How to Make Christmas Tree Cone Craft Forms for 10 Cents Apiece
Lately I have been crushing on all the gorgeous mini Christmas Tree decorations in stores and on-line.
I decided to create several of them to decorate our house for Christmas this year but wasn’t thrilled to discover the price tag of the Styrofoam tree forms.
So I came up with this easy way to make DIY Christmas Tree Cone Craft forms for a fraction of the cost- about 10 cents each to be exact!
To make these you need:
– Poster board (I got two pieces at the Dollar Tree for $1.25)
– Scissors, pen, glue gun and glue
-Optional: Cone shaped object to help you sketch your shape (I used a Styrofoam tree shape)
-Optional: Measuring tape
The process:
1) Use a cone shaped object to trace a shape onto your poster board. I used a Styrofoam tree form that I already had and then held it at the corner of the poster board and swung it along to trace the shape. I simple started with the shape at different spots in order to create different heights of trees.
2) Cut out the shape that you traced (you can see below how I cut a few out of the same piece of poster board)
3) Form a point at the tip and roll the cone into a cylinder shape.
4) Cut off excess down the side if you need to- but you do want it to overlap enough to be able to glue it together.
5) Use your hot glue to attach it together…
6) Trim the bottom of the cone to make it straight and level so the tree will sit flat (you could use a measuring tape from the top tip of the cone to the bottom, measure it in a few spots, and then cut along those spots to create a level surface).
Done! And ready for your ideas to finish it…
Want to know how I finished them off??
Check out my full tutorial here
Do you have any thrifty ideas for Christmas crafts and decorating?
I would love to hear them!
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Hi, I hope you can help me. I am looking to make some seashell trees and I wanted to at least make one that was 15 inches tall, but I can not find any tree foam or not that is that tall.
To even make these (great suggestion by the way) you’d have to at least have a larger foam form tree to make it and I just can’t find any this big, that was my problem to begin with.
Can you help me?? Making it from poster board is a great idea, but I can’t trace something I can’t even get (lol) help!
Thank you very much!
I happened to recently purchase some faux leather (with maybe an alligator print) in a pretty brown (and it was on clearance). I bought it to make my own trees with. I’m thinking it will be a nice mix in a woodland sitting, maybe with some others made with a natural hue cording. I’m anxious to get the started and like the inspiration found here!
Getting this message when I try to go to the full tutorial:
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It would be helpful if you would provide a template as I don’t think a cylinder would work as it is straight up and down. Do you mean a cone?
Hello – that is a strange message you are getting. I’ve recently switched from http to https: as per google’s instructions so I wonder what is going on? I will ask my host.
Yes – I mean a cone shape object! Correction noted, thanks.
I, too, am getting the same message. I was sure the site was not dangerous so I clicked on it anyway but the site never came up. I REALLY want to read it especially about the feather tree. I’ve gone to several feather sites and have no idea what kind of feather is used. Martha Stewart says to use chicken feathers but there are no chicken feathers listed on any of the feather sites.
Thanks for the heads up – not sure about this error message. Very strange. I wonder if it’s related to the browser you are using? And I don’t know about doing a project with chicken feathers. Are you talking about covering a tree form with feathers?
Instead of clicking on the Checkout full tutorial in the tree cone tutorial; go to the Holiday/Seasonal + Christmas… DIY Yarn and Feather Mini Christmas Trees picture.
I could not put this reply where it was needed so as a last resort, I’m adding it here. As for the feather to be used, it’s a Goose Coquille. It has the same ‘paddle’ shaped end as the one Martha Stewart was using that she incorrectly referred to as a chicken feather.
I think another way to make the cone shape would be to take a pencil and tie a string to it and then you hold the end of the string at the corner of the paper and drag the pencil along for the bottom (grade school math we used a compass).
LOVE this!!! Genius! I’ve been making felt-covered styrofoam trees and hate how expensive they are just to get the cylinder part! I will definitely have to try this trick! Thanks!
Thanks! Good luck with your Christmas crafting projects!!
There are many videos showing how to make a cone out of poster board.
We loved these trees so much, we featured them on our latest blog post!
http://teachlovecraft.com/yarn-christmas-trees/
How do you get the bottoms even?
Okay I see, if you put plastic over the top of them you could do the lace trees. Plastic like Suran Wrap.
And have you looked at the price of Styrofoam balls? Incredible! I have seen a substitute for those is to make your own using rolled up wads of newspaper.
Wads of newspaper will not work. Roll up a sheet of poster board to the size cone that you want and either use glue or hot glue or tape.
Hi Jesse,
I think that’s what my tutorial suggests! Thanks!
She saying use the wads of newspaper for the styrofoam balls if I’m not mistaken. I could be reading it wrong. If I am I apologize.
Hi Krista! This is really super cool idea. By any chance do u know any website contains free cone templates? Any idea if i want to make chocolate dipped strwaberries tree? (using Styrofoam is turning out little expensive) thinking of giving as a gift to my daughters class teacher.
Krista, I love this! I saw on another blog they were selling templets for this for $9.99!! I am wondering what sizes your trees are? 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Hi Kay!! They are kind of random sizes to be honest…. the smallest ones are 4-5 inches tall, most of them are around 10-12 inches tall, and the tallest one is 18″. Does that help?? They are so much stronger then I expected and I am thrilled about how inexpensive they were!!
I had Ballet Pink Glitter and 10 Styrofoam cones in my hand yesterday at the local discount craft store, when I remembered your post Krista. You saved me $25! Thanks….Mimi….xxx
Oh Mimi that is such good news. I hope it worked out really well for you- I know I was totally thrilled with how well they turned out!!
I love this! I am definitely going to be making a few of these for my decorations this year. I shared your idea on my blog today in a round-up of Christmas pinspirations, you can see it here: http://onemilehomestyle.blogspot.com/2013/11/monday-pinspirations_25.html
Steph
Thank you so much Stephanie!
I love to mass quantities of simple decorations. It gives my home and parties that wow factor! Thanks for posting this. I’ll be using it for my bookcase or dining room!
I love massing or grouping items together too – it makes such an effective display! Thank you for your visit and comments- so glad you found a little inspiration:)
I love to mass or group similar items together too- I agree that it is such an effective decorating trick! Thanks so much for your visit and comments- glad you found a little inspiration:)
Don’t forget to use odd numbers in an arrangement. For these cones, I’ll use 3. The odd number started years ago by a designer but I have no idea who it was. This even applies to a flower arrangement when using very few flowers.
Such a cute idea! I love that this is easy enough to do with kids as well. Let each one decorate their own tree or two and voila DIY Xmas decorations. Thanks for sharing!!
That is a great idea Nicole! I should let me boys’ have their hand at one… or we could even make some in my Kindergarten class. So thrilled you came by!
I’m actually making some tree cones tomorrow and had picked up poster board too at the Dollar Store. Glad to see it works with poster board. I was afraid they would be too flimsy but figured I wouldn’t lose much $ if they didn’t. Now I’m excited to start mine after seeing yours!
Great minds think alike Jennifer!! I was worried about the flimsy factor too- but I even made them with some really heavy embellishments (that I haven’t posted yet) and it has held up too!! Yay!!
Empty cereal boxes work, too, and they are FREE. For the smaller cones, cake mix boxes would work.
Hi Miriam!! Yes- such a great idea!! We aren’t really cereal eaters but I will have to keep my eye out for good boxes. Thanks for the tip!
Haha! Just the other day I purchased some posterboard to do the very same thing. Great minds work alike!!
Hope your weekend is Extraordinary, Krista!!
They sure do Diane! Love it! Good luck with your tree project:)
I am so glad to find out I’m not only one aghast with price of styrofoam cones, I mean, come on, it’s styrofoam that used to be so cheap. It’s all us crafters faults for using them so much, lol. Saw on another blog this week about paper mache cones at Michaels. Don’t know how much they are if ours (Grand Junction, CO) even has them.
Our 13 yr. old granddaughter is coming over tomorrow night so we can craft our brains out all day Saturday, She’s only one of 6 grand kids that likes to craft. I’m so looking forward to it. Your cones are fantastic, so budget friendly. With the price of so many craft supplies sky rocketing (at least it seemed that way to me) being able to make a great decoration I can afford is very welcome. I’d sure love to have one of those Silhouette machines but the cost of one of them is half our mtg. yikes.
Onward and craftward, here we go. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
I hear ya! I haven’t been able to justify the purchase of a silhouette yet either. I really think I need to WIN one, that would be perfect!! Have a fabulous crafting weekend with your granddaughter- that sounds amazing!!
after going to hobby lobby and micheals even walmart I was blown away with 4-8 a piece for a foam shaped cone what the heck so this is a wonderful alternative. same with the balls I bunch of round newspaper till its round enough to cover for my ornaments.
Hi Ann! I checked out local Michaels the other day and the largest cones were $12, the next size down was $10 and the smaller ones were $8. Ahhh!!! I could have never afforded to make my eleven tree forest for that!! I love the newspaper idea- will have to give that a try as well!! Thanks for sharing and your visit:)
So easy! I saw similar ones decorated at a department store and you don’t even want to know how expensive they were. 10 cents is nothing!
Hi Amanda!! You should check them out all finished too- such a fun and thrifty project for the holidays.
Well isn’t that brilliant?! I picked up a couple styrofoam trees at the dollar store, but I was thinking I’d like some bigger ones, and this method would be perfect. Thanks so much for sharing, Krista!
~Abby =)
Thanks Abby!! Our dollar store doesn’t even have the styro cones, I would have had to get them at Walmart and they wanted like $5-7 dollars each! No way!! Not when you want a whole forest….
You are SO SMART!!! I always look at the foam shapes, perplexed at why they cost so much!
I know, crazy pricing!! They are that expensive because they know they can suck us crafty types into buying them… or maybe not! Ha!
I can’t believe how much those foam cones are! Ten cents is more my speed. Great tutorial! Thanks!
Totally agree!!
10 cents only! oh! nice! love projects like this Krista & your Christmas trees came out looking very pretty, can’t wait to see how you decorated them 🙂
pinning this right now! 🙂
Thanks Ingrid!!
Genius!!
Thanks Chelsea:) I don’t know about genius – but cheap, yes!
Pinning! Have the perfect project for this! XO!
Awesome Amy- and thanks for the pin!
Great post today! Sharing something so basic was a very good idea! I will use this post myself to create something this Christmas! Thank you!
Thank you Nicki! I am pretty thrilled with how my little trees turned out too:) So thrilled you came by!
What a neat idea! I would love to make these with my daughter and have her paint them!
You could totally paint them- I hadn’t thought of that. I just covered all mine with yarn and beads or with feathers – that worked well too!!
So easy..ha..can’t wait to see how you dress them up..I tackled a mini Christmas tree project over the weekend…turned out so cute…Xoxo
Thanks Aniko! I will be over soon to check out your mini tree- can’t wait to see what you did. I am thrilled with how mine turned out.
You are so smart! Such a great idea!
Thanks Mindi!!
Krista, I’ve been doing this too…but I’ve been using cereal boxes for my cardboard…sssh (they’ve been covered up anyway, and are just as sturdy, haha)! Love being thrifty!
Oh, and that is an even thriftier idea!! I will have to start hoarding boxes:)
Genius!
Thanks Amber- maybe not genius but at least very cheap!!
Great idea! This is a great way to save because the Styrofoam ones can get really expensive.
They can for sure Shannah!! And you have to assess whether making something is worth it if it costs you more then buying it!!
You had me at 10 cents Krista! I can’t wait to see what you do with these, I am definitely going to sell my styrofoam cone stock 🙂 Thanks for sharing, I appreciate the budget friendly inspiration. Have a great week!
Lol! Thank you – they were so simple and are really sturdy, I am thrilled with my cost savings!!
Great idea!!
Those Styrofoam forms really do cost quite a bit. I should make something with my daughter. Thanks for sharing.
~FringeGirl
I know Tricia- it is ridiculous how expensive they are… plus not very environmentally friendly. Maybe poster board is a little better that way too?
This will be so much fun to do with my granddaughter!
What a great idea Sandra – a fun projects that kids can do. I think they could even dress them up with yarn like I did with mine!
Krista, this is a fantastic post and people are going to LOVE it! 🙂 Ok, I need to be the first in line to do it now! 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing – pinning and sharing! Hope you have a fantastic day!
Thanks Cindy! I just wasn’t willing to spend that much on my cones so I had to come up with an alternative!! Thanks for your super kind comments!! Have a wonderful weekend:)
Thank you so much for this Krista! I’m using on my next project. I mentioned your post in my blog here http://www.sohosonnet.com/crafts-and-diy/diy-holiday/upcycled-christmas-decorating/
Thank you Sonnet!! So thrilled that you found the tutorial helpful and thanks for the link!! Merry Christmas:)