Merry & Bright Crepe Paper Christmas Tree Tutorial

Hi Everyone! Cindy here! I hope you are enjoying this round of Joli Paquet for the Holidays! Today I am going to show you how to make a Merry and Bright Crepe Paper Christmas Tree!

This is a fun project to do with the kids or let them make their own. It's also a project that consists of supplies you probably already have around the house. Keep in mind you can us any color crepe paper you want. You can use all one color or multiple colors.

Supplies Needed:

Paper or Cardboard Cone (I purchased mine at Michael's but you could also use a styrofoam cone or make your own cardboard cone out of recycled cereal boxes.)

Crepe Paper (any color)

Yarn (color to coordinate with your crepe paper)

Any kind of ribbon trim (I used white pom pom trim)

Double sided tape

Craft Glue (clear drying)

Glitter (any kind but I love mine from Little Pink Studio!)

Scissors

Old paintbrush, craft stick, or toothpick

Let's get started!

Step 1: Starting at the bottom of the cone and about an inch up apply double sided tape all the way around the cone. You just want the tape to be where the top of the crepe paper will be. This is where you will begin to make and stick the crepe pleats or ruffles.

Step 2: Start with the color of your choice and stick one end of the crepe paper onto the tape. Let the paper overhang at the bottom just a bit.

Step 3: Begin folding the crepe paper to make small pleats and stick down to the tape.

Step 4: Work your way all the way around the cone with the pleats. When you come back to where you started place a piece of double sided tape at the seam.

Step 5: Fold under the end and stick down at the seam.

Step 6: Now repeat steps 1-5 until you get all the way to the top of the cone. If you have chosen multiple colors, alternate the colors as you move up the cone. Be sure and overlap the bottom of the top row onto the row underneath to cover up the top of the pleats.

It should look something like this as you are working the next row.

As you work your way up it should look something like this.

Step 7: Making the Pom Pom top. Wrap yarn around a playing card or even your fingers. The thicker the wrap the thicker your pom pom will be.

Step 8: Slide the wrap off the card. Cut a length of yarn and tie it around the middle of the yarn wrap.

Step 9: Cut the loops on both sides.

Step 10: Fold the pom in half at the middle and give it a good trim.

Step 11: Glue the pom to the top of the tree. You can trim more if needed. Mine is kinda wild! LOL

Step 12: Add any type of trim at the top of the tree under the pom to cover up any gaps. I used mini pom trim but you can use ribbon, ric rac, etc.

Step 13: Using an old paint brush, craft stick, or tooth pick apply clear drying craft glue to the bottom of the edge of the first layer.

Step 14: Apply glitter to the glue.

Step 15: Repeat steps 13-14 until you have done all the layers of the tree. Let DRY. I also applied glitter to the pom pom top and pom pom trim.

And your cute bright festive tree is done!!!! I hope you had fun and I hope you will make an entire forest of trees! They are quick, easy, and inexpensive and they add a special touch to your Holiday decor! This is a great project to do over the Thanksgiving break. Get the entire family involved!

Be sure and post any trees you make in our Joli Paquet Flickr group (see the link the left). We would love to see your cute trees!!!

Happy Holiday Crafting,

Cindy