CHRISTMAS TREE CRAFT

Christmas tree craft is an easy project to make for kids and lots of fun to decorate.  A great craft for groups as it can be simple for younger kids to decorate, and more complex for older kids. 

Kids can glue pom poms on their trees which is fun, easy and fairly neat. You can also cut circles out of glitter sticky back foam or purchase stickers such as circle shape price stickers or snowflakes. There are lots of different ways to decorate trees, you can glue on different fancy trims and ribbons, or make different size circles to fit over a tree formed out of pipe cleaners or trims, create stars, apply glitter, hand made paper ornaments, and of course paint which looks great but not always easy when working with a large group.  There are lots of possibilities and the only thing to keep in mind is the weight of the tree as it is not super strong.  See below for materials and tips.

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Blank trees, ready for kids (or adults of course) will look like these.  I used found twigs for tree trunks because I like the character of the twigs and the way they are all different but you can use dowels if you prefer.  Tree is basically a wooden base with 1/4" drilled hole, twig and 7" kraft paper cone painted with green acrylic paint.  Leaving the tree Kraft and not painting green also looks great, especially if decorating with white and gold.  This bunch of trees was for young kids so I choose to paint them green, for more kid appeal.

Materials ~

Scrap wood for base, appx 2" high, 3x3, 3x4, 4x4 etc...choose what you like.  

Hot Glue or strong glue

Twigs or dowels, appx 1/4" x about 8 to 10" long

Kraft paper cones, 7 " high or size you prefer.  You can make cones if you want to but I purchased these cones from Oriental Trading because they are so inexpensive.  They are actually Kraft Confetti Cones...handed out for weddings etc.   They are probably also sold at party supply stores.

They are not heavy but they are sturdy enough for this project.  You will also be reinforcing them a bit by stuffing with crumpled up news paper or paper towels.

A cardboard circle (appx 3" across) to fit inside of tree about an inch from the bottom edge to hold newspaper and stem in place.

Green acrylic paint, tacky glue, and little sticks for kids to apply glue.

Assortment of small size Pom Poms, and glitter Pipe Cleaners for tree top star. 

 

Cut your little wood blocks and drill hole.  

Stuff some newspaper in the tree forming a little hole or opening for the tree stem as you go.  Push twig or dowel in center of newspaper and work it in a bit making sure it is fairly far up in tree and as center as possible.  Put a little hot glue in here and there for extra hold.  Cut a cardboard circle to fit inside tree with a little hole in center for tree stem and push piece up snugly into tree to hold all in place.  Add a little glue around the edge of the circle.

Put a little glue in the wood base hole for the twig stem and hold it in place a bit to make sure it is secure.  You may have to trim your twig a bit to fit the hole.  Add a little extra glue around the twig.

Paint tree green and trim the tree top just a tiny bit to make sure the little star will fit.

To make stars, bend pipe cleaner as shown in the picture ~ 5 little points, and 2 ends, one a bit longer.  After making points, bring around to join ends, then twist the shorter end of the piece around the opposite end, leaving the longer end as it is.  It will look funny but work it a bit into a star shape with the long stem straightened out, in center of bottom 2 star points.  You will have to sort of push the bottom part of the star in at center, leaving long piece ready to stick in tree top.  Practice.

Put some tacky glue in little plates etc for gluing pom poms.  Have kids use tooth picks or any little sticks for applying glue to tree for each pom pom.  This is much easier for kids than glue bottles.  Stick star in tree top.

Remember, you can try lots of different ways of decorating trees, even paint which has lots of possibilities but easier to manage with older kids or just a small group.