Kids will love making this easy paper Christmas Tree Craft with supplies you already have on hand. This holiday art project will be a special keepsake for years to come!
RELATED: Christmas Suncatchers
Paper Christmas Tree Craft for Kids
Sometimes DIY holiday decorations can be intricate and time-consuming, but here’s a fun homemade ornament that kids can make themselves. Even preschoolers can get involved and make a pretty tree scene for the holidays.
First, spend a little time cutting the template. Then, assemble your project easily with paint and fingerprints! Not only can you do this together with your family, but it’s an easy school project as well.
Kids will love being independent as they design their fingerprint tree. Let them decorate the mantle, sideboard, entry table, or any other area in the house. Getting the kids involved in decorating will make lasting memories.
Be sure to save the decoration, if you can. Mom and dad will cherish these fingerprint trees for years to come!
RELATED: Scandinavian-Inspired Paper Star Ornament
Craft Supplies Needed for Paper Christmas Tree Craft
- Paper Christmas Tree Craft Pattern
- Green cardstock
- Gold cardstock or gold glitter cardstock
- Ornament string
- Acrylic paint
- Glue stick or double-sided tape
- Tape
- Scissors
Directions for Christmas Tree Craft
1. Download the Paper Christmas Tree Craft Pattern from the supply list. Print the first page on green cardstock and the second page on gold cardstock.
Alternatively, you could print the templates on white cardstock so you can trace the shapes on gold glitter cardstock or construction paper.
Note: Our template also includes a plain Christmas tree without lights.
2. Prepare a paper plate or reusable plastic paint palette with acrylic paint. We used the following colors from Delta Ceramcoat:
- Bright Red
- Pumpkin
- Yellow
- Gecko
- Navy Blue
- Pansy
3. Invite your child to dip the tip of their index finger into the paint, then dot it on their printable to make Christmas lights. We kept damp paper towels nearby to clean fingers in between color changes.
4. While the Christmas lights are drying, invite your child to cut out their star and 10 inches of ornament string.
5. When the paint is dry, cut out the Christmas tree shape.
6. Bend the ornament string into a loop, then tape it to the “back-center-top” of the tree shape.
6. Use a glue stick to spread an even coat of glue over the tab. (We used double-sided tape.)
7. Gently bend the tree pattern into a cone shape, securing the tab to the back of the opposite side. If you used a glue stick on the tab, you may need to press the papers together for a minute to secure them.
Make sure the ornament loop is hanging out of the top of the cone!
8. Glue the star to the top of the Christmas tree.
9. Your Christmas Tree Craft is complete! Kids will feel proud to hang their new ornament on the Christmas tree!
Large Group Crafting Tips
Are you planning to make this craft with your class, after-school program, or day camp program?
- Prepare the ornament string in advance.
- Cut around the stars with a paper cutter so they are easy to pass out.
- Need a mess-free option? Use dot markers, dot stickers, round sponge brushes, or paper circles instead of paint.
Take it Further
- Pair this craft with a family visit to the Christmas tree farm. Many tree farms also offer cider, hot cocoa, and S’mores by a campfire!
- Cut fresh branches off a nearby bush or small pine tree to bring the outdoors to your mantle or dining room table. Maybe you can learn to make a wreath with your fresh clippings.
- Enjoy a STEM activity by building a Christmas tree with toothpicks and green and red gumdrops. If you wish to resist the candy temptations, use paper straws and playdough.
- Build a plastic cup tree tower with green or red cups (add pompoms for ornaments) for another easy fun STEM project.
- Grow your own Christmas tree with a tree-shaped sponge, water, and some quick-growing grass seed. Simply wet the sponge, pour the seeds on top, and water the seeds. Every day, spritz the seeds and sponge and you’ll be able to “grow” your own tree. Kids will love “trimming” the tree with scissors to give it a haircut.
- Learn about the life cycle of a Christmas tree: pine cone, seed, sprout, sapling, seedling, and conifer tree.
- Borrow Christmas tree books from the library, such as The Legend of the Christmas Tree by Pat Matuszak.
- Make some Christmas tree-shaped origami bookmarks for your library books. Additionally, you could make an origami three-dimensional tree.
- Discover the history of the first Christmas tree.
- Make a salt dough Christmas tree ornament.
- Make Christmas tree-shaped food! Ideas include brownies, charcuterie board, veggie tray, Rice Krispie treats, and peanut butter cup trees.
- Learn the words to O’ Christmas Tree.
- Purchase a mini Christmas tree for the kids to decorate with their homemade ornaments.
More Christmas Tree Crafts for Kids
Looking for more Christmas tree craft ideas? You may also enjoy:
- Paper Cup Christmas Tree
- Pine Cone Christmas Tree
- Scrap Ribbon Christmas Tree Ornament
- Christmas Tree Glitter Jar
- Cinnamon Stick Christmas Tree Ornament
- Popsicle Stick Christmas Tree Ornament
- Accordion Paper Christmas Tree from Easy Peasy and Fun
Christmas Tree Craft
Kids will love making this easy paper Christmas Tree Craft with supplies you already have on hand. This holiday art project will be a keepsake for years to come!
Materials
- Paper Christmas Tree Craft Pattern
- Green cardstock
- Gold cardstock or gold glitter cardstock
- Ornament string
- Acrylic paint
- Glue stick or double-sided tape
- Tape
Tools
- Scissors
Instructions
- Download the Paper Christmas Tree Craft Pattern from the supply list. Print the first page on green cardstock and the second page on gold cardstock.
- Prepare a paper plate or reusable plastic paint palette with acrylic paint.
- Invite your child to dip the tip of their index finger into the paint, then dot it on their printable to make Christmas lights.
- While the Christmas lights are drying, invite your child to cut out their star and 10 inches of ornament string.
- When the paint is dry, cut out the Christmas tree shape.
- Bend the ornament string into a loop, then tape it to the “back-center-top” of the tree shape.
- Use a glue stick to spread an even coat of glue over the tab. (We used double-sided tape.)
- Gently bend the tree pattern into a cone shape, securing the tab to the back of the opposite side. If you used a glue stick on the tab, you may need to press the papers together for a minute to secure them. Make sure the ornament loop is hanging out of the top of the cone!
- Glue the star to the top of the Christmas tree.
- Your Christmas Tree Craft is complete!
Notes
Keep damp paper towels nearby to clean fingers in between color changes.
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Jan Mulroy says
Trying to download this but I need a password. Is it possible to get the password
Melissa Lennig says
The password request only prompts when you are trying to alter the file. When you click the file in my blog post, it will open in a new window. You should be able to print from there. Thanks!
Yhasmin Ramos says
where’s the supplies list???
Melissa Lennig says
It’s the part of the blog post that says “Craft Supplies Needed.”
mom says
loye
Marvie says
Excellent Idea!!
Tracy says
I think my prek kids will love this