Recycled Christmas Tree Ornament Craft for Kids

This Christmas tree ornament craft uses recycled cardboard and wrapped string to make adorable ornaments easy enough for toddlers and preschoolers to make.

Making homemade Christmas ornaments was always one of my favorite holiday traditions growing up. The weather was always a little chillier, and our days spent inside were full of crafting. This recycled Christmas tree ornament craft is such a fun Winter activity for kids.

Recycled Tree Ornament Craft for Kids

These are so cute, and, you don’t need a Christmas tree to enjoy them! Hang them from the window, omit the string and set them on the mantle, or add a popsicle stick stake in the back and place it in an indoor potted plant. The choice is yours!

This Christmas tree craft is great for toddlers and preschoolers. Wrapping the painted cardboard in string is a great fine motor and pincer grasp workout for little fingers. Who knew crafting at Christmas time could be so good for handwriting in the future? That’s the power of activity and play-based learning right there.

For more string wrapped and recycled ornaments to make, try our string wrapped Rudolph ornament or the recycled egg carton snowman!

What you need to make the Christmas tree ornament craft:

Recycled Cardboard

Tempera Paint (if doing with toddlers)/ Acrylic Paint (if making with older children)

Paintbrush

Green String or Yarn

Buttons

Glue

Scissors

Decorative String or Ribbon

How to make the cardboard Christmas tree ornament craft:

Cut tree shapes, logs and stars from cardboard. If you are making this craft with toddlers, pre-cut the cardboard as this can be tricky for kids just learning how to cut. Older kids might need the cardboard traced before cutting, or some children might like to cut their own interpretation of these shapes!

Paint the trees green, the logs brown and the stars yellow.

Glue the painted shapes together.

Wrap the trees with green string or yarn and secure with glue. String wrapping is great for fine motor skills for children of any age.

Glue buttons all over the trees. Children can get creative with this step. Provide them with a variety of shapes and sizes, and let them decorate their Christmas tree however they like!

Loop decorative string or ribbon and glue onto the back of the tree to hang.

If you don’t have a Christmas tree to hang these on, they make adorable door hangers, or set on a table as DIY Christmas decor. Have so much fun with this Christmas tree ornament craft!