Birch Branch Christmas Tree Tutorial

Most people don't have birch branches waiting to be cut down for holiday projects, so what's one to do? Fortunately, most crafts stores sell them because they are so popular. My local crafts store sells 5-foot lengths. Using a saw, cut the 5-foot branch into four sections: 24 inches, 18 inches, 12 inches, and 6 inches. Birch cuts very easily.

Starting with the 24-inch piece of birch, which will be the bottom of the tree, attach a screw eye about 2 inches from both ends.

Moving up to the 18-inch branch, add screw eyes one to two inches from both ends. In addition, attach a screw eye on the bottom of the branch at the midway point. This bottom screw will connect to the screw eyes in the 24-inch branch.

Repeat with the 12-inch branch, attaching screw eyes to the two ends and the midway point at the bottom, which will connect to the screw eyes in the 18-inch branch.

In a similar fashion for the 6-inch branch, attach screw eyes to the two ends and the midway point on the bottom.

Starting at the bottom 24-inch branch, tie pieces of string to each screw eye and connect the strings to the screw eye at the bottom of the 18-inch branch. Make sure the two branches are parallel, about 7 inches apart. Then tie strings to each screw eye in the top side of the 18-inch branch, and connect them to the screw eye at the bottom of the 12-inch branch. Again, make sure the branches are parallel.

Finally, tie strings to the screw eyes at the top side of the 12-inch branch, and connect them to the screw eye at the bottom of the 6-inch branch.

Tie a string to connect the two top screw eyes in the 6-inch branch to make a hanging loop. When hung on a hook, the loop becomes triangular to form the top of the tree.

Tie together three 6-inch sticks with string to form a star.

Hang the birch branch tree and the star on a hook, and decorate the tree with ornaments.