Picture a stack of old magazines sitting by the recycling bin, their glossy covers curling at the corners. Now picture that same stack on your mantel, sprayed gold and glittering under a string of tiny lights.
That’s the whole magic of a magazine Christmas tree. It starts with a bit of folding, usually in front of a movie, and ends with a decoration people lean in to inspect. Kids love making it, grandparents remember it fondly, and your wallet barely notices it. The ideas below cover which magazines work best, easy ways to finish your tree, and small tricks that keep it standing tall.
1. The Reader’s Digest Pocket Tree
Small, stiff magazines like Reader’s Digest are the old-school favorite for a good reason. The pages hold a fold without flopping, and the compact size gives you a neat little tree for a bookshelf or windowsill. Start by folding the top corner of each page in toward the spine, then fold that flap in again to make a long, narrow triangle. Every so often, squeeze the folded pages together so they stay out of your way while you work on the next ones. Give it a coat of deep green paint and you’ve got a vintage-looking tree that fits almost anywhere.
2. A Full, Fluffy Catalog Tree
Thicker means fuller, and nothing is thicker than an old department store catalog. Some people remember making these from catalogs about two inches thick, then spraying them green and gluing on ornaments and garland. A big IKEA or mail-order catalog works too, though you’ll need real patience, because hundreds of pages take a while. Put on a podcast and fold in short sessions so your fingers don’t get sore. The reward is a generous, rounded tree with lots of layers. Since catalog paper is often thinner, fold the pages a little firmer and press them flat as you go so the shape stays crisp.
3. The Classic Green Spray-Painted Tree
If you want your tree to look like an actual tree, green paint does most of the work. Fold your magazine first, then take it outdoors and set it on a sheet of cardboard so the overspray lands somewhere harmless. Spray in light, even coats rather than one heavy pass, and turn the tree between coats so the paint reaches the folds. Those little gaps between pages tend to stay white if you rush. Let it dry fully before you touch it. Once the paint sets, nobody would guess it started life as a magazine until you tell them, which is half the fun.
4. Gold Glitter Spray Tree
For something a little more glam, reach for a can of gold glitter spray instead of plain green. A magazine of about 95 pages took nearly two cans to cover well, so grab an extra if yours is thick. The metallic finish catches candlelight beautifully and hides the printing underneath, even if your magazine was about bodybuilding. Spray from a bit of a distance so the glitter lands evenly and doesn’t pool in the folds. This one looks wonderful on a console table or beside a mirror, where the light can bounce around. A gold tree needs very little extra decoration, so you can keep things simple.
5. Wet Paint and Glitter Sparkle
Kids especially love this version, because it involves sprinkling. Spray the tree with green paint, then, while it’s still wet, shake loose glitter over the top and let it stick on its own. Hold the tree over a tray or a sheet of newspaper so the extra falls where you can collect it and use it again. You’ll end up with a tree that sparkles from every angle without any fuss. If you’d rather skip the spray, dab a glue stick along the edges of the folded pages and sprinkle the glitter that way. It’s messier, in the best possible way, so cover your table first.
6. Tissue Paper Star Decorations
A star punch turns scraps of tissue paper into dozens of tiny stars in about five minutes. Press a glue stick onto the tree, then stick the stars on in whatever pattern you like, scattered or in rows. For the topper, cut a star from computer paper and glue a piece of magazine or tissue paper on top for a bit of color. Bright tissue shades look especially cheerful against a green or white tree. The whole thing is light, cheap, and easy for young children to handle without a glue gun in sight. If you don’t own a punch, small hand-cut stars look charming too.
7. Wire Vines, Poinsettias, and a Bird on Top
Craft stores often have wire-stemmed vines on clearance, and they’re perfect for dressing up a folded magazine tree. One crafter picked up a vine with a little bird for the top and four poinsettias, and spent only about eight dollars on all the supplies. Tuck the wire stems between the folded pages and bend them so they hold on their own. Place the poinsettias low and toward the front, where they’ll catch the eye first. The bird goes at the peak, perched like it’s keeping watch. A gold tree with red poinsettias feels instantly festive, and everything can be pulled off and reused next year.
8. Beaded Garland and Glue Gun Tinsel
Sewing beads around the tree creates a garland that looks lovely and helps hold the folded pages in place. Thread a needle with strong thread, string on your beads, and wind the strand around the tree, stitching through the pages now and then to secure it. If you’d rather skip sewing, drizzle glue gun droops down the tree and let them harden into tinsel-like strands. Both options look more delicate than you’d expect. Try silver beads on a green tree, or red beads on a white one. A small, handmade touch like this makes the tree feel like a keepsake instead of a quick craft.
9. A Tiny LED Light Tree
Little battery-powered LED lights are one of the easiest ways to make your tree feel alive at night. Weave a thin string of lights between the folded pages, letting the bulbs peek out of the triangles like they’re growing there. Keep the battery pack tucked at the back or in the base, where it won’t show. Warm white lights look softest, but a multicolor string brings back that nostalgic childhood feel. Turn off the room lights once you’re done and see how the folds cast tiny shadows around the tree. Because the lights are low-heat and low-power, they’re a much safer choice than anything that plugs into a wall.
10. Painted Macaroni Ornaments
Dry macaroni has a surprising way of looking elegant once it’s painted. Spread a handful of shapes on newspaper, paint them gold or any color you like, and let them dry completely. Then glue them onto the tree in rows, circles, or a loose cascade. Shells, bows, and tubes each add a different texture, so mixing them gives you something that looks a lot more expensive than a pantry staple. This one is a lovely rainy-day project with kids, since they can handle the painting while you handle the gluing. Tiny hands will have a great time deciding which pieces go where.
11. A Three-Tier Stacked Tree
One tree is cute, but three stacked together feel like a real evergreen. Make three trees of different sizes, ideally from different-sized magazines, and stack them with the biggest at the bottom and the smallest on top. A little glue works, and so do bobby pins. Slide a pin or two at the top and bottom of each join to hold the pieces firmly together. The stepped shape adds height and gives the whole tree more drama on a sideboard or entryway table. It’s also a clever way to use up a mixed pile of magazines, since you don’t need three matching copies to make it work.
12. The Pencil Y-Stand Trick
A common problem is a tree that leans or squashes at the bottom, and this fix is wonderfully simple. Glue three pencils together to form a sturdy tripod, then glue three extra folded halves at the base to make a Y-shaped support. Coat the whole thing in glue and push it into the center of your tree so it acts as a hidden stand. Another way to get a steadier base is to tuck the overhanging point of each page inside the triangle as you fold, which gives you a nice flat bottom. Both tricks keep the tree upright without anyone seeing how.
13. A Cone or Cylinder Inside for Support
If your tree sags a little, a simple cone made from construction paper can hold it upright from the inside. Roll the paper into a cone or a short cylinder, tape the seam, and slide it into the center of the tree before you join the two halves. It gives the folded pages something to lean on, so the shape stays rounded rather than flattening out. When you glue the halves together, squeeze the tops for a good minute, since they tend to come unstuck. A little patience here saves you from a drooping tree on December 20th. A cardboard tube works just as well if you have one handy.
14. A Santa from Red Paint and Cotton Balls
Here’s a fun twist for anyone who wants more than a tree. Fold the magazine the same way, then spray it red instead of green. Glue a row of cotton balls around the middle for Santa’s white belt, and add a few more at the bottom for a fluffy trim. Draw or glue on a little face near the top, then add a hat in white and red. The result is a cheerful Santa that looks great beside a green tree on the same shelf. Mrs. Claus is simple to make too, with a different color and a little apron. Kids tend to remember this version for years.
15. A Tabletop Forest Centerpiece
Why stop at one tree when a little forest looks so charming? Make several trees from magazines of different heights, then group them down the center of your dining table. Paint some green, some gold, and a few white for a wintery mix. Scatter a bit of fake snow or a few pinecones at the bases to tie everything together. Keep the group close so the trees look like they belong to the same family, with the tallest toward the middle. A forest like this works as a centerpiece for Christmas dinner and costs next to nothing. After the holidays, you can fold a fresh one next year.
Final Thoughts
Grab one magazine this week and fold just five pages. That’s it. Once you see the triangles start to stack up, you’ll understand why people have been making these trees for decades. Pick the idea from this list that feels most like your home, whether that’s a gold glitter tree for the mantel or a small green one for the kids’ room. Leave the cover unfolded until you’ve finished several pages, since it helps keep everything from getting mixed up. Keep the folding for a quiet evening, and save the decorating for a weekend afternoon. By the time December arrives, you’ll already have a tree you made yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What kind of magazine works best for a magazine Christmas tree?
Thicker magazines make fuller trees, and small, sturdy ones like Reader’s Digest hold their folds especially well. Catalogs work too, though they take longer to fold.
Q: How long does it take to fold a magazine Christmas tree?
A magazine of around 95 to 160 pages usually takes a couple of hours, depending on how fast you fold. Working in short sessions makes it feel much easier.
Q: How do you keep a magazine Christmas tree standing up?
Tuck the bottom point of each page inside the fold for a flat base, and join the front and back covers with glue, tape, or staples. A hidden cone or pencil stand inside adds extra support.