Medium35 min / Ages 6+
Snowman Paper Craft for Kids
Make a layered paper snowman with a teal hat, red scarf and two presents. English PDF with 18 colour-illustrated steps and full-size cutting templates.
English PDF · 15 pages$1.59
More challenging / English PDF
Folded Paper Christmas Tree Craft
Make a raised paper Christmas tree from three green accordion fans. A 12-page English PDF with 15 colour steps, 1 cm fold guides and printable patterns.
45 minutes · Ages 8+ with adult help · 12 pages · 15 steps
Fold three green rectangles into accordion fans, bind their tops and layer them on an 18 x 24 cm white backing. The raised pleats make the Christmas tree branches. Add a yellow star and a coral gift. The guide uses 12 paper pieces and 15 pictured steps. Suggested ages 8+ with adult help; allow about 45 minutes plus drying.
$1.99USD / one-time price
Preview checkoutPreview shop. No payment is collected by this demonstration.
Materials
- 1 A4 or US Letter sheet of WHITE card for an 18 x 24 cm backing; 1 sheet of GREEN paper (80-100 gsm, easy to fold); YELLOW 3 x 3 cm; BROWN 2 x 5 cm; CORAL 4 x 4 cm; WHITE scraps for the ribbons.
- Child-safe scissors, ruler, pencil, eraser and glue stick. Two small paper clips can hold the wrapped tops while the glue sets. An adult should help with the star points.
- Cut the backing with a ruler: it is not a printed pattern. For the green pieces, cut solid outlines and fold the dashed lines. Keep the short top end pinched while its band dries.
- Print only pages 11-12 at Actual size / 100%. Check each 5 cm test bar; a colour printer is not needed.
Inside your PDF
- 12-page English PDF: finished view, preparation, colour instructions and 2 full-size pattern pages
- 15 numbered steps, each with its own colour illustration
- 12 paper pieces with named colours and cut quantities; backing measured and cut with a ruler
- Dedicated fold-direction diagrams, 18/14/10-panel checks, three 1 cm binding bands and fan placement measured from the backing top.
- A 5 cm calibration bar on every pattern page; A4 and US Letter supported at 100%
Before you make this Christmas paper craft
Fold three green rectangles into accordion fans, bind their tops and layer them on an 18 x 24 cm white backing. The raised pleats make the Christmas tree branches. Add a yellow star and a coral gift. The guide uses 12 paper pieces and 15 pictured steps. Suggested ages 8+ with adult help; allow about 45 minutes plus drying.
Explore Christmas paper crafts- Making method
- Accordion folds and layered paper on a backing
- Backing card
- 18 x 24 cm, portrait
- Green rectangles
- 18 x 8 cm; 14 x 6.5 cm; 10 x 5 cm
- Fold spacing
- 1 cm; 18, 14 and 10 panels
- Guide
- 12 English pages; 15 pictured steps; two pattern pages
Materials to prepare
- 1 A4 or US Letter sheet of WHITE card for an 18 x 24 cm backing; 1 sheet of GREEN paper (80-100 gsm, easy to fold); YELLOW 3 x 3 cm; BROWN 2 x 5 cm; CORAL 4 x 4 cm; WHITE scraps for the ribbons.
- Child-safe scissors, ruler, pencil, eraser and glue stick. Two small paper clips can hold the wrapped tops while the glue sets. An adult should help with the star points.
- Cut the backing with a ruler: it is not a printed pattern. For the green pieces, cut solid outlines and fold the dashed lines. Keep the short top end pinched while its band dries.
- Print only pages 11-12 at Actual size / 100%. Check each 5 cm test bar; a colour printer is not needed.
Details to watch
- Use 80-100 gsm green paper. Thick card is harder to compress into neat 1 cm pleats.
- Bind the short top end, then spread the bottom. Gluing every pleat flat removes the raised branch effect.
- The three tree fans open to about 90 degrees, not a full circle. Print pattern pages 11-12 at 100% and check the 5 cm bars.
How the craft comes together
These are the main making stages. The complete English PDF has 15 individually illustrated steps and the project patterns.
Cut the backing and green pieces
Measure an 18 x 24 cm white backing with a ruler. Cut green rectangles measuring 18 x 8 cm, 14 x 6.5 cm and 10 x 5 cm, plus three green binding bands measuring 4 x 1 cm.
Fold three accordions
Mark every 1 cm across each rectangle. Fold the first left-hand panel away, turn the sheet over and fold the next panel back. Keep alternating, rather than rolling the paper. Check for 18, 14 and 10 panels.
Bind the tops and open the fans
Pinch the upper 1 cm of each folded stack. Wrap one green band around it and glue the band ends together. Once set, hold the bound top and gently spread the loose bottom into a fan about 90 degrees wide.
Build the tree from the bottom upward
Centre the brown trunk on the card. Place the largest fan lowest, then the middle fan, then the smallest. Their bound tops sit 10.3, 5.7 and 2.4 cm from the top of the backing. Glue only the outer back panels, leaving the middle pleats raised.
Add the star and gift
Centre the yellow star above the smallest fan, covering its bound neck. Add the coral gift near the lower right, then its white horizontal and vertical ribbons. Let the joins set before lifting the card.
Inside the English PDF
- 12-page English PDF: finished view, preparation, colour instructions and 2 full-size pattern pages
- 15 numbered steps, each with its own colour illustration
- 12 paper pieces with named colours and cut quantities; backing measured and cut with a ruler
- Dedicated fold-direction diagrams, 18/14/10-panel checks, three 1 cm binding bands and fan placement measured from the backing top.
- A 5 cm calibration bar on every pattern page; A4 and US Letter supported at 100%
Questions before you start
Is this an origami Christmas tree made without glue?
No. It is an accordion-fold and glue project on a backing card. The guide includes cutting, three binding bands and the placement of three raised fans.
What paper should I use for the folded branches?
Use thin green paper around 80-100 gsm. The three rectangles are 18 x 8 cm, 14 x 6.5 cm and 10 x 5 cm, with folds every 1 cm.
How do I keep the tree branches raised?
Bind the top of each accordion stack, then spread the bottom gently. Glue only the two outside back panels to the card, leaving the middle pleats raised.
Do I need to print the whole PDF?
No. Read the colour instructions on screen and print only pattern pages 11-12 in black and white at Actual size / 100%. Measure the white backing with a ruler.
Which children is this craft aimed at?
Suggested ages 8+ with adult help. It is the more challenging project in this Christmas collection, with repeated folds, small star points and glue drying time.
Written guide and illustrations: Paper Craft Guides. Updated 9 November 2026. Images are tutorial illustrations; review the sample pages when choosing a project.
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