I have a new idea for this year's Christmas tree... With less than 1000 square feet of house and 5 of us, we have a very small tree that can't withstand the weight of the usual ornaments... So the collection of Hallmark animated ornaments my parents gave me year by year, will fall off the tree...
Each year we come up with something new to decorate the tree with... It has been very wacky at times, but memorable to say the least...
I thought I would post some of the things we have done in the spirit of being frugal, it has helped out a ton...
We once decorated the tree in nothing but origami cranes and it was oh so colorful.
There was the year we used Happy Meal type toys, small toy cars and such. That one was fun since the kids had to figure out which toys were new and added on Christmas Eve while they slept.
Last year we went on walks and picked up acorns, the sticky balls that fall off sycamore trees, and the pods from magnolia trees. Then we painted some of them, but decided we liked the natural color better.
While in Florida over the summer a few of the shops had trees all decked out in seashell ornaments that were homemade.
Today my youngest and I decided to stop in at the nearest thrift store and see if his "friend" was back to work yet. We were a little sad that they have all new employees now, but we got a bunch of old poker chips for a few bucks. So this year we will do the tree in poker chips we decorate. I will post some pics once we get the project started.
Have you decorated your tree with something unorthodox? I'd love to hear about it!
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Comments: 59
I've done some trees with birds, teddy bears, frogs, themed with different colors like pinks, or purples, or all red ornaments. All of the above named have been in their own color coded style as well. I did one last year that was all peacock feathers and turquoise balls and beaded balls that I made using strung sequins (the type that you put on clothes) and pinned them onto syrofoam balls and really with those styrofoam balls you can practically glue anything on them or pin them on with straight pins as they are light. Then when you finish using them you can unpin them and use something different to cover them with the next year.
You can use scraps of clothes and twist them on and pin them on the styrofoam balls and they look like pompoms from afar and then you just match up the colors of the lights or the balls.
I've got a jillion ideas but yours sounded great too!
Esther~I had completely forgotton about my uncle's family having a peacock farm! Guess who I am calling tomorrow. I want a peacock feather wreath now!!! Gotta go scour the farm for some feathers! :)~
Candy canes. I have decorated the tree with nothing but various colored candy canes and multi-lights a few different times.
Ribbon- Different types of ribbon and one color of lights is pretty neat, especially if the ribbon is metallic or shiny. Make bows or just weave it around through branches.
Nothing but lights is neat too, if you do it in one color or two colors, and even the shaped lights (candy, santa's, etc)
Have fun!
Now? OVER THE TOP! Not with decorations, but with trees, trees, trees! (Maybe I'll write a post, too!) Merry Christmas, B.F. You've given me a little boost of holiday spirit!
..
U
(I'm just glad I got ornaments for Christmas from another friend).
glitter-graphics.com
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I have a bunch of chips I am thinking about using for crafting, just havn't decided what to make with them yet.
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977513030
similar paper, decoupaged with postally used Christmas stamps overlapped like a crazy
quilt. Sometimes I add glitter. They're really very interesting and pretty. The Mod podge
gives them a glossy surface and makes them keepable. Small ones make nice inserts
with Christmas mail.
Chris N.
There are so many ways you can do when you have limited space or money!!!
Poker Chips. Who would have thought of that?
I love creative ideas. Thanks for sharing.
going to tell my wife about that idea.