Prepare the Ingredients

1. Slice the Cheese: Begin by cutting the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and mozzarella into small cubes or slices. This will help with easy assembly.
2. Prep the Vegetables: Slice the cucumber into thin rounds, cut the red bell pepper into thin strips, and halve the cherry tomatoes. Set everything aside.
3. Make the Trunk: Peel the carrot and cut it into a small rectangle for the trunk of the tree. Then, slice the celery stalk into a small piece for added support.
4. Prepare the Olives: Drain the olives and cut the green ones in half to create more visual contrast on the tree.

Assemble the Tree

1. Create the Base: Start by placing the celery stalk on a platter as the trunk. Then, arrange the carrot rectangle vertically at the bottom to form the trunk of the tree.
2. Build the Tree Shape: Begin stacking the olives (green and black) in the shape of a tree. Start at the top and work your way down, overlapping the olives slightly for a more natural, layered effect.
3. Add the Cheese: Place the cheese cubes around the olives, alternating the cream cheese, cheddar, and mozzarella to create layers.
4. Layer with Veggies: Add cucumber slices and cherry tomatoes in between the olive layers for a pop of color. Arrange the red bell pepper strips as garland on the tree.
5. Top with Basil: Garnish the top of your tree with fresh basil leaves to act as a star or tree topper. Add more basil around the edges to complete the look.

Finishing Touches

1. Adjust the Shape: Step back and adjust the layers to make sure everything looks like a tree. If necessary, add more olives or cheese to fill in any gaps.
2. Chill Before Serving: For the best presentation, place the tree in the fridge for about 10-15 minutes to allow everything to firm up and hold its shape.