Tea Bag Folding Christmas Tree Pattern

Ms. Venegas has been using origami to make rosettes and medallions since 2003. She shares art/craft techniques and ideas online.

Easy Origami Fold for Paper Christmas Trees

The holiday trees I have created with the tea bag folding technique starts with the origami water bomb. You can have Christmas trees made to display as hangers or on greeting cards following the steps below.

Materials and Supplies List

• light-weight holiday motif paper for folding
• decorative string for hangers
• scissors
• glue
• craft needle for threading hanger

Step-By-Step Instruction Summary

1. Choose and cut paper.
2. Fold square tiles into origami water bombs.
3. Squish and form kites on both sides.
4. Trim folded tile.
5. Glue and assemble pieces.
6. Apply a tree stand.

This is a popular pattern of my own design. The first trees were added to ACEO and collector cards. After making about 10 collector cards, I decided to try a bigger version for note cards.

All over patterned paper makes a lovely tree. In the following instructions, the paper tiles are cut from 8 x 11 inch printer stationery.

In-Depth Step-By-Step Tea Bag Fold Christmas Tree

Step 1

Start with 12 square tiles 1 1/4 x 1 1/4 inches. The finished tree measures 3.5 inches high.

Step 2: Make the Origami Water Bomb

Fold two ways diagonally

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Step 3

Take the right flap of the water bomb to the middle and squish. It should look like the tile above.

Turn it over and squish the right flap again. You will have a kite shape on each side.

Step 4

Fold all twelve squares in the same matter.

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Please note that you should omit step four and use the fold for two sided tree ornaments. See pictures for hanging trees further down the page.

Step 5

Assemble the note card tree by lining up three tiles and gluing them together.

In all, make 2 three tile rows and 2 two tile rows. Leave two singles.

Put small dab of glue in the top tips of each unit and slide into the next row just enough to hold them together. Your tree should look like the one below.

Completed Card Embellishment

Christmas Tree Stand

Two Finished Cards

Make a Christmas Tree Ornament With the Same Pattern

This design is two sided. Do not cut the tab off as I show in Step Four above.

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Other Tea Bag Folding Instruction Projects

• How To Make Paper Folding Wreaths
  Make paper wreath card embellishments using origami folds

I hope these tea bag folding instructions were useful. Use the question session below if you need clarification on any part of the process.

© 2009 Sherry Venegas

Are you enjoying tea bag folding? Leave a message or question.

ComfortsOfHome on December 22, 2013:

What a fun way this would be to recycle all those bits of pretty paper that are too small to do other things with - much better than simply chucking them, and you get the crafty fun activity as well.

Sherry Venegas (author) from La Verne, CA on December 21, 2013:

@myrnacarr: Hi Myra, all the papers here are printed computer stationary. The snowflake is scrapbooking paper.

tonyleather on December 21, 2013:

Very attractive, but somehow a bit pointless, I fear, as I think this a complete waste of time and paper! Sorry!

Ruthi on December 20, 2013:

How beautiful! I am all thumbs when it comes to paper crafts so I really do appreciate you tea bag trees and snowflakes.

myrnacarr on November 06, 2013:

Yes I am but WHERE oh WHERE can I get the wonderful 'Poppy' paper?

Myrna Carr (UK)

Lorelei Cohen from Canada on December 22, 2012:

Thank you for this absolutely delightful Christmas craft project. Tea bag folding is almost like origami and the step by step instructions of this holiday tree really make your pattern stand out from others. I hate when I visit a site and all I find is a link to a different article. You rock girl. Merry Christmas. (Wish I could bless this one twice.)

Sherry Venegas (author) from La Verne, CA on March 25, 2010:

@anonymous: Leena,

I really appreciate your use of my tea bag folding site. I am not done with the water bomb yet, so come back once in awhile. There just may be something new posted.

Sherry

Sherry Venegas (author) from La Verne, CA on March 25, 2010:

@anonymous: Mary,

Thank you and enjoy tea bag folding. I hope these lessons are easy to follow!

Sherry