It’s that time of year again. It’s time to deck the halls and get a great, big Christmas tree. However, some people don’t feel like investing the money in a tree or devoting the energy toward dragging it in and (eventually) out of the home. A select group of creatives are able to have a tree but not deal with the hassle that goes along with buying and dressing a traditional tree.
This year, think outside of the box by creating your own magical Christmas tree.
Hardcover Tree
Most creatives own a lot of hardcover books of assorted shapes and sizes. Stack smaller ones on top of larger books to create a tiered-tree effect. Perfect! You’ve just orchestrated a very studious-looking and creative Christmas tree. Wrap a few decorative beads or pieces of garland around your masterpiece and you’re done.
Floating Ornaments Tree
Wouldn’t it be incredibly creative and simple to create the shape of a tree by hanging an assortment of balls from the ceiling, in effect providing onlookers with a floating tree? All you need is a set of Christmas balls, translucent string, and about an hour or less of your time.
Hand-Print Tree
This idea is great for those who have kids and don’t have a lot of time. Have the kids dip their hands in green paint and make impressions on a sheet of paper. Have them make five impressions at the bottom, then four, three, two, and one hand at the top to resemble the shape of a Christmas tree.
Stick Tree
Find a load of tinder in your backyard or at a local park. Make sure that you gather pieces of different sizes, and like the examples above, begin stacking smaller sticks on top of larger ones to create a tree effect. Tie personalized Christmas ornaments around a few of the pieces to make it look more seasonal.
Paper Tree
Cut an assortment of decorative wrapping paper to create the appearance of a tree. For the bark, wrap brown string around a small stick. You can hang the creations from a chandelier or use double-sided tape to fix the tree to a wall.
Fruit Tree
Use a base of styrofoam and small stakes (similar to tools florists use) to make centerpieces. Rather than creating a centerpiece with flowers, use the implements to make a Christmas tree of fruit. Of course, the fruit has a time limit; you don’t want to attract insects or have your home smelling of rotten fruit. However, it’s a great gift for dressing the home on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Tripod Tree
If you have a large video camera or traditional 35mm camera, you may have bought a tripod too. The tripod makes for a perfect Christmas tree frame. Now start wrapping the frame in lights, garland, and decorative string, and then hang your ornaments.
Voila! Now you have a number of alternative Christmas tree ideas that ensure you stay in the spirit but don’t have to invest much time or energy.
An interior designer by day, and an avid crafter at night, Carolyn Collins is your go-to creative gal! When not working on her own projects she enjoys blogging about crafts, DIY and generally all things Christmas related!
