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Home » Create » DIY Christmas Tree Cards

DIY Christmas Tree Cards

By meredith on November 27, 2017 · 2 Comments

Tree on card with star

Christmas will be here before we know it! My December calendar is filling up with shopping, baking dates, church events and parties. Honestly, the thought of making a homemade card this time of year can be just that – a thought! Most of us buy pre-packaged cards to mail or insert photos onto templates with companies who will even post them for us. There is just so much to do in so little time. But… you have to admit that when a beautiful homemade Christmas card comes through your hands, you can’t help but feel appreciation and awe. Since the 19th century, people have crafted their own Christmas cards to provide sentimental value during the Christmas season, even if only for a few select loved ones.

DIY Christmas Cards

Today I’m going to show you how to make some stunning paper tree cards. I was blessed with a tree card several years ago and couldn’t help but learn all about them. The supplies are really simple: blank cards, paper, ruler, scissors and hot glue. In the busyness of the season, I was also delighted to learn how quick they were to create. In about 20 minutes, I made five different examples for you. Of course, you could add things like stamping or fancy lettering, but I like them just as they are. The simplicity of these cards is what give them wonder and that is my favorite thing about them.

Are you ready to make some DIY paper tree cards with me?

supplies cardstock glue gun for cards

Here is a shot of what you’ll need and a couple extras. To make card, you will need a blank folded card, paper for the tree and star, a ruler, scissors and a hot glue gun. You can use most any kind of paper for the tree. Lightweight paper will fold the best and fit most easily in an envelope. However, cardstock works too! The heavier the paper, the more your tree will extend off the card. Also pictured is a star punch to make quick stars and some sticky dots I bought at the craft store to make the star dimensional. Both of these are optional.

cardstock in three sizes to make trees

Our trees consist of three folded squares of paper. To begin, you will need to cut out three size squares – 3 inches, 21/2 inches and 2 inches.

Cardstock divided for folding

Each of the squares are folded the same. I have drawn purple lines to show the vertical and horizontal folds and orange lines to show the two diagonal folds. Start by folding the vertical and horizontal lines, but release the fold after each one. We only want to make an indent.

folding vertically to make trees

Next, make your two diagonal folds and release them. You should now have four different folds indented on your paper square. Repeat with the other two squares.

pushing in the sides of the cardstock to make trees

Push in the sides of your square to make a folded triangle with a top triangle and a bottom triangle. However, do not release this fold. It will stay a triangle, so make sure to press the folds well. Repeat with the other two squares.

folded christmas tree sections for card

Pull the bottom corners forward and down on your top triangle, using the center indent as your guide.

christmas tree sections ready for cards

Repeat will the other two squares until you have what looks like three little spaceships 🙂

glue gun putting glue onto tree section

With a hot glue gun, secure the back of each triangle onto the folded card. The smallest triangle goes on top. The biggest triangle goes on the bottom. Overlap them a little so that it looks like they belong to the same tree trunk. Cut or punch out your star and attach it with a dimensional sticky dot if desired.

christmas tree on card

Last step! I like to adhere more glue to the bottom opening of my triangles, pressing down on top of the point from the triangle below. This is a picture BEFORE doing that…

tree on card with glued edges

This is a picture AFTER. I think this extra step makes them look more refined, don’t you? Let’s take a look at some of the other cards I made!

musical tree on card

Here is a one with vintage music paper and a red sparkle star. Have an old hymnal laying around?  Folding up some of that old music would give a timeless look!

gold and silver tree on card

Since there are three triangles in our tree, feel free to mix up the design however you want. Here I have a sparkly gold star that matches the middle triangle of the tree. Very elegant!

christmas glitter tree

This one is my favorite. I found some heavy cardstock with tiny rainbow sequins that simulate Christmas lights!

plaid tree on card

Here is a classic look with red and green plaid and a silver glitter star.

Inexpensive, simple and stunning homemade paper tree cards ready for the mail or special delivery into the hands of a loved one. Either way, there will be appreciation and awe during this Christmas season.

Enjoy!

DIY Christmas cards with trees.

DIY Christmas cards with trees. The perfect handmade craft for the holidays.

« Simple Favorites & Life At Our Farmhouse (Nov. 2017)
The Microwave Easy Way to Make Chocolate Covered Pretzels »

About meredith

Meredith is a pastor’s wife and stay-at-home mom living in NW Ohio and is the author and photographer of many recipes on Cleverly Simple. She loves to adapt recipes to her family’s eclectic tastes and is learning to provide nourishment for any bellies who walk through the door at a moment’s notice.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Livia Lionnet

    November 27, 2020 at 7:32 am

    Thank you for such a simple idea I could realize without difficulty. I used the pages of an old road atlas and they are all recicled! Have a very good Xmas and a New Year better than the one we are having now!

    Reply
    • meredith

      November 27, 2020 at 9:49 am

      Hi Livia!
      Great idea to use an old road atlas! Thanks for your comment.
      A most Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 🙂

      Reply

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Lynette Rice head shotHi, I’m Lynette. My desire is to help women who feel uninspired weave time honored recipes into their routines to create a sense of simplicity. Most of my recipes come from the treasured recipe box passed down from my great-grandma, grandmother and mother. And I want to share them with you.  Learn more.

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