There’s something about retro Christmas decorations that takes me right back to my childhood. The bright colors, playful designs, and just a little bit of kitsch bring back some of my favorite holiday memories. So, when I decided to give my Christmas tablescape a whimsical, 1960s–70s-inspired look, I knew I wanted to incorporate a few felt Christmas trees.
After having some success making my own DIY Velvet Christmas Trees last year, I figured these couldn’t be too difficult. And there it was again—that little voice in my head saying, “I could do that!” Famous last words, right? 😂
But this time, I was right! These DIY felt Christmas trees turned out to be surprisingly easy, budget-friendly, and exactly the retro touch I was looking for.
I also learned a couple of things along the way that I’d do differently next time. Lucky for you, I’m happy to share those little lessons so you can skip the trial and error! So grab your glue gun, put on a cheesy Hallmark Christmas movie, and let’s get crafting!
(And if you love those delightfully predictable movies as much as I do, you might enjoy my Annual Hallmark Christmas Movie Night!)
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Supplies for DIY Felt Christmas Trees
You won’t need much for this project, which is one of the things I love about it!
- Styrofoam cones: Choose different heights depending on where you plan to display your trees. If they’re going on a dining table, keep them short enough that your guests can still see one another. Nobody wants to play peekaboo around the centerpiece!
- Craft felt: I used inexpensive felt sheets in red and white. The amount you’ll need depends on the size of your Styrofoam cone. My smaller white tree required approximately 1–1½ sheets, while my larger red tree used about 2½ sheets. I’d recommend picking up a little extra, just in case!
- Thin cardboard or heavy paper: To create your petal template.
- Pen or pencil: For tracing.
- Sharp scissors: You’ll be doing a fair amount of cutting!
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks: To hold everything in place.
How to Make Felt Christmas Trees
Step 1: Create Your Petal Pattern
Start by drawing a simple oval shape on a piece of thin cardboard or heavy paper.
This will be your template for the overlapping felt petals that give the trees their pretty, scalloped appearance.
Don’t overthink it! Mine was a basic oval, and it worked beautifully. You could even create your pattern in Canva if you’d prefer.
Step 2: Cut Your Felt into Strips
Cut your felt sheets into strips wide enough to accommodate your petal template.
Before you get carried away, set one strip aside. You’ll need it to cover the bottom edge of your Styrofoam cone.
Step 3: Trace and Cut Your Felt Petals
Using your template, trace the oval shapes onto the felt strips and cut them out.
Here’s a little time-saving tip: Fold or stack your felt so you can cut more than one petal at a time. I doubled mine, which made the process go much faster.
I’m not going to sugarcoat it—this is probably the most tedious part of the project.
But remember, you’ve got that Hallmark movie keeping you company. By the time the big-city girl realizes the hometown Christmas tree farmer is actually the love of her life, you’ll have a nice little pile of felt petals ready to go. 😂
Step 4: Cover the Base of Your Tree
Remember that strip of felt you set aside?
Using your hot glue gun, attach it around the bottom edge of your Styrofoam cone.
Fun-Size Tip: You only need a narrow band of felt to cover the very bottom edge. I made mine a little too wide, but quickly realized the overlapping petals would cover most of it anyway.
Keeping this strip narrow will help maintain the cone’s shape and give your finished tree a neater appearance.
Step 5: Start Adding Your Felt Petals
Now for the fun part!
Beginning at the bottom of the cone, use your hot glue gun to attach the felt petals, overlapping them slightly as you work your way around.
The goal is to completely cover the Styrofoam while creating that layered, scalloped look.
Don’t worry about making everything perfectly symmetrical. A little variation adds to the charm!
Step 6: Keep Layering Your Way to the Top
Continue adding rows of overlapping petals, working your way up the cone.
As the cone gets narrower, adjust the placement of the petals to keep everything covered.
When you reach the top, fold one final petal over the tip of the cone and secure it with hot glue.
And just like that, you’ve made your very own felt Christmas tree!
Make Them Your Own!
I wanted my trees to be simple, letting the bright red and soft white felt do all the talking.
But there’s no reason you couldn’t have a little extra fun with them!
Try adding pearls, beads, a touch of glitter, or even mixing different felt colors for a completely different look.
Traditional red and green? Beautiful. Soft pinks and creams? Sweet! A whole forest of colorful retro trees? Now we’re talking!
That’s the beauty of DIY. You get to make it your own.
A Little Retro Christmas Magic
I love a DIY project that doesn’t require a lot of money, complicated supplies, or an advanced degree in crafting. And these felt Christmas trees check all three boxes!
What started as another one of my “I could do that!” moments turned into the perfect finishing touch for my retro-inspired Christmas tablescape.
And while I made these little trees for my dining table, they’d be just as cute on a mantel, entryway table, or tucked into a festive Christmas vignette.
Sometimes the simplest projects bring the biggest smiles. Especially when they remind us of Christmases past. ❤️
If you give these DIY felt Christmas trees a try, I’d love to hear what colors you choose!
Happy crafting, Fun-Size Friend! 🎄
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