How to Make an Advent Tree
Christmas Countdown and Tabletop Tree Skirt
Aug 3, 2008 Mary Welling-Bonney
To make an advent tree you will need a tabletop tree. It doesn't matter if it is artificial or the real deal. Both will work.
Advent calendars, like so many holiday traditions, are surrounded in rituals. Part of the ritual for calendars is when they begin. Typically the first piece it added or removed on December 1. For our tree we are adding to the tradition. Putting the tree up with lights on Thanksgiving is the kick-off. Then the kids have a few days of anticipation waiting for the first ornament to be added to the tree.
Prepping for our Tree
If you have small children
Cut 23 felt squares for each child. Cut out the numbers one through 23 for each set of squares. Hot glue the numbers onto the squares. Hot glue ribbon or string to the top two corners of each square. Purchase or make a star topper for the tree. (See blog for idea. ) Beginning on December 1 each child will place the number felt square corresponding to the date of the month. On Christmas eve the topper gets placed on the top of the tree.
If you have older children
Give them the job of make ornaments for each day. Supply them with scraps of fabric, felt, trim, ribbon, glue and beads and let them make their own ornaments.
If you have teenage children
Cut out 23 small bifold cards out of cardstock. Punch a hole in the top of one side and tie a string. Have the children write a holiday memory or a wish for someone else on their card before they hang it. Repeat the process for each day.
Tree Skirt
Materials Needed:
- One sheets of photo to fabric transfer paper
- 2 Scrap fabric at least 16" square
- Sewing machine
- Computer
- Scrap paper
- Scissors
- Printer
- Needle and Thread
Instructions:
- On the computer, set up one sheet of the transfer paper to have a picture of family member montaged together. Print onto scrap paper.
- Take one of the 16" scrap fabric pieces and fold it in half and in half again. Using the scissors round the outside edge corner to corner. Cut the center tip off in an arch about one inch in. When you open the fabric you should closely resemble a circle with a hole in the midddle. Cut one slit to the center from the outside edge. Repeat with the other 16" piece.
- Lay the scrap paper you printed on top of the fabric. Trim the edges of the paper to line up with the fabric. Make sure no one is cut out of the picture. This is the front of your tree skirt. If it lines up ok go ahead and print on the transfer paper. If not make the adjustments necessary then print.
- Stitch the transfer face up onto the fabric. Now stitch the fabrics right sides together leaving an opening at the back for turning.
- Turn the fabric right side out. Baste closed.
- If you make a tree skirt each year for your Advent tree, take the previous years skirt and form it into a cone shape. Baste it in place. Hot glue a ribbon to the pointed end. It will give you a personalized ornament for your large family tree that each year will chronicle the growth of the family.
- Using a permanent marker allow each member of the family to sign their photo.
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