To make ours, we taped two yellow pipe cleaners together (end to end) to create one long pipe cleaner and then bent it to make a star shape. Now, of course, every Christmas tree needs to have a star sitting prominently at the very top. With these, we can pick up our projects, gently shake the excess glitter off and then easily pour it right out of the tray. Yes, we love making messes, but that doesn’t mean I want that mess spreading throughout the entire room :)

That glitter bomb is something we have experienced on numerous occasions, it’s right up there with paint splatters on the wall on my list of things I’d rather not have to cleanup again, and why we now use our art trays for any project that includes glitter, paint, or glue.

When you’re finished adding glitter and your glue is dry, you’ll want to shake off the excess so that you don’t create a glitter bomb that explodes the second your child tries to pick up their creation. We decided to keep things pretty simple this time around but you could easily add some pom poms, color in a few lights with some crayons, and so much more! Of course, if you have other craft supplies or would just like to spruce your craft up a bit, add whatever you like. Once your glue is dry, these spots will make the perfect ornaments for your tree! When your spiral is ready, use your glue and either add dots, if you’re using liquid school glue, or start making circles, if you’re using a glue stick, and sprinkle on some glitter before it has a chance to dry. Again, draw the spiral onto the paper if your child needs a little help. Once your circle is cut, go ahead and continue cutting to create your spiral. If they’re still learning or need a bit of guidance, it can be helpful to draw the circle on the paper and have them try to cut along the line. If your child is comfortable enough with a pair of scissors, hand them over and let them give it a go. The first thing you’re going to want to do is cut a large circle from your construction paper. An art tray (or something similar to make cleanup easier).Yellow pipe cleaners (2 for each Christmas tree that you plan to make).When it comes to the supplies needed for this craft, you’ll find that the list is pretty short and sweet. If you’re of the attitude that it just wouldn’t be Christmas without a little bit of sparkle though, you’re going to love it! Now, I’m just going to go ahead and warn you ahead of time, if glitter isn’t your thing, this probably isn’t the craft for you because trust me, you will be finding and sweeping up glitter for days.

While this spiral Christmas tree craft made out of construction paper will most likely fit into the latter of those two categories, it still made for a fun afternoon of crafting with both the toddler and the preschooler, and it adds little more holiday cheer to a household that is already eagerly awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus. Some things, like our homemade keepsake ornaments, have found a permanent place in our holiday decor, while others stick around about as long as the tree (hey, you can’t keep everything). Simple, yet festive holiday crafts are a favorite of ours, especially during this time of year. If your house is anything like ours, decorating for Christmas usually includes some glue, various craft supplies, and a whole lot of glitter.

Spiral christmas tree