button and felt xmas trees

The little people have been asking for the Christmas tree to be put up. But this year I’m holding out ’til at least 1 December before rearranging the lounge to accommodate a gaudy piece of 6 foot greenery. To bide the time I got them making Christmas decorations. It seemed to have worked; until several hours later the little girl returned to the topic of the tree. The decision has been made to wheel it out next week, unless we forget. Do you succumb to the call for the tree before 1 December?

Here’s how we made these little button and felt Christmas trees, which look quite magical on the mantlepiece:

What you need:

Felt
Cardboard triangle template
Buttons, beads
Fabric glue
Dowels (I used skewers)
Small jars (I used those tiny jam jars)
Cushion inner

Cut out two triangular felt shapes and decorate one with buttons and beads. We bypassed thread and needles and glued on the buttons and beads. Once the glue has dried stitch the two felt triangles together and leave an opening for the stuffing. Stitch closed once you’ve stuffed the tree.

I spray painted the jam jar lids white and hammered a nail through the top to make an opening for the skewer. We covered the glass jar with a strip of brown felt. Carefully push the skewer through the bottom centre of the tree and push it up to the tip, then place the other end of the skewer inside the lid – which will be screwed on to the glass jar.

Time taken: excluding drying time for the paint and glue, this took about 45 minutes.