DIY Plaid Trees and What Puts Me in the Christmas Spirit

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     When I was a young mother, I would work so hard to do everything during the holidays to help my family feel the true meaning of Christmas.  I wanted them to know why we celebrated and I also wanted them to feel the magic of the season.  We watched every Christmas special, we drove around and looked at lights, we did acts of service for others, we sang carols, we read about the birth of the Savior, we went and saw Santa, we put up the tree and decorated it, we got gifts for each other and had fun secrets.  I baked and made candy and decorated the house like crazy.  I loved it! My kids loved it!  But, now that my children are all adults, it has been quite a transition to not being the one that everyone looks to to make Christmas special.  I have grandchildren and their families have their own traditions that they are creating and plus other grandparents to be involved with.  This year, I had decide to take a look at what really puts me in the Christmas Spirit and to concentrate on those things. Here is what I have realized about myself:

• I love the lights on the tree and sitting and looking at it.  Not only that, I love when my family sits there with me and we sing carols together.  I have blogged about that before.  It is one of my favorite traditions.  It makes me happy when I hear that my children have incorporated this tradition in their own homes.
• ​I don't need to bake or cook as much, but today as I made our family's favorite fudge recipe to share, I realized that I was feeling the spirit of Christmas in my heart.  You can't beat some of those old favorite recipes and the memories that they bring. 
• I love to have little children around and talk to them about the Savior.  I love to look at the Nativity scenes all around and have them show me Baby Jesus and the other figures.  I did that today with my granddaughter and I was amazed at this almost 2 year old and how she could point out Jesus and Mary and Joseph without any problem.  
• I love finding a special gift for someone and knowing that they will love it! 
• I really enjoy taking treats to friends and family and giving to those in need. 
• And finally, I realized this year that if I don't craft or hand make at least one gift or decorative item each Christmas that something is missing from my holiday.  I need to put myself into something and do more than just make a purchase. (Even though I do plenty of that!) 

    It took me a while to come up with what I could make this year.  But, as you know, I have been loving the buffalo plaid decor this year and I actually had purchased a Christmas Tree from Walmart for my table.  I decided that I needed more of them and wouldn't it be great to use a cinnamon stick as the trunk and a wood slice as the base.  I thought how great to give a little tree with my plates of goodies!  So, I whipped some up and here is how I did it: 

Supplies:

Coordinating plaid flannel fabric
Cinnamon sticks
Fiber fill
Wood slices
Sewing Machine
Thread

* I used the tree that I already had as a guide to make a pattern.  But, I also made smaller ones and then cut out two pieces for each tree.  Then, with right sides together, stitch around each tree, leaving the bottom open a few inches in the center. 
​* Trim the seams and points of the branches and then flip the tree right-side out. 
* Stuff Fiber fill into the corners at the top of the tree.  Wrap a cinnamon stick with fiber fill around the top portion and push it up through the opening at the bottom.  Then, fill around it with more fiber fill, especially shoving it into the corners.  
* When it is nicely stuffed, stitch the bottom closed with a whip stitich across and going around the trunk.  
Tip:  When choosing a cinnamon stick, try to get one with a nice round end so that it will fit neatly in a whole the size you have a drill bit for.
* Drill a hole through your wood slice and glue the cinnamon stick in it for your tree to stand.   

I love these! I had a bunch all done in no time! Thanks to my husband and his drill!

How Merry!  

What gets you into the Christmas Spirit?  I would love to hear from you! 
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For more great ideas for DIY gifts, check out this post, a Zero Waste Gift Guide!