DIY Twig Trees: Great Christmas Crafts

It’s a twiggy tree Christmas!

Pick up some twigs and choose which twiggy Christmas trees you want to make!

How to make a twig tree? It’s easy!

1. Collect twigs that have straight sections on them.
   

   Flat Christmas Twig Tree. Photo: Craftuts

2. Cut the twigs to the length you want using a pruning shears, saw, or even a scissors on smaller twigs. If you like a more rustic look, just break the twigs into sections.
3. Order the sections from small to large.
4. Decide what type of twig tree to make. (See below.)
5. Choose the size you want it to be based on the twigs you have.
6. Get more twigs if needed. (Use pretzel sticks if you need small ones that will just be glued on and painted.)

Christmas Twig Tree Projects 

1.  Flat Ornament or Framed Decoration

Arrange twigs in a simple Christmas tree shape, basically just a triangle. Glue them to a piece of tag board (like a manila folder) starting with the smallest twig at the top of the tree to the longest at the bottom of the tree.

Leave room for a star or top of the tree ornament if you wish. Frame this to hang on the wall if it’s too big to be an ornament. I like the look of covering the tag board with fabric, scrapbooking paper, or wrapping paper before you glue on the twigs. Just fasten this fabric or paper with some glue at the corners. The fabric can be anything, but a red plaid looks festive and a burlap (staple on the burlap) background gives a rustic look. Pretty paper with snowflakes could look good too.

2.  3-D Twig Tree

Arrange the twigs the way you did for the flat tree in #1. Now attach the twigs so that they stand away from each other. You can make them fan out at whatever angle you want.

To attach them either glue them with a hot glue gun or drill small holes with a craft drill in each twig where you will thread them together. Use wire or needle and thread to do this. You can use beads between the twigs if you like. I’m thinking mini jingle bells would be nice if you hang the twig tree as a kind of wind chime indoors.

3.  Sculpted Twig Tree (free-standing cone)

Cover a foam cone with fabric using T-pins to hold it on. Hot glue twigs onto the fabric starting at the bottom of the cone and working your way to the top. Layer on as many twigs as you like to get a full look. Remember you can use pretzel sticks if needed.

How to Decorate a Twig Tree

1.  Paint it or don’t.

Any of these twig trees can be left as is for the very popular rustic look.

If you want a white Christmas look, spray white paint sparingly until you get the look you want. Be careful to choose the finish you want too. Don’t use glossy paint if you want the chalk paint look. You can paint the twigs before you use them, but I prefer to paint the whole project at once when possible.

2.  Add glitter or not.

You might want to make Epsom salt twigs before crafting your tree. Other glitter treatments can be done after the twig tree is assembled.

I like to add a bit of glitter nail polish here and there.

3.  Add ornaments or not.

If your twig tree is white or natural, a bit of red looks good. Artificial berries can be glued on to keep with the natural look if you don’t want shiny ornaments.

Glue on mini garlands (can be narrow ribbon), tiny ornaments, small seashells, whatever you like.

I hope you have fun with this. Kids might like to help too. Play Christmas music and enjoy!

However you make your twiggy tree, it will be uniquely yours! And it could be a treasured item that brings back memories.

Click here to discover the most popular twig decor projects on Square Pennies. They include some large potted twig trees!