Makers Guide: Playtime Children's Tree

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Green felt (2 yards)
• Felt Squares: orange, red, gold, tan, beige, white, black, gray, brown, maroon
• Scissors
• Animal templates
• Tree template
• Leaf template
• Embroidery floss: brown, white, black, orange, beige
• Embroidery needle
• Tape measure
• Hot glue gun/glue sticks
• Tacky glue
• Velcro® dots
• Chalk
• String 24" long (used to create tree template)
• Sewing machine
• Green thread
• Straight pins
• Fiberfil

DIRECTIONS:

1. To print the templates, click on the "Download Project PDF" button (above). Following the tree template, draw out the shape for the tree base and the tree cone onto the green felt with chalk and string. Hold the string in place and use the chalk to create a circle shape. To create the cone portion hold one end of the string in place at least 24" from the edges and hold the chalk at the other end of the 24" piece of string. (It helps to have someone else hold the felt in place but it can be done alone.) Create a large circle by drawing on the felt with chalk and pivoting around the center point. Draw a straight line from the center point to the edge. Measure 84" around the perimeter and draw another line from that point to the center.
2. To create the tree base, repeat the technique in step 1 by creating a circle using string and chalk. This time the circle will be 24" wide, so hold the string at one end and hold the chalk 12" away. Hold the end point in the center and create a circle with chalk that is 24".
3. Cut out the tree and tree base.
4. Sew the ends of the tree together to create a cone shape. Turn inside out and pin the tree cone to the tree base.
5. Sew along the edge, leaving a 4" opening to turn the felt right side out. Once turned right side out fill the free with fiber fill. Sew the opening shut.
6. Using the leaf template, cut out enough leaf shapes from the green felt to cover the tree cone.
7. Secure the leaves to the tree cone with hot glue. Start at the bottom and overlap them as you move up until you reach the top.
8. Use the animal templates to cut out the pieces of the various animals from their coordinating colored felt.
9. Assemble the pieces and glue them in place, using tacky glue.
10. Embellish the animals by adding embroidery details such as whiskers and fur lines. Add stars to the center of the circles ornaments.
11. Hot glue a Velcro® piece to the back of each ornament. Use the hook side so that it will secure to the felt tree and stay in place. (The other side of the Velcro® dot will not be needed.)
12. Decorate.