Make decorating the Christmas tree a family affair by encouraging kids to create their own decorations using yarn, cotton balls, tinfoil, and other items found around the house. Here are nearly a dozen kid-friendly tree themes that are easy, beautiful, and practical.

With not much more than a pair of scissors, string, and glue, children can transform the cards of Christmas past into the decorations of Christmas present -- and create your family's own recycling center. If you prefer vintage styles, you can find them at flea markets or on the Internet. Don't worry if parts of the paper are ragged; just use the good areas. So start hunting down those cards, then begin spreading the cheer.

Make a tree that sparkles throughout the holiday season. Turn foil cupcake liners inside out; stack, and then glue back-to-back; tie on yarn to hang. Poke string lights through small liners for a radiant glow. Scrunch sheets of foil into stars, balls, and canes, and hang with yarn.

With a few bags of cotton balls, you can blanket a tree with the softest snow. Thread a needle with 15 inches of fishing line, and sew through two or three cotton balls, leaving gaps between (dab white glue next to each so it won't slide); make loop for hanging. Use a sieve to add a dusting of cornstarch over the branches; cut batting for a skirt.

Office supply stores have all the trimmings for a tree that belies its workaday origins. Key tags decorated with stickers, ornaments cut from file folders, and paper-clip chains dangle from the branches. A bubble-packaging tree skirt and presents dressed up in graph paper, stickers, and rubber bands circle the base.

This tree twinkles with a dusting of paper snowflakes. Help kids iron their cut-out designs flat to smooth out the folds. Just hang with a paper clip bent open to form an S. The beauty of paper snowflakes is that, even with slight imperfections, when they are massed together, they're breathtaking to behold.

For a tree that would make Frosty proud, hang spheres of snow on a tree in the yard. This project is best when the snow is neither powdery nor slushy; it's easiest if you use a snowball-making tool.

These felt animals are so adorable, you and your kids will be tempted to make a whole stampede for your tree.

Help kids decorate with candy ornaments for a special Christmas tree that looks good enough to eat.

These stockings are just large enough to hold a small gift or sweet for each of the 24 days of Advent. If your tree is too small to hold 24 stockings, hang the rest from a ribbon swag.

Print the Stocking Template

Curious little hands can't help but be drawn to the irresistible magic of a Christmas tree. With an unbreakable tree, you can let them explore without worry. Nylon threads provide invisible support for a small tree, which you can decorate with paper chains, punched dots, and gingerbread.

Make a colorful tree by transforming plain white self-adhesive dots into cheerful garlands.