These cardboard cone Christmas trees went over very well with everyone and I’m sure we’ll do it again another year in another way. This post may contain affiliate links
The main supplies are a yarn cone (my Grandma had a knitting machine and these were inside the yarn), but I picked these up from the scrap shop in Belfast, and there are so many uses for them), green paint, paint brush, other paint colours, glue,and various sequins and pompoms.
On the first day the children sat at the table with their paint brushes and just went mad painting the cones all green. We let that sit and dry for a day before the next layer. One thing I don’t understand is why children’s paints are so difficult to clean up. If any gets on the table wood it won’t come off, and no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t get it off their little hands. Poor Kallista had rubbed her face and the faded green looked like a big bruise across her cheek. The paints may be kid friendly, but they’re not necessarily parent friendly!
On the second day we brought out some metallic children’s paints and they used their fingers and thumbs to dab some paint on the trees to resemble the Christmas lights. This also makes the tree more personal and sentimental. Kallista really enjoyed this part!
On the third day out came the glue and sequins. We had the usual round sequins as well as some other Christmas themed shaped sequins in the old craft bag. The children chose the ones they liked, dipped them in the glue and affixed them to their trees for decorations. Picking up the tiny sequins is great fine motor practice for us all.
On the fourth day we dug a little deeper and brought out the pompoms and added those to the trees for a finishing touch and some extra tactile stimulation.
Then we let the trees dry well before adding the to our nativity scene in the front room. Here though, you can see them with a bird box our next door neighbour personalised for the children. We could almost make an indoor village scene now!
I think these trees are a great way to spend some time practising fine motor skills, colours, counting, and a little patience as the kids wait for the paint and glue to dry, and for when the decorations occasionally don’t stick quite where they would like them to go. But in the end, everyone was delighted with them. What do you think of our cardboard cone Christmas trees?
We have more Christmas tree crafts:
Visit our page, learning about colours for more colourful inspiration.
Please give them a try and let us know which is your favourite.
Catherine @Faithfilled Chaos says
So cute! I don’t have access to any of those cones but could see cutting the top of a paper towel tube and forming it into a point at the top would work just as well.
I will definitely have to try the dry soap trick when we paint next. Thanks Carolyn! 🙂
Crystal McClean says
I like you’re thinking on making this work for you! You could also use roll up a piece of cardboard (a cereal box, etc) and use double-sided tape to hold it in place.
Have fun!
Carolyn Wilhelm says
This is excellent for the reasons you describe, I agree. Here is a teacher trick from my years teaching first grade: put soap on the hands with no water, rub, rinse. This will get more paint and marker off than using water first.
crystalmcclean says
Thank you, Carolyn, I will definitely try that! Do you use liquid or bar soap?