Your annual craft night sounds fun. Is it for kids or adults?
Ana De- Jesus
I love glitter glue and polka dots so why not just combine the two. Loving your xmas tree craft!
Heidi
Thanks, Ana. I should try that. I'm surprised one of the kids didn't make a tree like that. They usually like a little bit of everything.
Amber Myers
I love these! How pretty! My daughter would have fun with this.
Heidi
Thanks, Amber. I love that they don't take many materials. Easy is my kind of craft!
Mihaela Echols
These really are cute! very handy and cheap!
Heidi
Thanks, Mihaela. Easy and cheap make the best crafts, don't you think?
Kerri Olkjer
These are so cute! Definitely trying them with my kids.
Heidi
Thanks, Kerri. I hope you and your kids have a great time crafting together!
Jacqui Odell
These are so cute!! I love how simple and easy these are to do. I want to make a couple with my kids.
Heidi
Thanks, Jacqui. I hope you have fun together. We now have little paper trees all over the house. It makes me smile.
Kimberly Lewis
I love these little trees! How cute would these be at a Christmas party!
Heidi
Thanks, Kimberly. What a great idea to make them at a Christmas party (or use them as decorations)!
Wren
Those are very cute! It would make a great craft to do with your kids over the holidays. Especially when it is too cold to play outside!
Heidi
Thanks, Wren. I'm always on the lookout for good inside activities for Winter.
Lisa
Oh my gosh, those are adorable! I'm going to make these with my twins this week - thanks for the idea!
Heidi
Thanks, Lisa! I hope you and the twins have a great time. (I'm going to make them again with my twin nieces in a couple of weeks.)
Ellie
These are so cute! I love crafty decorations like these! I have to try making these!
Heidi
Thanks, Ellie. I'm hoping they survive the Christmas decorations box, because I'd really like to save them from year to year.
valmg @ Mom Knows It All
Those trees are totally adorable! And they're simple enough that I think even I could do them!
Heidi
LOL! Definitely, Val. Simple crafts are the best! (And sometimes simple looks a lot better than fancy, too.)
Jennifer
That is such a super cute craft. This is perfect to really get the kids into the holiday spirit. I love it!
Heidi
Thanks, Jennifer. They're a lot of fun to make because the kids (or grownups) can really put their personality into the decorating.
Cait Weingartner
These little Christmas trees are so cute! They would make wonderful place holders for the Christmas dinner table!
Heidi
What a great idea, Cait! I might just put all of the cousins to work making tiny ones for the Christmas table. Thanks for the idea!
Marcie W.
These paper trees are so much fun! I love all of the different ways they can be customized as well.
Heidi
Thanks, Marcie. They were a lot of fun. I think the decorating is the favorite part for everyone. Have a merry Christmas!
Michelle Lynn
Awww, these are so cute!!!
Heidi
Thanks, Michelle. Have a merry Christmas. Thanks for stopping by today.
Audrey McClelland
That is the cutest thing ever! I need to do this with my daughter. She's going to love getting creative with this. Thanks!
Heidi
Thanks, Audrey. I hope you and your daughter have a fun time together!
Milica Momcilovic
This is so lovely! I'm gonna try to make these with my son!
Heidi
Thanks, Milica. I hope you have fun making the trees together.
Glenda
These are some cute paper Christmas trees! I really like the hair ornament decor and the Christmas tree decoration :)
Heidi
Thanks, Glenda. The ornaments in the hair is fun to do with my girls the last day of school before Christmas vacation.
Meghan
This is such a cute craft to do with kids! I am going to try it with my niece and nephew this weekend when I see them
Heidi
Thanks, Meghan. Have fun with your niece and nephew. You must be the fun aunt!
Sonya Kolodziejska
There are worse places to be stuck in! These are very cute. I do not have a creative bone in my body when it comes to craft.
Heidi
Thanks, Sonya. That's why the internet is so great. If you want to get creative, there are plenty of things to copy!
Antonella | White House Crafts
These are super cute! I love paper trees. I hope you will stop by and share them with us at The Crafty Corner link party.
Heidi
I'd love to link up, Antonella. Thanks for the invite.
Amanda
Those are super cute! Love it!
Heidi
Thanks, Amanda. They were a lot of fun to make with my kids. (I think I had the most fun!)
Lynnette Joselly
awww these are so cute and would be great centerpieces for a holiday party!
Heidi
Thanks, Lynnette. I think we're going to make tiny ones for place settings for Christmas dinner.
GiGi Eats
I am going to have to agree with you - that's one adorable XMAS tree!
Heidi
Thanks, GiGi. They're super fun to make.
Elizabeth O.
Those are beautiful Christmas trees! I love crafts like this! It's really nice and it would be great to add to the decor at home!
Heidi
Thanks, Elizabeth. Crafts that double as decor are my favorite!
Maria Han
Such a nice post. I love this craft and I would love to try this with my kids
Heidi
Thanks, Maria. We're going to make a whole bunch for place settings for Christmas dinner.
Sapana V
Wow, such a beautiful craft. Thanks for sharing the details. I love it.
Heidi
Thanks, Sapana. This was such a fun and easy craft. I'm so glad you like it.