Paper Christmas Tree Craft: Free Christmas Tree Template
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Every year I love to let Christmas come alive with colorful Christmas projects that can double as decor for your home or tree. Last year I did my first take on my 3D paper Christmas tree and this year, I am going for round two with this ornate DIY paper Christmas tree craft!
I made a special set of Christmas pine needles as SVG cut files that can be used to create an almost realistic small Christmas tree from paper! This Christmas tree template is a must to use with your cutting machine because of how intricate the details. I’m convinced if you tried to hand cut this, your hand will fall off, and that’s a liability issue for me. Just kidding. But seriously, you will want a cutting machine.
These templates are totally free for your personal use in my free craft resource library! And this project is perfect for a tablescape display for your home of holiday gathering!
Supplies Needed to Make Colorful Paper Christmas Trees
Here are the supplies you will need to make this paper Christmas tree craft.
- Foam tree bases in various sizes (find them at craft stores as well)
- Christmas tree template (find them at the bottom of the post for free!)
- 65 pound cardstock in choice colors
- Cutting machine (I love my Cricut!)
- Glue gun
- Ribbon (With my second tree, I found tulle worked better, so opt for that if you can)
- Patience (these trees are not at all hard to make, but the pine needles do take a little time to cut out on your machine. Wrap some Christmas presents in between loading paper!)
How to Make Colorful Paper Christmas Tree Crafts
Step 1: Cut the Pine Needles (Use Your Cutting Machine!)
Gather your supplies and get all your pine needles cut out. Depending on the size of your foam tree base, everyone will have a different count. For my largest one I used roughly 30-35 pieces.
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Step 2: Wrap Tree Base with Ribbon
Wrap your foam tree base with ribbon or tulle close in color to your paper choice. I found that tulle wraps a little more neatly though I managed to make the ribbon work fine too!
Step 3: Attach the Paper Pine Needles
Starting at the bottom, glue the wider pine needle cuts around in a circle following the foam base. Slightly overlap so that you are achieving good coverage.
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Keep working your way up the entire tree base, gluing each piece on. Like I said before, the tedious part is really waiting for the paper to be cut out but otherwise, it goes pretty quickly. This set of 3 trees took me 2 days to make.
Step 4: Finish the Paper Christmas Tree with a Pointed Top
When you reach the top, you will want to give the illusion that the tree comes to somewhat of a point, like a real tree. Glue 2 pine needle pieces back to back to form a tepee. Then attach it to the tree by the open end of the pine needle tepee.
Make just a few of these or a whole forest! These Christmas tree templates are perfect to make holiday decor statement pieces that are guaranteed to be one of a kind. How would you use them?! Tell me below in the comments!
Download Your Christmas Tree Template
Click here to access my resource library with this template!
Don’t forget to pin this for later! You know you will want it!
Small Paper Christmas Trees
These adorable small and colorful paper Christmas trees are perfect for holiday decor! Use your favorite colors to make fun, festive paper Christmas trees for around your home.
Materials
- Foam tree bases in various sizes
- Christmas tree template (in the Freebie Vault)
- 65 pound cardstock in choice colors
- Cutting machine
- Glue gun
- Ribbon
Instructions
Step 1: Cut the Pine Needles
Gather your supplies and start cutting the pine needle branches. This will take lots of time, so be patient! For my largest tree, I used roughly 30-35 pieces.
Step 2: Wrap Tree Base with Ribbon
Wrap your foam tree base with ribbon or tulle close in color to your paper choice.
Step 3: Attach the Paper Pine Needles
Starting at the bottom, glue the wider pine needles around in a circle following the foam base. Slightly overlap so that you are achieving good coverage. Keep working your way up the entire tree base, gluing each piece on.
Step 4: Finish the Paper Christmas Tree with a Pointed Top
Glue 2 pine needle pieces back to back to form a tepee. Then attach it to the very top of the tree by the open end of the pine needle tepee.
Love this craft? How about upgrading to a stress free holiday season with my new 20 page Happier Holiday Planner!