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DIY Button Christmas Tree Table Topper

Hi Friends, this year has been such a challenge. I want it to be Christmas so badly and I know I’m not alone! To help you get in the Christmas spirit I’m going to show you how to make this easy Button Christmas Tree.

Tall picture of button Christmas Tree with decorated tree in the background and some text overlay.

You can put this on a shelf or create a few different sizes of button Christmas Trees and put them on a table top or grouped as part of a centerpiece.

Button Christmas decorations are fun and easy projects. You can even make and gather them together with these cute little Button Christmas Ornaments I made as well. Just cut the string a little shorter if you don’t use them on your Tree.

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How to Make a Button Christmas Tree

This will be a cute and easy project. The best part is you can make them as big or as small as you want. The size will depend on the form you use. You’ll need a form of some sort if you want them to stand.

I used Styrofoam for mine but you can make or purchase a paper mache cone too.

How many Buttons do I need to make a button Christmas Tree?

That depends on how tall and how many Button Christmas Trees you want to make. For this project I used one 8″ tall Styrofoam cone and that took around 120 buttons in various sizes. I used light and dark Pink, light and dark Green, and White buttons for my tree but you could use any favorite Christmas color combo.

The largest buttons were 1.25″ and the smallest about 3/8″ with some of them layered for interest. The smaller ones work great for filling in spaces or layer on bigger buttons.

Button Christmas Tree Decorations

There are so many ways to use buttons. I love to layer them and changing up the look. The fun part is there are so many color combinations you can choose that aren’t traditional. That’s why I chose pink and green for mine.

For the best result use buttons in varying shades of each color. OK, Let’s get started on this easy and fun DIY craft.

I’ve mostly been a traditional Christmas colors decorator. Then a few years ago I made this adorable Paint Stick Christmas Tree and it really helped move me out of my red and silver decor scheme.

Step 1: Separate and inventory your buttons.

I took a few minutes to separate the buttons by color and size. Doing this I was able to see what some of the styles were and if I wanted to use them in a specific way

Green and pink buttons sorted by color

Step 2: Prep the Styrofoam cone.

If you use darker buttons you may want to give your Styrofoam a coat of dark paint, or something that compliments your buttons. I wasn’t worried about any of the white showing through since my colors were brighter.

Step 3: Start gluing on the buttons

  • With the cone on a flat surface grab your glue gun and start gluing buttons on at the bottom.
  • After the bottom row is on you can turn it on its side if that is easier for you.
  • Work in various sizes of buttons and use smaller buttons to fill in some of the spaces left between larger buttons.
  • Pay attention as you get close to the top and try not to go above the rim with the buttons.
Styrofoam cone with pink and green buttons glued on the bottom edge.
Pink and green buttons glued onto Styrofoam cone

Fill in big gaps at the top with those tiny and cute buttons. If you look at finished tree you’ll see I tucked some tiny buttons behind the other buttons.

Top of Styrofoam cone with button glued right to the top edge.

Step 4: How to Create a Button Christmas Tree Topper

Because my cone was flat on the top I needed to create a topper for it. If you’re using a paper mache cone then your Christmas tree cone will be pointed.

  • Grab a button about the size of the top area of the button tree. This will be the bottom.
  • You want it to be as big as the top of the cone. Slightly bigger is ok, just don’t let it protrude over the buttons on the cone.
  • Find your smallest button, or a fancy one where the eyes are hidden (see my clear one below). This will be the top.
  • Start stacking buttons in alternating colors in graduating sizes until you get a nice cone shape between the top and bottom button.
  • After you have the stack you want start at the bottom gluing them together until you glue on the very top button for the tree.
  • Now glue that cute little stack of buttons to the top of your button Christmas Tree to finish it off.
fingers holding two buttons stacked with smaller clear button on top.

You may have to come up with a special way to top your tree. A metal star for jewelry glued on the very top would look amazing.

small stack of pink and green buttons to top the button Christmas tree
Stack of green and pink buttons with a clear topper.

Step 5: Adding “Ornaments” to your Button Christmas Tree

The last part is fun, it adds a little extra punch to your button tree. Push in some pearl floral pins randomly into some of the spaces between the buttons.

They look like ornaments, or even sort of like little a string of lights shining on the tree.

Fingers pushing floral pins into completed button Christmas Tree.

And Done!! Now you can make a few more for a beautiful table scape.

This isn’t the best picture but here is my cute DIY Button Christmas Tree along with the Button Christmas Ornaments I made at the same time.

Button Christmas Tree and Button Christmas Ornaments together on table.

This picture is much better of the cute little tree. It look great with that White Tinsel Christmas Tree and coordinating ornaments. It will look great with your Christmas Decor too.

Button Christmas Tree with white metallic tree and ornaments in the background.

I love that cute little button at the top. I’m pretty sure that one came out of my Grandma’s old button tin.

Closeup of Button Christmas Tree Topper
Wide picture of Button Christmas Tree.
Tall picture of button Christmas tree in front of decorated table top tree.

LOVE IT!! PIN IT!!

Tall closeup of the button Christmas tree with text overlay.
Closeup of Button Christmas Tree Topper

Button Christmas Tree

Yield: One
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Instructions

  1. Separate and inventory your buttons by color so you know what you're working with.
  2. Prep the Styrofoam cone if necessary. If using darker buttons paint the cone dark or a nice coordinating paint color to your buttons.
  3. Start gluing on the buttons working from the bottom up. Start the first course with the cone flat on the table. After the first course you can turn it on the side if you wish.
  4. Keeping hot gluing on the buttons mixing large and small together. Fill in bigger gaps with tiny buttons.
  5. Create a Button Christmas Tree Topper by fashioning a small cone out of different size buttons. Alternate the colors for added interest. Glue them together and then finally to the top of the button tree.
  6. To give some ornamentation to your button Christmas tree poke pearlized floral pins in the spaces created between the buttons.

Create more button trees in varying sizes and gather them together for a beautiful centerpiece.

Rebecca Payne

Friday 22nd of October 2021

I love this idea. I just found your blog.

Toni

Monday 1st of November 2021

Thanks and welcome, glad to have you here!

Susanne

Monday 26th of October 2020

This is adorable!! I love the colors and I have a bunch of pink and green buttons in my stash. Now to get a form!

Toni

Monday 26th of October 2020

Thank you Susanne, yes go get those buttons and a cone and make one of these fun trees!!

Linda

Saturday 24th of October 2020

Toni, The button Christmas tree is precious!

Toni

Tuesday 27th of October 2020

Thank you Linda, I'm so glad you love it! I was thrilled with how it came together.

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