D.I.Y. Mini Spool Christmas Tree

Crafted by Joy.

Supplies

• 12 Mini Wooden Spools
• Print or Patterned Paper
• Distress Ink in Vintage Photo
• Ink Applicator
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Adhesive 
• Translucent Tape
• Twine
• Hot Glue Gun
• Die Cut Star
• Glitter
• Ribbon
• Pencil

All supplies used for this project can be found at our store.

The wooden spools we are using for this tutorial are 3/4 in. x 1 in.

Set aside one of the wooden spools as we will be using it later in this tutorial.

Let's get started by applying ink to 11 of the spools.

1.  Take a spool, and apply ink to the top, bottom, and around the edges. You can go as light or as dark as you would like.

2.  After applying the ink, set aside the spools to let them dry.

3.  Select print or pattered papers of your choice.

My Mind's Eye "Merry Little Christmas" 6 x 6 Pad

 
4.  Measure 3/4 inch for the width and cut the strip from the paper.

5.  Then cut the strip to a 2.75 in. length.

You can use an adhesive of your choice. For this tutorial, we will be using transparent tape.

6.  Take a small strip of tape to adhere one of the paper to the spool.

7.  Roll the paper around the spool and take another small strip of tape to seal the paper.

8.  Repeat this until all 11 spools are wrapped in paper.

Next, we will create the base of the tree with the spool we set aside in the beginning.

9.  Use transparent tape to adhere the twine to the spool. 

10.  Wrap the twine all around to completely cover the spool. 

11.  Tie the twine to the spool and remove any excess twine.
12.  Apply ink to the twine and also the top, bottom, and edges of the spool.

Once done, set aside. We will organize the spools to get them ready for gluing. 

13.  Arrange the spools in the order you want them to appear on the tree. You will arrange two sets of two spools and two sets of three spools. We will leave the spools for the star and base on their own

 

14.  Using a hot glue gun, glue the sets of spools, as shown in the photos below. Be sure to align the paper seams of each set of spools as you glue them together.

15.  Apply glue to the base spool, then place a set of three spools (paper seam down) firmly to the glue.

16.  Apply glue to the bottom seam of the other set of three spools, firmly adhering it on top of the set you just glued to the base. 

17.  Repeat this procedure for the sets of two spools.

18.  Apply the last spool, which your star will go on, to the very top. After gluing all the spools together, this is what your tree should look like.

19.  You can use any "tree topper" of your choice. For this tutorial, we used a die cut star from our Die Cut Center and covered it in red glitter.

20.  Using your hot glue gun, apply the star to the top spool.

If you wanted to turn this tree into an ornament, take a ribbon and create a loop by tying it into a circle. Then use the hot glue to apply it to the back of the top spool.