About this design
The Snow-Capped Christmas Tree shows a tree after a fresh snowfall. Its three wide tiers droop at the hem, and each tier has a curved gap cut along its upper edge where snow has settled. In the color version, a pale snow layer sits in those gaps, so the tree looks frosted. A gold star and a brown trunk finish it.
The design rewards layering: the snow layer can be white glitter, frosted vinyl or even a puff of white paint.
Project ideas
- Layered winter cards. Dark green tree, white glitter snow, gold star.
- Wood signs. Paint the tree and dab white paint in the snow gaps.
- Sweatshirts. Use green iron-on and white puff vinyl for the snow.
- Shadow boxes. Cut each layer from cardstock and add foam spacers for depth.
- Window clings. The snow gaps let a little light through like a frosted window.
Color ideas
The default color version uses dark green, white snow, a gold star and a brown trunk. Wintry alternatives:
- Navy tree with white snow and a silver star
- Sage tree with ivory snow for a soft palette
- All white on kraft, with silver glitter for the snow
- Black tree with white snow for a bold silhouette
Size and cutting tips
This tree passes our cut checks from about 2 inches tall. The snow gaps are cut-outs, so weed them before the outer waste. When layering, cut the snow layer from a slightly thicker material, such as glitter cardstock, so it sits slightly raised above the tree.
The tiers are wide, so on shirts the tree looks best between 8 and 10 inches across.
Step by step: a 3D shadow box
- Download the color SVG and size it to fit your shadow box, leaving an inch of border.
- Cut the tree from dark green cardstock, the snow from white glitter cardstock, the star from gold and the trunk from kraft.
- Glue the snow pieces onto the tree, then the star and trunk.
- Cut a background from navy cardstock and scatter a few small snowflakes on it.
- Mount the tree on the background with foam dots so it stands out from the sky.
- Close the frame and add battery-powered string lights behind for a glowing winter scene.
Good to know
The snow layer also works on its own as a white accent cut, so you can add it to a plain green tree.
Pairs well with
The Snowflake Ring Wreath and the Classic Six-Point Snowflake complete a snowy winter set.
