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The Christmas season can be so fun and magical, but it can also be overwhelming. Having a few easy crafts to pull out can be super helpful this time of year!
This paper plate Christmas tree craft is the perfect activity for kids to help with, and to get into the festive swing of things. Kids will love that they can customize their own Christmas tree, and this project can be adjusted so children of most ages can help make their own.
The fun thing about paper plate crafts is that kids can take a basic supply and really use their imagination to turn it into something colorful and fun. Each tree can be unique and personalized for the child making it. Finish making your tree early? Try making a paper plate Christmas wreath too!
If you’re helping a preschooler or kindergartner make this craft, they can do almost the entire craft themselves—and it would be fun to see all the different designs in a classroom setting.
Looking for more Christmas crafts?
- How to Make a Paper Snowflake – 10 Free Designs
- Christmas Handprint Art Ideas
- Christmas Tree Template
- Easy Paper Plate Santa Craft
- Snow Globe Craft with Handprints
- Salt Dough Ornaments
Why kids love paper plate Christmas trees:
- Kids can practice fine motor skills by threading pipe cleaners or yarn through holes to add a garland to their tree.
- You can make several of these trees throughout the season, and kids can decorate and paint them differently each time.
- Kids get to paint two different ways—both with brushes and using their fingerprints, which also makes each tree unique to them!
Supplies:
- Green paint (one color or several) and colors for the ornaments
- Paintbrushes
- Scissors
- Paper plate
- Glue stick or tape
- Brown paper (for the trunk) and yellow or glitter paper (for the star)
- Small pom poms, large sequins, or cut up pieces of paper
- Pipe cleaners or yarn for garland (optional)
- Hole punch (optional)
How to Make Your Christmas Tree:
- Take your paper plate and cut it into thirds. Have your kid paint each section a different green color (or all the same) and allow to dry. If painting all the same green color, you can paint the plate first and cut it up after paint is dry.
- When dry, cut one section a little smaller to be the top section of your tree. Stack the three tree sections so they overlap, and glue or tape in place. Cut a rectangle out of brown paper for the trunk and glue or tape onto the back of the tree.
- If you want to add a garland, you can use a hole punch to punch out an even number of holes in the bottom of each layer, and then thread a pipe cleaner through the holes and tape the ends onto the back of your tree.
- For the star, cut a star shape out of yellow paper or glitter paper and glue to the top of your tree.
- Allow kids to dip their fingers into a small amount of paint to add fingerprint ornaments to the tree. You can also use things like glue and pom pom, sequins, or cut up shapes of paper to add more ornaments!
Tips:
- If you don’t have a paper plate, you can cut a circle from green paper and make one with that!
- You can use any materials you have for the tree stump, like a popsicle stick or cardboard.
- Hang this project in a window for a fun and festive touch!
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Get the How-To
Supplies
Instructions
- Take your paper plate and cut it into thirds. Have your kid paint each section a different green color or all the same and allow to dry (if painting all the same green, you can paint the plate first if you want and cut it up after paint is dry). When dry, cut one section a little smaller to be the top section of your tree.
- Stack your three tree sections overlapping and glue or tape in place. Cut a rectangle out of brown paper for the trunk and glue or tape onto the back of the tree.
- If you want to add a garland, you can use a hole punch to punch out an even number of holes in the bottom of each layer and then thread a pipe cleaner through the holes and tape the ends onto the back of your tree.
- For the star, cut a star shape out of yellow paper or glitter paper and glue to the top of your tree.
- Allow kids to dip their fingers into a small amount of paint to add fingerprint ornaments to the tree or use glue and pom pom, sequins, or cut up shapes of paper to add more ornaments!
