Toddler Christmas Tree

This year will be our first year having a Christmas tree since we were married (so since 2007!). That first year we went to family for Christmas. The next 2 I'm pretty sure Michael was deployed.. 2010 Christmas I was starting to have preterm labor, so was on bed rest. Last year, we moved right after Christmas and were dealing with a mold infestation.

This year I was determined there would be a tree. I bought an artificial, pre-lit tree from someone's moving sale a few weeks ago (scored it for $30! and the ones on base are running about $200+). We also bought some ornaments, but the pickings are kind of slim and expensive here. I ordered some online last week, so hopefully they'll be here soon.

Amara, I'm sure, will be into the tree like any other toddler. The ornaments I got are all shatterproof, but who wants to keep redecorating the tree? I saw a felt toddler tree on Pinterest last year sometime, and by some miracle remembered it for this year. Felt sticks to itself, so you just make the tree and your child can take the decorations off and decorate the tree a million times. I ordered from fabric.com, and don't forget your ebates for some cash back. It's 4% currently, but sometimes they run double days or change it up. They also list coupon codes on ebates.

Basically you just get a yard long cut of green felt and cut it into a tree shape. What I did, so it didn't look screwy, was tape together a bunch of printer paper and sketch out the shape I wanted. I then used that as a pattern to cut the felt.

Then I ordered single sheets of felt that are 9"x12". I got brown (for the tree trunk), red, pink, white, silver, purple, and yellow. I used fabric glue to stick on the trunk. Then just get creative and cut out ornaments. Make is as simple as you want, or get creative and have fun with it. We have a star tree topper (which I also glued on). I cut out some yellow lights and used the silver to add little light sockets. I was going to string these together, but could just see the cat destroying them. I cut out some snowflakes from the white (not an easy task, even with a simple snowflake pattern). I made some little present boxes too. Then just some circle ornaments. I think, after putting all the ornaments on, it could use a few more. So, I'll probably do that this weekend.

Kira checking it out. I'm waiting for her to start ripping ornaments off...

We shall see if it keeps her out of the actual tree or not though. Even if it doesn't, it cost less than $10 to make and I'm sure she'll enjoy it. I just put it up during nap time. Yes, it's Thanksgiving Day, but I wanted to share early enough so others could make one for this holiday if they wanted. It was super easy to do.