Putting up Christmas trees and decorations is a big stress-reliever, but for parents of toddlers and preschoolers, it can become a headache. Your little one will surely be dazzled by the lights and ornaments and they won’t be able to resist grabbing everything in sight.
But mom Jack Caparas-Yee may have found the solution: A Christmas tree made out of felt! Thanks to Pinterest, the crafty mama was able to create a beautiful tree that’s toddler-proof.
In an interview with SmartParenting.com.ph via Facebook Messenger, Jack shares that she and her husband, Melvin, decided not to put up a real tree because they saw the dangers it can pose. When her two kids, Elisha, 4, and Ethan, 1, visited their grandmother, they ended up breaking a lot of Christmas balls and grabbing the lights.
“Putting up a real one is not exactly the safest idea especially for our 1-year-old son. But we still wanted to feel the spirit of Christmas that’s why I pushed through with this,” Jack explains.
How to make a DIY felt Christmas tree
The two kids loved decorating their tree!PHOTO BY courtesy of Jack Caparas-YeeADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWJack worked on the tree with Melvin and was able to finish it within a week, working on it while the kids were sleeping. Here’s how she did it:
Materials
- Felt cloth
- Glue stick
- Glue gun
- Double adhesive tape
- Velcro
- Googly eyes
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Design tapes
- Papers
Instructions
1. Draw and cut out the tree.
“We traced the pattern in paper first then filled it out with smaller pieces of cloth that were in different shades of green. Then, I covered the seams with colorful design tapes.”
2. Make the ornaments/accessories.
“I used a cookie cutter to trace the shapes. You can also choose any shape or design you want,” Jack shares. “For the other decorations, my husband helped me to draw directly on the felt cloth.”
Jack used cookie cutters to trace the designs onto the felt.PHOTO BY courtesy of Jack Caparas-Yee3. Glue velcro on the back of each ornament using a hot glue gun.
CONTINUE READING BELOWwatch now“That’s so our kids can stick and remove the decorations from the tree,” Jack shares.
4. “Hang” the tree.
Jack chose to stick the tree on one of their walls using double adhesive tape.
Here's the finished product!PHOTO BY courtesy of Jack Caparas-YeeWhile Jack can’t pinpoint the exact cost of the tree, she says the materials she used were leftovers from the time she created a quiet book for her kids. “’Yung materials nun more or less nasa Php1,000 at marami pa ring natira ngayon,” she notes.
But more important than the gastos, the mom-of-two shares the effort was all worth it after seeing how happy her daughter was when she saw the finished product. “At her age, she likes to engage in different activities I knew that she would love it,” Jack says. “As soon as I placed the tree on the wall she got busy immediately and started to decorate it over and over again.”
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Design Santa sacks for your kids!
This Santa sack features Michelle and Yumi as reindeer. They're also baking, which is their favorite bonding activity!PHOTO BY courtesy of Michelle Dacumos-AlingarogIf you have extra felt cloth lying around just like Jack, there’s another easy project you can do: Santa sacks! You can put your Christmas gifts for the kids inside, and re-use it for every holiday!
Mom Michelle Dacumos-Alingarog came up with the idea because she wanted to buy similar sacks for her kids, Yumi, 6, and Mateo, 5 months, online. “But I found them a bit small so I made one na lang for the kids,” she tells SmartParenting.com.ph in an interview via Facebook Messenger. “It came out cheaper when I made it!”
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Here’s how she did it:
Materials
For the sack:
- 2 ½ yards red polka dot cotton fabric
- 2 yards green rope
- 2 yards gold ribbon
- Red thread
Front pocket and name tag:
- Hard felt cloth in different colors
- Ribbons
- Pompoms
- Hot glue gun
This yellow pocket can hold little gifts and ampao!PHOTO BY courtesy of Michelle Dacumos-AlingarogInstructions
1. Cut the red fabric to make 2 ½ yards and fold the top to hold the rope. Hand stitch the bottom and the sides so it resembles a sack. Sew the gold ribbon on the fabric as well.
2. Cut out the design with super sharp scissors. If you’re unsure about the design, Michelle suggests drawing on the cloth with a pencil or chalk first.
3. Glue the designs on the front pocket. Then, hand stitch the front pocket on the fabric. “Felt to felt glue gun lang ‘yung matibay. I sewed most of it para tumagal and umabot until they grow up,” Michelle shares.
Michelle shares that the materials cost her more or less Php450, with a lot of felt and fabric leftover. “The leftover fabric I used to make throw pillow covers and the leftover felt I turned into pillow bands!”
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Here's the finished product for her son, Mateo!PHOTO BY courtesy of Michelle Dacumos-AlingarogLove DIY? Click here for Pinterest-worthy Christmas decorations that won't break the bank!
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