Simple DIY Jesse Tree

Share & Help Me Grow

A Jesse Tree, based on the Scripture in Isaiah 11, is often used during the month of December during Advent and prior to Christmas to trace the lineage of Jesus Christ.

Our family has never used a Jesse Tree during our Christmas before, but were blessed to receive a copy of Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas by Ann Voskamp.

Read my review of Unwrapping the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp.

This lovely book comes with a gorgeous set of free printable Jesse Tree ornaments and that put me on a mission to create an easy Jesse Tree.

You can also download a free printable set of Ann Voskamp Jesse Tree ornaments in full color or printable Jesse Tree coloring ornaments.

I needed a Jesse Tree that: 1) would not cost a ton of money to create, and 2) would not take up a lot of surface space as I am trying to eliminate clutter in our home. (Why do the holidays tend to bring so much clutter!?)

Everyone know that I am not extremely crafty, but since this is an area where I am striving to grow, I decided to look around my home and create a Jesse Tree of cardboard to hang on our wall.

For this project, you will need:

cardboard box
utility knife
packaging tape
scissors
Washi tape
yard stick

To start, I cut four equal pieces from the cardboard box with each being about 12 inches long and five inches wide. You could easily adjust these measurements to fit any box you have available.

After lining them up on the floor, I taped the pieces together on the back with clear packaging tape.

After measuring to find the center on one side, I used a yard stick as a straight edge and carefully scored the cardboard from the center on one side to the outside corner on the other. Once the line was scored, I could continue to gently run my utility knife along the cardboard until the pieces were divided.

Then, I repeated the process on the other side to form a triangle shape.

I looked at the simple Jesse Tree and considered leaving it plain. I was enticed by the idea to just let the ornaments be the only detail, but I had purchased Washi tape that looked like branches or a vine at Walmart.

After cutting sections of tape to make sure I would not run out, I laid the piece across my cardboard Jesse Tree and began attaching the Washi tape where I thought it looked best. No fancy measuring. Just peel and stick.

Because the finished Jesse Tree is so light, I was able to attach it to the wall using a few pieces of packaging tape. The printable ornaments can also be attached with packaging tape.

Our family is looking forward to the beginning of December as we share a devotion each night from Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas by Ann Voskamp and add an ornament to the Jesse Tree.