During the holidays, I decorate many Christmas trees for myself and clients. Honestly, I do get bored decorating with the same or same kind of decorations year after year. Therefore, I love to challenge myself to come up with new ways to decorate a tree, at least new to me. For a few weeks, I had an idea to strand hundreds of shatterproof ball ornaments together to create an ‘ornament garland.’ Last week, I was able to decorate a pink Christmas tree using this notion and it turned out amazing.
BEFORE
AFTER
This tree looked a little like the one from ‘Charlie Brown.’ However, with a few hundred ornaments, it became a show stopper!
Pink Christmas Tree
Sharing our gifts and talents is one way to spread kindness, but also the holiday spirit. When my friend Dawn, who owns a salon, mentioned not feeling the holiday spirit yet, I knew that I was the one to bring it to her. So, I asked her to pick a color palette and I would do the rest. While I love my blue decorations, I was so excited that she chose silver, pewter grey and blush pink Christmas tree ornaments. It’s feminine and a little edgy!
Again, I like to think outside the box to create something unique. It makes decorating more fun. So, here are a few ideas that you can do, no matter what color you decorate with.
Strand clusters of ornaments to create an over the top garland.
Don’t just hang ornaments on the tree. Push floral wire through the top of bottle brush trees to hang.
Again, hang a few oversized pieces related to your theme on the tree. For instance, disco balls, bells or signs! The oversized look creates a ‘wow factor.’ Floral wire is great for this.
For the base, I wrapped a cardboard box in pink and silver wrapping paper. Then, placed the tree stand inside. Lastly, I tucked tissue paper into the box, under the tree branches, to look like a gift box.
Spray topper is a cluster of floral stems, picks or ‘sprays’ on top of the tree. See more details, here.
DIY Garland
Hang Bottle Brush Trees
Disco Balls
DIY Ornament Garland
400 shatterproof balls (for a 7 foot tree)
20+ large shatterproof balls (optional)
50+ mini shatterproof balls (optional)
floral wire
wire cutters
First, push one ornament through a 3-4 foot section of wire. Then, make a small circle loop about six inches from the end to prevent the ornament from going though.
Next, strand balls onto the section of wire. Be sure to push balls around so that they lay accordingly and leave no gaps. Add in a few large and mini balls to fill in.
Make another small loop with the wire about six inches from the end. Then, use both end sections of the wire to tie onto the underside of the tree branches. Simply, wrap wire onto the branch.
When one strand ends, make another and hang end to end at different angles to create an organic or swag like look. Work in 2-3 foot sections to maintain control.
TIP: When hanging the garland, an extra set of hands is helpful.
FYI: Some balls may pop off from their plastic topper. Simply replace or hot glue back on, if necessary.
Decorator’s Warehouse
Here are a few pink Christmas ornaments from Decorator’s Warehouse in Arlington, Texas. If you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, I encourage you to shop in the store as the selection is much wider than online. Plus, there are over 13 fully decorated Christmas trees in many different colors and styles to get inspiration from.
Welcome to the Home for the Holidays Christmas Tree Challenge with Decorator’s Warehouse. I am so excited to share this year’s elegant, rustic christmas tree with y’all!
Decorator’s Warehouse challenged 12 talented home decor bloggers to design a Christmas tree exclusively with decorations from the store. If you have ever shopped online or visited Decorator’s Warehouse in Arlington, Texas, then you know that the hardest part is choosing just one theme or color scheme. Consequently, there are so many different styles of Christmas decor from rustic to whimsical and elegant which can be found in a variety of trendy, traditional, or neutral color palettes.
Use code CUTERTUDOR for 10% off everything at Decorator’s Warehouse except Christmas trees and resin.
Rustic Christmas Tree
My decorating style is a combination of rustic and casual elegant design. For example, rustic feels distressed, aged or natural. Similarly, materials that exude a rustic feel include burlap, jute, weathered metal or raw wood. It may appear in farmhouse or coastal style homes. As far as the elegant side of the design, I incorporate a little sparkle into my home during the holidays. For instance, think velvet ribbon, glittered balls or stems and twinkle lights. However, I always want my home to feel relaxed and welcoming.
When decorating my home, I I love the look of neutral colors, such as beige, white and grey. In addition, I always gravitate towards cool colors like blue and green. This color combination feels very calming and approachable.
Consequently, my style has not changed from last season. I still love blue mixed with neutrals and creating a rustic elegant vibe that reflects my coastal style. Plus, bells are one of my favorite things to add into my holiday decor. Specifically, I used the large rustic jingle bells on my tree and mantle last year. You can find my previously decorated tree and Tips to Decorate a ChristmasTree, here.
I found these natural fiber deer and pair of trees in Decorator’s Warehouse.
How to Decorate a Rustic Christmas Tree
Basically, there are three things that I incorporate into decorating a tree: floral picks/stems, ornaments and ribbon. However, I used a variety of each to showcase different textures, colors and contrast.
Assuming your tree is pre-lit like mine, the first step is to fluff the branches of the tree. For example, make sure you touch every branch, pulling each towards you and spreading it out to fill in any gaps.
Start with the Spray Topper
Secondly, decorate the top of the tree with a ‘spray topper.’ A spray topper is an assortment of different artificial floral sprays and seasonal stems grouped into a bouquet on top of the tree. In addition, florals, bows, bells or seasonal elements can be added near the base of the topper. For this tree, I push frosted branches, pine and berry style sprays down the top center of the tree, as close to the pole as I can. Next, I add floral sprays in clusters. Lastly, I hang a set of three white washed bells off to one side. These bells have a round circle which I pushed through the tip of a branch before bending upward to secure.
For 9+ foot trees, I remove the top section, place it in a bucket, decorate it using tie-wraps to secure before returning it to the tree. Since, this tree isn’t too tall, I just used my step ladder.
Bells are one of my favorite things to decorate with during the holidays. I have collected many different styles and sizes of bells over the years. However, this set of white washed bells is a recent find from Decorator’s Warehouse. I knew when I saw them that I had to have them. They are so versatile to decorate with. For instance, I hung these on the top and side of the tree. Then, tied a pair on the garland hung on the fireplace mantle. However, they would look great hung on the stairwell or front door or sitting on the coffee or dining table for a unique centerpiece.
Weave Ribbon into the Tree
I prefer to use three different kinds of ribbon with at least one having a bold pattern or texture. For instance, I chose two shades of blue velvet ribbon in two different widths, but added the birch bark ribbon for contrast. Plus, it added another natural element to this rustic Christmas tree.
Wired ribbon is the easiest to work with. It allows you to ‘pop’ the loops out to create more depth. Plus, it can be rolled up and used year after year. Another key factor to working with ribbon is to cut it into controllable increments. For instance, most of the ribbon on my tree is cut between 2-4 feet long. I highly recommend viewing Decorator’s Warehouse tutorials on YouTube for excellent step by step directions to add ribbon to the tree.
Basically, ribbon is added with a series of loops and tails. To create ‘tails’, cut the end at an angle. However, I prefer a ‘dovetail’ by folding the ends in half and cutting a diagonal from the center to the outer edge. To create loops, leave a tail, twist ribbon to create an 8 inch loop to ensure the top of the ribbon always shows. Then, repeat to create either another loop or tail. Simply twist ribbon between the tree branches to secure.
These table top pine trees in galvanized pots look so real. When tied with velvet ribbon, they are a perfect mix of rustic and elegant.
Fill with Floral Clusters and Filler Sprays
Floral clusters are a bouquet of floral, textured, and leaf style ‘sprays’ or stems. These are the basic elements when creating a floral arrangement, as well. Decorator’s Warehouse has a beautiful selection of Christmas flowers in an assortment of materials, colors, patterns and sizes. I chose the grey sugar poinsettia, burlap faux fur edge poinsettia and a green velvet poinsettia with glitter detail.
For winter, artificial ‘leaf’ stems may be cedar, spruce or pine needles and frosted or snow covered branches. Textured stems are usually three dimensional and may include those with faux berries, pinecones, glittered balls or ornamental details. You can shop for both, here.
Therefore, layer at least 3-5 different sprays, including at least one floral, textured and leafy stem. For instance, place a poinsettia over a dewberry pick, frosted branch and pine spray. Then, hold in one hand and with the other, grab the end of one of the more flexible stems, and twist the bunch together. This will allow you to easily push the floral cluster along a branch on the Christmas tree while securing with a tree branch. Make at least one floral cluster per foot of tree.
Lastly, set aside about one dozen each of 3-4 different kind of sprays, as well. These individual sprays will be the last thing that you add to the tree. Basically, these are used to fill in any empty spaces and repeat color and pattern throughout the tree.
Add an Assortment of Ornaments
For a 7. 5 foot tree, Decorator’s Warehouse recommends to use 6 different styles of 5 balls. Then, add 12 different styles of three specialty ornaments. However, this is just a recommendation and you should always decorate in a way that you love.
When choosing ornaments, be sure to consider a variety of different finishes, colors, textures, and sizes. For example, select matte, shiny, natural, glittered, rough, smooth, detailed, big and small. If you enjoy a monochromatic color scheme, simply choose different shades of one color. If you prefer modern look, lean towards smoother textures and cleaner lines, but choose matte and shiny metallic finishes.
Continuing the same elements in the room is great way to make a room feel cohesive with the holiday decor. Last year, I styled a nine foot Belgium pine garland on my fireplace mantle. I loved it so much that I decided to do it again this year using the same beautiful ribbons, bells and floral, berry and leafy picks as the tree. Additionally, I decorated a wreath to hang above the mantle.
In addition, you can use floral picks and sprays for floral arrangements, centerpieces or garlands hung on the door or staircase.
Think outside the box.
If you find something you love, but it doesn’t fit your plan, can you make a simple change to create something perfect for you? Perhaps, you cut some of the larger sprays into smaller pieces for floral arrangements.
Or, like me, I found a garland of beautiful green glass ornaments tied together with jute. It was the same shade of green as the velvet poinsettias. Therefore, I untied the ornaments from the long jute and retied the ornaments in clusters of two. This allowed me to hang them on the tree as ornaments and repeat the color I love. Or, lay it across the coffee table for an easy styling solution with potted trees, like these I tied ribbon around.
Use code CUTERTUDOR for 10% off everything at Decorator’s Warehouse except Christmas trees and resin.
Looking for more holiday inspiration?
Take the tour to see the rest of the Christmas trees in the Decorator’s Warehouse Christmas Tree Challenge. You will find so many different ideas to decorate your tree in a variety of color schemes and styles.
Learn how I gave these inexpensive Christmas bells, found at any dollar store, a makeover. By adding realistic greenery, velvet ribbon, and the secret sauce to getting an antique finish, ‘Rub N Buff,‘ these bells went from cheap to antique.
Rub N Buff is available in antique gold, gold or silver leaf, spanish copper, European gold, Grecian gold, Autumn gold, ebony and pewter. Typically, I use the antique gold finish. Initially, the Christmas bells were a yellow gold and aged tin finish. However, I believe the warm, antique gold adds more character.
Rub N Buff is a wax based metallic finish that easily glides onto a variety of different surfaces, predominantly, but not limited to metal. Therefore, use it to update old light fixtures or furniture hardware. In addition, it works on glass, wood, and even some plastics. So, add an antique or metallic finish to furniture and home decor like wooden frames, mirrors or painted furniture.
What you Do to Antique Christmas Bells:
It’s demo day! To prep the Christmas bells, cut and remove the jute, tinsel like greenery, bow and unwind the burlap from the plastic ring. However, if your bells look different than these, just remove any unwanted or cheap looking parts.
First, hot glue a life like sprig of faux greenery to the ring.
Second, tie a velvet ribbon into a bow and hot glue the bow onto the greenery. Next, cut and glue 3 additional strands of velvet ribbon behind the greenery.
Third, using a paper towel or finger, wipe ‘Rub N Buff’ onto the bells and ring. Then, buff to create a lustrous finish. When dry, hot glue bells to the bottom of the ribbon at varying lengths.
Tip of the Day: If you craft or DIY often, rubber finger cots will protect your fingers from paint, stain, inks, caulking, etc… Typically, I use my fingers to directly rub the stain on, and it takes a day to wear off. However, if you keep your nails manicured, these are handy and disposable.
Thank you for stopping by the blog to see how I transformed these Christmas bells in 3 easy steps with Rub n Buff. If you love antique finishes, be sure to read how I use vintage Christmas decorations in my home. Lastly, follow me on Instagram,Tik Tok or Pinterest for more holiday crafts and DIYS.
Hey y’all! Today, I am sharing a few of my favorite vintage Christmas decorations. Then, telling you where I find vintage inspired decor, when I can’t find the real deal. Lastly, I have lots of ideas to use traditional decor and furniture to create a vintage inspired look for the holidays.
Vintage Christmas Decorations
So, I’ve rounded up the most popular kinds of vintage Christmas decorations, below. Consequently, this list has me thinking… did everyone’s grandparents have a lighted, ceramic Christmas tree? I know that mine did.
Bottlebrush or tinsel trees
Handmade stockings with felt, embroidery, needlepoint, beading
Lit ceramic Christmas trees
Putz cardboard houses
Vintage, mercury glass, & Shiny Brite ornaments
Retro holiday images, figurines, postcards or signs
Christmas, jingle and sleigh bells
Bubble lights or candle lights
Nutcrackers, train sets and snow globes
Holiday china, glassware and Santa mugs
You can look for real vintage Christmas decorations at antique stores, junk shops and vintage markets. However, you can find vintage resellers online at Etsy or Ebay.
My favorite Christmas antique find is a set of hand painted Santa mugs and punch bowl that my mother in law and I spotted at Cedar Chest Antique Mall outside Waco, Texas. Instantly, it reminded me of the ones that my husband’s grandmother owned and used every Christmas Eve. Therefore, the charming Santa face, perfect for homemade hot cocoa, made its way home with me.
Vintage Inspired Decor
In addition, vintage inspired decor, while not actually vintage, is an affordable option, too. Most home decor stores, like Hobby Lobby, Kirkland’s or Warmart offer some kind of vintage, retro or farmhouse inspired Christmas decor.
For example, the retro Santa placemats are from Hester and Cook, who make paper accents for tables. Even though, the postcards are reproduction prints, I styled them in vintage ‘flower frogs.’
These are a few vintage inspired pieces from Decorator’s Warehouse. For example, I styled the large jingle bells on my Christmas tree and tied a few to the fire place mantle garland, too. Lastly, I linked a few vintage reproduction favorites, like bubble lights and Grandma’s lit ceramic tree, if you have been on the hunt for those.
Plus, Antique Farmhouse has a variety of architectural wall decor, like the lattice window that I have which is perfect for layering artwork or signs year round.
Traditional Antique Furniture + Vintage Decor
Honestly, I do not have many original vintage Christmas decorations. However, I do love the charm and nostalgic feel that vintage pieces provide into a home. Often, if you integrate traditional antique furniture or vintage finds with newer Christmas decor, you can still achieve the look that vintage Christmas decorations bring into your home.
Silver platters, vases or bowls
Wooden sleds, sleighs, skis, ice skates or rocking horses
Wooden crates, old baskets, enamel buckets, postal boxes
Natural elements – fresh greenery, pinecones, antlers, dried fruit
Simple gift wrap – plain or brown paper, ticking stripe or gingham ribbon, sprigs of greenery or stamped tags
Lanterns – decorative, candle or vintage railroad
A fresh greenery wreath, from Lynch Creek farms, and art hang over a chippy gate. Next, a sled that a neighbor had given me when I was about 12 years old always makes its way into my Christmas decor. I guess I have always found the charm in vintage things. Basically, I love the juxtaposition of new and old, shiny and chippy together.
I found a reproduction wood and red sled, here and galvanized tabletop sleighs, here.
Ideas to Mix Vintage with New or Reproduction
A few years ago, I bought this amazing, light blue antique fireplace mantle with the original mirrored insert. By simply adding glass trees, which have the look of antique mercury glass, and winter greens, this display had so much character.
One of my favorite ways to display a wreath, is layering it over an antique mirror, chalkboard or architectural find. Therefore, you can add charm typically found in an older home by mixing new with older pieces.
In addition, it is a great way to show off any collections or family heirlooms. Below right, the writing desk belonged to my husband’s grandmother. So, it is one of our family’s most beloved heirlooms. It is flanked by a wall of vintage silver platters that my mother in law and I collected from antique shops, and handmade stockings for each family member.
Vintage Copper and Silver
Now, for an onslaught of holiday vignettes featuring my collection of vintage inspired or vintage Christmas decorations. Notice, the combination of copper, silver and gold. When used together, it’s hard to distinguish between new and vintage pieces. In addition, the miniature velvety reindeer are only a few years old, but have the vintage look that I love. Especially, when displayed with retro Santa Claus.
I love that bottle brush trees have gained popularity in recent years. It’s fun to add to my collection and mix the different styles. While I do not have any original putz cardboard houses, these reproduction ones were an affordable option about 8 years ago. Often, I will add one to a styled tray, or display the entire collection into one village. The newer houses include a battery operated light, so it’s a beautiful display at night, too.
Gingham Checks and Ticking Stripes
Another way to achieve a vintage look during the holidays is to use simple gift wrap. For example, wrap gifts with brown Kraft paper or solid colored wrapping paper. Then, tie packages with velvet, satin, or patterned ribbons which can be reused year after year. For a fun detail, tuck in sprigs of fresh greenery or hand stamped gift tags to each bow.
Patterns, like ticking stripes and gingham checks pair well together and add a farmhouse or vintage feel. Consider using it in gift wrap, textiles like pillows and table linens or paint stripes on the back of a cabinet. Finally, check out more of this blue and white winter table, shown below.
I hope you enjoyed learning how I use vintage Christmas decorations in my home. If you are new, and love home decor tips, simple DIYS, easy recipes and life in Waco, Texas, subscribe to the blog, here. Lastly, I appreciate any shares on Facebook or Pinterest so others can get inspired, too.
Do you know what to do with Christmas cards that come in every year! Here are four ways that you can creatively display Christmas cards! With simple items like clothespins, flower frogs, or a Santa mailbox, I hope these ideas encourage you to DIY a fun display this year.
How to display Christmas Cards!
Idea 1. Hang as a banner.
For this idea, all you need is cards, clothespins, and any kind of ribbon, jute, or even a string garland. First, I clipped cards to a cute Christmas pom-pom and jingle bell garland. Then, I layered it with another Christmas garland for a fun and festive look. This can be hung on the mantle or across the windows.
Idea 2. Display in flower frogs.
This summer, I found a bag of vintage flower frogs at an antique store for less than $10. I knew immediately that they would make a great display for Christmas cards. If you didn’t know, flower frogs are used to hold stems at the bottom of flower vases. The prongs are great for holding a sheet of paper.
To display them, simply insert the card between the prongs. Next, group them together on shelves with other Christmas decorations. I love the vintage vibes!
Idea 3. Clip to greenery.
Using clothespins, clip cards to greenery garland or wreaths! This is an easy DIY, but it allows you to show off cards from friends and family. Therefore, I love to hang cards above the kitchen sink so I have a nice view when washing dishes.
Idea 4. Stick in the mailbox.
First, find any post box style decorative mailbox, and fill with paper or plastic bags. Then, add cards using tape if necessary to hold in place. Lastly, hang the mailbox on the wall or a wreath.
The ‘Santa Mail’ boxes would be perfect for this. You can find them at Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Kirklands or the Findery in Waco, for my local friends. I spray painted this galvanized mailbox years ago, here.
Thank you for checking out this 9th DIY of Christmas, Christmas card displays. Have you seen the rest of the 12 DIYS of Christmas…
