Family Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas

Through the years you can gather many Christmas tree decorating ideas so that your tree is filled with treasured memories. Your family can have a simple arrangement, or a wonderful display for the birthday of Jesus.

Over the years your favorite ideas may be Nativity scenes, homemade ornaments, decorations the children have made, and tiny gifts. Some statues and toys make unique decorations. Keep an eye open for what works for you.

Below you'll find pictures of Jesus and Mary in wooden frames made of popsicle-sticks and holy cards. You can use little slippers, and baby mittens. They're simple treasures and gifts from your own life and from family and friends.

Felt Christmas Stocking Kits

Through the years I have received many sweet requests for where to buy the kits to the wonderful stockings we use on our yearly BOGO sale.

I have finally found them! Here's the story.

Gorgeous Felt Christmas Stockings

Both of these beautiful stockings were made from a kit that my husband's grandmother had made for our first Christmas over thirty years ago. They might have been from Hobby Lobby or a similar type of store. Hm...

After searching, I found the company that made them. And they're still in business! 

Grandma's Embroidered Christmas Stockings

Before she died she had made one for everyone in our family even though two of our children were born after her death.

She did a different stocking for each of us:

• A Nativity scene with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, 
• a Noe's Ark filled with animals, 
• and a cute Kneeling Santa picture.

These are our favorites, although she did a beautiful job with each one. May God rest her soul and bless you all for asking.

I see they have Christmas Angels with "Gloria in excelsis Deo" and "Alleluia", as well as a Bethlehem scene.

• They'd make excellent gifts for your needlework and crafty friends.
• They'd also be great for Christmas activities or homeschool home-ec projects.

If you like them, you can get them at Amazon here.

Angel Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas

Embroidered Angel Ornament

For years after we were married the only "presents" we bought each other were Christmas decorations. Then our children began to make ornaments and family and friends have shared their treasures.

If you're just starting, be encouraged there are many simple Christmas tree decorating ideas that reflect the Christmas season and can brighten your tree.

One of our little ones made the homemade angel ornament at the top of this page using a clothes pin, embroidered half circle, and gold card stock for the wings.

It was a trick to hang this treasure, so we punched two holes in the wings for a wire to go around the neck. The outfit ties to the clothes pin with a ribbon that is attached to the top of the tunic. 

Crocheted Angel Ornament

My husband's aunt made us a set of crocheted angel ornaments years ago and they still look as inviting as they did over twenty years ago.

Ever since then we've collected many angel decorations for our Christmas tree. They help keep a religious theme in mind, especially as we often say our Rosary near the tree during the Christmas season.

Try these decorating ideas below:

• Nativity Scene.
• Homemade wooden Christmas ornaments.
• Crosstitch and crocheted angel ornaments.
• Small souvenirs.
• Tiny treasures from the past.

Nativity Christmas Decorations

Because we have a dear relative that used to send us a Nativity scene every year, we put them everywhere; but our favorite place is under the Christmas tree.

We're a little old for getting on the floor so we put our main Nativity on the buffet at the beginning of Advent, and our youngest imitates us with his scene under our tree.

At the beginning of Advent we start with an empty stable and add pieces as the people would be coming:

• Joseph and Mary just before Christmas,
• Baby Jesus late Christmas Eve, 
• The shepherds and sheep next, and 
• The Magi on January 6th, the feast of the Epiphany. 

After that, the Biblical characters begin to leave in reverse order.

Wooden Christmas Decorating Ideas

Since the Reason for the Season is Jesus' Birth and His Christ Mass we treasure the homemade Christmas ornaments that our children have made using popsicle sticks and holy cards of the Nativity.

One of our children made his as a school project and the next year we made them as gifts for friends – of course, we kept one too. 

I'd love to have twelve more of those so that looking at the Christmas tree is more of a reminder of Jesus, more of a meditation on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary.

Popsicle Stick Christmas Ornament

Holy Family Popsicle Stick Christmas Tree Decoration

Popsicle Stick Christmas Tree Decoration Directions

• Simply lay a bed of popsicle sticks and glue the cross pieces as frames to your holy card or old Christmas card. 
• Make a second layer and add a roof. 
• Dry. 
• Tie with a ribbon and hang. 
• We wrote the year and signed our name on the ornaments we gave as gifts. 
• A sharpie worked very well for the writing.

Framed Photograph Christmas Decorations

Another favorite Christmas tree decorating idea is to put photos in tiny frames to hang on the tree.

These also make lovely Christmas gifts for family, friends, and associates at work and school.

Wooden Christmas Tree Ornaments

Other homemade Christmas decorations that we treasure are the wooden ornaments that one of our sons made when he was beginning to use our scroll saw.

One of us drew the pattern and he traced it to wood and made the cuts.

He was able to give those as gifts for his aunts and uncles. 

More Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas

These next items make great last minute Christmas tree decorations.

Souvenir Christmas Decorations

What do you do with souvenirs? If they're small and sweet, they're perfect as Christmas tree decorating ideas. We have several that remind us of past and joyful times. 

This one is of Saint Anne's Catholic Church on Mackinac Island.  The gold, red, and white colors make this ornament perfect for Christmas. If you ever have the chance to visit, do! 

Ethnic Christmas Tree Decorations

Here's another souvenir. A tiny pair of Dutch wooden shoes with a traditional picture of windmills. 

When they don't hang well, they sit nicely on a Christmas tree bough or limb.

Keepsake Baby Christmas Tree Ornaments

What do you do with your baby's slippers? We hung our favorite pair on the tree.

You can do the same with baby shoes or tiny toys.

Family Treasures As Christmas Ornaments

How about this one?

"Oh, Mom! Those were my favorite gloves! Please don't give them away."

Tie a bow, pin it to the glove or mitten, and hang it on the tree! This way a memory is saved and a little heart won. :-)

Christmas Tree Skirt

A favorite Christmas tree decorating idea is to use a Christmas tree skirt to catch needles from the tree and perhaps save an ornament from breaking.

One year we found a quilted tree skirt and thought, "Perfect! This may save some of our breakable decorations." It has saved many glass ornaments from breaking.

You see, as the years pass there are many treasures you can put on the tree that cost very little and will be treasured for many years to come.

Take a look around your home for more Christmas tree decorating ideas. Keep the smallest items at the top and non breakable larger items toward the bottom.

Check out our:

• Printable Advent Calendar
• Advent Wreath Coloring Page
• Christmas Coloring Pages
• Christmas Tree Coloring Pages
• Printable Christmas Cards

Merry Christmas from all of us at Saint Anne's Helper!

~Mary

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