Brighten up the holidays with homemade Christmas Tree Luminaries that sparkle with the magic of Christmas. FUN and EASY for kids and adults.

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What better way to brighten up your home this Christmas than with these adorable Christmas tree luminaries. This DIY craft is perfect for kids and families, offering a fun and easy way to make homemade Christmas decorations. With simple supplies like paper snow cone cups, tissue paper, and a bit of glue, you’ll create glowing Christmas decorations that light up any room.

Not only is this craft a wonderful bonding activity for families, but it also gives kids a chance to get creative and make their own Christmas decorations that light up and glow–bringing their craft to life like the magic of a real Christmas tree! Imagine the joy as they watch their colorful Christmas tree luminaries glow when the battery-operated tea light flickers inside.

For more inexpensive craft ideas make Milk Cap Snowman Ornaments, make a
Lil Reindeer Handprint Craft (Free template), and make some Homemade Clay Ornaments.

Now it’s time to add a little extra sparkle to your home this holiday season… Let’s get crafting!

Christmas Tree Luminaries: Brighten up the holidays with homemade Christmas Tree Luminaries that sparkle with the magic of Christmas. FUN and EASY for kids and adults.

Homemade Christmas Tree Luminaries Craft for Kids

What you’ll need to create your paper snow cone luminary

To make these easy and fun paper snow cone luminaries, you’ll need just a few simple supplies:

Materials:
- Paper Snow Cone Cups (available at most craft stores or online)
- Tissue Paper (variety of colors, or just holiday-themed like red, green, and white)
- Scissors
- School Glue (or white craft glue)
- Hole Punch (variety of sizes and shapes, this 3 Set Punch is so cute and comes with a circle, heart, and star)
- Paintbrush (to apply glue)
Optional:
- Battery-operated Tea Light (perfect for making your luminary glow)

These supplies are easy to find, and you can even let the kids help pick out the colors and tissue paper designs to make their tree luminaries extra special!

Step-by-Step Instructions: Making Your Glowing Snow Cone Luminaries

For your convenience, you can watch our Video Tutorial and grab the printable directions at the bottom of this post.

Step 1: Punch Holes in the Snow Cone Cup

Christmas Tree Luminaries Punching Holes in Snow Cone

The first step in making your paper snow cone luminary is to punch holes into the snow cone cup. These holes will allow light to shine through once the tea light is placed inside.

Start by carefully using the hole punch to create holes around the cone. You can experiment with different sizes and shapes of hole punches for varied effects. The more holes, the more beautiful your luminary will look when it glows!
I suggest folding the snow cone cup slightly to make it easier to punch in more places. This ensures that you can punch as many holes as possible.
Have fun with this step—try making a pattern or random designs, and let your creativity flow!

Step 2: Apply Glue and Stick on Tissue Paper

Christmas Tree Luminaries Craft Applying Glue and Tissue Paper

Once you’ve punched the holes in your paper snow cone cup, it’s time to add some color! The tissue paper will add a beautiful glow when the light is turned on inside.

Use a paintbrush to spread a thin layer of glue around the outside of the snow cone cup. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect—this will all be covered with tissue paper!
Tear or cut the tissue paper into small pieces and carefully press them onto the glued areas. Be sure to cover the entire surface of the cup with tissue paper, allowing the colors to overlap for a fun and textured look.
Let the glue dry completely before moving on to the next step. This might take a few hours, so be patient—good things come to those who wait!

Step 3: Reveal Your Glowing Luminary

Once the glue has dried and your paper snow cone cup is fully covered in tissue paper, it’s time to bring the luminary to life!

Place a small battery-operated tea light inside the snow cone cup. These tea lights are safe to use and won’t pose any risk, making them perfect for kids’ crafts.
Watch in awe as the light shines through the holes and illuminates the tissue paper, creating a soft, glowing effect. It’s like having your very own holiday light show in a cup!

Look how magical the Christmas Tree Luminaries look when the lights are off!

Fun Variations and Ideas to Personalize Your Snow Cone Luminaries

Want to take this craft to the next level? Here are some fun ways to customize your Christmas tree luminaries:

Add Glitter: For some extra sparkle, add glitter to the tissue paper before it dries. The glitter will catch the light and make your luminary shine even brighter.
Create a Winter Scene: Add snowflakes, trees, or holiday designs to your luminary by gluing small cut-out shapes or stickers to the paper.
Make a Luminary Set: Craft several luminaries of varying sizes and colors to create a festive display. They’ll look great as a centerpiece or lined up along the mantel.
Personalize It: Use colorful markers to write names or holiday messages on the tissue paper or snow cone cup for a personalized touch. These also make wonderful gifts for family and friends!

Conclusion: Light Up Your Holidays with DIY Christmas Tree Luminaries!

Making paper snow cone luminaries is a simple and fun way to get the kids involved in holiday crafting. With just a few supplies and a little creativity, you can create beautiful glowing decorations that will brighten up your home and fill it with holiday cheer. Don’t forget to share your glowing creations with friends and family—these luminaries make wonderful gifts, too!

Print the Directions:

Christmas Tree Luminaries Craft for Kids

Brighten up the holidays with homemade Christmas Tree Luminaries that sparkle with the magic of Christmas.

Keyword: Christmas, Craft

Materials

Paper Snow Cone Cups (available at most craft stores or online)
Tissue Paper (variety of colors, or just holiday-themed like red, green, and white)
Scissors
School Glue (or white craft glue)
Hole Punch (variety of sizes and shapes, this 3 Set Punch is so cute and comes with a circle, heart, and star)
Paintbrush (to apply glue)

Instructions

Step 1: Punch Holes in the Snow Cone Cup
The first step in making your paper snow cone luminary is to punch holes into the snow cone cup. These holes will allow light to shine through once the tea light is placed inside.
Start by carefully using the hole punch to create holes around the cone. You can experiment with different sizes and shapes of hole punches for varied effects. The more holes, the more beautiful your luminary will look when it glows!I suggest folding the snow cone cup slightly to make it easier to punch in more places. This ensures that you can punch as many holes as possible. Have fun with this step—try making a pattern or random designs, and let your creativity flow!
Step 2: Apply Glue and Stick on Tissue Paper
Once you’ve punched the holes in your paper snow cone cup, it’s time to add some color! The tissue paper will add a beautiful glow when the light is turned on inside.
Use a paintbrush to spread a thin layer of glue around the outside of the snow cone cup. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect—this will all be covered with tissue paper! Tear or cut the tissue paper into small pieces and carefully press them onto the glued areas. Be sure to cover the entire surface of the cup with tissue paper, allowing the colors to overlap for a fun and textured look. Let the glue dry completely before moving on to the next step. This might take a few hours, so be patient—good things come to those who wait!
Step 3: Reveal Your Glowing Luminary
Once the glue has dried and your paper snow cone cup is fully covered in tissue paper, it’s time to bring the luminary to life!
Place a small battery-operated tea light inside the snow cone cup. These tea lights are safe to use and won’t pose any risk, making them perfect for kids’ crafts. Watch in awe as the light shines through the holes and illuminates the tissue paper, creating a soft, glowing effect. It’s like having your very own holiday light show in a cup!

Notes

Add Glitter: For some extra sparkle, add glitter to the tissue paper before it dries. The glitter will catch the light and make your luminary shine even brighter.

Create a Winter Scene: Add snowflakes, trees, or holiday designs to your luminary by gluing small cut-out shapes or stickers to the paper.

Make a Luminary Set: Craft several luminaries of varying sizes and colors to create a festive display. They’ll look great as a centerpiece or lined up along the mantel.

Personalize It: Use colorful markers to write names or holiday messages on the tissue paper or snow cone cup for a personalized touch. These also make wonderful gifts for family and friends!

Glowing Christmas Tree Luminaries Craft for Kids