These felt ornaments are a fun tradition for you and your kiddo’s as well as a great learning opportunity for them! These advent ornaments help us to keep Christ at the center of Christmas and bring the focus back to Jesus. It’s so easy to get lost in Santa Claus stories, the elf on the shelf and the gifts we give, that we often forget to teach them the true meaning of Christmas.
These sweet ornaments match the illustrations of the 24 stories in the Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones leading up to the birth of Christ, helping your little’s engage with the stories and get excited about reading their Bible!
How To Make Them Yourself:
I have a photo of my supply list of things/colors I used to make these to help guide you toward what you may need to get started, but feel free to get creative and use different or brighter colors if you choose! Have fun with it!
My guide is only a tool to help you feel confident and inspired to start a new tradition like this with your family. Sometimes it can be daunting to start a new project, but I promise, these will be special no matter how you go about getting them accomplished.
*I will also have a list of alternative design ideas at the bottom of this page*
This picture was taken after I finished my first set. It shows all the colors I purchase initially, and then there is a number 2 on the colors of which I ended up needing two 9 x 12 sheets of.
I managed to get up close detailed images of each ornament so you could better see exactly what I did. I have been asked to make sewing patterns, which I would be happy to do, I just have no idea what that would look like or what that would entail.
So I’m providing this as a visual guide for now to help you get a better idea of how I made them.
Click on a photo to enlarge
Alternative Creative Options
Ok I strongly feel that you don’t HAVE to make these as intricately and complicated as I did… Actually, I would encourage you to go more simple with them because they can take up a lot of your time and sanity and add a lot of frustration (defeating the point of the fun entirely).
So if I were to do this again, I would do this:
1. Use Sharpie!
Use sharpie wherever you can. I stitched every eye, nose and line on those suckers and I don’t recommend… I was going a bit nutty! I would recommend sewing the outsides and using sharpie, puff paint or even a pen or marker for more detailed areas.
2. Don’t Double Layer!
Cut the budget and work hours in half! just do one side/one piece of felt. Don’t bother stuffing or adding a back! Especially if you are drawing the front on or using glue to add layers. Which brings be to option 3
3. Utilize Spray Adhesive!
Screw sewing at all! Felt is very easy to glue together. Utilize the spray glue and add layers by just gluing them together! This too will cut your budget in half and save you a ton of frustration with tangled thread.