Three Christmas trees, three different amounts of weeding. The tiered tree is four scalloped layers of branches stacked with thin gaps between them. The star-topped tree is a smooth triangle with a separate star, two garland swoops and six ornament dots. The knockout tree is one solid shape with stars, snowflakes, a heart and dots cut out of it.
All three are 7 in tall and built for adhesive vinyl: window decals, wood signs, glass blocks, tile, gift bags. Each one is a single color and a single cut layer, and each passed our vinyl cut check at 7 in.
| File | Size | Material | Layers | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiered Christmas tree (7 in tall) | 5.38 × 7.12 in | Vinyl | 1 layer | ✓ Cut-checked |
| Star-topped Christmas tree (7 in tall) | 4.38 × 7.12 in | Vinyl | 1 layer | ✓ Cut-checked |
| Knockout Christmas tree (7 in tall) | 5.38 × 7.12 in | Vinyl | 1 layer | ✓ Cut-checked |
How each tree comes apart
“Single layer” doesn’t mean single piece. What you’ll be handling after the cut is different for each tree, and it changes how you weed and transfer it.
| Tree | Size | Pieces after weeding | Weeding effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiered | 5.25 x 7 in | 4 (three upper tiers, plus the bottom tier joined to the trunk) | Easy |
| Star-topped | 4.25 x 7 in | 4 (the star and three tree sections split by the garlands), with 6 dots to pick out | Moderate |
| Knockout | 5.25 x 7 in | 1 solid tree with 13 cutouts to pick out | The most |
On the tiered tree, the gaps between tiers follow each scalloped hem, so the tiers read as overlapping branches from a few feet away. We sized those gaps so they’re wide enough to weed at 7 in, and nothing in the file drops below our vinyl minimum for stroke width or piece size.
The star-topped tree has a halo gap around the star so it doesn’t touch the tip of the tree. The two garland swoops run edge to edge, which is why the tree cuts into three sections. Transfer tape holds them in position, so you place all four pieces in one go.
The knockout tree’s cutouts are the fun part: a five-point star near the top, two snowflakes, a heart, two sparkles and seven round ornaments. Every cutout sits roughly 0.16 in or more from the edge and from its neighbors, so there’s always a solid strip of vinyl around it.
What you need
- Cutting machine and a standard grip mat
- Adhesive vinyl: removable for windows and seasonal decor, permanent for items that get handled or washed
- Transfer tape (standard grip for regular vinyl, strong grip for glitter)
- Weeding hook and a scraper or old gift card
- Rubbing alcohol and a lint-free cloth for glass
Not sure which vinyl? Our permanent vs. removable vinyl guide sorts it by surface.
Cut and apply
- Upload the tree. Upload the SVG (see our upload guide) and check it reads 7 in tall.
- Cut with the colored side up. Adhesive vinyl doesn’t need mirroring. Pick your vinyl in the material list and cut.
- Weed. Peel the outer background first. On the knockout tree, then pick out the 13 cutouts with a hook, working from the top down so you don’t lean on the ones you’ve cleared. The snowflake arms are the most fragile bits. Our weeding guide has tricks for small pieces.
- Tape it. Lay transfer tape over the whole tree and burnish it firmly, especially over the gaps on the tiered tree and the garland lines on the star-topped tree.
- Apply. Clean the surface, position the tree, burnish it down and peel the tape back at a sharp angle. The transfer tape guide covers the hinge method, which keeps a tall design straight.
For a window, put the tree on the inside of the glass, out of the rain and frost. A tree has no lettering, so it looks right from the street and from the room without mirroring anything. Use removable vinyl and it peels off in January.
Sizes
| Project | Height |
|---|---|
| Gift bag, small glass block, 8 x 10 frame | 7 in (as designed) |
| Window pane or kitchen cabinet door | 8 to 10 in |
| 12 x 12 wood sign | 9 to 10 in |
| Front door glass or a tall porch board | 12 in and up (use a 12 x 24 mat) |
Seven inches is the smallest size we checked. Shrink the knockout tree and its snowflake arms and the strips between the dots get thin fast, so they’re the first to tear. The other two are more forgiving, but the gaps between the tiers get narrower as you scale down and harder to weed.
Variations
Iron-on. We checked these trees for adhesive vinyl, not iron-on, which needs bolder details. If you want one on a shirt, the tiered tree has no cutouts at all and the star-topped tree has only six round dots, and enlarging to 8 in or more gives every gap extra room. Press with the settings from Cricut’s Heat Guide for your material and blank.
Two colors. Put a gold star on the green tree. For the star-topped tree, duplicate the design in Design Space and use Contour to hide the star on one copy and the tree on the other (Cricut explains the tool in its Contour help article). Cut each in its own color.
Knockout with a backing. Make a slightly larger backing with Design Space’s Offset tool, cut it from glitter or red vinyl and stick the tree on top. The ornaments and a thin outline then show in the second color. Our knockout design tutorial shows how this kind of design is made. For more winter shapes to go with it, see the snowflake set.
Questions
What size should a Christmas tree decal be?
About 7 in tall fits gift bags, glass blocks and small frames. Go 8 to 10 in for a window pane or a 12 x 12 sign.
Which Christmas tree SVG is easiest to weed?
The tiered tree. It comes off the mat as four solid pieces with no small cutouts. The knockout tree takes the longest because of its 13 cutouts.
Can I use these tree SVGs on a shirt?
They were checked for adhesive vinyl, not iron-on. The tiered and star-topped trees are the better bet for a shirt; enlarge to 8 in or more and press with your material maker’s settings.
