Christmas Crafts: Felt Handprint Christmas Tree

Crafting for Christmas is an annual tradition in my house and each year I try to come up with a new craft that commemorates the year. This year I decided upon an easy craft that uses handprints from each family member and can be used year after year. This simple handprint Christmas tree is made out of felt and is a fun project to make together.

Felt Handprint Christmas Tree: What You'll Need
To create this Christmas tree craft, you will need sheets of green felt (one sheet should be sufficient for each family member), a marker (use a washable marker--trust me on this), scissors sewing machine, ribbon and glitter glue. Optional items would be felt glue or hot glue, sequins, buttons, craft pearl strands and other such items.

Felt Handprint Christmas Tree: How to Make It
The first step in creating this cute Christmas craft is to give each family member a sheet of green felt. Trace around each person's hands (fingers spread) then cut out. Trace both hands. I also used the marker to make an initial on the marked side of each handprint (so I would know whose handprints were whose).

After cutting the handprints out, I arranged them from smallest to largest or from oldest to youngest in a tree formation (smallest or youngest at the very top). I overlapped handprints, fingers down, thumbs out.

I used my sewing machine to sew each set of two handprints together to start. After that, I layered the handprints and sewed each layer onto the previous layer until I got to the "top" of the tree, which was made up of my youngest daughter's handprints. After sewing on the last layer, I cut a length of ribbon as a hanger then looped and sewed it onto the back of the felt at the top.

Felt Handprint Christmas Tree: Decorate It
The final step in creating this felt handprint Christmas tree decoration is to decorate the tree. This was the best part for my kids.

Lay the felt tree on a flat surface (cover the surface with newspaper to protect it) then set to work. We used silver glitter glue to make garland on the "branches," then other colors of glitter glue to create ornaments. The final touch was a star at the top made from gold glitter glue.

Another option would be to use felt glue or hot glue to attach craft pearl strands or ribbon as garland, buttons or sequins for ornaments, or fashion a star out of a gold pipe cleaner and glue it into place. This tree can be decorated according to taste and available materials.

The best part about this simple Christmas decoration is that year after year you can look back and see those great handprints! Be sure to mark the year somewhere so you can always remember when you made it. For a no-sew and school appropriate variation, make this craft out of construction paper and glue. It can easily be made with one child's handprints (you would need approximately 6-8 handprints, but the number can be varied according to desired size).