Pretty Paper Christmas Trees

I explained in “Christmas No-No Decor” why I had to switch it up this year due to my naughty kittens. We are in the throes of training them…they are just a little hard-headed.

I was excited to try something new and this vision of blue and red came to mind. I went with it.

 

Apparently, the motivation from naughty cat-dom was just the challenge I needed. Without spending a dime and using things that I had on hand, I created a whole new fancy look for my mantel this year.

 

Here’s what you’ll need to make your very own Pretty Paper Christmas Trees:

3/4″ Dowel Rods or PVC pipe
3/4″ Scrap Plywood
Coffee can lid
Jigsaw
Palm Sander & Fine/Medium Sand Paper
Drill and paddle drill bits
Oops Paint or Spray Paint
Hot glue gun & glue sticks (not pictured because they were warming up for their duties)
Wrapping Paper (I used both robin egg blue and brown parchment)

 

I had two pieces of leftover 3/4″ PVC and a 3/4″ Broom stick that someone had gone ninja on. I used all three pieces to make my three trees.
Mark the desired height of trees onto the PVC or dowel rod with a sharpee. I cut my lengths to 18″, 24″ and 32″.

 

Using the jig saw and a wood blade, cut the PVC or dowel rods at the marked lines.

 

Outline the coffee can lid onto the scrap plywood. This will be the base of the trees.

 

This joke never gets old, “Cut it out.” (Courtesy Uncle Joey.)
Meaning, cut the plywood circles out with the jig saw.
Using a 7/8″ paddle drill bit attached to the drill, drill into the center of the plywood, without going all the way through.

 


Sand the pieces of plywood using the palm sander. Sand the PVC and dowel rods by hand with a loose piece of sand paper.
Make sure the PVC or dowel rods fit into the holes in the plywood.

 

Hot glue the PVC or dowel rods to the plywood. Make sure you burn at least two of your fingers in this process.

 

Spray the entire thing with two coats of your favorite paint. Let dry.

 

While the tree stands are drying, cut out 3″ square pieces from the wrapping paper.

 

Roll each square into a cone shape that resembles this one. Hot glue the very end to the cone.

 

Pour a glass of wine and then do that same thing about 20 times more for each tree-depending upon the height.
Some of my trees required about 20 cones, the tallest about 30.

 

Starting about 6″ away from the base of the tree, begin hot glueing the desired colored cones to the PVC or dowel rod. Move up about 3-4″ and add another round of cones. Continue doing this until you reach the top of the tree.
I made one tree that was all blue, one with rows of alternating blue and brown parchment paper, and one that alternated within the same row blue, brown, blue, brown, etc.

 

I insist you make a mess while doing this, just so I don’t feel bad.

 

Add one last cone to the top of the tree, covering up any of the remaining PVC or dowel rod. Add a few cute birds, candy canes or alternating colors.

 

Fancy it up with some cute deer, sparkly tinsel and leftover ornaments and call your mantel decorated!
Merry Christmas!

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16 Responses to "Pretty Paper Christmas Trees"

  1. Ann says:

    You are so crazy creative with such unique style. Beautiful and clever project and a great mantel look. STILL plan to copy your cracked mirror at some point!

    Reply
  2. Mindie says:

    Very cute, love the colors you used. I love the name of your blog too. Just found you at Show and Tell Saturday. I would love for you to join my weekly linky at Bacon Time up now.

    Reply
  3. Lolly Jane says:

    Love these. So cute! Your style is so FUN!!

    Reply
  4. Tabitha@simplyhome says:

    Hi ! Found you on Metamophasis monday and I love your cute “Naughty Kitten” Christmas decor! Your blog looks great…..I am now a follower, love your ideas! Please stop by and visit me a http://www.simplyhomecents.blogspot.com !

    Reply
  5. laurel@chippingwithcharm says:

    Great idea…may have toi try some myself 🙂 Laurel@chippingwithcharm

    Reply
  6. Mindie says:

    Featuring your fun trees at Bacon Time this week.

    Reply
  7. The Southern Product Queen says:

    Love this idea! Super cute, and love your blog! I’m having a linky party on my blog too! I would love it if you would link up to it! Here is the link http://www.thesouthernproductqueen.com/2011/12/20/linky-party-2/

    Reply
  8. jeanne says:

    Love your clever ideas. I think the colors you chose are out of the box and stunning. Thanks for a great tutorial as always,
    Merry Christmas,
    Jeanne

    Reply
    • Rebekah says:

      Thanks, Jeanne! I didn’t know if it would come off as cute as it did in my mind, but am glad that you liked the color choice. Merry Christmas!

      Reply
  9. Sherry says:

    Rebekah, The trees are adorable and so creative of you! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas.
    xo,
    Sherry

    Reply
  10. Potholes & Pantyhose | Happy New Year! (Favorite Posts and Stuff.) says:

    […] Pretty Paper Christmas trees not only got a lot of ooh’s and aah’s around the internet world, they received praise […]

    Reply
  11. Potholes & Pantyhose | Christmas on the Cheap-Decor Ideas says:

    […] My Pretty Paper Xmas Trees were very inexpensively made. They grace my fireplace mantle and add a lot of color to my gray living room. Each are made from dowel rods, scrap plywood, wrapping paper and hot glue. […]

    Reply

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