Newspaper Christmas Tree

If you've been reading my blog then you probably knew that a Martha Stewart Christmas craft couldn't be too far away. Well here it is (and it will likely be the first of many!). My husband is a journalist so I was really excited when I saw this idea for a Shimmering Stacked Tree made out of newspapers. And then when I read the instructions and saw just how easy it was to create, I was even more excited! Such a pretty looking Christmas decoration that you can make out of something you probably already have lying around the house.

Here's what you need for this project. There's also a video of Martha creating a tree here.

Tools and Materials

4 ounces Sculpey clay
10-inch, 6mm thick knitting needle or receipt spike
Felt
Craft glue
Clear glass glitter
2 pieces 6-by-6-inch card stock
Newspaper
Utility knife
Bone folder
Adhesive spray
Hot-glue gun and glue
2 paper stars

Stacked Tree How-To1. Roll and flatten 4 ounces sculpting clay to form dome shape. Poke knitting needle horizontally through flat area of clay dome. Remove knitting needle.

2. Bake clay in oven at 275 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Reinsert needle into baked clay. Glue felt on bottom of base for surface protection.

3. Apply glue, then glitter, to the base. A receipt spike can be used to create a smaller tree instead of building a base using the above instructions.

4. To form tree, place 2 pieces of 6-by-6-inch card stock onto spike for stability.

5. Cut newspaper into 50 sheets of each size:
-6 by 6 inches
-5 1/2 by 5 1/2 inches
-5 by 5 inches
-4 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches
-4 by 4 inches
-3 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches
-3 by 3 inches
-2 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches
-2 by 2 inches
-1 1/2 by 1/2 inch

6. Cut 25 1-inch sheets of newspaper.

7. Begin poking pieces of newspaper onto spike in descending order, folding and unfolding each piece of paper using a bone folder.

8. Spray tree with adhesive and immediately sprinkle with diamond dust. Set aside and let dry for 10 minutes.

9. Using a hot-glue gun, adhere 2 paper stars back-to-back to top of tree.