Friday, December 19, 2014

3D Cardboard Christmas Tree




Ok, remember the 3D cutouts we made as kids?  When I made one back in the fall in the shape of a pumpkin I knew I would be making another one for Christmas, this time in the shape of a tree.  I think we all made 3D trees for Christmas way back when.  

Cardboard cutouts is a great recycle way to use some of  the boxes we accumulate during the holidays.  I had a couple of large pieces of cardboard 17" x 13" I found in some packing.  I decided to make a contemporary tabletop tree with straight lines.

Materials used:
  • Corrugated cardboard - (2) 17"x13"
  • pencil
  • ruler
  • xacto knife
  • 2 1/2" circle
  • Snow-Tex*
  • 3 - 2 1/2" unbreakable ornaments
  • glitter (optional)

Directions:

1.  First, find the center of the cardboards 13" width at 6 1/2" and draw lines down to the ends at the bottom, left and right, forming a triangle. Do the same for the second piece.

2.  Cutout using an xacto knife.

3.  Draw a center line slot, one from the top down stopping half way on one tree, and draw one from the bottom up to the center on the other and cutout.

4.  Draw three 2 1/2" circles on one form and cutout. 

5.  Use the cutout openings to draw on second tree form for an exact match and cutout. Slide the two pieces together to form a dimensional tree that stands on its' own.

6.  Cover cardboard with snow-tex*  (because I didn't have enough snow-tex for complete coverage, I used spackling that I had on hand thinking that would be ok - this proved to be a BIG mistake.  The cardboard kind of bowed and cracked on a couple of ends as the spackling dried). Lesson learned. 

7.  I used a knife to spread the paste on and then took the back of a spoon to add texture.

8.  I wanted to add glitter while the spackling was wet but the paste made the cardboard damp and fragile so I skipped that and just allowed the whole tree to dry overnight with hope of salvaging this project.

9.  Add unbreakable 2 1/2" ornaments to the openings.










Luckily, I was able to salvage this craft that I ended up calling my Charlie Brown tree since it's kind of bowed. If you're asking why I used spackling instead of going out and buying more Snow-Tex it's because I saw a Lowe's video using caulking on cone trees that looked pretty good so I thought spackling would have the same results - but I was wrong.

I do think this is a wonderful recycle cardboard Christmas project and the tree looks great too!






Take a little time to enjoy

and

Happy Holiday Crafting!





























15 comments:

  1. You are so right, such a cute craft. Not at all Charlie brownish. Very classy with you beautiful decor!
    Have a happy and blessed holiday season.
    Hugs,
    Patti

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  2. Your Christmas Tree and your living room are so beautiful! I always love your decor!!

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  3. Now that is just the coolest! Sorry about the spackling lesson, but still...so very cool!!

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  4. How awesome Gail! I loved your pumpkin, and the tree turned our great too. Such a wonderful idea! I love the fabric on your chairs!

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  5. Glad you mentioned about the spackling not working as well as Snow-Tex. BTW I am still in love with the fabric on your chairs, too.

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  6. I remember the pumpkin -- so cute, and so is this! I love the purple ornaments too. Thanks for sharing at Snickerdoodle! :)

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  7. This is so chic and contemporary! Thanks for sharing how you made the 3-D tree. I also appreciate you sharing what did not work so we won't make that "mistake" too.

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  8. Despite your troubles your tree looks fabulous! I love the Christmas balls in the middle. Thank you for linking up at the Make it Monday Party! Join us next week for one last party in 2014.

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  9. What a great project. Looks fantastic.
    http://lorisartsyobsession.blogspot.com/

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  10. I have to say this looks fantastic. What a great idea and cardboard seems to never run out!! I just noticed your gorgeous chairs in the background and I am loving that fabric. How beautiful.

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  11. Beautiful craft, it looks wonderful! Merry Christmas!

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  12. Hi, I like so much your Christmas crafts!!!
    Merry Christmas!
    Greetings from Italy,
    Roberta
    La Sportina - ideeroberta.blogspot.it

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  13. I love your crafty holiday tree. It looks wonderful in your beautiful living room.

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  14. I love it Gail. So pretty and not Charlie Brownish at all. Thank you for sharing at Share It One More Time. Cathy

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  15. Amazing article, its such a great idea to make Christmas tree out of cardboard boxes.I have also wrote an article on How to Make Adorable Christmas tree Out Of Cardboard Boxes? you can visit my blog and highlight my mistakes. it will be very bveneficial for me.

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