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.

Want to know how to decorate your home for free?
Click here to get my FIVE BEST secrets.

Posted On: November 20, 2019

Written By: KariAnne Wood

Comments

  8. Image for Leslie Watkins Leslie Watkins

    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.🤗)

    Reply
  10. Image for Jenn Jenn

    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!

    Reply
  15. Image for Deb in Oklahoma Deb in Oklahoma

    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!

    Reply
  16. Image for Ann Z Ann Z

    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!!

    Reply
  17. Image for Lynn Mosher Lynn Mosher

    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. ❤

    Reply
  19. Image for Michele M. Michele M.

    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!

    Reply
  21. Image for Ruth Ruth

    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.

    Reply
  22. Image for Regina Merrick Regina Merrick

    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!!

    Reply
  24. Image for Christy Warner Christy Warner

    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!

    Reply
  31. Image for Jeanine Jeanine

    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. 😢

    Reply
  32. Image for MARY-ANN (FROM CANADA!) MARY-ANN (FROM CANADA!)

    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!

    Reply
  36. Image for Julie Briones Julie Briones

    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! ;-)

    Reply
  37. Image for Betty in Arlington Betty in Arlington

    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!

    Reply

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