DIY Chopstick Christmas Tree

I am big into crafting with recycled goods. I also absolutely love making Christmas decorations. I feel that it makes the decorations more personal. And if it can be some thing from trash to treasures, maybe I can make a small difference in the world for the biggest holiday with the most refuse. Last year, I think I spent the entire month of November looking on Pinterest and other websites to find ideas for how to make Christmas decorations using things from around the house.

But this year I have a different project using chopsticks. This year I wanted to make a small Christmas tree. I also got the idea from Pinterest. My husband has a preference for using disposable bamboo chopsticks instead of reusable ones, even at home. I really dislike this because I feel like it’s such a waste so I always hold onto them just in case I can use them somewhere else. I didn’t have as many as I expected because I had use them on a different project but for my purposes, I was able to make a small tree. 

You’ll need several chopsticks, something to drill holes into the chopsticks with, a thin bamboo skewer and some glue. I used both wood glue and superglue, however I think hot glue would’ve worked better and faster for this. You will also need a saw to cut the chopsticks with. 

I cut the first chopstick in half and that was to be my middle branches. Everything after that was set off center so that 1/2 of the chopstick would be on the bottom of the tree and the shorter end of the chopstick would be on the top. I ordered them in descending order.

And then eyeballed it and drilled holes through the middle of every piece. I recommend drilling holes before saw into the smaller pieces because it would make it easier to put the holes in the tiniest, shortest bit.

See those tiny "off" cuts, I needed to grab pliers to hold them down while I drilled.

I sanded down at the ends and any stray splinters coming off. Then I spray painted. If you’re going to decorate the branches any further, I recommend doing it now. Then all you have to do is put your bamboo skewer through the middle and glue them into place where you want them staggering them like real branches.

I glued plastic jewels that my son had brought home from the game center. These are the little jewels that come in the scooping games that most people leave behind or toss out.

It was after this point that my son wanted the tree to have leaves so I decided to take the time and effort, of which it took more than I thought, to wrap each branch in shiny tinsel yarn. That wasn’t much fun. (That is why I said to decorate beforehand.)

But my tiny tree is finished and it’s cute and has a special place on the shelf now. I have a few other projects I’m either in the middle of making or plan to start soon, all with recycled items.