Okay, friend. Are you ready? Do I have the CHRISTMAS DECORATING TIP FOR YOU.
See these jingle bells? Aren’t they the cutest?
And the best part?
They came from the Dollar Store.
Yep.
DOLLAR TREE. The place where everything is a dollar.
There are between 10-15 in a bag depending on the size and they come in two different sizes and different colors and THEY ARE ONLY A DOLLAR.
I wanted to tell you because we are friends and I know they are going fast at our stores. We had to go to two stores to get enough to make three trees. But why stop at trees where there are a zillion other jingle bell projects to be had.
You could make a monogrammed present topper like this.
Or a snowflake out of jingle bells like this (just replace the pinecones with jingle bells).
Or use them to make handmade ornaments and jingle bell garland here.
Or fill a glass vase with them and add Christmas flowers.
And on and on and Christmas project on.
But for today? Let me show you how I used them to make a Christmas DIY jingle bell tree.
Here are the jingle bell trees in all their glory.
You may have already seen them in my blue and white and gold Christmas tour here.
If you follow along with my Instagram stories, you know that I found similar trees like this earlier in the week at a local store. I was about to put them in my cart and then I turned the price tag over.
$94 DOLLARS.
Seriously?
$94 dollars for a jingle bell tree?
Umm.
I was born, but it wasn’t yesterday.
So I decided to go all necessity is the mother of invention and make my own. It is such a simple project and here’s how I made them.
Christmas diy jingle bell tree
supplies:
white styrofoam cone (you can get these super inexpensively at Walmart)
jingle bells
hot glue
1. paint your styrofoam cone
Here’s what the cone looks like before we started.
I used three of these cones in different sizes.
The challenge? They were white and the white would show through the jingle bells.
So we spray painted them.
And now?
They look like this.
Aren’t they cute just spray painted? The texture is so pretty.
2. glue your first row of bells
Here’s the best idea that I got from the jingle bell trees at the store.
You want to use two different sizes of bells.
You can find both sizes of bells at the dollar store.
Using your surface to hold the bells in place, start gluing a row of larger bells at the bottom like this. Keep going until you have completely circled the bottom of the styrofoam cone.
3. glue your next row of bells
Here’s the first and second row of larger bells glued to the styrofoam cone.
You have to adjust the bells slightly, because each row is smaller.
Keep gluing until you have about five or six rows.
4. add a row of smaller bells
After five or six rows of larger bells, you want to add a layer of smaller bells.
(total aside: see how the gold cone blends in with the bells now instead of the white?)
Keep adding rows of smaller bells until you get to the top.
5. Add a large bell as a tree topper
When you have added all the rows of bells, you will have a tiny hole at the top.
No worries.
Simply glue one larger bell as a tree topper.
And now?
Here are the finished trees.
If I would have bought them in the store, they would have cost over $200.
But now?
Thanks to those Dollar Tree jingle bells? Each tree only cost between $8 and $10 to make.
Merry cost-effective Christmas to me. 🙂
PS If you are trying to get ready for Christmas, I have the best planning checklist to help you get ready here.
Yay! I was wondering if you were able to get to Dollar Tree! Your welcome! Ha!
Too cute! Thanks for the adorable idea.
What a great craft! How fun! I hope to be able to do some crafting this December and this would be a great project! Nancy
Yay! You did it! They came out so well!!!
You are so smart and fun to follow! I LOVE these jingle bell trees! Thank you!
Fabulous!!! So glad you figured out how to do it!!!!
perfection and amazingness and inexpensive all in one...I mean three!
How cute! And thank you for the reminder to paint my greenery to add to my tree this year. Haven’t done that in years, but my tree is calling for some greenery painted silver! Off to buy the paint! (And perhaps make a trip to the Dollar Tree.🤗)
Love anything to do with Christmas trees....especially sweet little cost-effective ones. This is a must do!
I had a feeling you would be posting a tutorial on these! I am all about making trees this year! I have been working on three different ones for my home, and of course to share! So fun and such an inexpensive way to have custom decor! Way to go my AMAZING friend!
ADORA-BELL!
Great reply !!!
I'm jingling all the way to the Dollar Store right now!!! xoxo
These are so cute! Such a creative idea - love the gold! xoxo
These are super cute and easy!! My favorite kind of crafts!! Thanks for showing us how to make these!!
Love this...spend a couple of bucks and you get something that looks like $94! (Which makes me say "wow"..) Be sure to check the spray paint to make sure it's labeled for Styrofoam--some paint formulas will react with the foam and disintegrate it. Yep--found that out the hard way. But I want to make some of these jingle bell trees for my office! This would be a good Thanksgiving weekend project. Thanks, Karianne!
Due to decorating tables for our women's Christmas dinner several years ago, I have jingle bells galore just waiting for a project like this! Thank you for a great idea!!
Oh, too cute! I love how your noggin works! :D So much fun! Now I'm wondering how they'd look painted white??? Hmmm...just might have to try it. ❤
I burst out laughing when I read - I was born, but not yesterday! LOL! You crack me up. Love this idea. Totally doing it.
GREAT hostess gift idea too - Love this. Dang i was just at the dollar tree the other day too, boo. didn't even SEE them - cuz I was with my 3 year old grand girl who say EVERYTHING ELSE lol. May have to go back now - really excellent idea. Thank you!
You're the best! Us on a budget so appreciate your great gift ideas! Thanks Karianne. xoxoxoxoxo
Love this look! Can you please link to the gold leaf branches you’re styling with the trees? I’ve been looking everywhere for something like that.
So cute!!! They do have bigger bells at HL, but they're WAY more expensive! Hmmm . . . might combine the bigger Hobby Lobby and smaller Dollar Tree ones to make a bigger tree . . . I'll let you know if I accomplish it! ;) Thanks for the tutorial!!
They are so cute. I cannot wait to try making one. Love you, Sweet Friend.
I am so happy you did this today. I went to Hobby Lobby and bought jingle bells after watching your Christmas tour and thought I have to make those bell trees! Love this!
How fun are these. I have to go to the Dollar Store. Love these.
Thank you KariAnne and thank you Dollar Store!!! Love this DIY tree 🌲
I KNEW you could do it!!! So wonderful. Thanks for taking the extravagant and making it 'extra-great'!
These are so cute, KariAnne! And they look fun to make, too! I love jingle bells...
These shine almost as bright as your smile, thanks Karianne, i love these trees.
Next stop - - Dollar Tree!! Thanks for such a great project idea.
Such a happy little tree. I was at my Dollar Tree today and didnt see the bells,then again I was looking for some other things and may have missed them. They come in gold and what other color did you say? Please tell me a creamy white for us neutral Christmas color lovers. 😊 I suppose it doesnt matter too much, because I could spray paint those as well. Thanks for the cheery craft. I needed some cheering today as our elderly dog is not doing too well. 😢
KariAnne, those Jingle Bell Trees are just so cute! Thanks, so much, for the DIY! You always find the cutest things for us to make -- and your instructions always make it so easy!
They are the cutest! Clever. Something everyone can make.
I knew you had this! ;-) They are super lovely! Great job, and pinning!
Always such beautiful options at budget-friendly prices. Thank you, Kari!!! Happy Thanksgiving!
BEEP! Dang... I just read your post on A Day in Life... and the comments are closed! I have to tell you, that was so fun to read! 6:01pm actually had me flinging myself back in my desk chair and guffawing... I almost ended up on my back! Also, on the times in the car, how many actual phone calls do you have... I bet a lot! ;-)
You and trees! I remember when your sister made you and other siblings trees out of the tops of sugar bowls! Such a creative family! Love it and keep the cute ideas coming!
I love these Karianne! I will be stopping at the Dollar Tree tomorrow for sure!
Love love love these! Making some tonight. Thank you for sharing!