These layered ribbon trees add a dramatic look to your winter decor. This tutorial will teach you how to make your own gorgeous winter tree scene.
Note: This post is updated from the original post from November 2011. It is one of the more popular tutorials I have done. Enjoy!
When I started making the trees I tried to keep three things in mind:
- I wanted a little winter forest
- It needed to match my more contemporary/modern decor
- I wanted to use varying shades of silver and white, with lots of sparkle
Creating these trees was a labor of love. I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t a quick, done in 30 minutes craft. It was a process and each tree took about an hour. But the results are dramatic and once you get the hang of folding the ribbon, the project will go by much quicker.
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Supplies~
- two 18×5 Styrofoam™ Brand Cones
- two 15 inch Styrofoam™ Brand Cones
- two 12 inch Styrofoam™ Brand Cones
- wired ribbon** or fabric
- straight pins
- scissors
- adhesive spray and glitter (optional)
** If using wired ribbon, be prepared that this project requires quite a lot of it. The 18×5 Styrofoam™ Brand Cone required just over 20 yards of the ribbon. If you have a spool from a warehouse store then you are set! To be more cost conscious, you can use 1/2 yard of fabric (for each tree) cut into ribbon size strips.
Directions~

Take the ribbon and fold it across itself, then fold it down to form a point. Cut it off the spool.
Take your ribbon point and pin it to the very bottom of the Styrofoam™ Brand cone, so that the ribbon hangs over the edge. Repeat the process all the way around the cone. For the next row, pin the ribbon so that the point overlaps the edges of the two ribbons below it. Repeat this process until you reach the top. Once at the top, cut the ribbon strips longer. Fold the sides of the ribbon in, so that the wire edges don’t show. Pin the point down on the tree, and take the longer end and roll it in and pin it to the top, being careful to hide the pins in the ribbon.
I try to make the top of the tree look pointed, but that is just a personal preference.
I used fabric on the dark gray trees, and to give them a sparkly, icy look, I sprayed the finished tree with adhesive spray and applied liberal amounts of glitter. I know, I know. They say that glitter is the herpes of the craft world. (Insert inappropriate comment here.)
Don’t you just love these layered ribbon trees. I placed them on candle holders to add a variety of height to the display. I think it would look fantastic displayed with micro LED lights.
What about you? Do you do a big craft project over the holidays?
beautiful! your photos and blog design are so clean and chic 🙂
Beautiful idea! I love this!
Those are beautiful!
So classy and beautiful!
Oh very nice! I love that you can customize the colors of the ribbons with the holiday decor in your own home. Thanks for sharing. Can’t wait to try this!
These are so gorgeous and unique! love them!
Would love for you to stop by and link up to our “Home For The Holidays” link party!
Holy wow! These looks time consuming but gorgeous!! Love them, Jessa!
These are beautiful trees. I would love for you to share your talents at Bacon
Time. The linky is Fri-Monday. Come strut your stuff.
These turned out really beautiful. Great job! I hope you’ll stop by The Corson Cottage and share them at our {Home for the Holidays} link party every Friday in December. Happy Holidays!
These are quite stunning! I am always looking for a new idea which is effective. Thank you for sharing!
these are fabulous! – wish i had the time {and patience!} to make just one .. your collection is perfection 🙂
These are beautiful – great job! Visiting from TT&J!
These are amazingly beautiful! I love the colors together. You really did a lovely job!
These are GORGEOUS! I’d love for you to link up to my Homemade in December Link Carnival.
http://blissfulanddomestic.blogspot.com/2011/11/homemade-in-december-link-carnival.html
Your ribbon trees turned out beautiful! I love the ribbon colors you used, with just the right amount of sparkle.
I’d love for you to link these up to my Christmas themed link party! http://afishwholikesflowers.blogspot.com/2011/11/help-save-my-christmas-spirit.html
Hope to see you there!
Ooooh I have two of these cones and you just made up my mind of what to do with one of them! I’m doing an aqua, red and white Christmas this year and I know I’ve got the perfect fabric lying around. Thank you for sharing!
Wow! Those look great. Not sure I have the patience to take the time, so I’ll just admire them from afar. I started on a coffee bean covered tree, but have yet to finish it because it’s so time consuming. 🙂
A coffee bean covered tree! That sounds really cool!!
This is beautiful! I may have to do this with my bedroom decor!
~Kate
acreativecookie.blogspot.com
Wow this looks like a super tedious project, but they turned out amazing! I’m loving them!!!
These are so great! I love the pine cone look they have going on too. All the work certainly looks worth it!
Oh how much do I LOVE these! So sparkly and pretty!
Jo-Anna
I love your trees. Thanks for sharing.
Oh my… these are amazing! Love the grouping you’ve done and your photography is outstanding!
Shared on FJI Facebook and pinned for SNS 110. 🙂
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150484948741141&set=a.192514281140.164586.175378011140&type=1&theater
Donna
These look amazing!
I’d love for you to link up and share: http://tutusandteaparties.blogspot.com/2011/12/pinteresting-link-party-week-sixteen.html
Love this unique look! Awesome little trees 🙂
These are amazing. How long did they take you to make. They look pretty time consuming. But the end result is definitely worth it. Would love you to stop by DIY Home Sweet Home.
Jamie
http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/
P.S. I have a giveaway going on. Come over and check it out.
P.S.S. I have a linky every Monday would love you to stop by Monday and link up.
These look great…however, I cannot for the life of me figure out how to fold the ribbon into a point…I get the fold over itself, but how to get to the point…? Help?
These are SOOO pretty & dramatic! Thanks for sharing 🙂 Feel free to post over at my Spend Less. Give more Link Party : http://www.summitstreetjoy.com/
-happy crafting & merry christmas!- lauren
I just love these! Very chic!
This is the cutest tree I have seen and I’ve seen lots. My fabric stash will be reduced after I make some of these. Thankyou.
I just love these! I included them in my ‘tree’ round up today. Thanks for sharing!
http://designdininganddiapers.com/2011/12/top-10-tuesday-13-diy-decorative-trees/
These are so cute! So modern and chic 🙂 Great job!
These are GORGEOUS and so rich in texture!!! I’m pinning! Next year I’m coming back for your tutorial 🙂
Thanks SO much for sharing these beauties at the Winter Wonderland party over at my place!!
These are awesome! Not sure if I would have the attention span to actually finish one {let alone 6!!}–but they are gorgeous!
I love the monochromatic tones you’ve used here. I think this design would lend itself well to a multitude of styles of ribbon or jacquard fabric trim.
These are so beautiful! I love the material you chose too. Pinned.
Love the trees. Pinned for next year!
They are stunning. I have a Christmas Tree collection and these would be a beautiful addition. I must share.
These are fabulous! I love all of the sparkle! Thank you for linking up with Merry Monday – I’ll be featuring your ribbon trees at our upcoming party. Merry Christmas!
Awesome creativity. I like this.
These are elegant and gorgeous. I love the colors you selected because they do create a beautiful winter scene.
Wow, these look like a lot of work but so worth it – stunning! Pinned 🙂
These are elegant and gorgeous.