Who knew an egg carton could turn into something this pretty? This egg carton Christmas tree transforms simple recycled materials into a festive decoration you’ll actually want to display! It’s amazing how a few cardboard cups, some green paint, and a bit of sparkle can create something so charming.
This easy holiday craft is fun for both kids and adults, and the results are surprisingly elegant. Add a glittery star and colourful gems, and you’ve got a handmade Christmas tree that looks adorable on a mantel, shelf, or holiday table.
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How to Make Egg Carton Christmas Trees
Materials:
- Egg carton
- Acrylic paint
- Rhinestones (5mm)
- 2 Foam star sticker(s) (1 inch)
- Twig (3/4 inch long)
- Stick (3 inches long)
- Small wood slice (2 inch diameter)
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials. You’ll also need green acrylic paint, which we forgot to put in the picture.
Step 2: Cut and paint the tree pieces
- Use a craft knife to cut 3 “cone” shaped sections from an egg carton. These are the raised parts between the egg cups.(You can also use scissors, but we found this the easiest way to cut them out without misshaping them.)
- Then use scissors to cut off the flat base, so you’re left with only the vertical straight sections. None of the egg cup portion should remain.Then cut up on an angle towards each “corner”, removing a small triangle between each section.
- Repeat this around until you have 4 straight sections with “V” shaped gaps between each part.
- Then round off the bottom of each section so they look like flower petals.Repeat the whole process for the remaining 2 egg carton pieces.
- Paint each section with green acrylic paint. Paint part of the inside and the edges too, and allow to dry.
Step 3: Put the tree together
- Add hot glue to the top of one of the egg carton pieces. If you have 1 with a larger hole at the top, use this one now.
- Place another section on top of the glued section, rotating it so the “petals” go down between the first layer’s “petals”.
- Repeat, gluing the top section in place.
Step 4: Decorate the tree
- Add a small dot of hot glue where you’d like to add an “ornament”.
- Set a rhinestone into the glue, pressing it flat onto the tree. Add more rhinestones to the same section of the tree.
- Repeat until your whole tree is full of ornaments. Try to space out the colours so they’re not right next to each other.We placed 3 rhinestones on each top section and 2 on the 2 bottom tiers.
- For the tree topper you’ll need a small twig and 2 glitter foam star stickers.
- Connect the star stickers to each other, so there are 2 good sides, and glue the star to the top of the twig.Then add glue to the bottom of the twig and stick it into the top of the tree.
Step 5: Add the tree to the base
- For the base of the tree cut a thicker stick to be about 3 inches long. Make sure at least one end is really flat so it will sit straight on the wood slice base.
- Add a small dot of hot glue to the center of the wood slice.
- Place the stick into the glue, holding it nice and straight until it stays on its own.
- Then add a generous amount of hot glue to the top of the tree trunk.
- Place the egg carton tree onto the “trunk”, sliding it down and holding it so it sits straight while the glue dries.You may need to turn the tree upside-down so you can see the exact center of the egg carton, allowing you to push the trunk up farther.
- Your egg carton Christmas tree is complete!
- This craft is so easy to make and so adorable, you’ll want to make a whole forest of Christmas trees made from egg cartons.You can use different colours of rhinestones or even different shades of green paint to personalize this tree craft.
Helpful Tips:
- Not all egg cartons are created equal: Some have taller cones that work better for this craft. If you don’t already have one in your stash, choose an egg carton at the grocery store with the best shape for your trees.
- Make a whole forest: Create trees in different sizes (two sections, three, or even four) for a charming mix when you display them together.
What can I use as ornaments for my egg carton Christmas tree?
Rhinestones, seed beads, and tiny pom poms all make adorable mini ornaments for these trees. You can also paint colourful dots with acrylic paint, add some texture with puffy paint, or use paint markers to draw little designs.
What else can I use as the base of my egg carton Christmas tree?
If you don’t have a wood slice, you can make a base from a simple cardboard circle, a bottle cap, or a jar lid. Air dry clay also works well and can be shaped into any size you like. You can even repurpose a cork coaster for a sturdy base.
What makes a good trunk for this egg carton tree?
Create a flat bottom for your egg carton tree by gluing an egg cup piece inside the bottom tier. Then attach a wine cork as the trunk. (You can cut the cork in half if it’s too tall.)
Wooden dowels, skewers, pencils, chopsticks, paper straws, or rolled cardstock all work perfectly too. Or, to add some festive flair and a wonderful scent to this craft, use a cinnamon stick as the trunk!
What paint is best for this egg carton Christmas decoration?
Regular acrylic paint gives great coverage on egg cartons — one coat is usually all you need. Tempera paint is a good option for younger kids, though it won’t be as vibrant, and there aren’t as many colours available.
You can stick with traditional green paint for your trees, or experiment with metallic shades. You can sprinkle on glitter before the paint dries for some sparkle, or add some whimsy to your holidays by making a whole forest of pastel or rainbow trees.
Have a blast making this egg carton Christmas tree that’s as fun to make as it is to show off! Whether you’re crafting with kids in the classroom or adding a handmade touch to your holiday decor yourself, these little trees bring so much joy!
You can choose your favourite decorations, and each one turns out a little bit different. Make just one tree, or create a whole forest of sparkly decorations that will brighten up your home for the holidays.
Here’s even more Christmas craft ideas:
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72 cute and fun crafts that kids and parents alike can enjoy. All with as little mess as possible!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
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