A yarn-wrapped Christmas tree ornament like this is exactly the kind of thing a kid points to first when the ornament box comes out again next December, because they made this one themselves.
It comes together with cardboard, yarn, and a handful of beads, things you likely already have in a holiday craft bin, so there’s rarely a supply run involved. Wrapping takes 20 to 30 minutes per tree, and kids as young as 5 can finish one with a little help at the glue gun.
Once the glue sets, it works just as well as a tree ornament, a gift tag, or a package topper, whichever you’re running low on this year. It’s a good next project if you already like our seasonal decor tutorials, and the free tree template below makes it easy to trace a whole batch in one sitting.
Yarn-Wrapped Christmas Tree Ornament at a Glance
- Difficulty: Beginner-friendly, a great first yarn-wrapping project
- Time: 20 to 30 minutes per ornament
- Cost: Under $2 using yarn scraps
- Ages: 5+ with help at the glue gun, 8+ independently
- Best for: classroom parties, rainy afternoon crafting, and handmade gift tags
What You Need to Make a Yarn-Wrapped Christmas Tree Ornament
Materials
- Cardboard, cereal box thickness: sturdy enough to hold its shape once wrapped but still easy to cut. File folder cardboard or notepad backing works too.
- Yarn in Christmas colors: green for the tree, brown for the trunk. Worsted weight wraps easily without slipping off the edges or leaving gaps.
- Small round beads, 6-8mm: become the ornaments on the tree. Flat-backed beads stick best, but regular craft beads work fine with enough glue.
- Golden glitter paper or cardstock: for the star. Regular paper works too, just use a scrap since you only need a tiny piece.
- String or ribbon: for the hanging loop. Embroidery floss or yarn itself works just as well.
- Hot glue sticks: set fast, which keeps the project moving. White craft glue works but takes far longer to dry.
Tools
- Hot glue gun: use a low-temp one if kids are gluing themselves, since regular guns get hot enough to burn little fingers.
- Scissors: sharp enough to cut cardboard cleanly. Dull scissors crush the edges and make wrapping harder.
- Pencil: for tracing the template. Any pencil works since it gets covered by yarn anyway.
Free Tree Template
This project uses a free printable template so every tree comes out the same size and shape. Grab it from the Free Templates space inside Craftaholic Community before you start cutting.
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How to Make Yarn-Wrapped Christmas Tree Ornament
This video walks through wrapping the trunk and tree, adding the beads, and finishing with the star, start to finish.
Step by Step Instructions: Yarn-Wrapped Christmas Tree Ornament
Step 1: Trace the Template and Start the Trunk
Print the template, trace the tree shape onto your cardboard, and cut it out. Pick a brown yarn for the trunk, run a thin line of hot glue along the bottom edge, and press the cut end of the yarn into it so the wrapping has a clean, hidden starting point.
Step 2: Wrap the Trunk in Brown Yarn
Wind the brown yarn around the trunk section, keeping each wrap snug against the last so no cardboard peeks through. Once the trunk is fully covered, pull the yarn to the back of the tree, trim the extra, and glue the cut end down to lock the wrapping in place.
Step 3: Switch to Green for the Tree Body
Choose your green yarn and glue its cut end right beside the trunk’s secured end on the back of the tree, so the color change starts cleanly at the seam.
Step 4: Wrap the Bottom of the Tree
Start wrapping from the wide bottom edge, keeping the tension even so the cardboard stays fully hidden underneath. If tension is giving you trouble, our yarn-wrapped hedgehog craft uses the same core wrapping technique on a rounder shape, so it’s worth a look if you want more practice before tackling the pointed top.
Step 5: Anchor the Yarn as You Climb
Keep wrapping upward, and add a small drop of hot glue along the cardboard edge every few wraps. It only takes a second and keeps the yarn from sliding as the tree narrows toward the tip.
Step 6: Wrap All the Way to the Tip
Continue wrapping until the entire cardboard base is covered, tip included, then cut the yarn and leave about 2 cm of extra length at the end for tucking and gluing down.
Step 7: Add a Hanging Loop
Cut a short length of string and tie it into a loop. Glue both open ends to the back of the tree, right near the tip, so the ornament hangs straight once it’s finished.
Step 8: Cut the Star and Pick Your Beads
Trace and cut a small star from the golden glitter paper. Set out the beads you want to use. White and gold work well together, but any mix that fits your color scheme is fine.
Step 9: Glue On the Beads
Add a drop of hot glue where you want each bead to sit, then press the bead into the glue and hold it for a few seconds so it doesn’t slide before the glue sets.
Step 10: Finish with the Star on Top
Mix two or three bead colors across the tree for a scattered, natural look, then glue the star to the very tip to finish the ornament.
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Tips for Yarn-Wrapped Christmas Tree Ornaments
- Wrap two or three ornaments at once if you’re making a batch for a classroom or craft fair. Switching between them keeps your yarn tension even instead of the later ones coming out looser than the first.
- Thread three or four finished ornaments onto one length of ribbon for a quick mini garland instead of hanging them separately.
- A cereal box gives the cleanest wrap because the print side stays hidden once the yarn covers it. If you’re using scrap cardboard with printing on it, trace onto the blank side instead.
- Keep leftover yarn scraps sorted in a small bag by color. A single skein makes far more than one ornament, so you’ll likely have enough for a whole set already on hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use craft glue instead of hot glue?
You can, but plan on waiting. Hot glue sets in seconds, which keeps this project moving at a kid-friendly pace, while white craft glue takes 10 to 15 minutes to dry at each spot, adding up to over an hour total. If hot glue isn’t an option, use tacky glue instead since it’s thicker and faster-drying than regular white glue, and plan on stretching this into a two-day project.
What if my yarn keeps slipping off the edges?
This usually means the cardboard edges are too smooth or rounded, so start by checking that your triangle has clean, sharp cuts. Loose yarn tension causes the same problem, so pull a little snugger as you wrap. A tiny dot of hot glue on the edge every 4 to 5 wraps anchors the yarn in place, and slipping becomes rare once you reach the wider part of the tree.
How young can kids be to help with this craft?
The wrapping motion itself is too fine for most preschoolers to manage alone, since it takes steadier hand tension than most 3 and 4 year olds have yet. They can still take part by telling you which color to use next while you wrap, then gluing on the beads with supervision. They’ll be just as proud of the ornament even though the wrapping was a team effort.
What if I don’t have Christmas-colored yarn?
Use what’s already in your yarn bin. A brown trunk works under any color tree, and blue, purple, or even rainbow-striped yarn still reads as a Christmas tree once it’s triangle-shaped and topped with a star. Red or white are the closest traditional swaps if you want to stay in the classic color family without buying green.
How do I make different sized trees?
The template makes an ornament about 4 inches tall, which works well both for hanging and as a gift tag. Scale the template up or down when you print it for a different size, keeping in mind that bigger trees need more yarn and more wrapping time. Trees under about 3 inches get fiddly at the pointed top since there’s barely room to wrap.
My beads keep falling off. What am I doing wrong?
Either the glue dot is too small or you’re letting go of the bead before it sets. Use a glue dot bigger than you think you need, press the bead in, and hold it in place for a full 5 seconds so it doesn’t pop loose as the glue cools. If beads keep falling off after that, try a regular-temp glue gun instead of a low-temp one, since low-temp glue can grip beads less firmly.
More Christmas Ornament Crafts You’ll Love
If you enjoyed making these cozy yarn-wrapped trees, here are more handmade ornament projects from our home decor tutorials worth trying next:
- Mini Felt Christmas Tree, a no-sew felt version if you’d rather skip the wrapping altogether.
- Christmas Tree String Art, a step up in difficulty using nails and thread instead of yarn.
- Origami Christmas Trees, a paper-folding version with zero glue or cardboard needed.
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Final Thoughts
This yarn-wrapped Christmas tree ornament is way more than just a cute decoration. It’s a chance for kids to practice that satisfying rhythm of wrapping, watch their tree take shape right in their hands, and feel genuinely proud hanging something they made completely themselves on the family tree.
As a mom who’s tried approximately a million Christmas crafts, I keep coming back to this one because kids actually finish it. There’s no waiting around for paint to dry and no constant “can you just do this part for me.” It’s their project start to finish, and that sense of accomplishment is what makes it memorable.
So grab some yarn, print that free template, and let your kids create some cozy handmade magic this Christmas season.
Keep crafting, keep learning, and keep creating those precious memories!
Happy Crafting!
#thecraftaholicwitch
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