by Janet Trieschman

Created on: December 24, 2008   Last Updated: April 30, 2011

3D Paper Christmas Tree

Materials needed:

• 1/2 circle shape green paper
• Stapler
• Tooth pick 
• 2 star shapes yellow (paper punch the star if you have a star punch)
• Metallic pipe cleaner
• Small doily
• Star stickers or foam shape stickers

Begin with the green paper shape. Create a cone with a very little or no opening at the top. Staple the cone along the bottom edge. (tape could also be used)

Take the two stars and glue them facing each other with the toothpick tip inside them. This will be used at the top of the tree. Creating this element can be done ahead of time by an adult for a child to use.

Apply star stickers and or foam shapes to the cone (tree shape). These are the tree's ornaments.

Using the pipe cleaner, wrap it around your four fingers held closely together. At one end of the pipe cleaner, create a small hook. This will connect into the cone at the top point. Wrap it around the tree shape and use another hook to connect it at the bottom of the cone shape. Hold it in place with a stapler if desired. This is the tree's garland.

To finish, poke the toothpick star into the top of the cone shape. This is the top of the tree ornament. If you want to hold it into place, you can use a small blob of clay on the inside of the tree at the end of the toothpick, or you can wrap a rubberband around the bottom on the toothpick inside the tree.

Placing the finished tree on top of the paper doily will appear as a tree skirt. The doily can be taped in place from the inside of the tree.

Additional Christian Tree information to share with the children:

The Tradition of the Christian Christmas Tree

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season whose leaf does not wither. ~ Psalm 1: 1-3

The Tannenbaum is a symbol of peace and eternal life. A Christian Christmas Tree, represents the Cross on which hung the light of the world, who, when He died, completed His union in love with His church. The Cross reunited the earth and the sky, God and humanity in love. The lights of the tree represent Jesus, the light of the world; the ornaments represent us, the fruits - the offspring of the union between Jesus and His church. And thus did the Tannenbaum become the Christian Christmas tree.

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