This pipe cleaner Christmas tree might be the cutest Christmas decor I’ve made so far this year. It looks absolutely beautiful with its green color, even more so with the colorful, vibrant pom-poms. I received a lot of compliments from my family when I made this holiday project at home and they were so impressed when they learned that it’s made out of pipe cleaner! That’s how you know it’s really worth making. They are now convincing me to sell them at a Chistmas market, which I don’t have time for, so I’m just going to teach you how to make them at home.
Pipe Cleaner Tree Video Tutorial
I have made a lot of Christmas decor over the years, and this one still surprises people. Everyone assumes the little trees came from a store.
They are really just a cardboard cone covered in folded green pipe cleaners. That is the whole trick.
The fuzzy loops catch the light and give the tree a soft, full look that flat paper cones never get. Add a few pom poms and you have a finished piece in an afternoon.
I love that this craft project costs almost nothing. A cardboard tube, a handful of green pipe cleaners, and some hot glue, and you are done.
RELATED: Easy Paper Christmas Ornament
Looking at this DIY project, a wonderful idea came up. You probably know about the little Christmas villages, right? It is one of the most popular displays in houses and stores that people really love and enjoy looking at. This DIY tree is the perfect addition to your mini Christmas village. It really does stand out and gives off that Christmas spirit, especially when lit up with fairy lights. This also makes a great centerpiece or table decoration for the holidays!
Aside from being absolutely beautiful, this DIY mini Christmas tree only requires a few materials. You’ll only need cardstock or cardboard, green pipe cleaners, scissors, and hot glue. It’s super easy to make and is perfect for beginners. If you’re looking for a Christmas craft, this is definitely it. I’m sure you’ll have fun making this project.
People seriously fell in love with this Christmas DIY over on TikTok and Instagram. Take a peek at the craft video and get in on the fun!
▶ Watch this tutorial on TikTok
Craft Supplies Needed:
Everything here is basic craft supply stuff, and most of it you probably already own. That is what makes this such a cheap holiday project.
- Green pipe cleaners (chenille stems)
- A cardboard tube
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Small pom poms in red, yellow, and white
How to Make a Mini Christmas Tree With Pipe Cleaners
Learn how to turn pipe cleaners into a beautiful Christmas decoration with this easy tutorial.
Cutting the cardboard
Cut the roll lengthwise and flatten it. You can also use cardstock.
Forming the cone
Form the cardboard into a cone.
Cutting excess
Cut the excess at the bottom.
Folding the pipe cleaner
You will need about 11 pipe cleaners for the small tree and 43 pipe cleaners for the big tree. The small tree’s diameter is 2 inches and its slanted height is about 4 to 4.5 inches. The big tree’s diameter is 4 inches and its slanted height is 8 to 8.5 inches. You may need more or less depending on the height and the diameter of the cone. Fold the pipe cleaners in half twice.
Cutting the pipe cleaner
Cut each pipe cleaner into four equal pieces.
Folding in half
Fold each small piece in half.
Making marks
Measure the height of the cone, divide it into four equal lengths, and mark them.
Gluing the first layer
Glue the pieces one by one on the cone, making sure that the folded part is at the bottom.
Gluing the remaining layers
Repeat until the cone is fully covered.
Bending the ends
Bend the bottom part of each cone upwards.
Adding decorations
Glue the mini pom poms.
If you want a set instead of a single tree, change the size of the cone before you start covering it. A shorter, wider cone makes a squat little tree, and a taller, narrower one gives you the big center piece.
I made three of them in graduated sizes and grouped them together, and honestly that is when it started looking like real decor instead of a craft.
You can also skip the pom poms entirely and tuck a strand of tiny battery fairy lights through the loops instead. The fuzzy branches hide the wire really well.
This is a good one to hand to kids, too. The folding and the pom pom placing are easy and kid friendly, and you can be the one running the glue gun.
Crafting Tip
Glue the pieces as close to each other as possible.
Creative Ideas and Variation
- Color. If you want to make your Christmas tree more interesting, use different shades of green. Feel free to use different colors of pipe cleaners to make colorful Christmas trees. Think of white, brown, blue, red, pink, or whatever color you prefer.
- Sizes. Make this mini DIY tree in any size you prefer. If you are planning to use them as a Christmas centerpiece, make them in different sizes for a more dramatic effect.
- Decoration. Decorate your Christmas tree however you like! You can use beads, glitter, ribbons, mini metallic balls, stars, mini garland, mini gifts, or mini ornaments. You can even make a star using a gold or yellow pipe cleaner.
- Light. Add fairy lights so it lights up at night.
- Trunk. Don’t want your tree resting flat on the table? Add a tree trunk using cardboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pipe cleaners does one tree take?
It depends entirely on how tall your cone is, since every pipe cleaner gets folded and cut into several short pieces. I work in batches, folding and cutting a handful at a time, then gluing them on until the cone disappears. Cut more as you go rather than trying to guess the number up front.
Can I use regular craft glue instead of hot glue?
I use a hot glue gun in this tutorial because it grabs the pipe cleaners instantly and holds them at the angle you want. Craft glue can work, but you will be holding each piece in place while it sets, and on a full cone that is a lot of waiting. If kids are helping, let them do the folding and the pom poms and keep the glue gun with an adult.
Do I have to use a cardboard tube for the cone?
A cardboard tube is what I used, because you cut it open, flatten it out, and it already wants to curl back into a cone shape. Any similar weight cardboard or cardstock will do the same job. Just trim the pointed excess off the top so the tree stands straight before you start gluing.
Why do you bend the ends of the pipe cleaners out?
Once the cone is fully covered, I go back and curl the folded loops outward at the base. It pushes the branches away from the cone so the tree looks full instead of flat. It is a small step and it makes a big difference in the finished photos.
Mine live on a shelf against a red wall, but they are small enough to go almost anywhere. A mantel, a bookshelf, the middle of the dinner table, a desk at work.
They also make a sweet handmade gift. Wrap one in tissue paper, and it is the kind of inexpensive present that people actually keep and pull back out next December.
If cone shaped trees are a new thing to you, they are not: the cone silhouette has been the shorthand for a Christmas tree for a couple of centuries now. Britannica has a good short history of the Christmas tree if you want the background.
Want more like this? Try my Easy Paper Christmas Ornament or the DIY Cupcake Liner Christmas Ornament, and browse all my Christmas craft ideas for more holiday projects.
More Easy Christmas Crafts
DIY Pipe Cleaner Christmas Tree | Video Tutorial
