What goes under the Christmas Tree? Not just Presents!

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What goes under the Christmas tree besides presents? Many different things. Just think outside of the box. These pictures will show what I used to decorate under the Christmas trees to give them a unique look. In previous blogs you may have seen some of the same things, but as you decorate a tree you can change the look just by what you put under the tree and behind the tree. I will address the "behind the tree in another blog". 

This is very basic for under the Christmas tree. I had a wooden box made that was approximately 4 foot by 4 foot. It was about 1 1/2 half foot in height. This is done to make the tree appear taller than it actually is. The tree used in this display was a 7 foot American fir tree, but once it's placed on the box it get a lift to almost 9 foot. There was a lot of gold in this tree so I used gold Lame fabric to surround the box and be the tree skirt.

This tree had decorations on it that were harvest ornaments. To tie the tree into a theme, I used ribbons that matched in color (burgundy and gold). I added in some harvest fruit in assorted colors and for the bottom of the tree, a large horn of plenty filled with the same fruits as were put in the tree. The bottom of the tree turned out to be the focal point instead of the top. To add to the harvest look, I used real pine cones in the tree. If you liked this tree well and used the same ornaments for several years, just place the horn of plenty in different places in the tree. It would be quite beautiful in the center.

 

This tree had a very distinctive country Christmas look so I placed it in an old barrel. The tree had the colors of pink and red. There are red wooden apples and cinnamon stick bundles with pink ribbon. Tie in some pink and red paper mache Santas and other country looking ornaments and you are finished. This is a very country Christmas looking tree. 

 

This tree had ornaments the signified the twelve days of Christmas. The ornaments were made of wood and are very collectible today. Red poinsettias were placed all over the tree, and a tree skirt with the twelve days of Christmas design is used under the tree.

 

This Christmas tree was one that was placed in the entrance of the Christmas department. It was a tree representing the harvest. I mixed Angles with the same colors in with harvest ornaments. To make it feel real grapevine wreath was made into a garland and placed hanging from the ceiling and around the tree itself. To give the feel of the tree sitting in the outdoors a brick patio was placed under the tree with green moss placed to look like grass growing up through the cracks. So as not to ruin the carpet, be sure to use a heavy plastic tarp like painters would use under the bricks.

This wasn't one tree but many used to create a whole rustic Country Christmas scene. Here I used 5 trees of various heights. To increase the height and dimensions, I placed some on top of barrels, and stuffed some in behind barrels and wagon wheels to create a variety of heights. Old barn window and siding are used behind the trees to give a rustic look. Large stones were brought in and added around the bottoms of the trees, and matching garland was wrapped around the bottoms of the tree and through the wagon wheels. Rustic wooden ornaments and painted wooden Santa faces make the trees festive. Lots of ornaments made from mushrooms and mushroom picks are used in the display and well as lots of sprinkle snow. When you look at this display you really feel like your in the great outdoors.

This is a small 5 fit slim tree placed in a black planter that looks like an urn. The tree had lots of Angels with glitzy burgundy ornaments with gold icing trim. It's hard to see but there are two large Angels at the top of the tree that look like the Angels are placing the tree into the urn. The urn helps to lift the tree making it look taller than it is. This is a very beautiful tree to fill a very small space.

If you haven't read the blog about my signature tree, then you haven't seen this tree. You can read the entire blog at http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=5339108141972402843&postID=966573295112014709  What is unusual about this tree skirt is that I used the same material to make the tree skirt as I used to hang on the wall behind the tree. This was also the main entrance tree to the Christmas department. You can see that I also hung the same material in the door frame to frame the entrance to match the tree.

  

This last tree again used an urn under the tree. To give it an usual look I brought the ribbon garland and bead garland right down out of the tree onto the floor. Along with the ribbon and garland I added in some beautiful cream and pink poinsettias and brought the lighted candles down to make an arrange right on the floor below the urn. This picture doesn't do the tree justice...it was quite beautiful, one of my favorites.

As you probably learned from reading this blog, you can place anything under your tree. I placed a tree in an old fashioned covered wagon without the top. Look for it in upcoming blogs about decorating for Easter.

Decorating for Halloween (inside and out) Part II

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Okay, so in the first post of decorating for Halloween (inside and out) I was getting tired so I left out the outside part. So, here is part two that will show some unusual things to do outdoors. I am one of those persons who absolutely hate waste. I also hate throwing anything away. Well, there are lots of old Halloween costumes hanging out around the house that are to small for anyone to wear. These are a couple of ideas I had for giving them new life.

For this Halloween outdoor decoration, I used an old rubber mask to cover up the lamp post in the yard. I used a coat hanger to make a small vampire cape look like it was covering a body. At night with the light on it looked like a scary light up monster.

For this yard decoration, I just hung a skeleton on one side of the awning. On the other side I used a Scream mask and outfit (again on a hanger ) and hung it under the awning. The spooky candle holders are inside the house, but can be seen in the window.

For this yard decoration, I used an old vampire costume with hood. I used a skeleton mask and a bloody chest plate and put them on a tree. I used green iridescent spiderweb to make it glow and attached lots of spiders scurrying all over the tree.

This yard display is different because many people use electric light-up decorations. I used Halloween candle decorations. If you use scented candles your yard not only looks pretty but smells nice too. Hang Halloween decorations from the roof and a few yard signs and it's a cute simple decorative yard.

This is a closer look at some of the yard candles.

Making Bows, Bows, and more Bows!

The last blog explained the basic how to for making bows. After learning to make a regular 4 loop bow, and getting really good at it...it's time to have fun! Let your imagination soar. There are so many different kinds of bows and loops you can make from ribbon...the only limiting factor is your imagination. Here are a variety of ways I have used ribbons and bows in Christmas trees and arrangements.

 

In this first picture I wanted to use ribbon in the tree but not bows. I wanted the focal point to be the Easter baskets. I used pink raffia ribbon (paper) and just made a bunch of loops. Each loop larger than the last, with 5 loops and then placed them at strategic points in the tree. By doing this...the tree didn't blend in all the ornaments together. The variety of ornaments and baskets stood out from each other. This is a way of adding dimension to the tree. 

 

 

In this tree I wanted the bow to be the focal point. Most people think of a tree topper going at the top of the tree. I sometimes decide to move the tree topper (the focal point) to the middle of the tree. This affect makes the tree look like a Christmas package. A different look that's glitzy and elegant.

This is a very simple stairway decorated for Christmas. The bow on the newel post is made using three different ribbons. The more ribbons you use the harder it is to make, but well worth the effort.

 

Although there is no lack of ribbon on this tree, there are no bows. I wanted to create a unique look for this tree because the ornaments on this tree were exquisite. I used an assortment of lighted Angel tree toppers going down the tree in a spiral. Under the spiral of Angels I used three different ribbons. One wide cream ribbon, one regular sized ribbon with a gold and cream pattern, and a tiny gold ribbon that looks just like a bead of garland. I strung them together to form a horizontal loop, and then a vertical loop all the way down and around the tree. The most difficult part of this is keeping the ribbons tight so they don't droop to much and loose the effect. I think it was well worth the effort.

The bow is made from french ribbon. It's very easy to work with and very flexible. This bow is a bow with a center button. The loops are varying lengths and there are two nice long tails. It really added to the Christmas basket. 

Just remember, most of the ideas here can be used with an assortment of different ribbons and made in all sizes. You can take any idea, tweak it and make it you own.

Decorating for Halloween: Making bows!

In this blog I want to show you how to make a bow. The photo's I am showing are photo's of how I made two different bows, placed them together. It may be difficult but keep trying. It's like riding a bike, once you learn you never forget. The more practice you have the better you get. So...on to the bows.

Making bows are easy if you know how. There are many different types of bows, but they follow the same basic rules for making them. They can have a button in the center. They may not have a button. They can have from two loops to 10 loops. You can use one ribbon or more. I know I said this before but your imagination is the only thing stopping you from making some very beautiful and unusual bows.

Choose ribbon with wire edges. This is much easier to use to make a bow.

If both sides of the ribbon are the same there is no front or back. Make one loop and pinch between your thumb or forefinger. If you twist the ribbon once it is easier to hold.

Make your second loop going the other way and again pinch or twist between your thumb and forefinger. Repeat this until you have as many loops as you want for your bow. I would suggest starting with two or four loops until you feel more comfortable with your new skill. 

After you have your loops finished (keeping them on the correct sides), push a green floral wire to wrap around the ribbon loops in the very center where you have pinched or twisted the ribbon. (Make sure you are in the center or your loops will be smaller on one side than on the other.) Twist the wire so that it is tight. Be careful not to break the wire or your bow will unravel.

The last step is to pull and fluff your loops to where you want them. Now you can use just this bow in an arrangement or you can go a little further. Make another bow slightly smaller and place it the center of this first bow and place it in your arrangement. Here are a series of pictures in which I made a four loop bow and added another. I didn't fluff the loops out to much. This is a smaller bow. The same principle for making the bows remains the same no matter what the size.

Stay tuned for upcoming articles showing and describing a variety of bows.

Hi, it's 2 years since this blog...I'm inserting a how to video. No sound, but with written directions from above and a video you should be able to make a bow! Feel free to turn sound off. Hubby was making me nervous.

Adding a little Christmas to your furniture!

Not only can you carry Christmas throughout the house using wreaths, mantels, and stairways, you can decorate your furniture with Christmas. Antique furniture looks beautiful when decorated for Christmas. The secret is to leave room so that you can still use the piece of furniture the way it was meant to be used. If it's a piece of furniture that sits up against the wall even better. Then you can add lights. Nothing looks more sparkling and elegant than a room lit up in the evening with Christmas lights. Turn off those lamps and plug in the Christmas lights, and savor an entirely different atmosphere.

This piece of furniture was located in a bedroom of a bed and breakfast. There were not enough pieces of furniture to have surface areas for use so I kept the decorations at a minimum. Here I used blue spruce with sprays of tiny pink roses for decoration. Some feathered bird ornaments add a natural look, and a white and gold santa (to match the gold candlesticks) is present for the holiday. Tall pink candles the exact shade of the roses are in the candle holders. Simple but elegant look that still leaves the furniture functional.

This is an old study...this piece of furniture didn't really serve a purpose so it had more elaborate decorations. This piece of furniture was located in one of the dining rooms. The decorations used were the same as those on the tree. Victorian sants and doves are used along with matching pink balls. A variety of silk and dried flowers were used in this arrangement adding to the victorian look.

 

This is the same piece of furniture decorated another year. This year was one of my favorites. I used a variety of blue, green, and very dark (almost purple) blue grapes and berry sprays. To give it glitter and glitz... lots of blue glass balls are added. Again, notice the matching shade of candles in the candle holders. 

This is an antique buffet used in a dining room of a bed and breakfast. This was kept simple because the top was used to hold dinner rolls and water glasses during the evening meal. I just used a beautiful pink crinkled ribbon. I placed a pre-made flower corsage in the center and place some greenery around and under to hold the flowers and ribbons and create a contrast. Again simple, elegant, and neat.

So, there are many ways of celebrating Christmas and sprucing up your living area without necessarily having a Christmas tree. Don't forget Christmas flower arrangements in baskets and pots that can be placed around the room at to the festivity of the season.