Make these two layered Christmas projects, and use them as Christmas decorations. There is a wreath and Christmas Tree. They are done in the same papers to coordinate, so frame them both and hang them next to each other!
The each project is 6 layers and then centering it. It creates a wonderful effect and is really easy. It is a perfect gift or make them from the same colors, like I did and they make coordinated decorations.
You will need:
- cardstock in various shades
- cardstock for the background
- Foam Tape (prefered) or Liquid Glue
- Frame
- Download File
Paper Selection for the Two Layered Christmas Projects
This project can be made with any paper. The colors for the two projects could be in the same color family or like I did it, rainbow colors. Use your imagination. Patterns would look very weird for everything but the top colors of each project. But foiled or glitter paper would look nice anywhere.
Cutting the Two Layered Christmas Projects
These are both Access images but I made some subtle alterations to both to make them easier to cut and to emphasize some of the colors. I also separated them into two different downloads so that you could do just one if you wanted. But if you do both, just upload them to the same project. They will fit on one mat if made together by moving them around the mat.
If you are using the SVG files make sure you follow the directions in the instruction document in the zip file.
Start with the back layer and cut the designs upward in layer. This works best. That way you can line them up as you go. There is a top and bottom to these projects so make sure you don’t turn them. Easy for the tree but harder for the wreath.
The lines are very thin in places. Be careful removing them from the mat.
Assembling the Two Layered Christmas Projects
As you cut the layers, build up from the bottom. Center the pieces to the piece below it. The red star piece is attached with glue to the silver piece since it is only the star and would throw off the rest of the foam tape layers. If you are just gluing them this isn’t a problem.
Attach each layer to the one below it before you cut the next layer. You can glue the layers together with liquid glue or foam tape. Foam tape adds more dimension to the project, but it is up to you. I used foam tape.
Once the layers are all together, glue the whole thing to a piece that goes with your color scheme. You can then put the Two Layered Christmas Projects in a frame. If you used foam tape you will need a shadowbox frame since 6 layers of foam tape and paper are thicker that a regular frame can hold.
And your Two Layered Christmas Projects are done.
Pagan Origins of the Christmas Tree
Long before Christianity appeared, people in the Northern Hemisphere used evergreen plants to decorate their homes, particularly the doors, to celebrate the Winter Solstice. On December 21 or December 22, the day is the shortest and the night the longest. Traditionally, this time of the year is seen as the return in strength of the sun god who had been weakened during winter — and the evergreen plants served as a reminder that the god would glow again and summer was to be expected.
The solstice was celebrated by the Egyptians who filled their homes with green palm rushes in honor of the god Ra, who had the head of a hawk and wore the sun as a crown. In Northern Europe, the Celts decorated their druid temples with evergreen boughs which signified everlasting life. Further up north, the Vikings thought evergreens were the plants of Balder, the god of light and peace. The ancient Romans marked the Winter Solstice with a feast called Saturnalia thrown in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture, and, like the Celts, decorated their homes and temples with evergreen boughs.
Taken From: The origin and history of the Christmas tree: from paganism to modern ubiquity
