These tissue paper Christmas trees are a quick and easy Christmas tree craft that come together in minutes. No paint or adhesive is involved so these little Christmas trees provide lots of color with little mess!
How to make a Christmas tree from a paper plate…
These colorful little Christmas trees start with a cone made of a paper plate. This so easy and could be the beginning of a hundred Christmas tree crafts. This paper plate cone is also the base for these beautiful coffee filter Christmas trees which I cannot get enough of!) These actually work best on the inexpensive, thinner paper plates so they come in at pennies each!
Cut a portion of your paper plate away. This doesn’t need to be too precise. Anywhere from one quarter to one third. The size of the chunk you cut out will vary the shape of your Christmas tree a bit and I love that variety!
Wrap the paper plate into a cone shape, securing with tape on the inside. If you put tape on the outside the tissue paper process won’t work in that spot!
Art tissue paper…
I love this tissue painting process for any age of kid. I use it in this post and again as a background for self portraits in this post. It’s so easy and versatile and so relaxing to do. It’s a little mesmerizing.
You need to start with art tissue paper like this. THis isn’t the kind of tissue paper found in the wrapping paper aisle. You’ll find this in the art department or on Amazon. Hygloss is the brand I use the colors are crazy bright and so pretty.
The difference between this art tissue paper and gift tissue is what happens when they get wet. If you apply water to tissue paper from the gift wrapping aisle you get soggy tissue paper. Apply water to art tissue paper and it releases the bright colors of the tissue paper, almost like paint.
Making a colorful Christmas tree..
Provide small pieces, maybe an inch square, to your kiddos or let them practice their scissor skills by snipping their own pieces.
Supply a shallow container of water and a soft paint brush and allow kids to “paint” each piece of tissue paper right to their paper plate Christmas tree. Because there is no glue the pieces of tissue paper will only “stick” temporarily. Because there’s no glue this process is pretty easy and mess free.
Encourage kids to slow down a bit during this process and watch the colors move. As tissue paper pieces overlap the colors will blend and mix together in a really beautiful way.
Fast forward a bit….
As soon as the tissue paper begins to dry it will fall off of the Christmas tree. It’s really fun to try to keep intact and let the kids brush away the dry tissue paper. It’s like a grand reveal!
The tissue paper that comes off is colorful and almost worth saving for another craft project. What’s left underneath is vibrant Christmas tree ready for whatever additional embellishments your little artist can dream up. These are perfect as is but would be a great canvas for more decorations. I’m thinking markers, pom poms, glitter glue, and more!
