Bubble Wrap Christmas Trees - Preschool Process Art

Your new favorite Christmas process art project is here: bubble wrap Christmas trees! This joyful, hands-on craft is a perfect way for kids to create their own colorful Christmas tree decorations with simple materials a(nd the bubble “lights” are just too cute).

Several green paper triangles painted with colorful bubble wrap prints are arranged on a green table. Cups of brightly colored paint, including orange, pink, and blue, surround the triangles along with paintbrushes for easy access.

Create your own bubble wrap Christmas trees

I love, love, love coming up with holiday art projects, and Christmas ones are always full of magic.

They’re especially magical when they’re just a little out-of-the-box and use supplies that you already have on hand.

Instead of this being just another red-and-green-craft, I wanted to make something with bright, untraditional colors and these couldn’t be cuter if they tried.

A green paper triangle, cut out to represent a Christmas tree, is placed on top of a painted bubble wrap. The bubble wrap shows a variety of colorful spots that will transfer to the paper triangle, creating a pattern on the green tree.

Why bubble wrap Christmas trees are a blast

If you’ve got a young artist in your life, this is one activity you need to try!

Not only are these trees adorable, but they’re also a fantastic preschool Christmas process art project where no two pieces will look the same.

With just a bit of paint, paper, and bubble wrap, you’ll have a mini forest of Christmas trees ready in no time.

No, seriously, these are so fun that you’ll have a forest in no time!

We love Christmas process art projects for kids:

Sponge Paint Poinsettias – These are absolutely stunning
Painting with Christmas Bows – It’s simple and a blast
Gingerbread Collage – Use ANY of your favorite art supplies
Tape Resist Christmas Trees – Grab your cardboard, tape, and paint

Materials

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Green paper – ex: cardstock or construction paper
Scissors
Bubble wrap
Paint in small bowls
Paintbrushes
Brown construction paper – optional for tree trunks
Glue or tape – optional if adding a trunk

How to make bubble wrap Christmas trees

Cut a triangle out of the green construction paper to make the Christmas tree shape.
Place the bubble wrap bubbly-side up and paint patches of various colors onto it.
Lay the green triangle gently on the painted bubble wrap and press down firmly.
Lift the triangle to reveal your colorful Christmas lights!
Optional: cut a small rectangle from the brown paper and glue it to the bottom of the triangle as the tree trunk.
Rinse the piece of bubble wrap the sink once the paint becomes muddy, or wipe with a wet towel.

💡 Teacher Tip: Have fun with your tree shapes and sizes! Invite your child to make trees that are large, small, tall, short, wide, crooked, wavy, bendy, etc.

Two green paper triangles with colorful paint dots from bubble wrap printing lie on top of a painted bubble wrap background. The painted trees show dots of yellow, purple, red, and blue, resembling Christmas lights on a tree.

Ways to use your finished bubble wrap trees

Decorations: Try hanging them as decorations in a classroom or on the fridge at home.

Cards: They’re also adorable as holiday cards – just add a festive message to the back.

Bulletin board: You could even make a whole “forest” on a bulletin board for a cheerful holiday theme.

DIY Gift Tags: How cute would it be to make mini trees and use them as gift tags on your Christmas gifts?!

A step-by-step sequence showing how a green triangle paper is placed on a painted bubble wrap. The first image shows the bubble wrap with dots of various paint colors, the second shows the paper triangle placed on top, and the third shows the triangle after lifting with the paint transferred onto it, creating a festive bubble wrap Christmas tree.

Try these variations on bubble wrap Christmas trees

Why not change things up with some creative twists?

Here are a few ways to make your bubble wrap Christmas trees extra special:

Add a star sticker or small yellow paper cutout at the top for a classic Christmas look.
Experiment with other paint colors.
Make a “snowy” tree by adding white paint dots along with other colors.

A close-up view of a piece of bubble wrap painted in bright, colorful spots, including red, yellow, blue, green, purple, and orange. The colors are applied to the raised bubbles, giving the wrap a vibrant, textured appearance.

Festive skills kids gain from bubble wrap Christmas trees

Making bubble wrap Christmas trees is more than just holiday fun – it’s a fantastic way for kids to grow important skills in a playful setting.

Here’s what they’ll develop as they create their masterpieces:

Mighty motor skills: Pressing down on bubble wrap and dotting paint strengthens those tiny hand muscles.
Creative expression: Choosing colors and placing “lights” helps each child design a one-of-a-kind tree.
Sensory adventure: The bubbly texture of the wrap offers a delightful tactile experience they’ll love.
Colorful awareness: Mixing and spotting bright paint colors encourages kids to explore and understand color contrasts.