O Tannenbaum

Song Playing is "O Christmas Tree"


Did you Know ?  The Christmas tree as we know it today probably began as a German custom in the sixteenth century.  Legend has it that Martin Luther, a leader of Protestant church reform, was the first to bring an evergreen tree indoors.  While outside on Christmas eve, he became moved by the beauty of it against the starry sky so he cut it down, brought it home and placed a light candles on the boughs to symbolize stars sparkling over Bethlehem.

 
Part of the magic of Christmas is picking out your TREE. Below
are a few tips to help ensure the tree you pick is fresh.
To select a Fresh tree
1. Slide a branch through your fingers; the
needles should not come off.

2. Thump tree onto the ground; it should shed only a 
few outside needles.

3. Sniff; tree should be fragrant.

Now that you have picked a Beauty, how do you
make it last through the season?

1. Cut off 1" across base of stump; put the tree
in water immediately.

2. Use a 1 to 11/2 gallon capacity tree stand.

3. Maintain water level above bottom of tree. (Trees
need 1 quart of water daily per inch of trunk diameter.)

4. Do NOT place tree near a working fireplace, TV or
other heat source.
Time to Decorate that Tree.  How much of
trimmings do you need?
For a 6' Tree the following should apply.

1- Tree Topper
7 sets of 35 lights each (245 total)
72 ornaments; 36 of which should be
round ball type.
54' of garland
Bow, Ribbons & tinsel as desired.

 
Below are some Crafty Trees you can whip
out in time for the Holidays!
Ribbon Christmas Tree
Materials
10" Plastic-foam cone
2-1/2 yards of #16 lace ribbon
3 yards red #16 Christmas print craft ribbon
Small egg stand
Hairpins
White craft glue

Instructions:
1 Secure base of cone to egg stand.
2. Cut 63, 3" lengths of red ribbon and lace ribbon. Cut a V-shape in each end of each piece.
3. Fold ribbons in half, place a hairpin though them at center, and stick hairpin into the plastic-foam cone. Place them in rows round and round ribbon, covering cone with two layers of red ribbon and two layers of lace ribbon, adding ribbon types alternately from layer to layer.
4. With remaining red ribbon, make a Florist's Bow and glue to the top of the tree.

Quick , easy and makes a great centerpiece.

   Evergreen Simmer
To add a Refreshing moment after a busy hectic day this is sure to help. 
1 C. Dried pine needles 
6-8 tiny cones
1 T whole cloves
1 T whole allspice
1 Orange peel dried
Several cinnamon sticks
3/4 tsp. nutmeg

Simmers will add a wonderful holiday fragrance to your home, add your simmer to a cup of hot water, bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer and enjoy! Your simmer can be used several times, and you can refresh by adding more fresh ingredients!
 

Cinnamon Tree

Materials:
1 Large styrofoam cone
Several packages of 4-5" cinnamon sticks (enough to cover the styrofoam tree in lengthwise layers)
hot glue gun/glue sticks
1 pkg., dried apple slices
1 pkg. of 8-10 tiny red velvet bows
1 miniature Christmas star or angel for top of tree
1 1/2 yds of 1/2" plaid ribbon

Instructions:
1. Completely cover the styrofoam tree with cinnamon sticks angled downward around tree. Begin at bottom of tree in rounds overlapping the previous round. Attach with glue as you go.
2. Wrap the ribbon snugly around tree as garland. Glue with small dabs of glue in several places to secure.
3. Glue bows to edge of apple slices to create a wreath effect.
4. Glue the apple slices with bows attached to spaces in between the ribbon garland, allowing the slices to overlap garland.
5. Glue the star or angel atop the tree.

 
NON Edible GUMDROP TREE
Need:
6-8" Styrofoam Tree
couple bags of red & green gumdrops
 u-shaped hair pins
 toothpicks
miniature string of beads.

Cut toothpicks in half. Insert a toothpick into the larger (bottom) side of the gumdrops. Starting at the bottom, stick the free end of the toothpick (with gumdrops already on) into the tree. Continue until the tree is covered. (Alternate method: glue gumdrops onto tree form.) Attach the beaded string in a "loose" fashion, fastening it to the styrofoam with the hair
pins. Finally, hot glue a miniature star or angel to the top. 
 

 
These Trees are Fun to make with the little ones. Everyone in the house can help. They are edible so beware and make a double batch so you have some to place on the TREE!!!
Popcorn Tree
Need:
popcorn
marshmallows
butter
green food
coloring
small candies

Melt 1/4 cup margarine & bag of miniature
marshmallows. Add green food color to achieve
the desired color. Pour over popped popcorn
and mix. Shape popcorn mixture into cone
shapes. Decorate with small candies such as
M&M's. skittles, red hots, etc. Add a candy star to the top! You can use a dab of frosting to
glue" decorations to the tree if they don't
stick well. 
 

 Rice Krispie Tree
Need:
5 cups rice krispies 
1/4 cup margarine or butter 
4 cups mini-marshmallows or 6-10 oz. bag of regular marshmallows 
10 - 12 regular size marshmallows
toothpicks 
green food coloring 
red cinnamon candies, or small candies

Melt margarine in a 3 qt. saucepan, then add 4 cups marshmallows and cook over low heat stirring constantly till syrupy. Remove from heat, add green food coloring till a fairly dark green color. Add cereal and stir until well coated. Shape into conical forms with buttered hands (kids LOVE to do this part, but make sure the mixture is not too hot) When cooled, stick a toothpick through a marshmallow and stick into the bottom to serve as the
tree's base. Decorate with colorful candies. 
 
Download & Decorate a beautiful tree
Click here to download.



 

Make this Starry Delight!
(Gelatin Christmas Tree Forest)
Need:
Shirt Box
scissors
paper cones
foil 
large package lime Jell-O

On the bottom of the box, trace and cut out ten or twelve circles the size of the paper cone.  Turn the box, bottom side up.  Place the paper cones in the cut out circles, as shown.

Prepare one box of lime Jell-O as directed on package. Cool for awhile.  Pour the Jell-O into the paper cones. Refrigerate until firm.

Using the star pattern, cut and trace two stars from gold paper, for each Jell-O tree. Sandwich a toothpick between two stars; glue together. Repeat for all trees. Let dry.

Line a shallow shirt box with foil. When Jell-O is set, lift out the Jell-O filled cone. Carefully cut away the paper.  Place trees on the foil. poke the star through at the top of each tree. repeat until finished.  Sprinkle coconut on foil to look like snow . 
For snow covered trees, squirt with whipped cream.
Actual Size Star
 

 Vegetable Snack Tree

Need 
Styrofoam Tree
Lettuce leaves
Vegetables cut up

Cover a foam cone with lettuce leaves. Use strong toothpicks to tack in place.  Cut up raw vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, sweet red and green peppers, cherry tomatoes, and carrots into bite size.  Cut up your favorite cheese into cubes. Spear the vegetables and cheese onto toothpicks and cover the lettuce cone.

Place in the center of a dish surrounded by your favorite (white) dip.

 
 
Links

National Association of Christmas Trees - There you
will find a description of the varies species and how to care for them. Also have a Great Kids section with
Fun things to do.

Looking to buy a tree for your Dog- Hey, let "Fido"
enjoy Christmas with his very own tree!

Elle's Christmas Page - Three virtual Christmas
trees you can decorate online plus several other games. 

 
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Nettie's Place

This Page created by ©Nettie, December 2000
Some graphics from Flower's Page.
The Download Tree is from the Heartfall Productions.