How to Make Letter to "Santa" Decorations

Ornaments for Your Christmas Tree With Childhood Dreams

Nov 23, 2008 Mary Welling-Bonney

Why not capture the magic of the childhood letters to Santa for your Christmas tree this year?

For so many of us the Christmas season began with the official letter writing to Santa. Today's ornament captures those feelings and brings back all of those warm memories of anticipation.

Materials Needed:

One half yard of cotton muslin fabric
Scraps of cotton print materials (variety of patterns and colors)
Batting scraps
Permanent fine point marker
Scissors
Pen
Needle
Thread
Tea or coffee for dying
Small (approx. 3" x 6") envelope
Twine
Optional-Cardboard

Preparation

Take your small envelope and open it all the way up. This means carefully lifting the glued areas. The envelope will be your pattern. If you need something sturdier, trace the outline of the envelope onto a piece of cardboard. Cut out the envelope shape and use the cardboard for a pattern instead.
Fill your sink or a tub half way full with very hot water. Generously pour tea or coffee into the water and stir to dissolve.
Immerse your fabric into the tea bath and soak.
You can hang the fabric to dry or lay it on a cookie sheet and bake at 275 for 30 minutes. You may need to flip the material and bake a second time. (It is not recommended to put it in your clothes dryer because the tea or coffee can remain and stain wet clothes that go in the dryer afterwards.)
Once the fabric is dry, lay it out flat. If you want to cut two at once you can double your fabric to save time.
Trace your pattern (either the envelope or cardboard) onto the fabric until the fabric is covered.
Cut out all of the envelopes.
Take your original paper envelope and fold all of the sides back in. You will now have a rectangle. This is your pattern for the batting. For each envelope you cut, you will need one rectangular batting piece to go with it.
For each envelope you cut, cut a stamp size piece of cotton print material.

Assembly

Lay out your fabric envelope wrong side up.
Place your batting rectangle in the center. Fold up all of the sides and baste the envelope shut.
Flip the envelope over. Baste your stamp of cotton print material into the stamp position.
Address your envelope using the permanent marker. You can address it to Santa, North pole, Rudolph, or use a different address on each envelope.
In the area for return address write in your children's names or those of all of the family members.
Cut a piece of twine about eight inches in length. Double it over to be a loop and sew or hot glue the loose ends to the return address side of the envelope on the edge.

The copyright of the article How to Make Letter to "Santa" Decorations in Crafts is owned by Mary Welling-Bonney. Permission to republish How to Make Letter to "Santa" Decorations in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

santa letter