I thought I was so smart, and brought out a faux Christmas tree from storage. I tried to cheat and leave the lights on and just poof out the branches, but it looked awful. So I stripped the lights off and did it right… straightened each and every branch one. by. one.
It still looked awful. Not sure what happened, or maybe my eyes finally opened. But this one wasn’t happening. So I gave up the fight, and took it for a walk to the curb, (it disappeared in minutes, yay!) and took off to the backyard with my clippers instead.
We plan to get a real tree this year a little later on, so until then, there are plenty of trim materials on hand that WILL look great because it’s the real deal. Nature never does it wrong.
I love nature’s shopping mall for Christmas decorating. There is so much variety to choose from right outside the door. Where else can you stay in pjs while filling up your baskets with all you need for Christmas?
Ever do that? Get into ‘the zone’ so deep that you forget to get dressed for the day? Not I… heh.
While I loved our grapevine full of fall leaves, I also get giddy after they’ve dropped. Look what I get to play with!
The experiment of broken down grapevine branches for this twig / pinecone garland was a true win.
Chevron styled twig garland tutorial is HERE.
How to make this twig garland is HERE.
Next year I’ll make one out of a standard branch like this. I did an experiment with this and it turned out gorgeous!
Tips for branches:
Spread among greens for a rustic feel.
Add pinecones to the mix for a woodsy variation.
Cut branches to create garlands or stars.
Add to wreaths to create more interest.
Cut firewood or logs to create candle holders, centrepieces, or ornaments.
Spray branches for a completely different look.
Leave branches bare and decorate with lights or hang ornaments.
But the BIG motherload in my world is when I come across this.
This gorgeous (blue spruce?) will create a lovely highlight among other greens. (coming soon!
Tips for evergreens:
Use for mantels, stair rail trim, planters, toppers on most anything!
Mix a variety of greens for a truly unique look.
Small amounts of real greens are easy to change out and keep fresh.
It dries wonderfully and stays green for the most part.
Spray snow will help to lighten up dark areas.
Be sure to not turn on lights around trim that is too dry.
(check out a fresh greens wreath HERE)
I admit, I did bring out my (one) Christmas box for a few of the ornaments and lights. But long gone are all the other things I use to have.
Tips for colour and interest
Use fruit, such as apples, miniature pears and real cranberries for a true natural red beauty.
String together nuts for a rustic garland.
Decorate colourful objects so nature can stay neutral.
Nature, quite simply, always does it best.
Are you also a natureaholic when it comes to Christmas decorating? What do you make?
(reveals to these sneak peeks will fire up Dec 1st!)
Some really great ideas, thanks so much for sharing them and Happy Holidays. 🙂
Love the wheel on the door!!!!!
I love it all. Makes me miss luving up north. Here in the shouth we don’t really have pine type tree. So my nature will probably consist of magnolia leaves and palm frawns.
I love to shop nature too, especially when I can get my neighbors permission to get a few cuttings from their trees! My children are young adults now, but one of my favorite holiday traditions when they were in school was to help with “greening of the school”.
Volunteers brought cuttings from their own yards to embellish store bought wreaths and all the containers around the school which had been filled with annuals were replaced with evergreen cuttings. Finished off with a potluck lunch.
I love that idea! How fun.
I couldn’t agree more – nature never, never gets it wrong when it comes to decorating. Love all your ideas!
Thanks for the inspiration, I do go out in nature as do you every Christmas; but you have a few ones worth gathering more! Merry Christmas!!
I also have an old fake Xmas tree that needs to be tossed. The past few years, I just decorated the top half and left the bottom in its box. I’ve been waiting for a windstorm to bring fir branches down to me so I can make a wreath (I live outside Seattle WA). Thanks for the useful tips!
This reminds me so much of my childhood in Northern Ontario, collecting, using and creating from the “bush”, we had zero decorating $ as children. Thought of you today as I travelled from Vancouver to the Interior of BC..where does Donna live? I tried to see the mountains as you see them from your yard. You are loved and so appreciated. Thank You!
Funny that I just read your article and just asked a few minutes ago my neighbour if I could get a branch from his fir tree he was trimming!
OMG that wheel wreath is one of my favorite things ever. So clever!
Since my eyes have been opened to the beauty and simplicity of decorating with nature,because of you and others,I have had to resort to “borrowing”nature from the local park. I live in an apartment in the city.I try to take what’s already fallen off the trees though,lol thanks for the inspiration Donna…having loads of fun!
Donna, I had a friend who recycled her old artificial Christmas. She went out and cut small logs about 3 to 4 ft tall, drilled holes in them and then with wire cutters cut small pieces of the branches off the old tree and hot glued them in the holes to make a “new” tree. She decorated it with pine cones and homemade ornaments. She had two by her fireplace and two by her front door. They were so cute! Also, a couple of years ago we lost a big white pine in our yard to a storm. Before my husband could remove it we started getting calls from neighbors and just people passing by stopping to see if they could have some of the branches. It was really fun to have all these strangers stopping by with clippers and helping themself. I think that tree gave a lot of enjoyment to many families that Christmas. Love, love, bringing nature and greenery indoors!