Make a Paper Tree for Kids
There are many different kinds of trees that you can make out of paper. You can make Christmas trees, or even trees on a wall that are life size! No matter what you want to do, wikiHow can help. Just get started with Step 1 below or look at the sections listed above to help you find the kind of tree you want to make.
Contents
Steps
Making a Stand-Up Tree
- Make two tree trunks. On cardboard, draw out two tree trunks with branches and cut it out. An adult might need to help you cut the cardboard, since it can be really tough and unsafe to cut.
- Make sure that the tree widens out at the bottom of the trunk, like how roots go into the ground. This will help the tree stand up!
- Cut a center line. Cut a line in one of the trunks from the top of the trunk (where the branches start to grow), until just past the halfway point on the trunk. Then, on the second trunk, cut a similar line that goes halfway up from the bottom.
- Fit the trunks together. You can now slide one tree trunk onto the other! The tree that is cut from the bottom should fit into the one that was cut from the top. Now the tree can stand up!
- Make the leaves. Using small squares of colored tissue paper, put a small spot of glue on the center of the paper and stick it on one of the branches of the tree. Keep going until you think your tree is done. You can make it look very full!
- Decorate and enjoy! Once you're done adding leaves, you can make your tree look even more special by adding other decorations. Try drawing and cutting out a squirrel to keep your tree company, or make a bird nest out of a pipe cleaner.
Making a Wall Tree
- Make the trunk. Using crunched up brown paper bags, tape the bags to a wall into the shape of a tree trunk and branches. You can make it as big or as little as you want! You might need an adult to help you if you want the tree to be really big. Let an adult stand on a ladder to reach the top branches.
- Make the leaves. Next, make leaves for the tree. You can trace your hand onto colored construction paper and then cut it out. Think about what colors would be good to show what season it is. What colors are the leaves in Fall? In Spring? Make lots of leaves for the tree!
- Add the leaves to the tree. Tape the leaves to the branches or to the wall next to the branches. Get an adult's help reaching the higher parts of the tree.
- Add other decorations. You can add other decorations to the tree too! Try cutting out birds and squirrels to go in the tree, or flowers to grow below the tree.
Making a Christmas Tree
- Make your base cone. Using green construction paper, roll and tape it into a narrow cone which is as tall as you want your Christmas tree to be.
- Cut strips for the branches. Cut long strips of the green construction paper to about 2-3" wide. Cut slits close together all along the bottom edge, leaving about 1/2" at the top to create the fringe of the branches.
- Add on the branches. Starting from the bottom and working your way up in rows, tape the strips, fringe side down, around the tree.
- Fluff the branches. Once you've added on all the strips, fluff up the fringe (especially near the bottom) to make the tree look fuller.
- Decorate your tree. You can use glitter glue, beads, puff balls, pipe cleaners, and any number of other materials to decorate your tree. Don't forget to make a tree topper!
Making a Palm Tree
- Get some newspaper. Grab 4 to 8 pages of newspaper.
- Roll the paper. Start rolling the newspaper around a pencil; discard the pencil after a few rolls.
- Add a sheet. When you are two inches from the edge, lay another newspaper on top of the flap and continue rolling again until about two inches remain again. Do not roll too tightly, you will see why later.
- Repeat. Repeat step 3 until all pages are rolled up.
- Cut the tube. Make four equal vertical cuts to one end of the tube, about 6" long (you can do this with scissors or by tearing).
- Pull the ends upward. With your left hand holding the tube, gently use your right hand to pull upwards from the very center of the cut end. Stop when you reach the desired height. The paper tree will start to grow to eight to nine feet high.
- Color the leaves if you want to. You can use green spray paint to color the tree if you want to.
- Make a trunk. Using brown paper, wrap it around the base of the tree and tape or glue it in place.
- Finished. Once it's together, you can further build up the base with crunched up newspaper and paint it brown, if you want to create a stouter-looking tree (like a pineapple bush).
Making a Real Tree
- Gather winter branches. Gather 4-7 cleared branches (all of the leaves have fallen off), about 2-4' long each.
- Paint the branches. Paint the branches with silver, gold, red, or whatever color paint you want. Using spray paint might be easier but get an adult to help with that part.
- Get a large pot or vase. Get a large pot or vase which will be sturdy enough to support the branches you gathered.
- Tie a bow around the vase. Get colored twine or a pretty gift bow and tie it around the opening of the jar to make it look more festive.
- Fill the pot. Fill up the pot or vase with river stones or gravel. This will weigh it down and help hold up the branches.
- Add in your branches. Put the branches into the pot, anchoring them in the gravel or stones that you put at the bottom.
- Decorate your tree. You can add hand ornaments, paper leaves, cards, or wishes from the branches!
Tips
- If the center does not pull out, you have wrapped the cylinder too tightly.
- For a greater effect, say some magic words before you make the paper tree grow.
Warnings
- Keep this away from open flames, as the newspaper will catch fire easily.
- Make sure to use child safe scissors, if you are doing this with a small child.
Things You'll Need
- Paper scissors
- Paper
- Markers
- Glue
- Sticks
- Rocks
- Decorations
