A Christmas tree with a difference

Don’t just decorate the tree- make one!

Make your own paper fans and transform them into Christmas trees. Use plain or patterned paper or a mixture of both. Think twice before throwing away offcuts of wrapping paper, as you can use these for the trees.

Each fan differs in size by three centimetres, so you can make the trees in a variety of sizes. Create a miniature forest of tiny trees, make a stunning table centre piece or really commit and make a tree as tall as yourself!

You can also use the Christmas tree as an extravagant topper for a wrapped present. If including a star, pierce a hole through the top point and thread some string through. Hang on the real Christmas tree as an ornament.

You will need: 14 paper rectangles, two of each measuring 9 x 25cm, 12 x 26cm, 13.5 x 26 cm, 16 x 28cm and six measuring 6 x 22cm; glue stick, PVA glue, pencil and ruler. Use paper card if making larger trees.

Measure out the rectangles on your sheets of paper with the ruler and cut out with the scissors.

Place a paper rectangle – if it’s patterned make sure the patterned side is down – facing you lengthways. Fold it over by 1cm, concertina style until you get to the very end. If there is a spare strip of paper sticking out then trim this. Fold the fan in half and glue the two edges together to form a semi-circle. Repeat with the next paper rectangle and then glue the two semi-circles together to make a whole circle.

Concertina
circles

Repeat these steps with the remaining paper rectangles until you have seven concertina circles. Set aside two of the 6 x 22cm circles to use for the tree trunk later. Dab a little glue onto the centre of the biggest circle and stack the next size down on top of this. Repeat until all of the circles are stacked, securing with more glue. Finally, turn the tree over and glue the two reserved 6 x 22cm circles underneath the biggest circle.

Cut out two small stars from yellow or gold paper.

Snip down the middle from the top of one star and from the bottom of the other. Slot them into each other and place this on top of the tree.