Red and White Peppermint Chenille Tree

By: Kathleen George for STYROFOAM Brand Foam

This is a great gift for the yarn-lover in your life and an excellent way to use leftover yarn. A peppermint-inspired holiday decoration, this Christmas tree is so easy to make and even easier to enjoy! Use this DIY mini tree as a table decoration or set it in a bowl surrounded with ornaments for a striking Christmas centerpiece that your guests are sure to love. You can also make these trees in a variety of sizes and display them on your mantel for a fun decoration that is sure to add style and texture to your home.

Materials:

STYROFOAM™ Brand Foam Cone, 12" x 4"
STYROFOAM™ Brand Foam Disc, 6" x 1"
Chunky velour yarn: red; white
Felt scrap, Green
Chenille stem, Green
Mini ball ornament, red
Ruler
Straight pins
Scissors
Pencil
Lowtemperature glue gun and glue sticks
White, thick craft glue
Double-sided adhesive tape (Optional)

Instructions:

Glue and pin one end of red yarn to bottom edge of foam cone. Wind yarn up and around cone to create red rows 1/2" wide and 1/2" apart. Spot glue occasionally to secure. Note: Apply strips of double-sided tape to cone on three sides, from tip to base, for extra hold while winding yarn.
At tip of cone, trim yarn end and push into tip using sharp pencil. Spot glue tip to secure yarn.
Repeat Steps 1 and 2 for white yarn, filling in space between red rows. Secure yarn at tip.
Glue and pin one end of white yarn to bottom edge of foam disc. Wrap and spot glue yarn around disc edge. Glue base of cone to center top of disc. Wrap and glue yarn to top of disc, around cone, to completely cover surface; trim yarn end and carefully push into base of cone using sharp pencil.
Hand-cut four or more small holly leaves from green felt. Cut two 5" lengths from chenille stem. Glue one leaf to each end of chenille stem so leaves face up; let dry.
Gently bend chenille stems to give leaves shape; glue stem centers to yarn-covered base in front of cone. Glue ornament to center of leaf cluster; let dry.