How to Make a Cardboard Christmas Tree

From the crafter who brought you the cardboard fireplace, meet the recycled cardboard Christmas tree.

Gold Star on Top a White Christmas Tree and Multicolor Ornaments

Decorate and Enjoy

Once the paint is dry, put the branches back in place and then trim your tree with a tree skirt, tinsel, and lightweight ornaments.

By: Karen Kavett

Show: HGTV Handmade

Related To:

Shipping boxes piling up from another round of online shopping? Reuse them to create this 3D cardboard Christmas tree that you can actually decorate and give your home eco-friendly, festive flair.

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Cardboard Christmas Tree

06:37

Karen Kavett turns recycled cardboard into a freestanding Christmas tree.

Materials + Tools

cardboard (for best results, use pieces that are at least 48" x 16")
Christmas Tree pattern
pencil
cardboard box sealing tape

scissors
craft knife
cutting mat
paint and paintbrush or spray paint

Print + Prepare Pattern

Print the Cardboard Tree pattern onto card stock (Image 1). Cut away the two smaller "V" shapes from the first page and set them aside. Follow the guide arrows on the pattern pages to tape the tree together and cut it out (Image 2 +3).

Print the Cardboard Tree Pattern onto cardstock. Cut off the smaller shapes from the first page and set them aside. Tape the pages together and cut out the tree.

Print and Prepare the Pattern

Print the Cardboard Tree Pattern onto cardstock. Cut off the smaller shapes from the first page and set them aside. Tape the pages together and cut out the tree.

Print and Prepare Pattern

Print the Cardboard Tree Pattern onto cardstock. Cut off the smaller shapes from the first page and set them aside. Tape the pages together and cut out the tree.

Print and Prepare Pattern

Print the Cardboard Tree Pattern onto cardstock. Cut off the smaller shapes from the first page and set them aside. Tape the pages together and cut out the tree.

Trace + Cut

Trace the tree pattern onto a large piece of cardboard (Image 1). Cut it out with a craft knife (Image 2 +3) and set aside the leftover cardboard. Use scissors to get smoother, rounded edges on each of the branches (Image 4). Repeat this to make six Christmas tree halves (Image 5). Tip: To make the taped pattern fit on one piece of cardboard, you'll need at least a 48" x 16" piece of cardboard. If you don't have a piece that large, you can carefully tape multiple pieces of cardboard together.

Trace the tree pattern onto a large piece of cardboard and cut it out with a craft knife. You may want to use scissors to get a smoother rounded end on each of the branches. Repeat this to make six Christmas tree halves.

Trace and Cut Out

Trace the tree pattern onto a large piece of cardboard and cut it out with a craft knife. You may want to use scissors to get a smoother rounded end on each of the branches. Repeat this to make six Christmas tree halves.

Trace and Cut Out

Cut Branches

If you haven't already, cut out the "V" shapes from the first page of the pattern (Image 1). Trace them onto the leftover cardboard and cut them out (Image 2). Cut out as many branches as you would like — we used about 35 on our tree (Image 3).

Cut out the V shapes from the first page of the pattern and trace them onto cardboard. Cut out as many branches as you would like (we used about 35 on our tree).

Cut Branches

Cut out the V shapes from the first page of the pattern and trace them onto cardboard. Cut out as many branches as you would like (we used about 35 on our tree).

Cut Branches

Cut out the V shapes from the first page of the pattern and trace them onto cardboard. Cut out as many branches as you would like (we used about 35 on our tree).

Cut Branches

Cut out the V shapes from the first page of the pattern and trace them onto cardboard. Cut out as many branches as you would like (we used about 35 on our tree).

Tape Together Tree Halves

Working vertically, tape two of the tree halves together on one side (Image 1). Then fold one tree half on top of the other and tape the other edge (Image 2). The two tree halves should open and close like a book. Be sure to trim any excess tape. Repeat this process with the rest of the tree halves (Image 3). Tip: You can use any tape for this, but I'm using an industrial strength packing tape made specifically for cardboard.

Tape two of the tree halves together. Then fold them on top of each other and tape around the edge. Be sure to trim any excess tape. Repeat this with the rest of the tree halves.

Tape Together

Tape two of the tree halves together. Then fold them on top of each other and tape around the edge. Be sure to trim any excess tape. Repeat this with the rest of the tree halves.

Tape Together

Tape two of the tree halves together. Then fold them on top of each other and tape around the edge. Be sure to trim any excess tape. Repeat this with the rest of the tree halves.

Tape Together

Tape two of the tree halves together. Then fold them on top of each other and tape around the edge. Be sure to trim any excess tape. Repeat this with the rest of the tree halves.

Insert Branches

Decide where you want each branch to go, then mark the inside and bottom of the "V" with a pencil (Image 1). Then, using a ruler as a guide, cut along the points to create a slit for the branch to slide into (Image 2). Carefully insert the branch to ensure it fits, then adjust the slit if necessary (Image 3). Repeat for all the branches (Image 4). Remove the branches and set aside.

Place your branches where you want them to go. Mark the inside and the bottom of the V and cut a slit for the branch to slide into. Repeat this on all of the tree pieces.

Place Branches

Place your branches where you want them to go. Mark the inside and the bottom of the V and cut a slit for the branch to slide into. Repeat this on all of the tree pieces.

Place Branches

Place your branches where you want them to go. Mark the inside and the bottom of the V and cut a slit for the branch to slide into. Repeat this on all of the tree pieces.

Place Branches

Place your branches where you want them to go. Mark the inside and the bottom of the V and cut a slit for the branch to slide into. Repeat this on all of the tree pieces.

Place Branches

Place your branches where you want them to go. Mark the inside and the bottom of the V and cut a slit for the branch to slide into. Repeat this on all of the tree pieces.

Tape Tree Together

Now assemble the three tree pieces: bring together two taped tree seams, then tape those together (Image 1). You'll have three seams total to tape together.

Remove all of the branches and tape all three trees together. There should be three final seams to tape up.

Tape Tree Together

Remove all of the branches and tape all three trees together. There should be three final seams to tape up.

Tape Tree Together

Remove all of the branches and tape all three trees together. There should be three final seams to tape up.

Cut and Attach Base

Now grab the base template from the last page of the pattern (Image 1). Trace it onto cardboard and cut it out. Measure and cut a 1" x 2" rectangle centered on the bottom of the tree (Image 2). Attach the tree to the base so each tree segment is equally spaced (Image 3).

Cut out the base from the last page of the pattern. Trace and cut it out from cardboard. Cut a 1” x 2” rectangle from the bottom of your tree. Attach the base so each segment stays equally spaced apart.

Cut and Attach Base

Cut out the base from the last page of the pattern. Trace and cut it out from cardboard. Cut a 1” x 2” rectangle from the bottom of your tree. Attach the base so each segment stays equally spaced apart.

Cut and Attach Base

Paint

Paint your tree any color you like. Be sure to paint the extra branches as well. Let the paint dry overnight. Tip: I used a pale green acrylic paint and a paintbrush, but I'd recommend spray painting as this took forever to paint.

Paint

Paint your tree any color you like. Be sure to paint the extra branches as well.

Decorate + Enjoy

Once the paint is dry, put the branches back in place and then trim your tree with a tree skirt, tinsel and lightweight ornaments.

Decorate and Enjoy

Once the paint is dry, put the branches back in place and then trim your tree with a tree skirt, tinsel, and lightweight ornaments.

Decorate and Enjoy

Once the paint is dry, put the branches back in place and then trim your tree with a tree skirt, tinsel, and lightweight ornaments.

Decorate and Enjoy

Once the paint is dry, put the branches back in place and then trim your tree with a tree skirt, tinsel, and lightweight ornaments.

Decorate and Enjoy

Once the paint is dry, put the branches back in place and then trim your tree with a tree skirt, tinsel, and lightweight ornaments.

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How to Make a Cardboard Christmas Tree

Decorate and Enjoy

Related To:

Cardboard Christmas Tree

Print + Prepare Pattern

Print and Prepare the Pattern

Print and Prepare Pattern

Print and Prepare Pattern

Trace + Cut

Trace and Cut Out

Trace and Cut Out

Trace and Cut Out

Trace and Cut Out

Trace and Cut Out

Cut Branches

Cut Branches

Cut Branches

Cut Branches

Tape Together Tree Halves

Tape Together

Tape Together

Tape Together

Insert Branches

Place Branches

Place Branches

Place Branches

Place Branches

Tape Tree Together

Tape Tree Together

Tape Tree Together

Cut and Attach Base

Cut and Attach Base

Cut and Attach Base

Cut and Attach Base

Paint

Paint

Decorate + Enjoy

Decorate and Enjoy

Decorate and Enjoy

Decorate and Enjoy

Decorate and Enjoy

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