Create a gingerbread village Christmas tree collar using carbon paper, paint, and a concrete tube—adorable and affordable!
How to make a gingerbread-inspired Christmas tree collar.
This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
Why I love this craft
There’s something magical about transforming everyday items into whimsical decor, and that’s exactly why I love this gingerbread village tree collar. It reminds me of other upcycled holiday crafts I’ve done, like my Painted Cardboard Christmas Village Houses or Mini Gingerbread Houses from Brown Paper Bags.
Just like those projects, this one takes humble materials (hello, concrete tube and Dollar Tree paint!) and turns them into something you’ll be proud to display year after year. Plus, the hand-painted detail adds that cozy, homemade charm I always gravitate toward when decorating for the holidays.
Crafting with transfer paper.
Transfer paper is one of those secret weapons in crafting that makes everything look polished without needing professional skills. Whether you’re working with a painted surface, wood, canvas, or cardboard, transfer paper helps you get crisp outlines without the stress of freehand drawing.
For this project, I used carbon paper to trace Canva-printed gingerbread houses and trees right onto the painted tube. Then it was just a matter of painting inside the lines! If you’ve ever struggled with lettering or detailed images, transfer paper will quickly become your best friend.
The inspiration for this craft:
This project was inspired by my love of sweet, storybook-style Christmas decor and a challenge to make something truly unique from budget supplies. I’ve made a few gingerbread-inspired crafts before, and they always bring so much joy to my holiday setup.
Video Tutorial: Gingerbread Village Christmas Tree Collar
Watch this quick video to see how this craft came together:
Gingerbread Village Christmas Tree Collar
This gingerbread-inspired tree collar brings storybook holiday charm right to the base of your Christmas tree! Using brown paint, transfer paper, and hand-painted designs, it’s a sweet way to decorate with cozy, cottage vibes.
Materials
- Concrete form tube (cut to 11.25" height)
- Brown acrylic craft paint (Dollar Tree)
- Canva-printed gingerbread house and Christmas tree printables
- Carbon transfer paper
- Masking tape (low-stick, from Dollar Tree)
- White chalk paint (Rust-Oleum Linen White recommended)
- Optional: chalk paint or spray paint for better coverage
Tools
- Fine-point paintbrush
- Stylus or pen for tracing
- Paintbrushes (for base coating and detailing)
Instructions
- Watch video. Follow along with the tutorial for a step by step walkthrough on how to make your own gingerbread-inspired Christmas tree collar.
- Cut and paint the tube. Trim the cardboard form to about 11.25". Paint with brown acrylic paint (3–4 coats). Use chalk paint for faster coverage.
- Transfer designs. Print gingerbread houses and trees.
Use carbon paper to trace the designs onto the painted tube.
- Paint over transfers. Use a fine-point brush and high-quality white paint (like chalk paint) to outline the designs. Allow to dry completely.
Notes
Take your time. I painted this over a few hours while chatting at an art group—perfect for a relaxing project day!
The Finished Craft
Don’t forget to PIN this craft for later:
