How to Make Stunning Ribbon Christmas Trees That Actually Look Professional

How to Make Stunning Ribbon Christmas Trees That Actually Look Professional

Ribbon Christmas trees are everywhere right now, and I’m about to show you exactly how to make them without ending up in a tangled mess of hot glue and frustration.

You know that feeling when you see a gorgeous DIY project on Pinterest and think “I could totally do that,” only to have it turn into a crafting disaster?

I’ve been there more times than I care to admit.

But here’s the thing about ribbon Christmas trees—they’re actually way easier than they look once you know the tricks.

Why Your Ribbon Tree Probably Looked Terrible (And How to Fix It)

Most people dive straight into these projects without understanding the basic structure.

They grab whatever ribbon they have lying around, slap some hot glue on a cone, and wonder why it looks like a craft store explosion.

The secret isn’t about being “crafty” or having some magical artistic gene.

It’s about understanding which method works for what you’re trying to create.

The Dead-Simple Scrap Ribbon Ornament Method

This is where I tell everyone to start because you literally cannot mess this up.

I made my first batch while watching TV with a glass of wine, and they turned out adorable.

What You Actually Need:

• Straight sticks or cinnamon sticks (6 inches long)
• Ribbon scraps cut into 9-inch strips (raid your gift wrap drawer)
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Twine or string
• Sharp scissors that actually cut (this matters more than you think)

Here’s How It Goes:

Start tying those ribbon scraps down the length of your stick.

Bunch them close together so they overlap—don’t space them out or you’ll see too much stick.

Use about 13-16 ribbon strips per ornament.

The more variety in your ribbon colors and patterns, the better these look.

Once you’ve tied all your ribbons on, grab those sharp scissors and start cutting the ribbon into a tree shape.

Start wide at the bottom and taper up to a point at the top.

Pro move: Fray the edges slightly by tugging at them or carefully running a lit match along the edge for that rustic, farmhouse look everyone’s obsessed with.

Glue or tie a loop of twine at the top for hanging.

Add a little wooden star or button as a topper if you’re feeling fancy.

These work perfectly hanging from your actual Christmas tree, tied around gift packages, or dangling from a decorative ladder in your living room.

The Paper Mache Cone Method (Two Ways That Look Completely Different)

This is where things get more impressive-looking but still totally doable.

I finished three of these while my toddler napped, so we’re not talking about some week-long commitment here.

Grab some paper mache cones from any craft store—they’re stupid cheap and you’ll kick yourself for not trying this sooner.

The Pleated Version (Looks Expensive, Costs Nothing)

Wired ribbon is your best friend here.

Set up a piece of tape on your work surface about 3 inches wide as your measuring guide.

Fold your ribbon back and forth across this guide to create consistent pleats before you even touch the cone.

Heat up that glue gun and start at the bottom of your cone.

Attach the pleated ribbon, working around the base in a circle.

Cut the ribbon when you complete each row and start fresh for the next one.

As you spiral up toward the pointy top, the ribbon won’t lay perfectly flat anymore—and that’s completely fine.

It adds dimension and makes it look handmade in a good way, not a “my kid made this in art class” way.

This entire process takes about 8 minutes per tree once you get the rhythm down.

The Looped Version (My Personal Favorite)

Prop your cone up on a drinking glass so you can rotate it easily.

Attach your ribbon to the very bottom of the cone with hot glue.

Create loops by folding the ribbon to the right and securing each loop with a dab of glue.

Work all the way around the base before cutting your ribbon and starting the next row up.

Don’t stress about making every single loop identical—the slight variations actually make it look more interesting and less craft-store-generic.

You can knock out two or three different styles in about an hour while binge-watching whatever’s on Netflix.

The supplies are so cheap that making mistakes doesn’t even matter.

The Foam Cone Method (When You Want Something That Lasts)

Foam cones from the dollar store are the backbone of this method.

You’ll also need bobby pins or straight pins to secure everything.

Cut your ribbon into 3-inch strips (5 inches if you’re working with a bigger cone—adjust accordingly).

Start at the bottom with 13-15 ribbon pieces.

Fold each strip so both ends meet, creating a little ribbon loop, then pin it to the foam base.

Critical detail everyone misses: Layer each ribbon piece so they touch or slightly overlap.

If you leave gaps, you’ll see ugly foam peeking through, and the whole thing will look amateur.

Work your way up the cone in rows.

Offset each new row so your ribbon loops cover up the pins from the row below—this is what separates the professional-looking trees from the sad ones.

When you reach the top, you’ll have some visible pins.

Cover them with a small strip of ribbon secured with hot glue, or stick a pretty ornament or star on top.

These foam-based trees are sturdy enough to pack away and reuse year after year, unlike the paper mache versions that get dinged up in storage.

How to Ribbon an Actual Full-Size Christmas Tree (Without Looking Like You Wrapped It for Shipping)

This is advanced-level stuff, but I’m including it because the technique is shockingly simple once you see it demonstrated.

You need wired