Christmas
DIY, Christmas, Party Decorations
How to Make a Folded Paper Christmas Tree Origami
A folded paper Christmas tree is nearly the perfect holiday craft. They’re simple and elegant and somehow look like they took much longer to create than they actually do. They’re a little one-page Christmas craft wonder.
I recently made 35 tables worth of these little beauties as centerpieces for an Advent dinner at our church.
It was a fun project that added a cute, handmade touch to each table without adding extra cost to our setup—just a bit of paper and time.
What I love about these folded DIY paper Christmas trees is how versatile they are.
Since they’re made with paper, you can switch up colors, use gift wrap, or add a sprinkle of glitter if you want to go all out.
They’re perfect for creating a cozy, Christmas vibe on any table or mantle.
Whether you’re crafting with kids or just need a quick, easy way to dress up your holiday decor, these little trees are seriously one of the easiest, and cutest Christmas projects around.
Origami Folded Paper Christmas Tree Video Tutorial
Watch along as I show you how to make this cute folded paper Christmas tree step-by-step! They’re such an easy origami paper craft. Grab your paper and let’s get folding!
And please sign up to my YouTube channel by clicking here:3D Origami Christmas Tree Step-by-Step Instructions
Materials:
- A square piece of paper or cardstock – You can use white paper, colored paper, colored cardstock, wrapping paper, scrapbook paper, book pages, etc…
- A pair of scissors
- A bone folder (optional)
Prepare Your Paper
Start with a square piece of double-sided paper or cardstock set on a flat surface.
I used cardstock in my example but printer paper works well, as it’s lightweight and holds folds crisply.
For larger trees, use bigger squares. Try different sizes to create a variety of tree heights.
Fold Horizontal and Vertical lines
This process is really hard to describe verbally. Take a look at the video. It’ll all make sense then! And it really is easy. I promise!
Fold the paper in half. Crease well.
Unfold
Rotate the paper 90 degrees, and fold it in half again in the other direction.
Unfold.
Turn the paper OVER!! (Important)
Create Diagonal Folds
Fold the paper diagonally from corner to corner to form a triangle.
Unfold.
Repeat for the other diagonal.
When unfolded, you should now have creases running vertically, horizontally, and diagonally. And they should alternate, one fold facing down, the next facing up and so on.
Collapse into a Square
Pinch the paper pushing on the horizontal and vertical lines. If you hold the piece together pointing at you, it will now look a bit like an “X”. Place the piece flat on the table with the point, the center of your “X”, facing away from you and collapse it into a smaller square shape. This is called a square or preliminary base in origami.
Make Additional Folds for Branches
You should now have a diamond shape with the closed end, the center of that “X”, facing away from you.
Take one of the four flaps and fold it down into a triangle, matching the crease that ran down the center of the flap with the gap visible about 2/3rds of the way down the piece.
Crease well!
Repeat this step with all the flaps.
I was using cardstock and I found it very helpful to take my bone folder and push it inside to create a nice, crisp point at the top.
You now have a shape like this.
Trim the Bottom
Trip off the bottom. It’s beginning to look a lot like… a Christmas tree!
Shape the Branches
Cut 4 slits evenly on each flap. The slits at the top will be shorter than the slits at the bottom of the tree.
At each cut line fold a small piece down to make a small triangle.
These folds don’t need to be perfectly symmetrical—organic shapes add charm!
Repeat, four cuts on each flap.
The last step is to fluff your little tree and you’re done.
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And there you have it—a lovely little Folded Paper Christmas Tree!
It looks complex, and I still can’t verbally describe half the steps but you made it. And it’s awesome,
Now imagine all the variations. Pink and purple Christmas trees? Sure! My crazy husband imagines trees made of butcher paper or the cardboard from cereal boxes. Possible? Maybe. Try it and let me know. Or offer the completed trees to your littles so they can draw on the ornaments and the snow. I don’t think I’m capable of making an oragami star go on top, but I’d love to see one!
This simple craft is not only an affordable addition to your Christmas decorations but also a fun project the whole family can enjoy.
Whether you’re assembling a few trees as tabletop decor or crafting enough for a whole room, this paper craft is a great way to bring a little bit of holiday spirit into any space.
Origami Christmas Tree
Materials
- Paper or cardstock
Tools
- Scissors
- Bone folder (optional)
Instructions
Fold Horizontal and Vertical lines
- Fold the paper in half. Crease well.
- Unfold
- Rotate the paper 90 degrees, and fold it in half again in the other direction.
- Unfold.
Turn the paper OVER!! (Important)
Create Diagonal Folds
- Fold the paper diagonally from corner to corner to form a triangle.
- Unfold.
- Repeat for the other diagonal.
When unfolded, you should now have creases running vertically, horizontally, and diagonally.
Collapse into a Square
- Pinch the paper up on the horizontal and vertical lines and collapse it into a smaller square shape allowing the diagonal creases to fold inward. (Called a square or preliminary base in origami)
Make Additional Folds for Branches
- Position the square base with the closed end (point) facing up like a diamond.
- Take one of the flaps and fold it down into a triangle, matching the crease with the center of the diamond.
- Crease well!
- Repeat this step with all the flaps.
I was using cardstock and I found it very helpful to take my bone folder and shove it inside to create a nice point at the top.
You now have a kite shape.
Trim the Bottom
- Trip off the bottom of the kite shape, leaving a triangle with many layers.
Shape the Branches
- Cut 4 slits evenly on each side of the triangle through all the layers. The slits at the top will be smaller than the slits at the bottom of the tree.
- Taking each layer one at a time, fold each cut line down to make a small triangle.
These folds don't need to be perfectly symmetrical—organic shapes add charm!
- Repeat for all layers.
- Fluff your tree and you're done.
More Christmas Crafts
More Christmas crafts await! Find simple, fun projects to bring a touch of holiday cheer to your home.
- 55 DIY Ornaments for kids
- 33 DIY Advent Calendar Ideas
- Snowman Soup Gifts
- Rustic Wood Snowflake Ornament
- Easy Frosted Pinecones
Don’t forget to pin this folded paper Christmas tree origami tutorial.
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