With each release of NC, I hope for new effects, but Santa has been working on other important issues.
Here is a new effect result I've created. Make a 24x50 model to see how it should look. Any other tree sizes will require slight fine tuning to get the almond shape ribbons. You can adjust the sliders for speed and direction and colors to taste.
Cheers!!

Here is the effect, copy this long line and paste it into an effect cell in NC to test.
Spirals,Spirals,2 is Mask,ID_CHECKBOX_LayerMorph=0,ID_SLIDER_SparkleFrequency=200,ID_SLIDER_Brightness=100,ID_SLIDER_Contrast=0,ID_SLIDER_EffectLayerMix=0,E1_SLIDER_Speed=7,E1_TEXTCTRL_Fadein=0.00,E1_TEXTCTRL_Fadeout=0.00,E1_CHECKBOX_FitToTime=0,E1_CHECKBOX_OverlayBkg=0,E1_SLIDER_Spirals_Count=1,E1_SLIDER_Spirals_Rotation=-89,E1_SLIDER_Spirals_Thickness=42,E1_SLIDER_Spirals_Direction=-1,E1_CHECKBOX_Spirals_Blend=0,E1_CHECKBOX_Spirals_3D=0,E1_CHECKBOX_Spirals_Grow=0,E1_CHECKBOX_Spirals_Shrink=0,E1_BUTTON_Palette1=#FF0000,E1_CHECKBOX_Palette1=1,E1_BUTTON_Palette2=#FF0000,E1_CHECKBOX_Palette2=0,E1_BUTTON_Palette3=#FFFFFF,E1_CHECKBOX_Palette3=0,E1_BUTTON_Palette4=#FFFFFF,E1_CHECKBOX_Palette4=1,E1_BUTTON_Palette5=#00FF00,E1_CHECKBOX_Palette5=1,E1_BUTTON_Palette6=#0000FF,E1_CHECKBOX_Palette6=0,E2_SLIDER_Speed=8,E2_TEXTCTRL_Fadein=0.00,E2_TEXTCTRL_Fadeout=0.00,E2_CHECKBOX_FitToTime=0,E2_CHECKBOX_OverlayBkg=0,E2_SLIDER_Spirals_Count=1,E2_SLIDER_Spirals_Rotation=-50,E2_SLIDER_Spirals_Thickness=48,E2_SLIDER_Spirals_Direction=1,E2_CHECKBOX_Spirals_Blend=0,E2_CHECKBOX_Spirals_3D=0,E2_CHECKBOX_Spirals_Grow=0,E2_CHECKBOX_Spirals_Shrink=0,E2_BUTTON_Palette1=#FF0000,E2_CHECKBOX_Palette1=1,E2_BUTTON_Palette2=#00FF00,E2_CHECKBOX_Palette2=1,E2_BUTTON_Palette3=#FFFFFF,E2_CHECKBOX_Palette3=0,E2_BUTTON_Palette4=#FFFF00,E2_CHECKBOX_Palette4=0,E2_BUTTON_Palette5=#FFFFFF,E2_CHECKBOX_Palette5=0,E2_BUTTON_Palette6=#000000,E2_CHECKBOX_Palette6=0