Just Paint It Blog

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • About
    • My Stuff
      • My House
      • My Hubs
      • My Paintings
        • Illustrations
        • Murals
  • Projects
    • How To/PIY
      • PIY – Paint It Yourself
      • Quick Stuff
      • Tutorials
      • Videos
    • Techniques
      • Antiquing & Distressing
      • Blending Colors
      • Color Wash
      • Decoupage
      • Drawing
      • Dry Brushing
      • Faux Finishes
      • Glazing
      • Highlighting
      • Shading
      • Stenciling
      • Transfers
    • Home Decor
      • Accessories
      • Furniture
      • Holiday Decorating
      • Seasonal Decorating
    • Crafts
      • Dollar Store Crafts
      • Holiday Crafts
        • Christmas Crafts
        • Halloween Crafts
      • Kids Crafts
      • Seasonal Crafts
    • Paint Types
      • Chalk Paint
      • Chalkboard Paint
      • Glitter Paint
      • Metallic Paint
      • Pearl Paint
      • Specialty Paints
      • Spray Paint
      • Watercolor Paint
    • Paint Surfaces
      • Paint Canvas
      • Paint Fabric
      • Paint Glass
      • Paint Metal
      • Paint Paper
      • Paint Plastic
      • Paint Walls
      • Paint Wood
    • Submit Yours
  • Shop
    • A.R.T. – Art Related Things
    • Original Art
    • Pet Portraits
    • ClipArt & Printables
  • Portfolio
    • Pet Portraits
  • Contact

Cardboard Christmas Trees

November 19, 2013 By Colleen Jorgenson 4 Comments

Cardboard Christmas Tree

I have a huge stack of flattened cardboard boxes in the garage from the move last summer.

I keep thinking I need to put them on Craig’s List so someone else who’s crazy enough to move can benefit.

Until then though, I wanted to use a few for Christmas decorations.

Crazy?

Maybe, but it’s a fun way to try out new projects. Especially if you want some big ones.

The cardboard nutcracker I made last year wound up at my grandson’s house so I’ve been planning on making another one. But he’ll go upstairs next to Mom’s fireplace. I wanted something for my fireplace downstairs.

The plan is to decorate the room in a Winter Woodland theme but I didn’t want to decorate a regular tree for in here.

So how about a cardboard tree? Or two.

Lemme show you how I made them.

cardboard-xmas-tree-A

First, you’ll need a box.

(Gee, really, Colleen?)

If you’re thinking that all you need to do is cut out a tree shape and then spray paint it, you’re pretty much right.

But since I’m a blogger and this is a blog, I’m gonna show you the pics anyway.

cardboard-xmas-tree-B

Cut one ‘panel’ of cardboard. I used the box that Mom’s dresser came in and saved one of the side panels for the tree ‘stand’.

cardboard-xmas-tree-C

Start drawing your tree shape at the bottom so you have the widest part first.

This’ll seem a little weird since most of us draw trees starting at the top . . . and even though this isn’t fine art by any means . . . draw your branches from the bottom up.

cardboard-xmas-tree-D

I wanted mine rounded, rather than sharp or zig zag.

I dunno why. It just looked more cartoonish or whimsical with rounded branches so I went with it.

cardboard-xmas-tree-E

Cutting curves in cardboard with a utility knife is . . . a pain in the patooty.

Use scissors for any rounded parts.

cardboard-xmas-tree-F

For the tree ‘stand’, cut two slots in the base of the tree that measure the same height as your cardboard ‘panel’.

 

cardboard-xmas-tree-G

I went a little overboard and made mine too high.

I think they’re about 6 inches high but I wanted the tree to stand on its own.

cardboard-xmas-tree-H

So far, so good.

Now just coat it with spray paint or roll it on if it’s too cold for spraying where you are.

cardboard-xmas-tree-I

If you want to add lights . . . I mean, what’s a Christmas tree without lights? . . . grab a roll of duct tape (or Duck tape) and start taping.

I started out all systematic with the bulbs taped to the very edge of each branch.

About halfway up the first side of branches I totally ditched that ‘system’ and started taping wherever and however.

If you use 100 light strand like I did, it won’t matter anyway because that many lights will make the entire tree glow, no matter where the bulbs are placed.

*Note: I do not light fires in my fireplace so there is no fire hazard in that regard. I also do not leave the cardboard trees unattended while they’re lit, just to be on the safe side.

cardboard-xmas-tree-P

Without lights they’re pretty fun.

I threw cotton batting at the base to cover the stand.

 

cardboard-xmas-tree-K

With the lights on though the trees just glow.

cardboard-xmas-tree-J

Cardboard Christmas trees for my Winter Woodland room!

And one less box in my garage. Total win-win!

cardboard-xmas-tree-L

I’m still working on the shelves above and on each side but I had to throw something up there for the photo.

cardboard-xmas-tree-N

Of course if I had wood working saws and tools I’d make a plywood tree but hey, in a pinch, cardboard worked great and gave me just the look I was going for.

What do you think? Kinda Charlie Brownish, but in a stylin’ way. You could go crazy and decorate it all sorts of ways but for now I’m liking the simplicity of the plain white.

Colleen

about Colleen

Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket

Subscribe to Just Paint It by email

Filed Under: Christmas, crafts, holiday crafts, Holiday Decorating, Home Decor, Paint Paper, Paint Surfaces, Paint Types, Spray Paint

Comments

  1. Laura Strack says

    November 20, 2013 at 5:17 pm

    How Darling, Colleen!

    Reply
  2. PJ says

    June 9, 2016 at 9:55 am

    I just did this! I saw the pin last week, got a cardboard box and cut everything out last night. I’m just about to go paint the trees now. Love this because it’s simple and looks great. Thank you.

    Reply
  3. dec25 trees says

    October 27, 2017 at 10:24 am

    I still remember the way we decorated christmas trees with ornaments and greeting cards. Its a different feeling and can’t replace it with these artificial . Nice article… +1

    Reply
  4. Dec 25 trees says

    December 11, 2017 at 11:07 am

    I love’em all. Especially the white one. These are great christmas tree designs. Good collection. +1

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    About Me

    Hi there! I'm Colleen, a self-taught artist, writer and blogger, among other things. You don't get to be old enough to order off the Denny's senior menu without accomplishing a few things in life. Read More…

    Recent Posts…
    • Patriotic Fourth of July Printables June 25, 2019
    • Camping Coloring Pages June 15, 2019
    • How to Paint Purple Iris January 28, 2019
    • How to Paint a Teddy Bear January 24, 2019
    • How to Paint Tulips January 21, 2019
    Comments…
    • Colleen on Easy Faux Verdigris
    • Colleen on Easy Faux Verdigris
    • Donna on Easy Faux Verdigris
    • Cheryl Atkinson on Easy Faux Verdigris
    • Cheryl Atkinson on Easy Faux Verdigris

    Subscribe via Email

    Get updated delivered directly to your inbox!

    Art Digital Downloads

    Archives

    Pretty Handy Girl Fun DIY Gifts!

    PHG_zazzle-banner

    Videos

    Error type: "Forbidden". Error message: "The request is missing a valid API key." Domain: "global". Reason: "forbidden".

    Did you added your own Google API key? Look at the help.

    Check in YouTube if the id muralmaker1 belongs to a . Check the FAQ of the plugin or send error messages to support.

    Instagram

    Google+

    Facebook

    Pinterest

    Etsy

    Copyright © 2022 Just Paint It!/Colleen Jorgensen · website by Houndstooth Media Group