Upcycle a plain cardboard box into a whimsical Christmas tree with a mossy finish, berry-bead garland, and tiny red sneakers. This easy holiday craft is fun to make and gives an ordinary box a cheeky, festive makeover.
Don’t those awkward wooden legs remind you of an excited toddler who has just spotted a shiny toy? They waddle forward with absolute confidence and a complete disregard for the role knees play in this whole “walking” equation.
And the little red sneakers add a good dose of adorable sass.
The cardboard Christmas tree wears a mossy coat that hides every trace of its “boxed-in” past. A berry-bead garland curls around the moss, adding a bit of bling without overpowering that lovely green texture.
And to top it off, there’s another cardboard remnant in the shape of a star. Because every self-respecting Christmas tree needs one of those.
So grab a cup of your favourite brew, and I’ll show you how to put this little tree together using mostly throwaway stuff.
- Large sheet of cardboard
- Miniature sneakers
- Baby stocking (optional)
- Broken wooden broomstick
- Moss mat (you can also use green tinsel)
- Green paint
- Mod podge and paper towelling
- Small Christmas decorations (beads, stars, fairy lights etc.)
- Sharp craft knife and scissors
- Pin and a pencil
- Masking tape
- Glue
- A ruler or measuring tape
- Paintbrush
- Hand saw
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How to make a cardboard Christmas tree with Tiny Red Sneakers
This is such a fun craft idea for the festive season. We’ll start by shaping a cardboard cone, then dress it up in its mossy coat, berry-bead garland, and tiny red sneakers. By the time we’re done, that plain box will have turned into a quirky, cone-shaped Christmas tree that’s about 21.5” tall (54cm) from the soles of his sneakers to the top of the star.
Making a cardboard cone
To make a cardboard cone, you’ll need a sheet of cardboard that is at least 30 cm by 57 cm. That’s about 12 by 23 inches. You can find large sheets of cardboard at most craft shops, but I used an old cardboard box to make mine.
You will also need a narrow cardboard strip that is at least 30 cm (12 inches) long to make a simple compass. Pin one end of the strip to the centre of the cardboard’s bottom edge, as shown below.
Measure 28 cm (about 11 inches) from the centre of the pin along the strip. Make a small hole at that mark. Pop a pencil through the hole and swing it from one side to the other to draw a semicircle.
Use scissors or a sharp craft knife to cut out the semicircle.
Measure around the curved edge of the semicircle, then divide that measurement into equal sections.
My curved edge measured 88 cm, so I divided it into 11 equal sections of 8 cm each. Mark each section along the curved edge and use a ruler to draw a line from the marks back to the center point.
And just in case all these measurements are muddling up your brain (coz they sure did mine), this diagram may help.
Your semicircle may be bigger or smaller than mine, so adjust the measurements to suit. The important part is to keep all the wedges roughly the same size. Use a sharp craft knife and a ruler to score along the lines that divide the wedges.
Don’t cut all the way through the cardboard. Score deeply enough to cut through the top layer only, then gently bend the cardboard along the scored lines.
Fold the scored semicircle into a cone shape and secure the join with masking tape. I also added strips of masking tape over the score lines to help the cone hold its shape.
Now we need to give the cone a bottom and make two small holders for the wooden legs.
Giving the cardboard cone a bottom
Find a plate or other round object that’s slightly smaller than the cone opening. Place the object on a scrap piece of cardboard and trace around it.
Draw a rough circle about 1 cm (1/2 inch) outside the first one, then cut out the larger circle. Lightly score around the smaller, traced circle. You only want to cut through the top layer of cardboard.
Cut small slits from the outer edge to the scored line. These will form tabs. Bend each tab up along the score line.
Test-fit the base inside the cone and trim it if needed.
Place the base inside the cone with the tabs pointing up towards the tip. Tape it in place.
Making holders for the legs
The cardboard base needs a little help to hold those wooden legs in place. We’ll make two small holders from cardboard scraps.
Cut a strip of cardboard about 5 cm (2 inches) wide and long enough to wrap around your broomstick handle. Make a few cuts along one long edge, stopping halfway across the strip.
Wrap the strip around the handle and tape the join. Fold the cut tabs outwards to make a small rim around one end. Repeat to make a second holder.
Glue the tabbed rims to the underside of the cone’s base. Leave a gap between the holders so there’s room for both sneakers.
Right, that’s the basic cardboard Christmas tree shape done. Time to swap its plain brown coat for something a bit more festive.
Dressing the tree in moss
Before we add the moss, I gave the cone tree a coat of paper and Mod Podge. You can skip this part, but I used it to tidy up the joins and make it stronger.
Tear paper kitchen towels or other scrap paper into strips. Brush on some Mod Podge, lay the strips over the cardboard Christmas tree, and smooth them down with another coat.
Cover the base and the outside of the leg holders too. You never know who might take a peek underneath.
Let it dry, then paint the cone tree green.
Apply a generous layer of glue and cover the cone with your moss mat. You can use green tinsel instead if that’s what you have.
Pssst – did you know you can make your own moss using a sponge? This tutorial will show you how.
You can leave the bottom uncovered.
You should end up with something like this.
Adding legs and tiny red sneakers
Now for the bit that gives this little tree its swagger: the wooden legs and tiny red sneakers. Cut the broomstick handle into two pieces to make the legs. The length will depend on how long you want your legs to be.
Stick one end into a sneaker and tie the laces. I left the shoes unglued so I could reuse them to make more adorable pot head planters. For tiny socks, I cut up a white baby stocking. They’re optional, but they soften the join between the sneakers and the wooden legs. Even a cardboard Christmas tree deserves comfy ankles.
Tie the laces, then glue the other end of each leg inside the cardboard holders under the tree.
Wrap a berry-bead garland around the mossy coat for a bit of festive bling.
Pop a star on top, and your sassy little Christmas creation is ready for its debut.
Frequently asked questions
What can I use instead of moss?
Green tinsel, felt, fleece, or scraps of fabric would all give this little tree a different look. Wrap yarn around the cone for a cosy finish or go rustic and use strips of burlap. The tiny sneakers will still bring plenty of sass.
Where can I find miniature shoes for a Christmas decoration?
Look for doll shoes, sneaker-shaped car air fresheners, or small baby shoes. Search for “miniature sneakers” or “doll trainers” if you’re shopping online. Check the shoe opening against the width of your wooden legs before buying. Real baby shoes will suit a larger tree.
What if I don’t have a large cardboard box?
You can join two smaller pieces of cardboard to make a larger sheet. Peel back the top paper layer along one edge of the first piece. On the second piece, remove the wiggly-waggly middle layer along the matching edge, leaving a paper flap.
Overlap the exposed edges and glue them together. Let the join dry before drawing your semicircle. My no-fail cardboard peeling hack makes separating those layers much easier.
Can I use a Styrofoam or polystyrene cone instead?
Yes. A large, ready-made polystyrene cone means you can skip the first few steps. I used one for my cone fairy Christmas tree. That tutorial will give you a good starting point you just need to add the leg holders, paint it green, and add your moss and decorations. Choose paint and glue labelled as suitable for polystyrene otherwise you’ll end up with a melted mess.
Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions and I’ll do my best to answer them.
If you like the idea of making a cardboard Christmas tree with little red sneakers, don’t forget to pin the tutorial for later.
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And as always, thank you for popping in for a visit. I hope you have a beautiful festive season filled with joy and laughter.