Wednesday, December 2, 2009

~A TREE IN THE MAKING - How I Decorated My Tree~

HOW I DECORATE OUR CHRISTMAS TREE

I promised yesterday I'd share with you some of the tips I learned from attending a "HOW TO DECORATE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE" Seminar several years ago at Dallas Market. I have always LOVED the Christmas decor in the Showrooms and Boutiques and wondered just HOW they got regular old (and sometimes UGLY!) Trees to looks so fabulous! Here's what I do.

First...as you can see...my Tree is GREEN. It actually has some bits of brown in it and it's a little wild and scrappy looking! It is not a pre-lit Tree. I've actually wanted to spray parts of it white (don't faint) but I didn't want to paint over the lights which we do NOT remove year after year. (If repairs need to be made then my Mr. AGPMan does that part!)

So...first off place your lights on your Tree (duh!)

Next I wrap my Tree with WIDE Ribbon. Round and round you go! You don't have to do this in any particular way but do be careful not to wrap it with too much ribbon or you'll run out of room for other things!

DRESSED IN LIGHTS AND RIBBON

Below is a close-up picture for you! As you can tell you can see the wires from the lights peeking out and about...

CLOSE-UP OF RIBBON

ANOTHER CLOSE-UP WITH BERRIES

Next comes twigs of flowers, berries, stems, roses, etc. You don't have to be matchy matchy here! I once bought a flower arrangement and ended up not liking it after I got it home. It was relegated to the garage for over a year. I needed more fluff to my Tree so I pulled out the flowers and stuck those into the tree. If they are too dark in color then dust them lightly with that spray snow. (Spray it outside though...it can be messy!). Below is a close-up of the tree with flowers added.

PRETTY FULL AT THIS POINT

If you are filling your Tree in like I do it should be getting fairly full at this point. I often use springs of greenery (sometimes frosted) to fill in the gaps and even flowers you wouldn't think of as being for Christmas (like silk Geraniums!)

TIME TO ADD FAMILY KEEPSAKES

Once your Tree is to your liking you can begin to add your keepsake bulbs, ornaments, tinsel, bows (I never skip adding the bows...never!), etc. Last but not least I add a big ribbon bow with several long tails to the top. I twist the tails around and tuck them in and out to add fullness.

AND HERE SHE IS AGAIN

In a few days I'll show you the Family Tree I have in the front of my home. It is red-based (don't faint!) and it holds most of my keepsake ornaments and special mementos we've collected over the years. It is decorated in the same manner I just used different colors of flowers, ribbons, etc.

Hope this gave those of you who needed some direction a little help!

Blessings to you as you decorate with joy and love...Rebecca

25 comments:

Tanza said...

Sweet ~r~,
LOVE this !! Soo much like I do, I will share my PINK trees soon ~ I too, put any and everything in my tree, EvEn olde china pieces .. whatever I find that looks fitting, can find a place in my Christmas tree !! Yours my friend is BEAUTIFUL !! Sooo YOU !! And Mee !! Love and Christmas hugs for you ~
~tea~xo

blushing rose said...

Rebecca, sweet friend, your tree is exquisite ... that is what I do with mine, also. This year I left the ribbon off & used pearl & beaded strands instead. Then we tuck pink & white roses into the branches.

You have a very special talent for creating gorgeous things ...

TY for sharing. Have a lovely eve.
Hugs, TTFN ~ Marydon

Sue @ Not the Good Scissors! said...

You are amazing Rebecca. The tree is stunning. Thank you for sharing your talents with us.
xxoo, Sue

Weathered & Worn said...

Oh, soooo very pretty! Christmas wrapped up in a bow!

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Wonderful post. I guess I have been doing it sorta right!! Just trial and error for me. I hope to have my tree up soon...but your pink is just fairy like. I love it!

The French Bear said...

Stunning!!!! I think it looks fabulous, what a gorgeous tree!!!!
Hugs,
Margaret B

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

As always....perfect. Do you EVER do anything less than stellar? :-) Totally delish...

Huggies,
Spence

Brynwood Needleworks said...

Rebecca:
Your tree is fabulous! I think you could make even a Charlie Brown tree look magnificent!
Thanks for the pointers.
xoxo
Donna

Jocelyn said...

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing the decorating tips!

Jocelyn
http://happycottagequilter.blogspot.com/
http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com/

Deanna said...

The tree is beautiful!!!
She's now a gorgeous Christmas Tree in all her glory.
Merry Christmas!
d

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Your tree is so beautiful. Thanks for the decorating tips. I think that I might have been doing mine wrong which I can now correct.

cottagepinkperfection said...

What a beautiful end result with your tree. I would expect nothing less! I am definitely going to apply these tips to my tree decorating! If it turns out as great as yours I may even share pics.

Happy decorating!
Marie

A Southern Rose said...

Rebecca, Your tree is beautiful. Thanks for the tutorial on how to decorate from the start. Whenever I use to go to the Atlanta Market, I use to get so many ideas. Of course back then they didn't like for us to take pictures so by the time I got back home, I had forgotten most of the ideas. Once in a while they were let me snap some.
Your tree is so pretty! Can't wait to see the other one too.

Hugs,
Lee Laurie

Dolores said...

Good morning Rebecca,
Thanks for sharing your step by step instructions. All I can say of the end results, "WOW, what a beautiful tree!"
Hugs,
Dolores

GwendolynKay said...

Rebecca,
Your tree is GORGEOUS!!
Gwen:)

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Rebecca, Oh I love seeing the birth of your Christmas tree. Just gorgeous. I love the process each year too.
Hope you are enjoying the season.
Blessing and Love,
Celestina Marie

Cathy said...

Rebecca, your tree is absolutely gorgeous and I even love it when it's nekkid! I would leave it out year round and decorate it for each season. Wonderful tutorial too!

Cathy ♥

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Rebecca,
Your tree is gorgeous! I wrap mine in ribbon too. I will have to try the bushes and twigs next time. Thanks for sharing.

Blessings,
Sandi

Lori E said...

This is such an elegant tree. Very Victorian I think.

chicroses said...

I have so much enjoyed looking at your xmas tree and your lovely home with all the lights. Your angel is gorgeous. We made a major move last april and sold alot of things off..so sold my lightup deer. So our area that we moved everyone is putting up their lights so here I was without any deer. We planted a lonely pine tree out front so we bought lights to put on it. Well I decided I needed the deer back.So goodwill I went today..found 2 deer today. $20 for both..Home depot they are $69 each. This is not why I wrote..but wanted to ask you about your drapes. They are really nice looking. If you dont have time to answer me thats okay. But I am looking for window treatments so yours are very nice looking. They hang beautifully. I have enjoyed your blog..thanks sally

Cynthia K. said...

Rebecca ~ I love that it is so filled in with beautiful goodies - I think, like you, that this is not the time for skimping when decorating the tree. I always added things I had around the house that weren't really considered "Christmas" also. And I totally agree, the final steop is the bows and that add the perfect finishing, yummy touch...

Cynthia K. (Beauty and Blessings)

My Pink & Cream Cottage said...

OK I have read & reread this post sooooo can you PLEASE excuse my ignorance here but HOW on earth do you attach all these flowers, berries etc to your stunning tree. Oh & I did not know you could get lights that already came attached to the tree! It really is a dreamy ymmy tree Rebecca but then I always knew your's would be....

luvin'the photos & your posts...

Lynxxx

Anonymous said...

Wow! Thanks for this tutorial, Rebecca! Your tree is so gorgeous! ♥

Martha's Favorites said...

Love how your Christmas Tree turned out. It is stunning. Have a great weekend. Blessings, Martha

Unknown said...

Beoootifuuulll, as always..
you have magic in your hands,
Love your style and your blog...
Merry...Merry.
Jesus is the Reason..
for this lovely season..
hugs, glenda @SerendipityCottage.

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