Make pretty yarn Christmas trees with Mod Podge! This easy holiday craft is fun, festive, and perfect for decorating or gifting.
Skills Required: None. Even if you’ve never crafted before, you can make these trees. You’ll be dipping yarn in Mod Podge and wrapping.
If you’re looking for a simple yet stunning holiday craft, these Mod Podge yarn Christmas trees are the perfect project! With just a few materials and a little bit of effort, you can create unique trees that add a handmade touch to your seasonal decor.
I personally love the texture that these add to my mantel.
You can also use these as a charming centerpiece for your holiday table, arrange them on your mantel for a winter wonderland effect, or even string tiny fairy lights around them for a cozy glow.
I tried LED candles inside of them and they look kind of amazing (don’t use real tealights – LED only please).
This project is a great way to use up yarn scraps you may already have in your craft stash. Whether you go for classic holiday hues or mix in modern, unexpected colors, the results are always beautiful.
The Mod Podge hardens the yarn into a sturdy yet lightweight structure, so your trees will last for years to come.
How are you going to apply the yarn? There’s really no rhyme or reason to it, you just want to make sure that it’s all overlapped and there aren’t many blank spots. These yarn trees so simple, a child could make them.
So grab some yarn, Mod Podge, and foam cones, and get ready to create some holiday magic! These DIY trees are proof that simple materials can lead to stunning results—perfect for decking the halls with handmade charm.
Gather These Supplies
- Styrofoam cone(s) – 3 of different sizes. You can reuse them after this project!
- Plastic wrap
- Mod Podge – I used almost an entire 16 oz. bottle
- Sponge paint brush
- Yarn
- Pin
- Scissors
this project can get messy!
You’ll want to make sure to do this project in an area where some Mod Podge can drip on the surface . . . also your hands are going to get coated in medium. It’s a little bit messy – but the results are totally worth it.
Get the printable how to card for this project below:
Yarn Christmas Trees
Equipment
- Plastic container to hold Mod Podge and dip yarn
Materials
- 3 Styrofoam cone(s)
- 1 roll Plastic wrap
- 1 bottle Mod Podge Matte 16 oz
- 1 skein yarn green
Instructions
- Use plastic wrap to cover the cones. You’ll need several pieces. Just wrap as tightly as you can – you only need one layer (but it’s fine if the plastic wrap overlaps).
- Place ½ cup to 1 cup of Mod Podge into the middle of your plastic tray. Cut a length of yarn to work with (several feet long).
- Take the length of yarn and roll in around in the Mod Podge in the tray. You can squeeze off the excess. It needs to be coated in the Mod Podge, but doesn’t need to be dripping. You just want it saturated.
- Beginning at any point on the cone (I recommend starting in the middle), wrap the yarn around the cone, right on top of the plastic wrap. Continue wrapping the yarn around the cone until the entire piece is secure.
- Repeat the same thing you just did, this time with the second cone.
- Wrap the third cone with a length of yarn. Then you’re going to go back and repeat on the three cones, wrapping an additional length of yarn on each. Let dry.You don’t want to do too many lengths of yarn on the cone at once before allowing some dry time. The yarn will get too heavy and start to slide down the cone. I recommend doing two lengths at a time and then letting dry before layering.
- Continue dipping and wrapping yarn on all three cones until they are completely covered, to your desired thickness. I used approximately three-fourths of a 380-yard skein of yarn (medium weight). Let dry completely, preferably overnight.
- Starting with the smallest cone (it’s the easiest), start twisting the yarn tree off the cone. Hold the base with one hand and the tree separately and twist. If you need, you can compress the tree slightly and pull. It will bounce back. Repeat with the remaining trees, then remove all the plastic wrap to display.
Notes
If you enjoyed these yarn wrapped Christmas trees, I’d love for you to check out these other holiday ideas:
Chalkboard Trees • Countdown Chalkboard • DIY Christmas Village • Fabric Christmas Bowl • Frosted Mason Jar Luminaries • Gnome Wood Gift Tag • Hang Stockings Without a Mantel • Holiday Door Hangers • Merry Christmas Decor • Peace Wood Decor • Salt Dough Ornaments • Tree Mantel Decor • Wood Tree Centerpiece • Wood Trees with Book Pages
Too cute! How did you do the red and white snowflake tree? Is it just material mod podged on?
Thanks.
I loved the concept of creating a tree with yarn. Even though I followed your instructions to the T, there was absolutely no way I could, nor my big strong husband slide it off the Styrofoam. What didn’t I do?
Hi Shelley! So some cling wrap is thin and sometimes MP can even soak through a little bit. Also I’m wondering if you maybe wrapped the yarn too tight? It’s not your fault! What you could do is spray the foam with cooking spray before putting on the cling wrap. OR wrap the yarn more loosely.
I made a yarn basket with cotton yarn and acrylic yarn but I would like to stiffed it, so do use the mod podge as is or should I thin it out a tiny bit? I also made it with handles.
Hi Cheryl! You’ll want to use fabric stiffener: https://modpodgerocksblog.com/fabric-stiffener/
Why would my Mod Podge not dry clear?
If it’s put on too thick or if it’s in a humid environment! I’d give it more time. If it’s thick in certain areas it might take longer.