How to Make a Mini Christmas tree from garland

I realize my best DIY projects come from problem-solving. Usually a big problem, but sometimes a little problem. This year for Christmas I decided to decorate my son’s room but there’s absolutely nowhere to put a Christmas tree. BUT I stored a boatload of faux garland from my thrift store last year and wah-la. A star was born. Here a tutorial for making your own tabletop DIY mini Christmas Tree from garland.

Typically, my décor stays in the common areas of our home (living room, dining room, and kitchen) But since I’m participating in an upcoming holiday home tour, I decided a kid’s bedroom would be a fantastic choice because:

A) It’s one of the few ‘done’ rooms in my home and
B) IT’s RED! Double win.

Trouble is, I made up my mind to keep Christmas simple and I always rely on a budget. So my goal turned into adding holiday cheer without a holiday headache and bank break.

As always, I scoured the house for leftover supplies and craft supplies BEFORE coming up with my concept. Save money and shopping time, my friend. Get into this habit prior to hopping on Pinterest mmm-kay?

Save money and shopping time, my friend. Shop your home prior to hopping on Pinterest mmm-kay Tweet This!

I came up with tons of red bulbs, Christmas lights, and cheap greenery. A few red buckets leftover from my days as a youth activity coordinator at church also manifested.

I could make this work and really make a small Christmas Tree for my son’s room.

I’m in love with buffalo check in all those farmhouse homes, so this would be THE perfect place to add some for a season since farmhouse is really not my steel-o.

My son’s room is pretty straight-laced. During the year, it’s got a science vibe with beakers and test tubes. For Christmas, I switched it out for a slightly industrial/modern look using hints of galvanized steel and kraft paper.

I’ve developed a slight obsession with deer in Christmas decorating so I sprinkled in a deer and antlers anywhere could. We needed forest elements and he doesn’t have room for even a small floor tree, so I whipped up this faux mini tree from the leftover garland I got from the thrift store last year.

Friend, this easy DIY mini Christmas tree from faux garland is as easy as it gets.

COST | about $5 if you use dollar tree supplies. I had everything on hand except the optional ornaments so I only spent $2. TIME INVESTMENT| 15 minutes. DIFFICULTY | Easy

Supplies for one 12-inch mini Christmas Tree for a kid’s room

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• 1 3-ft strand of faux garland (find similar garland here)
• 1 small block floral foam
• bucket or fabric
• Ribbon
• Wire cutters
• Mini ornaments (optional)

How to Make a mini Christmas tree from faux garland

Step 1

Start by straightening your faux garland. Mine had been in storage, so it was a giant wrinkled mass. Cut the 3ft strand of garland into one 16-inch piece, one 12-inch piece, and one 8-inch piece.

Step 2

Create the point of the tree with the 16-inch stem

Step 3

Drop down a few inches and intertwine the 12-inch section perpendicular to the first section. this will give the tree dimension and shape so you don’t have a flat tree.

Step 4

Mold the wires of the branches so they all point towards the top of the tree. Begin forming the tree shape by cutting individual branches. You want the shortest branches at the top and the longer branches are at the bottom.

Cut individual branches from your remaining 8-inch section and use them as filler for any gaps. I also added a few pieces where I thought I needed longer branches. Simply twist the wires around each other.

Step 5

Stick tree into the base of the floral foam. I had to use a dowel to get a nice hole in the foam base. I also cleaned excess green off the ‘trunk’ so I could stick it in more easily.

Step 6

Add it small bucket, vase or basket or wrap in burlap or fabric and tie with ribbon. I chose the bucket because I already owned one.

Done!

See how easy that was?

This little tree can be used in any type of décor. I’m may make a few more tiny ones and flock them for the kitchen. You can be as creative with these as your normal tree. The sky is the limit with themes you can use to decorate your new DIY Mini tree.

To make smaller trees, just use shorter strands of garland. Once you ­make one, you’ll get the hang of it.

What kind of crafts are you up to this Christmas?