Christmas Tree Crafts for Adults: 16 Cozy Handmade Trees That Look Like Pricey Boutique Decor
Christmas tree crafts for adults are the easiest way to make your home look like a pricey boutique this year, without the boutique price tag. Searches for grown-up holiday projects jumped right as November arrived, and most of us want something prettier than a paper cutout. These trees hang on walls, sit in frames and stand on shelves, so they work in a tiny apartment or a big farmhouse. Many use things you already own: old buttons, a single brooch, scrap fabric, a coil of wire or a piece of driftwood from last summer. None of them need a fancy studio. A table, good light and a free evening are enough. Pick one project to start tonight. By the weekend you could have a little gallery of handmade trees that looks like it came from a boutique..
Christmas Tree Crafts for Adults Grouped Like a Boutique Display
Here is the secret boutique stylists use: group your handmade trees together. One tree looks sweet. Six trees in different materials look like a shop window. On this console, a framed brooch tree, a string art board, a copper spiral, a driftwood stack, a stitched hoop and a sage plywood tree share a bed of fresh pine and red berries. Put the tallest pieces in back and the shiny ones up front. For more ideas, our cozy adult craft projects pair beautifully with this look. Every tree here is in the slides ahead..
You will need: four to six finished tabletop or framed trees, a long pine or cedar garland, a few pine cones, red berry picks, small wood slices for risers and a strip of battery fairy lights.
How to make it: 1. Lay the garland along the console first so it forms a soft green base. 2. Stand the tallest trees and frames at the back, then step smaller pieces forward on wood slice risers. 3. Tuck pine cones and berries into the gaps and weave in the battery lights.
String Art Tree on Reclaimed Wood
String art is one of those Christmas tree crafts for adults that looks hard and is secretly relaxing. You tap in small nails along a tree outline, then wrap green floss back and forth until the shape fills in. The craft has a long history, from math classrooms to the bold wall pieces of the 1970s, and you can read more on the history of string art. Leftover boards from our wood slice projects work well too. Adults should handle the hammer and keep fingers clear.
You will need: a reclaimed wood board about 10 by 14 inches, small wire nails, a hammer, a paper tree template, tape, green embroidery floss and a little gold thread for the star.
How to make it: 1. Tape the paper template to the board and tap a nail every half inch along the outline. 2. Tear the paper away, tie the floss to the top nail and zigzag across the shape until it looks full. 3. Wrap a small gold star at the top and knot the ends at the back.
Christmas Tree Crafts for Adults With a Vintage Button Jar
Almost every family has a jar of mismatched buttons. This project finally gives them a job. Paint a small canvas soft sage, then glue the buttons in a tree shape, starting with big ones at the bottom and filling gaps with tiny ones. Mixing greens, creams and a few red buttons keeps it cheerful but grown-up. A gold button makes the perfect star. For more ways to use that jar, browse our button Christmas crafts and you may never throw a spare button away again.
You will need: an 8 by 10 inch canvas, sage acrylic paint, a wide brush, a pencil, a bag of assorted buttons, strong craft glue and a small tabletop easel.
How to make it: 1. Paint the canvas, let it dry and sketch a simple tree outline in pencil. 2. Lay the buttons out on the canvas first, largest at the base and smallest near the top. 3. Glue them in place one at a time, add a gold star button and let it dry flat overnight.
Cross Stitch Tree Sampler in a Hoop
Cross stitch is slow in the best way. Each little X adds up, and by the end of a movie you can see a tree taking shape. This sampler keeps it simple with zigzag rows of red and green on natural linen, plus a few tiny snowflakes around it. Leave it in the hoop and it becomes ready-to-hang art. If you are new to stitching, our Christmas embroidery ideas explain the basic stitches in plain steps.
You will need: a 7 inch wooden hoop, cream linen or aida cloth, red and green embroidery floss, an embroidery needle, small scissors, a free printed tree chart and a length of red ribbon.
How to make it: 1. Stretch the cloth in the hoop and find the center by folding it in half both ways. 2. Follow the chart from the center out, stitching one color at a time. 3. Trim the back fabric to an inch, glue it inside the hoop and tie on the ribbon hanger.
Quilted Patchwork Tree Wall Hanging
A patchwork tree is a small quilt with big heart, and one of the coziest Christmas tree crafts for adults. Triangles of red, green and cream calico are sewn into rows that step up into a tree shape, then quilted with visible hand stitches. Hang it from a simple wooden dowel and it softens a full wall. Our quilt Christmas decor ideas show how a little patchwork can warm up any room.
You will need: fat quarters or scraps in red, green and cream, a rotary cutter and mat, a ruler, thin cotton batting, backing fabric, thread, a needle or sewing machine and a wooden dowel.
How to make it: 1. Cut 3 inch half square triangles and lay them out in a tree shape on a flat surface. 2. Sew the rows together, layer with batting and backing, then quilt along the seams by hand. 3. Bind the edges, add a sleeve at the top and slide in the dowel.
Christmas Tree Crafts for Adults That Double as a Trivet
This one is pretty and useful. A round mosaic trivet with a green glass tile tree protects your table from hot dishes all season long. Mixed greens give the tree depth. If you love kitchen projects that you can give away, our cutting board gift ideas are another great match. Wear safety glasses when you nip tiles, and work in a well aired room.
You will need: a round wood or cork trivet blank, green and white glass mosaic tiles, tile nippers, safety glasses, tile adhesive, white sanded grout, a sponge and felt pads.
How to make it: 1. Draw a tree on the blank and glue green tiles inside the outline, then fill the background with white tiles. 2. Let it set for a day, spread grout over the top and wipe the excess with a damp sponge. 3. Buff off the haze once dry and stick felt pads on the bottom.
Punched Tin Tree Panel in a Farmhouse Frame
Punched tin has an old farmhouse feel, like a pie safe door in grandma’s kitchen, which makes it a favorite among Christmas tree crafts for adults. Tap a nail through a tin sheet along a tree pattern and the tiny punched dots catch the light. Set the panel in a whitewashed frame and lean it on a mantel with greenery. It looks antique but takes an afternoon. Old fence boards make great frames, as shown in our fence picket crafts. Wear gloves, since cut tin edges can be sharp, and work on a scrap board.
You will need: a thin aluminum or tin craft sheet, a paper pattern, tape, a scrap board, a hammer, a nail or awl, work gloves, metal file and a whitewashed wooden frame.
How to make it: 1. Tape the pattern to the sheet and set it on the scrap board. 2. Wearing gloves, tap dots about a quarter inch apart along every line. 3. Remove the paper, file any sharp edges and fit the panel into the frame.
Pressed Evergreen Tree in a Glass Frame
Next time you trim the tree or a garland, save the little sprigs. Pressed flat and arranged in a tree shape between two panes of glass, they make the most elegant shelf art. Fern tips, cedar and juniper all keep their green surprisingly well. A slim brass frame lets the wall show through, so it feels light and modern. Our pressed flower crafts share more tricks for pressing greenery flat without browning.
You will need: small evergreen sprigs and fern tips, a heavy book, parchment paper, tweezers, a double glass floating frame and a few dots of clear glue.
How to make it: 1. Press the sprigs between parchment in a heavy book for one to two weeks. 2. Arrange them on one pane of glass in a tree shape, longest at the bottom, using tweezers. 3. Add a tiny dab of glue under each piece, close the frame and stand it on a shelf.
Christmas Tree Crafts for Adults Who Love to Crochet
Granny squares are back, and they make one of the most charming Christmas tree crafts for adults. Stitch green squares, join them into a stepped tree shape and set it on a cream background for a pillow cover that looks great on any sofa. If you enjoy hooks and yarn, our crochet home decor ideas will keep you busy well past the holidays.
You will need: worsted weight yarn in green, cream and brown, a size H crochet hook, a yarn needle, scissors and an 18 inch pillow form.
How to make it: 1. Crochet about fifteen small green squares and one brown square for the trunk. 2. Join them in rows of five, four, three, two and one, then add the trunk. 3. Crochet two cream panels, stitch the tree to the front and seam the panels around the pillow form.
Clay Tile Tree Hanging on Jute
Air dry clay turns Christmas tree crafts for adults into rustic, earthy art that looks straight from a pottery studio. Roll the clay, cut small squares, poke a small opening at each end and let them dry. For more ways to play with clay this season, try our clay Christmas ornaments. No kiln needed, just patience while they dry.
You will need: white air dry clay, a rolling pin, a square cutter or knife, a straw for openings, acrylic paint in green and white, gloss varnish, jute twine and a small stick for hanging.
How to make it: 1. Roll the clay a quarter inch thick, cut squares and poke an opening at the top and bottom of each with the straw. 2. Dry them for two days, then paint and seal with varnish. 3. Knot the tiles onto jute in rows that narrow toward the top and tie them to the stick.
Plywood Tree Silhouette With Tiny Shelves
Among Christmas tree crafts for adults, this one is part decor, part display case. A flat plywood tree painted soft sage gets little shelves across each tier, perfect for tiny houses, small jars or a collection of mini ornaments. Restyle it every week of December. If you like building simple shelves, our DIY floating shelves guide explains clean cuts and solid mounting. Adults should run the saw, and always sand edges smooth before painting.
You will need: a half inch plywood panel about 2 by 4 feet, a jigsaw, sandpaper, wood glue, small finishing nails, thin wood strips for shelves, sage paint and a brush.
How to make it: 1. Draw a tall tree shape on the plywood and cut it out with a jigsaw, then sand all edges. 2. Paint the tree and the shelf strips and let them dry. 3. Glue and nail the strips across each tier, then style the shelves with tiny treasures.
Vintage Brooch Tree in a Thrifted Gold Frame
Of all the Christmas tree crafts for adults here, a brooch tree is the most likely to become a family heirloom. Gather old pins and clip earrings from relatives, thrift stores and estate sales, then fasten them onto cream velvet in a tree shape. Set it in an ornate gold frame and it feels like museum art. Our handmade jewelry gifts are full of more ideas for giving old jewelry new life.
You will need: a thrifted gold frame with backing, cream velvet, spray adhesive, an assortment of brooches and clip earrings, wire cutters, needle nose pliers and strong jewelry glue.
How to make it: 1. Wrap the frame backing in velvet and glue it smooth on the back side. 2. Lay out the jewelry in a tree shape, biggest pieces at the base and a bright brooch for the star. 3. Pin or glue each piece through the velvet, then close the frame and let it set overnight.
Stacked Embroidery Hoop Tree
Five hoops in graduated sizes, each filled with a different fabric, stack up into a playful wall tree. Florals, plaids and gingham in greens and reds give it a happy, collected look. Tie them together with twine and hang the full tree from one nail. If you want to add stitched details later, our hand embroidery tricks make it easy. This is a great project for using small fabric remnants.
You will need: five wooden embroidery hoops from 3 to 8 inches, fabric scraps in greens and reds, scissors, fabric glue, jute twine and a small wooden star.
How to make it: 1. Stretch a different fabric in each hoop, tighten the hoops and trim the excess. 2. Lay the hoops in a stack, largest at the bottom, and tie each one to the next with twine. 3. Glue a wooden star at the top and hang the tree from the top hoop clasp.
Christmas Tree Crafts for Adults From Driftwood
Driftwood gives Christmas tree crafts for adults a calm, coastal mood. Pieces cut from longest to shortest are drilled and stacked on a metal rod, then twisted a little so the tree looks natural. A tiny driftwood star finishes the top. If you are styling shelves this season, our Christmas bookshelf decor has lots of ideas to frame it nicely. Let an adult handle the drill, and clamp each piece before you drill.
You will need: about twelve pieces of dry driftwood, a hand saw, a drill with a bit that fits your rod, a 12 inch threaded metal rod, a round wood base, a clamp and wood glue.
How to make it: 1. Cut the driftwood so each piece is a little shorter than the last. 2. Clamp each piece and drill through the middle. 3. Glue the rod into the base, slide the pieces on from longest to shortest and top with a small driftwood star.
Christmas Tree Crafts for Adults in Shiny Copper Wire
A copper spiral tree is the definition of simple and chic. One long piece of copper wire wraps around a cone form, then slides off as a shiny spiral that stands on a walnut base. If you enjoy shaping wire, our chicken wire crafts are another fun way to sculpt. Wear gloves, since cut wire ends can be sharp.
You will need: 12 gauge copper wire, a foam or cardboard cone form, wire cutters, round nose pliers, work gloves, a small round wood base and a drill bit the size of the wire.
How to make it: 1. Wrap the wire around the cone form from top to bottom, leaving a two inch tail at the base. 2. Slide the spiral off and adjust the spacing so it looks even. 3. Drill a small opening in the base, push the tail in with a dab of glue and curl a tiny loop at the top.
Macrame Wall Tree With Wooden Beads
Macrame rounds out these Christmas tree crafts for adults with a soft, textured tree that feels cozy and modern. Cream cotton cord knotted in a triangle shape and finished with a bead garland looks lovely in a bedroom or entry. You only need a few basic knots, so it is a great first macrame project. For more knotted holiday projects, our macrame Christmas decor ideas will show you garlands, ornaments and stars that match this tree perfectly.
You will need: 4 mm cotton macrame cord, a 12 inch wooden dowel, small wooden beads, sharp scissors, a measuring tape and a comb for the fringe.
How to make it: 1. Cut ten cords about 70 inches long and attach them to the dowel with lark’s head knots. 2. Tie rows of square knots, dropping one cord on each side every row to form a triangle. 3. Thread wooden beads on a cord across the front, trim the fringe into a point and comb it out.
