If you are looking for an inexpensive Christmas craft that is great for kids, I have the answer for you!
Craft Stick Christmas Trees!
They are easy to customize to any color scheme by switching up the colors of the paint.
Supplies needed to create your own stick Christmas tree craft:
- Craft sticks (standard size)
- Large Wooden Spools
- Craft Paint ( I used Party Pink, Citrus Green, and Island Blue)
- Puffy Paint (I used White)
- Excelsior
- Foam Brush
- Pliers
- Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
The first thing you will need to do is gather your craft sticks. You will need six sticks per tree. One for the center trunk, and five “branches.”
Next, you will need to trim your “branches.”
Using your pliers, snip off the ends of each craft stick. Make sure you have the craft sticks up against the cutting area of the pliers.
Then trim the sticks so they are graduated in length.
If the pliers left rough edges, you can hit them with some sandpaper to smooth them down.
Then paint the five “branches.”
I used two coats of paint.
Continue painting all of your trees, and allow the paint to dry.
Admire your colorful mess.
When the paint has dried, start gluing your “branches” to the middle trunk using your hot glue gun.
I glued mine a little crooked on purpose. I liked having angles for visual interest.
When all of the “branches” are secured to the trunk, add some glue to the bottom of the trunk:
and insert the trunk into the hole in the spool.
Add glue to the top of the spool, and while the glue is still hot (work quickly!) add excelsior to the spool.
Excelsior is crazy! It is all different lengths. Trim it down where it needs it.
Add more excelsior if you need it to fill in holes.
Using puffy paint, dab “ornaments” onto your tree.
Continue with the “ornaments” until you are happy with the way it looks.
Add a star to the top of your tree.
I made my star using silver Glitter Silk Core’dinations Cardstock, and this (link below) tutorial for folding a 3D paper star.
Allow your finished tree to sit undisturbed for the puffy paint to dry. (Directions say four hours dry time.)
Repeat for as many trees as you would like to create!
Enjoy your festive Christmas tree craft stick creations!
More Project Ideas
Shaunte is a 30-something, chocolate-loving, SAHM from Utah. She has been scrapbooking since 1997, the dreaded era of photos cropped with deco scissors. Since then, her work has evolved into a clean, linear, photo-focused style. Her favorite subjects to scrap are her husband and five kids (never a lack for subject material there).
I love your christmas ideas and would be glad if you would link up to my party to share them! http://arahbellas.blogspot.com/2012/12/spark-winter-wonderland.html
Hope to see you there!
-Bella
These are precious! love the colors!! Great tutorial Shaunte!
Thank you everyone! They really were fun to make.
These are so stinkin’ cute! I can’t wait to make some with my kids!
adorable as usual!! – love the bold bright colors
Freakin’ adorable, Shaunte!
You are always so clever with the things you create!
These are sooooo cute!! I was going to make something similar with the little’s yesterday but needed some inspiration. Now I have it!
xoxo, Tanya
twelveOeight
These are darling! Love the colors and what a cute little forest they would make. Also a great little gift idea. Thanks for sharing!