How to Create a DIY Shaggy Christmas Tree

Today, I will be sharing with you how to create a DIY shaggy Christmas tree. This adorable shaggy Christmas tree craft is such a fun and budget-friendly DIY. Made using a cute Dollar Tree tin, some chunky yarn from Hobby Lobby, and a few other materials, this beautiful craft would be a beautiful addition to your holidy home decor. Wouldn’t also make an awesome Christmas gift?! Let’s get started!

Supplies you’ll need:

Tin bucket (Dollar Tree or similar size)
White chalk paint
Paint brush
Festive print paper napkin (for decoupage)
Mod Podge (or decoupage medium)
Sanding block
Antique wax
Green chunky yarn
Twine
Scissors
Foam rounds or whatever shape that would fit into your tin
Stick or dowel (to form the “tree trunk”)
Rocks or pebbles to weigh down bucket base
Spanish moss (for covering rocks)
Ribbon in various widths
Jingle bell or other small embellishment for the bow’s center
Spray snow (fake snow spray)
Fine white or silver glitter
Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Step 1: Paint Your Tin Bucket

Using an old tin bucket I had from The Dollar Tree (feel free to use any tin bucket of your choice), use white chalk paint and a paint brush to cover over the outside of the tin. I used a heat gun to dry my tin faster but a hair dryer would work great too (and safer). ;D If you use a heat gun, please be careful when drying tin as it does get very hot! When the first coat is dry, add a second coat of the white chalk paint, and let it dry.

Step 2: Decoupage Your Festive Holiday Napkin to Your Tin

Next, grab your festive Christmas print napkin of your liking and peel off the back layer of the napkin. I prefer to carefully rip around the edges of the print portion of the napkin I want on my project. This just gives a more rustic look I feel. Then, after you have the print portion of your napkin prepared, use Mod Podge to adhere the napkin print directly onto the front center of your tin bucket. With your paint brush, brush on a layer of ModPodge, carefully lay your napkin piece on top, then gently brush on one more light layer of ModPodge. Let it dry completely. Then, use a sanding block to sand off any napkin pieces that may still be hanging over the top and bottom of your bucket.

Step 3: Add Antique Wax

Next, we’re going to add some antique wax to give it a rustic look. Dip a chip brush in some antique wax and wipe some of the excess off on a paper towel. Go over your entire bucket gently with the remaining antique wax on the paint brush. Allow to dry.

Step 4: Use Chunky Yarn to Start Building Your Tree Branches

Take your green chunky yarn, and zig zag the it back and forth on your work surface. (I got mine from Hobby Lobby.)

Next, tie it tight in the middle using some twine. Then repeat this process, but make the next yarn cluster a bit smaller than your first. Repeat this process again, making another small yarn cluster. You should have 3 yarn clusters that are three different sizes (gradually getting smaller) tied together in the middle.

Next, use scissors clip off the ends/loops of each yarn cluster, almost like you are making two pompoms. Set aside.

Step 5: Fill Your Bucket Tin with Foam

Grab your piece(s) of foam and put squish them into your tin to fit. I purchased my foam rounds from Hobby Lobby. If they do not fit inside the bottom of your bucket, you will need to trim the it using scissors. Hot glue the first piece of foam down inside the bottom of the tin bucket. Then, hot glue the second piece of foam on top if needed. You’ll want your tin to be mostly filled with foam to give support to your tree “trunk”.

Step 6: Create Your Tree Trunk

Find a good size stick from outside or use a wooden dowel, and push it down through the center of both pieces of foam, creating a hole. Then, secure the stick into the center of the foam using hot glue. Allow to dry.

Step 7: Add Rocks for Weight

Add some rocks to the top of the bucket around the stick for some weight. This will help give your project stability to not tip over when you add chunky yarn tree branches.

Step 8: Build Up Your Tree Branches

Use twine to tie on the largest chunky yarn cluster you made around the stick first. You can use hot glue for this part if you prefer, or both, to make it extra secure. Then, tie on the second smaller yarn cluster over top of the first (largest) cluster. Lastly, hot glue the smallest yarn cluster over top of the middle layer, as the smallest yarn cluster will be the top of your Christmas tree. Allow to dry.

Step 9: Cover The Base of Your Tree With Spanish Moss

To cover any of the foam peaking through and the rocks, use hot glue to add some Spanish Moss over top. Go all the way around the bottom of your shaggy tree.

Step 10: Use Scissors to Trim Your Tree

Using your scissors, go through your project and use scissors to trim/shape up anything that may need adjusted.

Step 11: Make a Bow

Grab some ribbon of your liking and let’s make a cute bow! For this project, I layered the ribbon down in an “x” pattern starting with the thickest strip of ribbon, then stacking narrower and narrower ribbons on top. I made sure each strip of fabric was visible when laying on top of the other. Then I tied the bow together in the center using a piece of twine. Trim away any excess.

Step 12: Add A Dusting of Snow

Next, take some fake spray snow and spray over your shaggy tree branches. I added a bit of glitter over top of the fake snow while it was still wet to give it some extra sparkle! Allow to dry.

Step 13: Finishing Touches

Lastly, we’re going to add the final embellishments. Hot glue your bow to the top of your tree and hot glue a little bow on top in the center. That’s it! Enjoy!

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What do you think? Do you plan on giving this project a try? Let me know in the comments below!

If you decide to make this DIY I’d love to hear from ya! You can drop a comment below or message me on any of my social media pages. Hope you have a blessed weekend and as always remember to keep it simple. Catch ya next week my friends!

How to Create a DIY Shaggy Christmas Tree