Free Printable Christmas Tree Templates [PDF] Blank, Cut out Craft

The holidays are an ideal time to get creative and add some homemade touches to your celebrations. One way to spruce up your home is by making your own custom Christmas tree decorations. From ornaments to garlands, there are endless possibilities for DIY tree trimmings that reflect your personal style. The good news is you don’t have to start from scratch. With the variety of free printable Christmas tree templates available online, you can find designs that work perfectly as bases for your handmade holiday projects.

In this article, we’ve gathered an assortment of beautifully designed templates that will give your decorations a professional look without the effort. Whether you want to make elegant paper snowflakes, whimsical tree toppers, or classic ornament shapes, these templates have you covered. With just some simple craft supplies, you can turn these templates into gorgeous decorations that will make your Christmas tree shine. Let’s explore the many possibilities with these easy and free printable Christmas tree templates.

The Symbolism of the Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree, a prominent and cherished symbol of the holiday season, carries with it a rich tapestry of history and symbolism. Its evolution and significance include:

1. Pagan Roots: Before Christianity, cultures such as the Romans, Celts, and Vikings adorned evergreen trees, wreaths, and boughs during winter solstice celebrations as a reminder that spring would return. The evergreen tree, in its persistence through winter, symbolized eternal life and the cyclical nature of the seasons.
2. Christian Adoption: Over time, as Christianity spread, these trees began to be associated with the Christian celebration of Christmas. One legend says that 16th-century Protestant reformer Martin Luther was the first to decorate a tree with candles, symbolizing the stars shining over Bethlehem.
3. Symbol of Life: For Christians, the evergreen tree’s unchanging color represents the eternal life that Jesus offers. The triangle shape of the tree can also be seen as a symbol of the Holy Trinity.
4. Festival of Lights: The illuminating lights on the tree signify Christ as the light of the world. Over time, these lights also came to represent hope, love, and warmth.
5. Decorations: Ornaments and tinsel are more than just decorative elements. They can symbolize the blessings and gifts in one’s life. The star atop the tree typically represents the Star of Bethlehem, which guided the Wise Men.
6. Coming Together: In many cultures, decorating the Christmas tree is a communal activity, symbolizing unity, family, and love.

Christmas Tree Templates

The Christmas tree is an iconic symbol of the holiday season. This Christmas tree template allows you to easily craft your own decorative tree.

The template includes outlines of a classic pine tree shape in various sizes. Simple trace the desired size onto cardstock, construction paper, fabric, or another material. Cut it out and decorate the tree as desired with ornaments, garland, tinsel, bows, and more. Get creative with patterns, textures, and craft materials to make your tree unique.

Customize your handmade Christmas tree to suit any holiday decor theme. Go classic with red, green, and gold accents or try something new like rustic burlap and pine cones. Kids can color or paint fun designs on their trees. Hang the finished tree ornament on the wall, set on a tabletop, or attach to a gifts as a decorative embellishment. This simple DIY Christmas tree template jumpstarts your seasonal crafting.

Importance of Templates in Holiday Crafts

Templates play a crucial role in holiday crafts, particularly as Christmas approaches. Here’s why they’re so significant:

1. Consistency: Whether making multiple Christmas cards, ornaments, or any other holiday craft, templates ensure a uniform and consistent result. This is especially useful if crafting is a family activity where multiple hands are involved.
2. Ease for All Ages: Templates make it possible for people of all ages, from children to grandparents, to engage in crafting. Simple outlines can guide children in cutting shapes, while more intricate templates can challenge adults.
3. Time-saving: Instead of measuring and drawing each item from scratch, templates speed up the process, letting crafters focus on the fun aspects like decorating.
4. Inspiration: Sometimes, the hardest part of crafting is figuring out where to start. Templates can serve as a starting point, spurring creativity. Once the basic shape is cut out using a template, the embellishing can be unique and individual.
5. Diverse Crafts: From 3D paper ornaments to fabric patterns for stockings, templates can be adapted for various materials, making them versatile tools for a broad range of holiday crafts.
6. Recycling and Upcycling: With the right templates, old materials like used Christmas cards, worn-out fabrics, or newspapers can be transformed into something new, promoting a sustainable and eco-friendly holiday.
7. Sharing and Gifting: Templates can be easily shared with friends and family. Giving someone a crafting template, perhaps with some basic supplies, can be a thoughtful gift, sparking creativity in another person.

Types of Christmas Tree Templates

There are a variety of Christmas tree template styles to choose from when planning your tree theme and making your own homemade ornaments and decorations. In this article, we’ll introduce you to the main types of Christmas tree templates available and what makes them unique. Whether you prefer a classic look with symmetrical shapes or a more whimsical style with room for creativity, there’s a template that will fit your vision. From silhouette templates for shadowbox designs to coloring page templates for fun crafts with kids, these are the top styles to know about. With the right Christmas tree template, you can produce beautiful ornaments, garlands, gift toppers, and other adornments that will make your tree stand out.

Outline Templates for Coloring and Drawing

Outline templates are the simplest yet one of the most versatile forms of Christmas tree templates. They provide a basic shape of the tree, leaving the details and decorations up to the individual’s imagination. Ideal for children and adults alike, they cater to a variety of artistic skills.

• Educational Use: For young children, these templates are a great way to practice coloring within lines, understanding symmetry, and learning about the different elements of a Christmas tree. Teachers and parents can use them as educational tools during the holiday season.
• Artistic Exploration: For the artistically inclined, an outline can serve as a blank canvas. Beyond just coloring, it becomes a space to doodle, sketch, and experiment with different artistic styles, from watercolors to charcoals.
• Personalized Decor: Once colored or drawn upon, these templates can be cut out and used as personalized holiday decor, be it hanging on the actual tree or adorning the walls.

3D Printable Models for Crafting

The advent of 3D printing has transformed the crafting world. With 3D printable Christmas tree templates, crafting enthusiasts can bring their designs to life in a more tactile and dynamic manner.

• Dimensional Decor: Unlike flat cutouts, 3D models can stand on their own, making them perfect tabletop decorations or centerpieces for holiday events.
• Customization: Many 3D printing programs allow users to tweak and adjust the template. This flexibility means that crafters can add or remove branches, adjust the tree’s height, or even design intricate details on the tree.
• Sustainable Crafting: One significant advantage of 3D printed crafts is that many 3D printers use sustainable materials. Not only are you creating beautiful holiday decor, but you’re also being eco-conscious.

Templates with Decorative Elements

These templates go beyond just the outline of a tree. They often come adorned with common Christmas decorations, such as baubles, stars, and tinsel, pre-drawn or designed onto them.

• Ready-to-Use: For those who want quick and hassle-free decorations, these templates are ideal. Simply cut, possibly color, and they’re ready to use.
• Guided Artistic Expression: While they come decorated, there’s always room for enhancement. They act as a guide, especially for younger children, teaching them about traditional tree decorations.
• Diverse Styles: These templates come in a variety of styles, from cartoonish designs for fun children’s crafts to elegant, intricate designs suitable for formal holiday cards or decorations.

Digital Design and Graphics

In this digital age, Christmas tree templates are not limited to paper and craft. Digital templates for Christmas trees are used widely across various platforms and for different purposes.

• Digital Greetings: Using graphic software, one can embellish and customize these templates to create personalized e-cards or digital holiday greetings to send to friends and family.
• Online Decor: For those with digital platforms or social media profiles, these designs can serve as festive decorations, enhancing online spaces during the holiday season.
• Versatile Formats: Digital Christmas tree templates come in various file formats, allowing them to be used in video animations, website designs, or even printed in different resolutions.

In essence, Christmas tree templates, in all their forms, encapsulate the spirit of creativity and festivity. They bridge traditional crafting methods with modern technology, ensuring that the timeless symbol of the Christmas tree remains ever-evolving and always cherished.

Using Christmas Tree Templates for Crafts

Whether you want to organize a holiday craft night with friends or enjoy an afternoon of crafting with the kids, these templates streamline the process. We’ll cover how to make framed and 3D ornaments, felt garland, little gift toppers, and so much more using pre-made Christmas tree templates. With a dash of imagination and some simple supplies, these templates will take your tree from ho-hum to stunning in no time. Let’s get into the festive spirit and liven up the season with Christmas tree templates!

Paper and Cardstock Crafts

Paper and cardstock crafts are classic mediums for holiday crafting, offering versatility and ease of use. Utilizing Christmas tree templates on these materials is both cost-effective and creatively fulfilling.

• Material Diversity: The variety of paper and cardstock, from colored to patterned or even textured, allows crafters to choose the perfect backdrop for their tree designs. The resulting creations can range from elegant and shimmery to rustic and natural.
• Layering Techniques: Using templates, crafters can layer different elements, creating a 3D effect on a flat surface. For example, a cardstock tree can be adorned with paper baubles or stars.
• Accessibility: Paper crafts with templates are accessible for all ages and skill levels, making it an ideal family activity. Plus, they require minimal tools – often just scissors and glue.

Christmas Cards

Personalized Christmas cards are a cherished holiday tradition, and templates can help in creating memorable and unique greetings.

• Personal Touch: Using a template ensures consistency, but the choice of materials and decorations allows each card to be uniquely tailored, adding a personal touch to holiday wishes.
• Incorporating Photos: Some templates are designed to incorporate family photos within the tree shape, creating a beautiful juxtaposition of tradition and personal memories.
• Variety of Styles: From minimalist and modern designs to intricate and vintage looks, there’s a template to match every aesthetic, ensuring that the card resonates with its maker and receiver.

Tree Ornaments

Christmas tree templates aren’t just for creating representations of trees; they can also be the foundation for ornaments to decorate a real tree.

• Homemade Charm: Ornaments crafted using templates have a homemade charm, often becoming keepsakes for years or even generations.
• Innovative Materials: Beyond paper, ornaments can be made from materials like polymer clay, felt, or even metal, with a template guiding the design.
• Memory Makers: These ornaments can be dated and stored for years, building a collection that tells a story of different holiday seasons and crafting adventures.

Table Centerpieces

The dining table becomes a focal point during holiday feasts. A Christmas tree template can guide the creation of a festive centerpiece.

• Dimensional Displays: Using thicker materials like foam or cardstock, a 3D tree can stand tall amidst holiday dishes.
• Interactive Designs: Some centerpieces, crafted using templates, can be interactive, like advent calendar trees with small pockets for treats or notes.
• Complementary Decor: By choosing a template style that matches the overall holiday decor, the centerpiece seamlessly integrates into the festive tableau.

Fabric Crafts: Creating Appliqués and Embroidery Designs

Fabric crafts add a cozy, tactile element to holiday decorations. With the help of templates, fabrics can be transformed using techniques like appliqué or embroidery.

• Textile Variety: Felt, burlap, cotton, or silk – each fabric offers a different aesthetic, and templates help in adapting the tree design to the chosen textile.
• Sewing Projects: Templates can guide sewing projects, from creating patches for holiday quilts to designing festive pillow covers.
• Wearable Art: For those adept at embroidery, a Christmas tree template can be the blueprint for a festive design on a holiday sweater or a winter scarf.

Wood Crafts: Making Festive Decor and Gifts

Wooden crafts, with their enduring and rustic charm, make for wonderful holiday decor. With the precision of templates, wood can be shaped, carved, or painted into festive creations.

• Long-lasting Decor: Wooden decorations, from wall hangings to tabletop trees, can last for years, becoming a part of the family’s holiday tradition.
• Gift Possibilities: A wooden tree-shaped trinket box or a carved ornament can be a heartfelt gift, made special with the guidance of a template.
• Versatility: Whether it’s thin balsa wood for delicate ornaments or thick oak for a sturdy decoration, templates can be adapted to various types of wood, making the crafting possibilities endless.

Children’s Activities with Christmas Tree Templates

Coloring Pages and Books: There’s something wonderfully traditional about giving children a set of crayons and letting them bring a blank page to life. Christmas tree templates offer a delightful canvas for young ones to express their creativity. Providing various templates, from simple outlines to intricate designs with ornaments, presents, and snowflakes, can challenge and entertain different age groups. For younger children, larger designs can help improve their motor skills, while intricate designs can be given to older kids to hone their attention to detail. Consider compiling a selection into a homemade coloring book, creating a festive treasure trove of holiday scenes just waiting to be brought to life with color.

DIY Stickers and Wall Decals: In today’s DIY age, why not let children craft their own Christmas tree stickers and wall decals? Begin with blank Christmas tree templates. After coloring and decorating them, a simple adhesive backing or a store-bought adhesive sheet can turn their artwork into stickers. Alternatively, for wall decals, using removable adhesive sheets can help ensure the walls remain damage-free. Imagine the delight on a child’s face when they see their art prominently displayed on walls, windows, or furniture! This activity not only boosts their artistic confidence but also adds a personal touch to holiday decorations.

Educational Activities: Counting Ornaments, Matching Games, etc.: Christmas tree templates can be much more than just a canvas for colors; they can also be the foundation for a variety of educational games. Here are a few:

1. Counting Ornaments: Design a tree with a specific number of ornaments, and have children count them. As they grow in confidence and ability, increase the number or introduce more complex counting patterns.
2. Matching Games: Create two sets of identical Christmas tree templates. Color or decorate one set and leave the other blank. Children can then be tasked with replicating the exact design, honing their memory and observation skills.
3. Alphabet Ornaments: For children learning the alphabet, design ornaments with letters. Ask them to place the ornaments in order, or to identify the letter you point to.
4. Math Challenges: For older children, ornaments can bear mathematical symbols or equations. They can be tasked with solving problems, or matching equations with their solutions.

How to Make a Design Christmas Tree Template

A beautifully decorated Christmas tree is a hallmark of the holiday season. While you can always buy pre-made ornaments and decorations, designing your own from scratch makes for a more heartfelt and personalized tree. If you want to try your hand at creating custom Christmas decor, making your own tree template is the first step. With a DIY Christmas tree template, you can craft matching ornaments, garlands, tree toppers, and other adornments.

Though it may sound complex, the process for making a template is actually quite simple with just a few easy steps. In this part, we’ll walk through the complete process for making a Christmas tree template tailored to your tree size and decor style. We’ll cover choosing a template material, how to draw and cut your tree design, adding ornament outlines or other markings, and more. With these simple how-to steps, you’ll quickly have a custom template ready for all your Christmas crafting and decorating needs. Let’s get started designing a keepsake template and making this holiday season extra crafty.

Step 1: Choose Your Medium and Tools

Before you start designing your template, decide on the medium you will use. For beginners, using simple paper and a pencil is a great start. However, if you’re more digitally inclined, graphic design software like Adobe Illustrator or even simple tools like Microsoft Paint can be effective.

For example, consider a basic paper and pencil approach. You’d want a clean, white sheet of paper, preferably in a larger size like A3 to give yourself ample drawing space. Alongside, keep an eraser and a ruler handy. If you’re leaning more digital, launch your design software, set up a new document, ensuring the canvas size is appropriate for your intended use.

Step 2: Determine the Size and Shape

Before diving into the design, determine the size and general shape of your Christmas tree. Do you want a tall, slender tree or a short, wide one? Using your chosen medium, draw a simple triangle, with the base being the bottom of the tree and the top point being the tree’s peak. This will serve as a basic guideline.

Imagine, for instance, drawing a triangle on your paper or digital canvas. The length of the triangle’s base will dictate how wide your tree is, while the height will determine its tallness. This triangle doesn’t have to be perfect; it’s merely a guideline for the tree’s overall shape.

Step 3: Add Details to the Outline

Now that you have a foundational shape, it’s time to add details. Start by refining the edges. Instead of straight lines, give your tree some zig-zag edges to mimic branches. Decide on the density of the branches; do you want them close together or more spaced out?

Take the earlier triangle example. Starting from the base, draw small zig-zags or “u” shapes along the triangle’s sides to create the illusion of branches. Make them varied in length and angle for a more natural look. Once you reach the top, you can decide if you want to end in a point or maybe add a small circle for where a star or angel might sit.

Step 4: Integrate Design Elements

With the basic tree shape in place, decide on the decorative elements you want in the template. Do you want your template to have ornaments, stars, tinsel, or garlands? Draw or integrate these elements onto your tree. Remember, the design can be as simplistic or intricate as you want.

For instance, on the tree you’ve drawn, you might add small circles to represent baubles. Perhaps you draw a wavy line wrapping around the tree as a garland. You might decide to place a large star at the tree’s peak. Each element you add brings more character to your template.

Step 5: Refinement and Finalization

Examine your tree design. Refine any rough edges, adjust any design elements, and ensure that the overall look matches your vision. If you’re working on paper, you can trace your design onto a fresh sheet to create a clean final version. If you’re digital, utilize layers and editing tools to refine and tweak.

Considering our ongoing example, after observing your drawn tree, you might find that some ornaments seem out of place, or maybe a section of branches looks too dense. Correct these by erasing and redrawing or using digital tools to move and adjust. Once satisfied, save or secure your design.

Conclusion

With this wide selection of free printable Christmas tree templates, you have plenty of options to jumpstart your holiday crafting and decorating. Whether you need a template for ornaments, a garland, or a complete tree outline, there are designs here that will spark your creativity. Download them, print them out, and use them to make unique handmade decorations that reflect your personal style.

Customize them as needed to match your vision – add photos, color them in, or embellish them with glitter and sequins. The possibilities are endless when you begin with a quality Christmas tree template. Display your homemade creations proudly on your tree this season. And remember, you can come back to this collection of templates any time you need fresh inspiration for Christmas crafts. Have fun making memories and decorations! Wishing you a handmade holiday filled with DIY cheer.

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