As far as unconventional Christmas trees go, this one takes the cake! Forget trying to DIY a giant plywood tannenbaum, keep things simple with an easy-to-make mini balsa wood tree.
I love this tree for a variety of reasons, its point at the top of the “easy-but-totally-high-impact project chart” being just one. Really what I love about it the most is its size: perfect for those with small spaces/apartments, perfect for kids’ rooms (if they want to have their own little tree), and perfect as part of your holiday decor (perhaps to display a few favorite ornaments). Heck, you could even give it as a gift. Its uses and reasons to be loved are endless, so let’s get crackin’ on this mini project!
What you’ll need:
- 4 – 6 sheets of 1/32″ x 3″ x 36″ balsa wood (this should be available at craft, art, and hobby shops)
- pencil
- exacto/utility knife with sharp blade
- cutting mat
- hot glue gun and hot glue sticks
- 3/8″ thick dowel 20″ long
- hole punch tool (these are available at craft and art supply stores)
- hammer
- ruler
- birch log slice (or any wood circle or block that has a bit of weight and a flat surface)
- 2″ nail
- drill with 3/8″ boring bit (optional)
- tree limb templates (feel free to enlarge for a bigger tree. at 100% these templates will make a tree 11″ wide and about 20″ tall)
- template 1
- template 2
- template 3
