The big old fir tree is a Christmas classic, but why not mix it up this year by adding one or a few of these little faux Christmas trees to your repertoire? With their wide range of materials, colors and designs, you can easily find a tree to match your decor. And at this busy time of year, a crafting session can feel like a nice change of pace, especially if you can DIY with family and friends.
Felt Stacked Tree (exclusive to The Good Stuff!)
All you need to make these pyramidal little trees is felt, a wooden bead, these circle templates, and hot glue. Print the templates onto cardstock (you could use regular paper too, you’ll just have to trace more delicately), then cut 32 circles out of your felt, two from each of the templates. Stack the circles from largest to smallest with a dab of hot glue in between, and top with a wooden ornament. You can keep the palette simple with two alternating colors or go for a wider range of hues.
Paint Sample Trees
Source: Pink Stripey Socks
These minimalist paper trees are made out of paint sample cards, which are free and come in an endless array of colors. Simply cut the cards into triangles with slits in the middle so they’ll slide together to form a coned tree shape.
Glitter and Lace Trees
Source: Mad in Crafts
These shimmery trees are both festive and elegant. The bases are paper mache cone trees, which are decorated with a heavy layer of glitter and wrapped in lace trim.
Ombre Faux Tree
Source: Little Inspiration
An ombre black-to-white Christmas tree is a modern and unexpected spin on your classically colorful evergreen. It’s easy to make, and just requires some strategic spray painting.
Wooden Dowel Tree
Source: Curbly
This charming wooden tree is ideal for ornament display in a small space, and folds up easily for storage. To create one, cut wooden dowels into progressively shorter lengths, drill a hole in the middle of each, and slide them onto a central wooden rod.
Washi Tape Tree
Source: Homey Oh My
No matter how small your living space, you can make room for this chic 2D Christmas tree. Simply adhere Washi tape to the wall, and decorate with ornaments hung on bits of string.
Textured Tree Trio
Source: Blue i Style
These three chic trees go together without matching entirely. To make your own set, decorate paper mache bases using faux fur, a bead garland, and paper hearts (using sheet music for the hearts looks especially beautiful).
Book Tree
Source: Nur Noch
The only trick to this tree is finding a book you don’t mind decimating. Once you have, simply slice through all the pages and open them up to form the body of the tree, then glue on a thin branch or log as the tree stump.
Fringe Trees
Source: A Bubbly Life
These frilly pastel trees are a playful addition to Christmas decor. Simply cut into strips of tissue paper to create fringe, then adhere the strips to a cone base using double-sided tape. A glitter tree makes for fabulous contrast.
Sequin Trees
Source: Momtastic
These sparkly trees are guaranteed to set the party mood. Using trim instead of individual sequins makes covering the cone base a less tedious task.
Pipe Cleaner Trees
Source: DIY Show Off
These adorable little pipe cleaner trees can be stand-alone decor or can be used as ornaments on the big fir. To make, simply wrap wire pipe cleaners around foam bases, and add a little bell for the stem. Mix up your wrapping techniques to create different looks.
Recycled Paper Tree
Source: Katrinshine
Stack squares of paper onto an awl to create this geometric tree. Using a variety of papers, from newspaper to booklets, creates visual interest. Finish it off with spray glue and a layer of pearl dust.
Cupcake Wrapper Tree
Source: Domestic Whimsy
You’ll find the materials for this delectable tree in your baking stash. To make, layer the ruffled edges of cupcake wrappers onto a cone tree base, then paint with watercolors for a softly colored effect.
Yarn Wrapped Trees
Source: Sweet Society
White with pops of red evokes Christmas while still looking chic. To make these elegant trees, wrap a foam base with yarn, gluing as you go, and embellish with faux red berries. Top them off with mini faux snowflakes.
Metallic Trees
Source: Alyssa and Carla
These shimmery minimalist trees are oh-so-easy to make. Simply paint paper mache cones with various shades of metallic paint, and don’t be afraid to break out of the usual yuletie palette with pink and bronze.
Tin Can Tree
Source: Babble Dabble Do
This wacky tree is a fun project to do with kids. Spray paint tin cans, hot glue them together, and have fun decorating with pompoms and other embellishments.
Gold Leaf Tree
Source: Crafts Unleashed
This shining tree looks impressive, but it’s quick and easy to make. Simply stick gold leaves into a foam cone base, adding a touch of hot glue here and there for a bit more security.
Cork Tree
Source: Bliss Bloom Blog
Return cork to its original state by transforming it into a tree. Cut a roll of thin cork sheet into leaf-like shapes, taking advantage of its natural tendency to curl, and adhere the pieces to a paper mache cone base.
Glitter Bottle Brush Trees
Source: Bre Pea
This whimsical winter wonderland scene is easy to replicate. Bleach bottle brush trees, then spray paint them in shades of blue, purple, and green. Finish them off with a sprinkling of glitter.
Rulers Tree
Source: My Salvaged Treasures
Turn this simple school supply into a tree you can count on. Vintage rulers work especially well, but you could also go for a modern look. SImply cut your rulers to varying lengths and glue them to a small cabinet door or other wooden base.
Feather Trees
Source: Grey Likes Weddings
There’s something a little magical about trees covered in wispy feathers. You can use all white plumage or natural browns, or a combination of both.
Twine and Button Tree
Source: Domestically Blissful
Buttons act as adorable ornament substitutes on this twiny little tree. To create your own, wrap a cone base with twine, then glue on buttons. Top it off with a touch of diamond dust.
Seashell Trees
Source: At the Picket Fence
Forget a white Christmas- why not go for a seaside-inspired noelle theme. To make these beachy trees, glue seashells to a cone base, then spray paint.
Plastic Spoon Trees
Source: One Project Closer
Who knew spoons could be so pretty? Adhere the ends of spoons to a cone base, then spray paint to create this textured trees. Brown and gray hues are subtle and chic.
Ribbon Tree
Source: A Creative Yarn
This loopy tree is made out of folded pieces of ribbon. Red and green are classic, but you could use a neutral palette or even pinks and purples. A gift bow is the perfect tree topper.
Allover Pompom Trees
Source: The Little Style File
There’s no trick to making these vibrant and playful little Christmas trees. Just cover a cone base in lots of little pompoms, and stack several colorful tape rolls under the base to create a trunk. Top with a pretty star ornament, and you’re done.
Fabric Scrap Trees
Source: At The Picket Fence
Combine patterned fabric and burlap to make these beautifully patchworked trees. You could mix several prints in one tree for an even more up-cycled look.
Mercury Glass Trees
Source: A Night Owl Blog
Get the ethereal look of mercury glass for a fraction of the cost. Simply spray paint glass trees with a combination of Krylon Looking Glass Spray Paint and zinc acrylic paint.
Craft Stick Trees
Source: Crafts Unleashed
These adorably wonky trees are made out of colorfully painted craft sticks decorated with puff paint. A wooden spool base with a touch of fuzzy excelsior creates the stump.
Burlap Trees
Source: Inspired by Charm
The neutral hue and straw-like texture of burlap look good in pretty much any setting. To make this shabby chic Christmas tree, layer folded burlap onto a cone base.
Thread Spool Tree
Source: Maya Road Design Team
This antiquey Christmas tree is full of character and charm. To make, cover wooden spools with vintage sheet music or old book pages and stack them into a pyramid shape.
Think outside the evergreen box this year with your Christmas tree decor. Turns out this quintessential yuletide feature comes in all shapes, sizes and materials. Many of these projects begin with a simple cone base; others are constructed from scratch. Whatever approach you choose, have fun creating faux Christmas trees that suit your style and holiday spirit.
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