A Charlie Brown Christmas Tree & Ruffle Tree Skirt Tutorial {Hey, that's Pin-tastic!}

I had big visions for this Christmas Season.

Hoping and praying we'd be in the new house by now.  What?  You didn't know we're building a house?  Well...we are.  Maybe one day I can get those pictures posted so we can have some progress pictures.  But it's all good.  For now, just take my word for it.  Okay?

But.  We aren't in the new house.  We're in the apartment.  The 1100 square feet apartment.  They say 1100, but I don't know where the other 800 is, because right now, it feels TINY.  Teeny.  Tiny. 

Nevertheless, Thanskgiving weekend came and almost went and we had no tree up.  I scored a new skinny 7 foot tree from Tar-Jay, because let's be honest, we left The Big Massive Tree at the old house for the new owner to have.  You had to put it in, branch by branch.  Fluff it out.  And it was huge.  Beautiful, but huge.  So, we thought it best to stay at the old house.  I hope she likes it. 

Last Sunday night, after Lance had been Duck Hunting {all.weekend.long}, we decided to get the tree up.  We all bundled up, walked across the parking lot to our 2 storage closets to find the Rubbermaid Tubs {in the very back of the closet} that housed all of our treasures.  Such a cozy image right?

We located the tubs and headed back inside.  I had made a pot of chili so we decided to have a bowl of that first.  Easton doesn't like chili so he had ham and mandarin oranges and fritos. 

After getting supper out of the way and somewhat cleaned up, we continued on with the tree.  Mind you, we had to rearrange the living room because there is not a spare inch.  Anywhere.  But I actually like the new set up.  Maybe we'll leave it this way until we move up.  Tree included.  {Kidding.  Sort of.}

Typically we watch Christmas Vacation while we put up the tree.  That's one of Lance's childhood traditions, and it goes better as a family movie than Steel Magnolias.  That, of course, would be my choice.

 

Nevertheless, we got the tree up.  Got the limbs fluffed out, lights strung and ornaments hung.  It's not perfect, but it's ours.  This year, at least.  And, it gives quite a cozy glow at night time.  That's my favorite part. 

Two boys fizzled out about 10 minutes in to the big tree, but we were all together.  That's what matters.  Lance keeps calling it a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree, but I kind a think it's cute.  It'll work for now. 

It was so fun watching Easton this year.  We set up a little tree in his room and he took great pride in picking out ornaments to go on his tree.  He placed each one with care and thought. 

 

I finally got him the Little People Nativity, that I'd been wanting to get and we put that under the tree.  We've already had quite a few discussions about Baby Jesus.  We talked about Baby Jesus' mom and dad being Mary and Joseph.  He prefers to call them "Mary & JoJo".  He has a Joseph in his class as school that they call JoJo so Joseph, Jesus' daddy is now JoJo.  It's got a nice ring to it. 

 

Each year, we have our favorites that we can't wait to see.  For me, it's the quilted ball on the left.  I LOVE THIS ORNAMENT.  I made it years ago at church.  Had to be 15 years ago.  Lance thinks its the ugliest thing ever, but I love it.  His favorite ornament is that snowman in the middle.  It's actually a set of 3 sashes, but we only have 2.  His mom had these on their tree gowing up.  They are from Avon I believe.  They smell like pine.  However, this year, they are a little less fragrant than I remember.  Anyways, Cindy found the exact ones at the Goodwill and gave them to us.  They're a nice reminder of his childhood I think.  And that last one.  I pulled it out this year and just boo-hoo'd.  Look at that little bitty hand.  Each year, I make his handprint on an ornament.  I just can't believe how tiny it was, and now how grown up he's getting.  They really do grow too fast. 

 

And, since it's Monday, and I'm showing you our tree, I thought I'd show you the tree skirt too.

Remember, last years tree was MASSIVE, this years, not so much.  However, with some tucking and folding, I managed to get the tree skirt in the little corner that we do have.  Because, lets face it.  This sucker is way too fabulous to remain on the hanger in my closet through Christmas.

 

For this tree skirt, you'll need:

2 Yards of Felt- match it to whatever your top color is.

{to decide how big you need your material, determine the width of the base of the tree as well.  ex. if you want it to stick out 3 feet around the tree, double that for a 72 inch square, to trim down to circle.}

Then you'll need 2 Yards of material.  I used linen.  It tears nicely.

Glue Gun.

Bags and bags and bags of glue sticks.

PATIENCE.

 

To start:  Fold your bottom material in half, then half again.

Cut a circle out of the center folds of your felt.

Round the outer edges of your felt. 

Mine is more like a rounded square instead of a circle, but just go with it. 

Then, tear your strips of linen.  Tear and tear and tear.

Begin on the inside of the tree skirt.

Glue the short end of your long strip of fabric and begin pleating.

I worked in about 18 inch sections.  I'd run a strip of glue then I'd pleat my fabric as I went.

It doesn't have to be perfect.  Once I got to the end of my glue line, I'd go back in and glue at the top of most pleats so it would lay flat.  Continue this all the way around.

For the second row, do the same thing except have it overlapping slightly. 

You need a big surface to work on, I used the living room floor.  Every night.

 

This does take quite some time, but you can make this on a much smaller scale.

 

Last year, it was perfect under our tree...this year, it's not perfect, but it works!

 

So, what are some of your favorite ornaments?  Do you have a tradition while putting up the tree?  I'd love to hear some of your family traditions as well.  I'm a sucker for tradition. 

 

 Head on over to Ashley's blog for more fabulous baking, crafting, decorating ideas!