Our Jesse Tree

We’ve been using the Jesse Tree to shape our Advent celebration for almost twenty years. Early on we had only a booklet of daily readings, but over the years we added—creating our own devotional series (that carries through the 12 Days of Christmas!) and crafting ornaments to accompany each day’s reading. Now all six of our children, 20s to tot, eagerly join in the celebration. We use the readings on this website and finish each evening with hanging the day’s Jesse Tree ornament.

Find out more about how we celebrate with so many ages here, or scroll down to get crafting! These ornaments are easy to make, but take a bit of time. At the end, however, you’ll have beautiful keepsakes that can be used year after year.

We made ours extra tiny and store them in little boxes made from leftover Christmas cards.

Jesse Tree Day 1: Creation

An adorably lumpy basket and baby remind us of baby Moses. 

What You’ll need

• Oven-bake or air-dry clay or salt dough (note: salt dough must be stored in a dry place or it will disintegrate!)

• Acrylic paints, glitter, glue

• Jewelry-making or needle-nosed pliers

• Flat-bottomed head pin for hanging

• Scrap of rough-woven fabric (burlap, jute, fabric rice bag, etc.) or a tiny basket

• Raffia or paper bag scraps (optional)

Instructions

1.

Shape a small baby from clay. Don’t worry about details; most will be covered by the “blanket.” Add facial features with a toothpick (optional).

2.

Flatten a piece of clay and roll very thin. When thin (but still able to be handled), gently place coarse fabric over the clay and lightly roll over top to add texture. This is your blanket. Trim into a rectangle if desired.

3.

Wrap the baby in the blanket!

4.

Dry wrapped baby according to package directions.

5.

Paint as desired.

6.

To form the basket, cut a piece of fabric larger than the clay baby. Spread glue on both sides. As the glue dries shape it into a basket form (it need not be pretty!), or press inside a mini-muffin tin and allow to dry.

7.

Once glue is dry, gently push headpin through bottom of the finished basket.

8.

Glue raffia or scraps in the basket, then glue the baby in. Allow glue to dry completely.

9.

Carefully bend headpin into hook with pliers.

Resources and Links

Find inspiration for other Jesse Tree Ornament designs at our Jesse Tree Pinterest Board.

For simpler ornaments, use one of our Joy of Advent printables (linked below).

We use Sculpey clay and the materials listed below (affiliate links—support our site without adding to your cost).