Craft Stick Christmas Trees

This year we made a new ornament for our Christmas tree and as gifts for family. The boys loves the way they came out and so do I. We had some large craft sticks that are about the size of tongue depressors.

We used a total of four craft sticks for make each tree ornament. One was used as the trunk of the tree, one was used as the bottom branch, one as the third branch from the top (it was trimmed and sanded to be shorter), and one stick that was cut and sanded to be the top two branches.

We painted each one with green acrylic paint and while they were wet, we sprinkled some silver glitter. We let them dry for several hours.

After they were dry, the boys and I glued some 6mm beads that we had left over from some Thanksgiving crafts. The beads look like ornaments on our Craft stick trees. Lastly we glued a silver star on each one (that we cut out from a used gift bag we saved from last year).

We hung ours on our Christmas tree and saved some to give as gifts. The boys enjoyed making them and I plan on incuding them in a gift bag I am making for my Mom filled with handmade gifts that the boys and I made together. We will be seeing my parents later this evening and I can't wait to see her face when she gets her gift. She loves handmade ornaments. My youngest placed some of his paper tube poinsettias in the gift bag for Grandma.

We read some wonderful books on the Christmas tree and a Folktale on the Three trees.

The Tale of Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale by Angela Elwell Hunt, illustrated by Tim Jonke.
In this traditional Christian folktale, three small trees stand living on a mountaintop who share with each other their dreams for when they grow up. The first tree wished to hold treasure and be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world, but instead was made into a feed trough for farm animals. The second tree wanted to be the strongest ship to carry powerful kings but instead was made into a small dinghy. The third tree did not wan to leave the mountain top, he just wanted people to see him as they look up to heaven and think of God, but instead was made into rough logs.

As tears pass by, the three trees forgot their dreams but they are then surprised by the way that their dreams come true. The first tree indeed holds the greatest treasure, the Christ child. The second tree carries Jesus, the King of Kings and his disciples across the sea in a storm. The third tree was placed atop a hill as a cross carrying Jesus as he was crucified and every time people thought of the third tree they would think of God.

Our Review:
My sons were curious about what "the Tale of the Three Trees" was about. They sat and listened as I read the story. We found very touching tale and I loved the fact that it was told this way. I especially took to heart its message that even though things don’t always go according to our own plans, God has something better to give us.

Isaiah 55:8
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, said the LORD."
Here is wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas.