The Jesse Tree is a beautiful tradition that our family cherishes each year! The Jesse Tree is a wonderful Advent tradition that many Christians use to prepare for the arrival of Christ at Christmas. It acts as a unique Advent countdown calendar that emphasizes the season’s true meaning. This tradition is an excellent way to teach children about God’s plan of redemption from creation to salvation, connecting the Old Testament with the New Testament.
These DIY Printable Jesse Tree Blocks will be the fastest, easiest way to get started with this tradition EVER! This set comes with an option that is perfect for making Jesse Tree Blocks using wooden craft blocks that you will be able to use year after year, as well as an option for printable pages that can be cut and folded into paper blocks.
DIY Printable Jesse Tree Blocks
This project is so cute and easy! You only need to make five cubes, either folded out of paper or decoupaged onto wooden craft blocks. The blocks get rotated to display that day’s current Jesse Tree symbol. So don’t worry – you don’t have to store to buy a block for each day or go looking for 25 different ornaments. You can use the five blocks to start on December 1 and end on Christmas Day!
Important Note about the Jesse Tree Blocks: This set is only available in color. There is no black and white version of this project.
How to Make Your DIY Printable Jesse Tree Blocks
There are two options for making the Jesse Tree Cubes. The first option is to make it strictly out of paper by printing out the paper cube pages. The second option is to decoupage the symbols (all on one page of this packet) onto a wooden block to create a more permanent version.
Jesse Tree Blocks Option One: Foldable Paper Cubes
This set includes five different paper cubes. An example of one of the pages is below.
1. Print your Jesse Tree cubes onto card stock. The paper cubes are on pages 6 – 10 of the packet.
2. Cut along the solid line outside edges, as shown on the page.
3. Make folds on the dashed lines with the colorful sides facing out. This shape will fold into a cube.
4. Use a glue stick to put glue on each of the little flaps, assemble in the shape of a cube, and gently press the little flaps on the undersides of the cube to hold it in place.
Example of one of the Jesse Tree Foldable Paper Cube Pages
Jesse Tree Blocks Option Two: Decoupage on Wooden Blocks
1. Print the wooden block symbols page on standard printer paper, which is better for decoupaging. To save paper, all of the symbols are on one page.
The page with the cubes for decoupaging is ready to use a 1 1/2-inch block and printing at the actual size. If your wooden cube is smaller, you can print that page at a smaller percentage. You will want the squares to print a bit smaller than your block.
2. Once you have the right-sized squares, cut them all out into individual squares.
3. Sand your wooden block on the corners if needed.
4. Paint Mod Podge on one side of the block and put a square on that side. Paint another coat of Mod Podge over the top of the paper. Try not to “scrub” too much with the brush, especially if you have an inkjet printer. Just swipe on the Mod Podge with your brush and move on. It will dry clear.
If it gets any wrinkles, slick them down with the back of your fingernail.
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5. Follow the same procedure for all sides except the bottom since you’ll need one side to set the block on while the other sides dry.
6. When the block has fully dried, you can turn the cube on its side and do the remaining bottom square using the same process. Set the blocks on foil to dry so they don’t stick to the surface. Allow the block to cure this way overnight.
Matching Devotional: You can find a link to the matching devotional book for this set here.
Matching How To Draw Videos: I have a set of how to draw videos that match these pictures on the cubes. They are not included in this set, but you can purchase access to the How to Draw Jesse Tree Symbols Videos here. It is great to be able to read the devotions to the kids while they are drawing!
Jesse Tree Symbols Included in this Set
Printable Jesse Tree Symbols Included in This Set:
- The World (Creation)
- A Snake With An Apple Tree (The First Sin)
- Ark With Rainbow (Noah)
- Camel And Tent (Call To Abraham)
- Lamb And Mountain (Isaac And The Lamb)
- Ladder (Jacob’s Ladder)
- Coat of Many Colors (Joseph)
- 10 Commandments (Moses)
- Grapes (Canaan)
- Wheat (Ruth)
- Sling Shot (King David)
- Scroll (Josiah)
- Stump With Shoot (Jesse)
- Lion And The Lamb
- Dove And Crown (Prince Of Peace)
- Shepherd’s Staff
- Cross (Suffering Servant)
- Heart With Writing (New Covenant)
- Bethlehem
- Fiery Furnace (Exile)
- Brick Wall (Return To The Land)
- Star
- Candle (Light Of The World)
- Angel
- Baby Jesus
The Jesse Tree Blocks Printable Pack Contents
- Directions for using the printables to make a set of five Jesse Tree Blocks using decoupage on wooden craft blocks
- Directions for using the printables to make a set of five Jesse Tree Cubes using a folding method to make paper cubes
- Decorative Jesse Tree Symbols page that can be displayed
- A page featuring 25 Jesse Tree Symbols plus five holly or evergreen designs
- Five pages each featuring one foldable paper cube
How to Use Your Jesse Tree Blocks
You don’t need a tree, ornament strings, or 25 separate ornaments! Just turn all your blocks towards the evergreen side, then turn the appropriate cube for the day to display the current symbol! It’s so easy!
This printable packet has a list of the symbols for each day. I suggest displaying the list so you can easily see what day should be shown that day. The number aligns with the calendar days in December.
The blocks turned to the evergreen side are being stored in plain sight so they can be easily turned to their day at the right time!
Each day you can read the devotional from the matching book or some verses from the matching Bible story.
Purchase the DIY Printable Jesse Tree Blocks Set
You can get the downloadable DIY Printable Jesse Tree Block Set for just $4.00! That’s less than $1 per block!
Since the supplies for this project are also inexpensive, this whole project can be done without too much time or money. Bonus!
If you are not able to use PayPal as a payment option, you can also purchase this set in my Teachers Pay Teachers shop.
Within minutes of purchasing this download, you will receive an email containing a link to the file. It is in PDF format, so you will need Adobe Reader to open it. Your link will expire after you click it ten times, so you need to save this file onto your own computer.
If you don’t receive the email, please be sure to check your spam or junk folder.
More Jesse Tree Resources
- Jesse Tree: What is it and How to Get Started
- Jesse Tree Readings, Ornaments, and Free Printable!
- How to Draw Jesse Tree Ornaments
- Byzantine Jesse Tree (Free Ornaments)
- Crafty Jesse Tree Ornament Ideas
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