Recycling Your Artificial Christmas Tree.... Post 2

Yesterday I posted the first "re-use" idea for our old rundown artificial Christmas trees, a snowflake. 

Here is the second idea, a square wreath:

I feel like the bow is a little small, but I just used some left over ribbon and that was all I had of it.

Here are the step by step instructions:

Take 4 branches and set them out end to tip in the form of a square

You will make 2 squares, so you need 8 same length branches.

I set the two squares up by laying the branches in opposite directions,

one started with the end and attached to the next tip,

while the other started with a tip and attached to the end. (does that make sense?)

Wrap any uncovered portion of wire with a branch.

Use the extra bit of branch from wrapping to secure to the tip of the next piece.

Repeat for each corner.  Use an extra little branch or two if necessary to make it strong.

Now it will sort of resemble a square.

Repeat with other four branches.

Wrap one of the squares with lights if desired.

Stack lighted wreath on top of unlit wreath.

Twist a bottom and top branch together tightly in the corners to secure the two wreaths together.

Then again in the center if it is loose. Until it feels secure.

Now you have a rather shaggy square. 

The branches were a little too long, so I folded them in half and shaped it.

Here you can see what a difference it made to fold the branches.

Now you add any ornaments misc, that you like. 

I ran to the dollar store and bought a few little things. 

It cost $4.00 total, or you could just use what you have!

Here is the wreath all done.

Did I say wreath?  Kitty thought I said bed!

Do you have any good ideas to recycle your old tree. 

Leave a  comment with a link or contact info and I will get back to you, I would love to feature your project or idea!

Here is the tutorial sheet for printout.  Feel free to use this image to build your project, but permission is required to use any of the info on your blog! Thank you!

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Recycling Your Artificial Christmas Tree.... Post 1

Now that we have a living and family room I decided to buy a second Christmas tree.  It is pre lit and takes about 5 minutes to set up.  Our old tree which we have had for 8 years is not pre-lit, and we have to put it up one branch at a time...  it takes FOREVER! 
This year, with Etta needing my time I just didn't want to put up the old tree.  In fact, I realized I may not ever want to put it up again... But what to do with it?  I hate to just trash it, so wasteful, there is a lot of great foliage in there.  So, I have come up with a few ideas

• Square wreath
• Garland jabots swags (on the stairs)
• Snowflakes
• Little mini trees in pots etc.

Today I am showing you the snowflake idea.  (tomorrow I will show you the wreath instructions!)

First you need six same size tree segments.

Pull out the bottom two branches

Wrap these two around the stem toward the center.

Leave a few inches long tail or two.

Attach to the next branch securing by wrapping the wire branch around the ends.

Til it looks like this.

Attach all branches together at the ends.

If necessary secure with a twist tie.

IF you have any of the long wrapping pieces you can also secure the center with it.

With the six branches in a circle, you want to take the next two inner branches

 and wrap them around each other.

Like so:

Continue around the circle.  This not only secures the snowflake together but creates the shape.

When you have made your way around it will look like this.

Continue around, styling as you would like!

Here is a little cheat sheet that you may save and print out to store in your box for next year!

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Tradition

Only one or two more Christmas posts, I promise!  I am sorry to carry on with it, but I need to document it.  I am one of those people who would gladly take down the tree after opening presents, and I am pretty much done with holiday music too.  But I don't get pictures until after, so I should just learn to deal with it.

Christmas Eve we have a special candle lit meal.  Pizza.  I know, not that exciting but if I make pizza I can make cinnamon rolls for the morning at the same time (which I didn't quite get around to this year, but Etta can't eat them anyway, so....)

But guess what, we actually had a white Christmas! 

I know!

I was really excited about it.  It started snowing on Christmas Eve, when I went to pick up some last minute items.  This post is really just going to be pictures (again... sorry)  Hope you enjoy.

I couldn't help but take pictures of the cute little coop in the snow.  It is so quaint.

While walking back from closing up the chickens for the night I looked in the house and saw this:

We took some family pictures:

Our table was lit with a ton of candles and our lighted gingerbread houses. 

(this is the first year I tried to make candy windows)

Eat Pizza and Be Merry... Even Etta was "eating" with us.

 

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