Christmas Tree Template
Four tree outlines, from a plain triangle to a 3D tree that stands up on its own, printed at real size anywhere from 2 inches to 4 feet. Big trees print across several pages with labelled parts to tape together.
Which Christmas tree template to choose
| Shape | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Simple | Cards, painting, fabric appliqué, a big felt wall tree. Easiest to cut. |
| Layered | Classroom displays and window decorations: the three tiers read as a tree from across the room. |
| With star | Coloring pages and handprint crafts; the star stays attached, so it doesn't get lost. |
| 3D slot | Table centrepieces and place settings. Two pieces slot together and stand without glue. |
Making the 3D tree
- Print on cardUse cardstock of 80 lb or heavier. Each tree needs two pieces; the template prints both.
- Cut the outlines and the slitsOn one piece, cut the red dashed slit from the top down to the middle; on the other, from the bottom up. Make each slit as wide as the card is thick.
- Slot togetherSlide the top-slit piece down over the bottom-slit piece at a right angle. Decorate with glitter glue or washi tape before slotting, while the pieces still lie flat.
Big trees for walls, doors and classrooms
A 24 inch tree fits a classroom door panel; 36 to 40 inches is the usual height for a felt tree at a toddler's eye level. Print it, trim the white margin off the right and bottom edge of each part, line the parts up by their outlines and tape them together on the back. Then pin the paper to felt or poster board and cut once.
Paper is cheaper than felt: lay all the parts out on the floor first to check the size against the wall before you buy a metre of fabric.
Questions
How do I print a big Christmas tree template?
Type the height you want, up to 48 inches. Anything taller than a sheet is split across pages; each part is labelled with its row and column and overlaps the next by ¼ inch, so you can line the outlines up and tape them together on the back.
How many pages is a 2 foot tree?
On Letter paper, a 24 inch simple tree takes 9 pages (3 across, 3 down). The page count is shown under the button as soon as you change the size.
How does the 3D tree stand up?
It's two identical trees. The template marks a slit from the top down to the middle on one piece and from the bottom up to the middle on the other. Cut both slits a little wider than the card is thick, slide the pieces together at right angles, and the tree stands on its own four points.
What card works for the 3D tree?
Cardstock of 80 lb or heavier, or thin craft foam. Ordinary printer paper will fold. Glitter card looks good but can jam home printers, so print on plain card and trace onto the glitter sheet.
Can I make a felt Christmas tree for a toddler?
Yes, it's a popular use. Print the simple or layered tree at 36 to 40 inches, tape the pages, pin them to a large sheet of green felt and cut it out. Felt sticks to felt, so ornaments cut with the ornament templates can be pressed on and moved around.