Dec 10
2009

"Myyyy Christmas Treee…" (link yours up too!)

by Funky Junk Donna

I’m totally into whites this year. Desiring a more neutral feel for the Christmas tree, I packed all the coloured rah rah away and sat there and stared at a full box of decorations and a bare tree, stumped.

I had landed a bagful of these wonderful icicles at a local thrift for $1, so that was a great start. Aren’t they cool?!?

As well as 4 of these over sized ornaments with what appears to be ice stuck to them. Very unusual!

Laying all the neutral decorations out, I tore some sheets up, leaving the edges frayed. For garland.

Tip: For the ripped garland, I ripped 6″ thick strips for a scrumptious look. Narrower appeared ‘wimpy’ once on the tree.

For the most part, it was looking pretty! But the next morning spelled out the nasty truth. It was lacking spark.

Tip: If you aren’t sure of something, walk away from it. Go back to it at a later time to see if it still has the right impact. I do the same with graphics work and the time lapse NEVER lies. A break gives your artistic idea a rest and allows you to reset. You will see what you’ve done with fresh eyes the next day.

Filler up! More more more stuff was jammed on. Still neutral, but it was starting to work. I hit the pine cones with white spray paint to simulate newly fallen snow on them. I filled up clear glass ornaments with fake snow (idea from Shanty 2 Chic, thanks girls!). The tags are from an office supply store which I bought in bulk. Cheap!

And here’s what I ended up doing. Adding SOME colour. The colours gravitated to dusty deep reds, gold, burlap, and whites. Lots of neutral with a dash of colour that didn’t blind you.

Heavy on the garland please! I found the burlap garland at Michael’s for $6 a roll. White is the ripped sheets, and the ribbon another Michael’s find a few years back. I only had pieces so I wrapped it around the tree as if it wound and wound forever and hid the edges into the boughs. And if I had all different ribbons, that would be even cooler!

Throwing  in some meaningful decor was a must and happened to go with my theme. These two sweet Micky and Minnie ornaments simulate my son and I that we indeed got from Disneyland a couple years ago. Wooden carved sweet memories!

The tree skirt is nothing elaborate. Rumpled up burlap to resemble a burlap sack covering the roots as  if you purchased your tree in root ball form. I’ve just used a white sheet for years to resemble snow. But you know… it’s a burlap kinda year and all. And made sense here.

Top Secret Tips!

#1. Look for glass angel hair. You can’t find it anywhere these days but if you do, stock up! Pull at it in very small tufts (carefully! or it cuts your fingers) and spread them around on the tree branches and especially over top lights. The angel hair catches the light  and creates an amazing glowy effect.  (keep it high if you have pets or toddlers – this is real glass)

#2. Light tip – when you put them on your tree, TWIST the string into each and every bough on each and every branch. If you twist it tight against the branches, you will NOT see wires. They totally disappear. I’ve been doing this for years and all you see is greenery and lights. Rarely do others go to the same amount of painstaking work, but if you do, you’ll be glad you did!  Now you’ll never view lights strung on a tree the same ever again. You’re welcome. 🙂

The result is a very full and price efficient tree that for the most part, was very neutral but still held enough colour for interest and warmth. My tree is indeed a fake but bought many years ago and constantly fool those that glance at it. I was totally on the fake bandwagon when they first came out and snatched up the most realistic (and expensive one at the time) out there. I’m so glad I did!

How did your tree turn out? Something you love about it? Wish you did differently? If you care to share, go ahead, make your post and add your link for fun! I’d love to see. 🙂 I’ll leave this linky open until Christmas, so feel free to revisit it at any time!

Wanna funky little button? Here ya go!

Funky Junks Christmas Trees Unite

(scroll button on right sidebar widget.. it won’t play nice here)

Christmas decor – Part 2 HERE

~ Make sure you visit these other fine link parties! I just have. ~

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52 thoughts on “"Myyyy Christmas Treee…" (link yours up too!)”

  3. Proper Prim at 6:04 AM on December 10, 2009

    Donna do you ever stop? I am in awe..

    I love that burlap I am on a mission to find some this weekend… gorgeous you did an awesome job… you are such an inspiration.

    Hugs Deb

    Reply
  4. Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents at 6:20 AM on December 10, 2009

    What a beautiful tree ~ Just the right amount of color and ummph to it! You are so right, burlap and creams and taupes are soooo in this year. Love the tree skirt!! My home tour post is up, would love for you to stop by. When I finish my trees, I’ll be sure to link up with you!

    Big TX Hugs,
    Stephanie
    Angelic Accents

    Reply
  5. Its So Very Cheri at 7:32 AM on December 10, 2009

    It is all so lovely. I love the angel hair. The simple white and browns looks wonderful. I made some vintage ice cycles this year that I love. I might have to do a white tree next year.

    I signed up to follow and subscribe.
    Cheri

    Reply
  12. Annie at 10:05 AM on December 10, 2009

    I love the ripped sheets idea – that would be really nice to add to my tree to fill any those bare spots you get with fake trees! Fantastic job as always!

    Reply
  13. Beth@The Stories of A to Z at 10:09 AM on December 10, 2009

    Your tree looks beautiful. I’m especially loving the sheet garland! BTW–I added your party button to my post and it said “this photo has been removed or deleted”. The link still works to bring people to the party but the picture doesn’t show up.

    Reply
  15. Funky Junk Interiors at 10:33 AM on December 10, 2009

    Thanks everyone!

    Beth, thanks for the heads up. I’ve tested the link and it’s working for me and have seen it working on another site. Weird. Anyone else have an issue with it, please let me know!

    FJ Donna

    Reply
  18. beth at 12:12 PM on December 10, 2009

    I copied a picture I saw in Country Living magazine, and put my tree in a galvanized wash basin. I love it! It’s been so much neater than a tree skirt. I will be doing that from now on!
    Hope you have a very Merry Christmas! Beth.

    Reply
  19. Funky Junk Interiors at 12:24 PM on December 10, 2009

    Hi all! I’ve removed the scroll bar button link within the post. That was the one that was messed up and I couldn’t seem to fix it without wreaking havoc with the link party html. Sidebar widget scrollbar button works.

    Thanks so much for the heads up!!

    Html guru wannabe but will never be, FJ Donna

    Reply
  21. rick s at 2:29 PM on December 10, 2009

    I love your “neutral” tree. It just goes to show us that we can adjust our initial plans to fit what feels right. The burlap and sheet garland are great ideas. My wife and I have our silver, gold, and crystal tree in our living room. The crystal is mostly prisms from a discarded chandelier. We have some light colors that add a bit more depth than the limited palate allows.
    I can also second the idea of wrapping the lights around to have a bulb on most branch tips. Get the lights into the tree center a bit too. When you stand back and move the slightest bit, the lights twinkle. Keep in mind done this way you will use more lights than you ever thought possible. I used 1,300+ on living room tree, 1,850+ on family room tree and 800 on smaller artificial in lower level family room. We have the extension cords along the tree trunck that have 3 outlet every 1 1/2 feet (9 per cord) so it is easier to put lights where needed.

    Thanks for all your ideas
    Rick

    Reply
  24. Kiana at 3:48 PM on December 10, 2009

    I have that same type of Mickey Mouse ornament on my tree! I got it at Disney in Orlando last year. I love it, it’s a very classy Mickey look. Nice taste 😉

    Reply
  26. Merrie at 7:41 PM on December 10, 2009

    Gee am I jealous! We look for new icicles every year to add to our tree, which unfortunately is still in it’s box…the only thing keeping me from joining your party.

    Maybe by the end of the night!

    Reply
  27. Funky Junk Interiors at 9:36 PM on December 10, 2009

    Merrie and all others, you have until Christmas to enter THIS party. 🙂 I’m leaving it up for all to join in as they too put up their trees.

    Happy decorating! And thanks for the lovely inspiration. 🙂

    FJ Donna

    Reply
  28. Lamp Tramp at 11:28 PM on December 10, 2009

    I’m right there with you, almost rid of the dark Christmas colors, ready to be all white and light. Love your funky style…teach me more! I love to learn from all you young decorating DIVAS!
    xoxo!
    Lamp Tramp

    Reply
  32. beth at 8:47 AM on December 11, 2009

    greetings miss funky junk donna! i can’t even begin to tell you how incredibly excited i am for you to visit my blog and inturn discover YOUR magical place! if i didn’t have a houseful of girls heading over this evening i know where my day would be spent! 🙂 i suspect i will be doing some heavy hitting this weekend at your site! anywho…thanks much for your comments and for the sidebar shout out! i am very humbled…JUNK FOR JOY & i will see you soon!
    beth

    Reply
  40. this blessed nest at 4:45 PM on December 12, 2009

    you have sooo inspired me! although, i will still have to be very kid friendly with my tree for a few more years…i love the burlap!!!!
    and i so want to do that galvanized bucket for the stand next year too – like in country living.

    thanks for allowing me to link up. happy weekend!!!
    kellie

    Reply
  42. gina at 8:21 PM on December 12, 2009

    Love that you added the red- it is “just enough”! I’ve been loving burlap this year too… was outvoted on the tree but I have an idea for using it elsewhere in our home for Chrismtas… now I just need to wait until the girls and hubs are back to school/work to get it done. 😉

    Reply
  52. bj at 9:01 AM on December 17, 2009

    Such a pretty tree. I love the use of burlap….as you said, this IS the year for it..
    Thanks so much..I am going to run back over to my blog and find my tree post and I’ll come back and link…Thanks!
    xo bj

    Reply

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