Here is a great homemade gift. A felt Christmas tree (tutorial follows).
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| Picture courtesy of The Purl Bee |
I love Christmas trees. They are so beautiful and symbolic. Jesus referred to trees a lot. Tree of the knowledge of good and evil, tree of life, and Zaccheus even climbed up in a tree (Sycamore) to see Jesus (there are more references to trees than this, I just named a few!) I am going to focus on the tree of life.
In Proverbs Solemon says this: 3:18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
Who is the SHE that is a tree of life? Where can we find her? I want to be happy!
If we read at the thirteenth verse of chapter 3 of Proverbs, Solemon tells us (a.k.a. one of the wisest men in the Bible). 13 Happy is the man that findeth WISDOM, and the man that getteth understanding. 14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
Wisdom is a tree of life. She is more precious than rubies, silver, and gold? Why? Because there are some things that can't be bought (actually there are a lot of characteristics/traits that can't be bought!) When you exercise yourself wisely, Godly, reverently, you lengthen your days and you acquire riches (not necesseraly monetarily) and honor. I know this world puts value on people that have money and rank. But what about God? How does he value us? When you live your life with Godly wisdom you obtain a pleasant peaceful life. I can't tell you how to live your journey with God, but God can tell you. Listen to what he classifies as value and don't listen to the world's distorted view of value. Seek wisdom, she is a tree of life and you will be glad to obtain that!
A verse to add to your tag for your Christmas Tree Pin: Proverbs 3:18 She (wisdom) is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
The Purl Bee has a wonderful tutorial, so I am going to show you what she did.
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| Picture courtesy of The Purl Bee |
■Felt in colors you like (The trunk can be black or brown)
■Embroidery floss (I like the red)
■Stuffing (batting, paper towel, toilet paper, cloth, etc.)
■Pinking shears (to get the pretty edging)
Making the Templates: (AS STATED BY THE PURL BEE)
To make your tree template cut a triangle with a 1½-inch base and 2-inch sides out of the scrap paper.
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| Picture courtesy of The Purl Bee |
For the stump template cut a rectangle that is ½ wide by ¾-inch tall.
Cut two 2-inch by 2 ½-inch pieces from a non-brown piece of felt and place them on top of one another.
Trace the tree template on the top piece.
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| Picture courtesy of The Purl Bee |
Using your pinking shears cut neatly around the traced tree shape through both layers of felt.
You will now have two identical tree shapes. Flip them over so the pencil makings are on the back.
Also cut out one stump from the brown felt using your stump template.
Sewing and Stuffing
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| Picture courtesy of The Purl Bee |
Using a contrasting color of embroidery thread stitch around the edge of the tree pieces, in the zig zag dips of the pinked edge as shown above. When you get to the bottom you will sew in the stump as you do this.
Sew all around the edge of the tree in this manner but pause when you are 1-inch from your first stitches so there is a gap for stuffing.
Take a walnut sized ball of stuffing and stuff it into the 1-inch gap. You might want to use a sharp object like a knitting needle or pencil to get all the stuffing firmly inside of the tree.
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| Picture courtesy of The Purl Bee |
Once all the stuffing is neatly inside continue sewing around the tree’s edge until it’s totally closed. Tie a knot at the back of the piece to keep the edge stitches in place and then pull your thread out in the middle of the back of the tree shape, where you want to place your pin.
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| Picture courtesy of The Purl Bee |
God Bless Your Christmas!
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