src:pplx-ui · Dec 19, 2025

DIY Christmas Tree from Core Toilet Papers: Easy Step-by-Step + Budget-Friendly

Direct Answer: A DIY Christmas tree made from core toilet papers is a compact, budget-friendly holiday decoration that uses empty cardboard tubes as the main structure. By cleaning and cutting the tubes, stacking or arranging them into a tree shape, then painting and decorating, you may create a surprisingly sturdy, eco-conscious centerpiece or shelf display using materials that might otherwise be thrown away.

Key Conditions at a Glance

Use clean, dry cardboard cores from toilet paper or paper towel rolls; avoid anything with moisture, mold, or food stains.
Work on a flat, protected surface and use low-temperature hot glue if possible to reduce burns.
Plan a tree height between 8–20 inches (about 20–50 cm) so the structure stays stable and easy to handle.
Choose lightweight decorations like paper stars, ribbon scraps, or small beads to prevent the tree from toppling.
Allow paint and glue to dry fully, often several hours, before moving or storing your finished tree.
Keep the finished piece away from open flames and high heat; cardboard is flammable and should be treated as display décor only.
Consider reusing or recycling the cardboard again after the holiday season instead of sending it to the landfill.

Understanding DIY Toilet Paper Roll Christmas Trees

Turning toilet paper cores into a small Christmas tree sits right at the intersection of craft, sustainability, and cozy home décor. Cardboard tubes are essentially miniature paper cylinders made from compressed fiber, and most households generate a steady supply without even thinking about it. When these rolls are used for crafts instead of tossed out, they shift from trash to a surprisingly versatile building block.

Many crafters use toilet paper roll trees as an accessible introduction to upcycling. Projects may range from simple, glued-together pyramids of intact rolls to more sculptural trees where each tube is cut into shapes, painted, and slotted together. For instance, one project suggests flattening rolls, drawing a tree outline, cutting along the shape, and then “fluffing” the roll back into a rounded standing tree form, using varied roll sizes for different visual heights.DIY Toilet Paper Roll Christmas Tree Forest – Coley Kuyper Art

Beyond the creative fun, there is a quiet environmental angle. Paper and cardboard waste make up roughly a quarter of municipal solid waste in the United States, with estimates suggesting that well over half of this material ends up in landfills rather than being recycled.NREL – Economic Losses from Cardboard and Paper Waste Even a single handmade tree may not shift national statistics, but it can help households notice just how many reusable materials pass through their hands. Many educators and youth groups lean on similar crafts—such as using paper towel tubes for art projects—to teach the value of keeping simple materials in circulation for as long as possible.University of Delaware – Craft Corner: Cardboard Tube Art

Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Preparation

Start by gathering 10–40 clean cardboard cores, depending on the tree size you want. For a tabletop tree around 10–12 inches (25–30 cm) tall, many makers find that 15–20 rolls are enough if you build them into a pyramid shape. You may mix toilet paper and paper towel tubes, cutting the taller tubes down to match the shorter ones so the structure is easier to stack. Remove any loose paper, stickers, or foil that could interfere with paint or glue.

Lay down scrap paper, an old cloth, or a piece of cardboard to protect your work surface. If you plan to paint before assembly, consider the tip used in several children’s craft projects: paint or decorate the tube while it is still intact and fully round, then cut it after the paint has dried. This approach helps the tube retain its shape and prevents warping as cardboard absorbs moisture.Reading Confetti – Toilet Paper Roll Christmas Trees Set out your supplies: scissors, craft knife (optional), ruler, pencil, low-temp hot glue gun or strong craft glue, acrylic paint, and simple decorations like scrap ribbon, paper stars, or small buttons.

Main Process

One straightforward method is the “stacked roll” tree. First, decide how many rolls will form your base row. For a compact tree, you might line up five rolls across the bottom, four on the next row, then three, two, and one, forming a classic triangular silhouette. Use a ruler to keep rows straight and mark your layout lightly on a base piece of scrap cardboard that is at least 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) wider than the tree on all sides for stability. Once you are satisfied with the arrangement, begin gluing the rolls together, pressing and holding each joint for 10–20 seconds if using hot glue.

If you prefer a more organic, tree-like sculpture, you can adopt a flattened, cut-shape method. Lightly flatten each tube so you can sketch a tree outline on one side using a pencil. One artist suggests leaving a 1–2 cm band at the bottom to act as a built-in base so the tree can stand up on its own.DIY Toilet Paper Roll Christmas Tree Forest – Coley Kuyper Art Cut along your lines, keeping sections of the tube connected so the tree stays three-dimensional. When you open the tube again, gently bend it back into a rounded shape and adjust until it stands. Repeat several times to create a small forest of individual trees. For either method, keep dry times in mind: many glues reach handling strength within minutes, but full curing can take several hours depending on humidity and product.

Finishing & Aftercare

When the structure feels solid, it is time to paint and decorate. Acrylic paint adheres well to cardboard and usually dries to the touch within 20–60 minutes per coat, depending on how thickly you apply it. Some crafters like to paint the inside and outside of each roll for a richer color; others prefer to leave the interior plain for a warm, cardboard contrast. If you want a more rustic look, consider muted greens, soft whites, or even kraft-brown and gold details instead of bright primary colors.

While the paint is still slightly tacky, you can dust fine glitter over select areas, or after it dries completely, attach small embellishments with a dot of glue. Battery-operated tea lights, when placed carefully at the base or behind the tree, may cast a soft glow through any cut-out shapes, particularly if you punch holes into the sides of the cardboard with a craft punch before painting.DIY Toilet Paper Roll Christmas Tree Forest – Coley Kuyper Art Once everything is dry, place your tree on a stable, flat surface away from candles, fireplaces, or heaters. At the end of the season, you may choose to store the tree in a dry box with silica packets to limit moisture or carefully break it down so the cardboard can move on to recycling if your local facility accepts painted paperboard.

Types and Varieties

There are several ways to build a Christmas tree from core toilet papers, and each type suits a slightly different space or decorating style. The stacked-roll pyramid tree is one of the simplest. You keep the rolls intact and glue them in rows that gradually narrow as you go up. This style creates small circular “windows” where you can tuck in mini ornaments, rolled notes, or wrapped candies. It is particularly handy on shelves or desks because the flat front and back sit neatly against walls or books.

The cut-and-fluffed standing trees feel more sculptural and whimsical. Flatten, sketch a silhouette, cut, and then pop the roll back into a rounded form so the tree stands on its own. By using different roll heights and widths, you can cluster a mix of small and tall trees to form an entire forest, perfect for a windowsill or mantel.Reading Confetti – Toilet Paper Roll Christmas Trees A third style borrows from “best out of waste” crafts: you wrap tubes in tissue or napkin paper, crumple slightly for texture, then paint and stack them around a central twig or branch as a trunk.RS Art Crafts Design – DIY Christmas Tree from Toilet Paper Roll This method may give your tree more realistic bark-like texture and depth while still relying on inexpensive materials.

Finally, there is a minimalist wall-hanging version. Instead of building a freestanding tree, you cut tubes into rings, pinch each ring into a leaf or petal shape, and glue them into layered branches on a flat backing. This style lies completely flat and is ideal for small apartments, dorms, or spaces where floor room is scarce. Because the shapes are light, you can hang them with removable adhesive strips, avoiding nails and heavy hardware.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

One of the most common frustrations with toilet paper roll trees is tubes collapsing or losing their round shape, especially after painting. Cardboard fibers soften when wet, so if you paint heavily after cutting, the rolls may crumple or twist. Children’s craft tutorials often recommend painting the tube first, letting it dry fully, and only then cutting or shaping it.Reading Confetti – Toilet Paper Roll Christmas Trees If rolls have already become misshapen, try inserting a temporary support, such as a short glass jar or another tube inside, until the paint dries and the cardboard stiffens again.

Another issue is poor balance. Trees may lean or tip if the base is too narrow or if heavy decorations are placed high up. To fix this, widen the bottom row of your pyramid or glue the entire structure to a thicker baseboard of cardboard or lightweight wood that extends 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) beyond the tree. If you are making individual standing trees, flatten the base area slightly or glue a small coin or washer inside the bottom to add low-centered weight. Some makers also report that using too much hot glue at once can create uneven lumps that hold pieces at odd angles; using smaller beads of glue and pressing firmly for several seconds may result in cleaner joints.University of Delaware – Craft Corner: Cardboard Tube Art

Finally, consider safety and durability. Because cardboard is flammable, many crafters avoid placing these trees near candles or string lights that warm significantly. Adhesives can also loosen in damp or very warm rooms. If edges start to peel, a small dab of fresh glue along the seam usually restores the connection. When packing away, protect delicate cut branches by wrapping the tree loosely in paper instead of plastic, which can trap moisture and encourage warping or mold if the storage space is humid.

Pro Tips from the Experts

“Simple materials like cardboard tubes give families an easy way to talk about waste, reuse, and creativity at the same time. When children help transform ‘trash’ into something beautiful, they often think more carefully about what they throw away next time.” – Dr. Michelle C. Rogers, Extension Specialist, University of Delaware

Educational craft leaders often encourage combining art projects with gentle discussions about resource use. For example, a newsletter from a university extension program highlights cardboard tube art as a way to divert common materials from landfills while also building fine motor skills and design thinking in youth groups.University of Delaware – Craft Corner: Cardboard Tube Art Bringing that same spirit into a home workshop may turn your toilet paper roll tree into a teachable moment about sustainability.

“Paper and cardboard waste have both environmental and economic costs when they end up in landfills instead of being reused or recycled. Small household choices, like creative reuse, contribute to an overall culture of resource efficiency.” – Dr. Anelia Milbrandt, Senior Researcher, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Research from a national laboratory notes that paper and cardboard waste represent an estimated 110 million metric tons of material in the United States, with about 56 percent landfilled and roughly 38 percent recycled, reflecting billions of dollars in lost value.NREL – Economic Losses from Cardboard and Paper Waste When you reuse even a small fraction of that at home, you support a mindset that sees potential in everyday items instead of only seeing garbage. Crafters may also find it satisfying to track how many rolls they divert during a single holiday season, turning a simple decoration into a small personal sustainability challenge.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many toilet paper rolls do I need for a small tree?

For a small tabletop tree roughly 10–12 inches (25–30 cm) tall, many crafters use about 15–20 rolls when building a pyramid-style structure. A base row of five rolls, followed by rows of four, three, two, and one, gives a classic triangular shape without becoming too heavy. You can always test your layout dry on a flat surface before committing with glue to see if you want to add or remove rows.

Can I use painted or printed rolls for this project?

Light printing from brands or patterns is usually fine, especially if you plan to paint over the rolls with acrylics. However, glossy coatings or heavily waxed surfaces may resist paint and glue, so consider lightly sanding shiny areas with fine sandpaper first. Many crafters prefer plain brown cardboard tubes, but if you only have printed ones available, a base coat of white or neutral paint often covers designs well enough for decorative use.Reading Confetti – Toilet Paper Roll Christmas Trees

What kind of glue works best for a toilet paper roll Christmas tree?

Low-temperature hot glue is popular because it grabs quickly and forms a relatively rigid bond, which helps tubes hold their shape while the structure is built. Strong craft glues or white school glues also work, but they may require clamping or resting the rolls in place for 10–20 minutes so they do not slide apart. If children are involved, many adults prefer non-hot glues and allow extra drying time, especially when stacking multiple tiers of rolls.University of Delaware – Craft Corner: Cardboard Tube Art

Is it safe to add lights or candles to my cardboard tree?

Open-flame candles should never be used in or near a cardboard tree because cardboard is highly flammable. If you want a gentle glow, consider battery-operated tea lights or small LED strings that stay cool to the touch and are explicitly labeled for low-heat operation. Place lights so they are not pinched tightly between layers of cardboard, and turn them off when leaving the room to reduce any risk. Many household safety guidelines suggest treating cardboard crafts as strictly decorative, not as part of a lighting system.

Can these trees be recycled after the holidays?

In many communities, plain cardboard and paperboard can be recycled, but acceptance of painted or heavily glued pieces varies. Because paper and cardboard waste already account for about a quarter of municipal solid waste streams, checking local guidelines is worthwhile to keep as much material as possible out of landfills.NREL – Economic Losses from Cardboard and Paper Waste If recycling is not an option, consider carefully disassembling the tree, saving undamaged rolls for future crafts, and disposing of only what can no longer be reused.

Who should NOT make a toilet paper roll Christmas tree?

This project may not be ideal for anyone with severe dust or paper allergies, as handling multiple cardboard rolls can release fine fibers. Households with very young children or pets that chew on cardboard should supervise closely or choose higher display spots, since small decorations or bits of cardboard could be swallowed. If your home has strict fire-safety rules that discourage cardboard near heaters or other heat sources, consider a non-paper alternative or a fully flat wall-hanging version that stays away from risk areas.

Sources & Further Reading

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