How to Make a Refrigerator Christmas Tree for Your Preschooler to Decorate

Children love to help decorate the family Christmas tree. Even after a tree is completely decorated, some children will go back and put the ornaments in different locations. I have watched many treasured ornaments get broken through this process of "making the tree look prettier." One way to let your child have the fun of redecorating a Christmas tree repeatedly, while sparing your family heirloom ornaments, is to give them their own Christmas tree to decorate. A Christmas tree that does not take up space and can give your child hours of redecorating enjoyment is a refrigerator Christmas tree. This is a great family project, as your child will not only have fun decorating the tree, but will also have loads of fun helping make the ornaments for the tree.

Items needed to make a refrigerator Christmas tree

One yard of green felt

Assortment of colored felt squares

Scissors

Assortment of Christmas cookie cutters

Pencil

Glue

Flat magnetic one-inch wide strips

Two 8 inch by 10 inch poster boards

Christmas wrapping paper

Optional items

Markers

Old Christmas cards

Ribbon (one-fourth inch wide)

Glitter

Sequences

Buttons

Fabric pieces

Family photos

Instructions for the refrigerator Christmas tree

Using either a freehand design or a pattern cut out a Christmas tree shape from the one yard of green felt. Be sure to include a small brown felt rectangle for the tree trunk. Cut the magnetic strips into one-inch squares and glue to the back of the felt Christmas tree. Adequately space them to ensure that the limbs will not droop when the tree is affixed to the refrigerator.

Next, either you or your child place the cookie cutters on the felt squares, use the pencil to draw around the edges and then cut out the shapes. Use a variety of items such as buttons, glitter, old Christmas cards, markers, and other materials to decorate the ornaments. Be sure to make a star or angel for the top of the Christmas tree. Felt fabric will stick to felt, but to make sure each ornament adheres to the Christmas tree; glue a one-inch or smaller square magnetic strip to the back of each ornament.

Cut out small squares and rectangles from the poster board and cover each one with the Christmas wrapping paper. Use the one-fourth inch ribbon to make a cross and bow on each package. Glue a small square of the magnetic strip to the back..

Use family photos and old Christmas cards to make unique ornaments for the tree.This is also a great project for a classroom.

Source: Christmas Craft Class