DIY Project: Paper Christmas Trees

The post DIY Project: Paper Christmas Trees by Annie Butler Shirreffs appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Does your cat make it impossible to have a Christmas tree in your home (the ornament breaking, tree climbing and general destruction)? Here’s a fun alternative that’s easy to make.

What you’ll need:

• Paper (I used different Christmas wrapping papers, but you can use just about any kind of paper — magazines, catalogs, etc.)
• Scissors
• Sewing machine or needle and thread
• Tape
• Colored card stock
• Toothpick

Instructions

1. I used a stack of 25 pieces of Christmas wrapping paper. For the small tree, I cut the paper to measure 8 by 11 inches; for the larger tree, I cut the paper 13 by 20 inches. (The more paper you use, the fuller your tree will be.)
2. Use the sewing machine or needle and thread to stitch a seam down the middle of the paper stack. (If you use a magazine, you can just use the spine as the seam.)
3. Now you’ll start folding (see the steps below).
   - Start from any page of your paper booklet, and fold the page so that the top right hand corner folds down into the middle of the book (step 1).
   - Fold the page again so that it meets the middle of the book again, trying to leave the sheet as rounded as possible (step 2).
   - Turn the folded page over and fold up the triangle that is sticking out at the bottom, and tuck it in (steps 3 and 4).
4. Keep doing this for every page. When all the pages are folded, it will stand up on its own in a tree shape. Attach the first and last pages together with a piece of tape so the tree stays open.
5. Cut out a star from colored card stock. Tape a toothpick to the back of it, then stick the toothpick into the small hole at the top of the tree.

Folding step 1

Folding step 2

Folding step 3

Folding step 4

Editor’s note: This article appeared in Catster magazine. Have you seen the new Catster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting room of your vet’s office? Subscribe now to get Catster magazine delivered straight to you! 

Discover more DIY projects on Catster.com:

• How to Make an Adorable Cat Sock Doll
• DIY Recipe: Chocolate Rice Krispie Treat Cat Pops
• Recipe: These Oreo Cat Cookies Are Perfect for Halloween

The post DIY Project: Paper Christmas Trees by Annie Butler Shirreffs appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.