The Christmas season is full of family traditions. From cookie baking to caroling, we all have special moments we look forward to all year long. One of the most common holiday traditions is getting the family together to decorate the tree. But if you’re spending the holiday traveling in your RV, space may be too limited to accommodate that seven-foot showstopper you’ve grown accustomed to having in your home.
This year, try crafting a tree instead! Here are four super simple DIY Christmas tree projects that can fit in any space and can be customized to fit your unique family.
Cardboard Cutout Christmas Tree – Abfabulies
Make use of those leftover boxes you’ve got lying around and transform them into a fun and festive makeshift Christmas tree!
What you’ll need:
- 2 large pieces of cardboard
- 1 pen or pencil for tracing
- 1 protractor
- 1 straightedge ruler
- 1 pair of scissors or utility knife
- 1 can of spray paint
- Optional: a mat or protective surface for cutting on
How to do it:
- Starting at the bottom of your cardboard, use your protractor to trace a 30 degree angle about 20 cm long.
- From that point, trace a 25 degree angle 10 cm long in the other direction.
- Angle your protractor 30 degree and draw another 20 cm line parallel to your original line. You should have a lightening bolt-like shape drawn on your cardboard now.
- Repeat these steps until you’ve drawn to the top of the tree on both sides, creating a tree-like design.
- Using your scissors or utility knife, cut out your tree. Use this as a template to trace and cut out your second tree.
- Once both trees are cut out, use your ruler to measure to the middle, both length and width, of both trees.
- Starting from the top of one tree and the bottom of the other, cut a gap as wide as the cardboard is thick, to the midpoint.
- Assemble the two trees together.
- Using a color of your own choosing, spray paint the cardboard.
- Be sure to paint in a well-ventilated area, preferably outside.
Hand-drawn Christmas Tree
Show off your creative abilities and draw or paint a tree on craft paper.
What you’ll need:
- 1 large sheet of craft paper
- Colored markers or paint
- Tape
How to do it:
- Simply draw or paint a Christmas tree on your large sheet of craft paper. Your tree can be as abstract or traditional as you desire.
- Using the tape, securely fasten your drawing to an open space on the wall or window.
Tomato Cage Christmas Tree – Two Twenty One
This tutorial suggested a tiered display consisting of three different sized trees, but since space is limited, we narrowed it down to just one. However, if you have the room and like the idea of multiple trees, feel free to make as many as you like.
What you’ll need:
- 1 wire tomato cage
- 2 strands of wired unit garland
- 2 strands of mini lights
- 1 bow
- 1 package of zip ties
- 1 par of wire cutters
How to do it:
- Using a zip tie, secure the wire ends of the tomato cage together creating a point for the top of the tree.
- Use your wire cutters to trim off the other ends of the cage. Leave just the cylinder base.
- Wrap the garland around the tomato cage using zip ties to secure it.
- Once the garland is securely fastened to the cage, with no open spaces or wire showing, wrap the string lights around the tree.
- Add a bow to the top of the tree for the finishing touch.
String Light Christmas Tree
Find a nice open area on your wall, front door, or refrigerator to attach a strand of string lights. Use Scotch tape or a funky print of Washi tape to create a fun and unique DIY Christmas tree.
What you’ll need:
- 1 large strand of Christmas lights
- Tape
How to do it:
- After you’ve selected your canvas (i.e. an open space), begin securing the string lights in a tree-like shape using your tape as a fastener.