Easy "Nutcracker" Themed Hanging Paper Wall Christmas Tree: Christmas DIY Using Simple & Recycled Materials + Links To FREE Resources!
Last year I tried making a paper "Wall Christmas Tree", I've seen a couple of wall Christmas Trees in the past but it was only last year that I finally go ahead and do one myself. I'm glad I went through with it, that tree ended up nice and for Christmas this year I decided to make another paper wall Christmas tree in a different style and theme with "Nutcracker" as its elements and decorations.
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The elements of this paper Christmas tree was inspired from "The Nutcracker Prince" animated movie and "The Nutcracker Ballet". I had clara, some ballerinas, the sugarplum fairy, the nutcracker soldiers, assorted colors of lollipops (from palace of sweets) along with other traditional Christmas candies such as candy canes and peppermint candies, some traditional Christmas elements like poinsettias, and the ornaments.
CREATING AND COVERING THE CHRISTMAS TREE STRUCTURE + LINK TO PRINTABLE LEAF PATTERN
STEP #1: To create the tree structure, I create 3 (big, bigger, and biggest) sizes of triangle on a large empty box cardboard using a ruler. I cut all triangle patterns then fold them in the middle to overlap the sides of the triangles together.
Next, I cut any extra along the sides to make the triangles of equal shape when I unfold them. I also cut a short rectangle from an empty box cardboard for the trunk of the tree.
STEP #2: Next, I proceed to fill the triangle cardboards with leaves all over it using dry glue stick, I used a "holly leaf" pattern for the leaves which I traced on dark green papers. Check out the link below for the leaf pattern I used.
Before gluing them one by one on the board, I folded each leaves in the middle to give it a 3D effect. Only apply glue at the back top area of each leaf then glue the next succeeding leaves from under each leaf so the outcome of the whole tree is not totally flat and the leaves look freely hanging and are overlapping each other.
STEP #3: After filling the triangles with paper leaves, I glued the triangles together to form the tree using hot melt glue, starting with the smallest triangle, then under it I glued the bigger triangle and at the bottom is the biggest triangle of all.
STEP #4: Next, I covered the trunk structure with brown yarn or you may use brown paper twine. I secure the very end using hot melt glue then added this brown trunk in the middle bottom of the tree using hot melt glue.
STEP #5: Before proceeding to decorate the tree, I hang or attach it first onto the wall. I sew 2 double white threads from the back top of my tree, cut the thread in the right length and tie it around something from the top to display the tree on the wall. You can also attach something like a hook on the wall and tie or hang your tree from there. I use white thread because it looks invisible against a wall and makes the displayed paper tree look neat like you just stick it there.
Click Here To Check Out FREE Printable Christmas Candy Digital Papers
Shop for "Gem Stickers" Online @ shopee.ph!
STEP #6: Once the tree is up on the wall, I now tape the ornaments one by one on it. I punched red and silver foil papers using a hole puncher to spice up the tree even more. The red dots represents the holly berries and the silver dots represents the glitter and spark of Christmas lights. You may also use sequins or tiny dots of gem stickers as an alternative. Put a high or tall table that reaches just a little below the bottom of your hanging tree and display gifts from there.
PRINTING AND RESIZING THE LEAF PATTERN:
#1: I use this Holly Leaf Pattern Here, print the leaf by scaling to the size that will fit best with your tree. I scaled mine at "70" in the printing settings, this size was just right for the triangle structure I created.
#2: Cut the leaf pattern and trace on a green paper, you can fold the paper you will use several times creating multiple sections in it, next trace the leaf pattern on top of the folded paper then cut to reveal several leaves in one cutting.
CREATING THE STAR TOPPER + LINK TO PRINTABLE STAR TEMPLATES
I used this FREE Printable Gold Star Here for the star on top of my tree. I printed the largest one and I spiced it up by adding extra gold glitter dust to make it even more glittery. I attached it using liquid glue on top of my tree.
You can also try other colors and patterns for your star by using a blank star template and printing it on a pattern paper or any color of construction paper, you may spice up a plain star with silver, gold or any color of glitter dust you prefer. Click Here To Check Out Printable Blank Star Templates in various sizes.
NUTCRACKER SOLDIER ORNAMENTS + LINK TO PRINTABLE NUTCRACKER SOLDIERS
Check out the links below for nutcracker images that are perfect for use as ornaments for this paper tree and they are FREE to download. Print them on a heavy weight paper and make sure to scale to the desired size for your tree before printing.
PRINTING THE NUTCRACKER SOLDIERS:
(METHOD 1)
#1: Click on any of the links above to download your FREE nutcracker characters. Choose your type base on the collage image shown above.
#2: After download, locate and open the ZIP file on your computer, extract the image from ZIP file to your specified location on the computer.
#3: After extracting image, right-click on it and choose "print" in the box that pops up. In the printing settings box, in "paper size" choose A4 and to the right side with the thumbnails, choose: 4 x 6 in. (2). Printing the image in this size will make it just right for a medium sized tree like mine. You can multiply the image in one page, just go to "copies of each picture" box below and type number "2" in the box. Next, insert heavy weight paper into the printer and click on "print". Cut the images by one by one to decorate on your paper tree.
(METHOD 2)
#1: After downloading your nutcrackers using the links above, locate and open the ZIP file on your computer, extract the image from ZIP file to your specified location on the computer.
#2: Open Microsoft Word, Click on "Insert" tab, then "Pictures". Locate image then "Insert". Next, click on "Page Layout" tab, then "Orientation", then choose "Landscape". Click on the image, then drag any of the points at the edges to enlarge it into the size of the whole page. Next, click on "File" then "Save As", choose the destination where you want to save the file. In the box that pops up, type your desired "File Name" then below in "Save as type" choose "PDF".
#3: Open PDF file then click on "printer icon". In printing settings, make sure orientation is "Landscape"; "Paper Size" A4. In "Scale" settings, type "70" this is the size I use for the nutcrackers on my medium sized tree. You may choose a higher number if you want a bigger nutcracker characters for your tree. Next, insert a heavy weight paper into the printer and click on "print". Cut the images by one by one to decorate on your paper tree.
CLARA AND BALLERINA ORNAMENTS + LINK TO PRINTABLE CHARACTERS
I used some ballerina silhouette patterns and print them at the back of a heavy weight skin tone paper, I fill the patterns with all the details using a combination of plain construction papers, pattern papers and paint. One ballerina I altered to look like "clara" and one I added a crown and wings to transform her as the "sugarplum fairy". I have a total of 4 ballerinas, 1 sugarplum fairy, and the girl clara ornaments for my medium sized tree. Click Here To Check Out The FREE Printable Lace Digital Paper that I used for my ballerinas.
To quickly create your ballerinas + clara ornaments, check out the FREE resource link below. These are large ballerinas but you can scale them to the size that is just right for your tree and you can additionally decorate them with flower sequins or sticker gems and some other elements such as wings to create a "sugarplum fairy". You can also alter one ballerina to look like clara. Check out the sample I printed and decorated below using this printable.
PRINTING THE BALLERINAS:
#2: After download, open the PDF file and click on the "printer icon". In the printing settings, scale to 45 or 50. Insert a heavy weight paper on your printer and click on "print". Print the number of ballerinas you need for your tree.
#3: Cut the ballerinas and decorate hair and clothes or alter to create a different character from it such as clara using pattern or plain construction papers. Click Here To Check Out Fairy Wings that you can add to create a sugarplum fairy character. In the page, Click on red "download" button below image, next go to the top of your browser and select "print". In printing settings, go to "more settings" and in scale, choose "default" next click on "print". Print on heavy weight paper, cut and glue to back of ballerina. These ballerinas make cute ornaments as I tried putting one on my tree.
CANDY AND OTHER CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS + LINK TO PRINTABLES
In "The Nutcracker Prince" animated movie there was the "palace of sweets", so I also had candy canes, peppermint candies, and lollipops as elements on my tree. Click Here To Check Out The Peppermint Candies PDF, they are from Printable Treats. I picked 3 and saved them as PDF for you for quick printing, I scaled my peppermint candies at "55". Click Here To Check Out FREE Printable Candy Canes I used, I chose the medium sized candy canes and scaled it at "40". Click Here To Check Out FREE Assorted Lollipops I used, you may also scale this before printing to the size that suits best with your tree.
This time, I have tried other shapes of ornaments (decorative & elongated icicle) apart from the usual round one, Click Here To Check Out These FREE Printable Blank Ornament Templates I used in various shapes and sizes. I printed them on various designs of pattern papers or Click Here For FREE Printable 100 Colored Christmas Ornaments in various shapes, colors and pattern designs that you can just cut and tape onto your tree immediately, you may scale the ornaments of choice to about "70" or "60" before printing to fit a medium sized tree.
ADDITIONAL ORNAMENTS + LINK TO PRINTABLE POINSETTIA FLOWERS & OTHER CHARACTERS
To balance some things on my tree, I decided to add some poinsettia flowers. These are the poinsettias I kept from my wall tree last year, Click Here To Check Out FREE Printable Poinsettia Pattern I used. Print on a red construction paper and custom scale to your desired size in the settings before printing. Simply add a yellow bead in the middle and you're DONE. Cut a scotch tape and with adhesive side up, fold and connect both ends of the tape on top of the other then attach the tape from the back of the flower. Next, stick the flowers on your tree.
You may also want to try other elements related to the "Nutcracker" movie such as a swan. Click Here To Check Out FREE Printable Swan Template, these are basic black and white swan outlines, just add those few details such as color on the beak and an eye. Cut little crowns on gold paper and glue on the head. Scale the size to about "60" in the settings before printing. Below is a sample swan I made using the template.
Shop for materials used in this craft online @ shopee.ph by clicking on the materials highlighted in BOLD below.
* printer * large empty box cardboards ; * long ruler ; * large scissors ; * green papers * brown yarn or paper twine ; * hot melt glue ; * glue gun ; * white heavy weight paper (specialty board, vellum board or any paper of similar texture) ; * assorted construction papers * pattern papers ; * white glue ; * solid glue stick ; * red & silver sequins or tiny gem stickers ; * gold or silver | assorted glitter dust * scotch tape * white thread
GET A LOW-COST QUALITY PRINTER FOR HOME PRINTING!
Print FREE printables for home DIYs and more! I'm using "HP Ink Tank 115" single function inkjet printer in printing templates and printables, I bought it online at shopee.ph. It is a quality and low-cost printer for home printing that uses tank for the ink.
It needs a total of 4 ink bottles (CMYK) to refill the tank, you can save even more by refilling with universal ink. Just make sure the ink is compatible with the printer model before deciding on a purchase.
I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
If you got any reactions and thoughts regarding this DIY Christmas craft or topic, feel free to interact and write it down in the comment box below. I'd be happy to hear from you, thank you so much for viewing and reading!
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