December is nearly here and the internet has been taken over by Christmas crafts. Trees are going up, wreaths are being made, baking is being done… and here I sit all bah humbug-y with nothing Christmas in the works. So I’m going to cheat and repost the only Christmas craft I managed to eek out last year. My blog was still super small then so I’m pretty sure this will be new material for at least 90% of you. I probably could have even tricked y’all into thinking this was new material if my kids weren’t so young in all the pictures. Anyway, enjoy…again :)
Originally posted December 12, 2011
I’ve been loving all the cute little Christmas trees that are all over blogland this year, so I had to make some of my own. Most of the tutorials you find involve sewing (like at Tatertots & Jello and Shanty 2 Chic), but for whatever reason I’ve been feeling very anti sewing lately. Also, I don’t have ruffler foot for my machine, so I would have to sew by hand….blah. I was however feeling very pro glue gun, so here is my hot glue ruffle tree forest!
I had a whole picture tutorial set up for you guys, but somehow my brand new camera (lost my other one at the zoo last month) and my pretty new laptop (other one took a dump a few months ago) have teamed up against me and started deleting random photos in the transfer process. So here are some pictures, and I’ll just have to fill in the blanks with words. Shouldn’t be too hard, the whole process is very simple.
First step is to gather your supplies. I used styrofoam cones, wooden finals, and mini wooden candlesticks for the bases (all found at Hobby Lobby). You will also need something to make the tree out of, I used leftover fabric, ribbon and some gold rope. My favorite is the ribbon, it was the easiest to do and I think turned out the prettiest.
For the fabric trees, I first cut some fabric strips (about 2 inches wide or so), ironed them in half, then added a bit of fabric glue to hold it together.
Actually, right after I took this picture I ran out of fabric glue (used it all for my lampshades), so i just used hot glue.
To make the tree, all you do is start wrapping it around the cone, gluing as you go. About every inch or so, fold it back over its self ( to form the ruffle) and keep going, like so…
This takes a bit, fortunately Elijah was pretty content playing with the glue sticks and bases.
I wanted a different look for the other fabric trees, so I cut a strip using my pinking shears and glued it on just like that, no folding or ironing required.
When we were decorating our Christmas tree I found a random piece of gold rope in the ornament box, so naturally I decided to make a tree out of it…
Your probably wondering if my toddler was still happily playing with glue sticks. Well no, no he wasn’t….
However, Levi (seven weeks) was behaving himself very well. He’s my favorite, lol.
I wanted the bases to be different heights, so I made some cuts and glued the pieces to each other (using hot glue! If only hot glue would clean my house…)
Then I painted those suckas white, glued them and the finals to the trees and suddenly it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…
(if your wondering about that epic baby picture, you can read about it here)
I love them! I want to make like twenty more for all the other tables and shelves that are feeling unchristmasy. But perhaps that would be overkill…
Well, it might be an old story but at least I now have an idea of what to use the silver cord/rope for, that I found in the bottom of my ribbon stash, when I was making the bows for my tomato cage Christmas trees. :)
those are so cute! that might be my next project, i have been looking for something to make for xmas!! i love the red one and the rope one!! great job!! :)
I just LOVE these. You crack me up but make me feel normal for not being all Christmassy. ;) I’m eyeballing my ribbon stash….think a red, white & black puppy paw print tree would be weird??? {Say no…say no…]
HA! Love. it. Those are awesome. I’m going to go read the epic baby picture post because I was really wondering what that frame was. I was thinking maybe paint stir sticks, but I just saw that the tab up top said blinds. lol. :)
These are so pretty and what sweet babies!
I remember these. AND that awesome photo.
Well, it might be an old story but at least I now have an idea of what to use the silver cord/rope for, that I found in the bottom of my ribbon stash, when I was making the bows for my tomato cage Christmas trees. :)
Tomato cage Christmas trees? I’ve never seen those, but it sounds like they would make great front porch Christmas decor. Oh wait, I see your link….
those are so cute! that might be my next project, i have been looking for something to make for xmas!! i love the red one and the rope one!! great job!! :)
Those trees are so cute…and so are your youngun’s. Ü
very impressed
OK. So now I’m starting to get in the mood for Christmas… Those trees are soooo fun!
OH MY GOSH THE PICTURE. Hahaha I love it!
I mean – cute trees. Very cute, but seriously…that picture!
Lol, I know! I had forgotten about it until I went to repost this and got caught up in his adorable mischievousness all over again :)
I loved those trees the first time I saw them, and I really hope I have time to make them this Christmas! I love the variety and the wood element.
I just LOVE these. You crack me up but make me feel normal for not being all Christmassy. ;) I’m eyeballing my ribbon stash….think a red, white & black puppy paw print tree would be weird??? {Say no…say no…]
HA! Love. it. Those are awesome. I’m going to go read the epic baby picture post because I was really wondering what that frame was. I was thinking maybe paint stir sticks, but I just saw that the tab up top said blinds. lol. :)
I think those so cute. I love no sew crafts