Tuesday, December 14, 2010

My Christmas Village and a tutorial on how I made my trees ...

I guess that I've finished making the trees to go in my Winter Village that I put in my family room.....I say I guess because I seriously could just keep making more and more because they are so fun to do and the possibilities are endless....but I have run out of time and also room on top of the entertainment center!

Before I made the trees....I gathered paper mache houses in several sizes and 3 different styles.

I painted my little cottage homes each in a different color....and painted all of their roofs and bottoms white....I put a clear regular size glitter on the white paint
...and used Martha Stewart fine glitter on the colors. Thats all that I did...I just wanted to keep them simple. Maybe next year I'll embellish them a little with wreaths and snowflakes and such...but for now...I like the way that they look.

Now for more trees....after I made the button tree and the tree using green glittered scrapbook paper...I moved onto something else that I love to work with...ric-rac!
I used a paper mache cone for this tree...and painted it about the same green as the vintage ric-rac.

I simply just used my glue gun and starting from the bottom....I glued it around the cone in one continuous piece...

I like the way it turned out....and it's a little bit darker green than the other trees are for a nice contrast.
I also made a couple of trees using sequins. I remember making some of these at Christmas-time as a girl and I thought they would be fun to make again!
I just used 3/4" silver applique pins and pinned them right into a small styrofoam cone just like I did for the button tree.
Once again...I started from the bottom up.


These two look nice together .....

don't you think?
Kassidy saw how much fun I was having and wanted to join in...so she chose to make the multi-colored sequin tree. She used a large styrofoam cone for the base.

Because I made a ric-rac tree..... of course had to make a pom-pom tree! I also used a large styrofoam cone and painted it close to the same color as the trim.
I started from the bottom and worked my way up pinning the trim right to the cone with the 3/4" applique pins that I still had on my worktable.
I used one continuous piece of trim and just pinned it in the back....


....and finished with one row at the very top. Don't you just love the texture that the pom-poms create?

I heart the way that this tree turned out...so vintagey cute... and it looks so nice next to the ric-rac tree.

Next....I used some feather trim that I bought at Hobby Lobby. It's like a very narrow feather boa with a little bit of silver tinsel in it.
I thought it would look nice with the tall white feather tree in the back that sits next to my red glittered cottage.


Again....I started from the bottom and used my glue gun to glue it directly to a small cone.

The tree turned out really plump and fuzzy and looks like it's covered with snow when it's sitting next to my glittered green cottage in the village.

I used silver tinsel trim to make the last tree.....

I used a glue gun and glued it directly to the cone.

Looks very vintage ....don't you think?
A few close up shots for you....



Like I said....I wish I had the time to make more but I really needed to move onto other things!
Next year I will be adding more things to my village....I will be making snowmen out of paperclay and maybe add a white picket fence to go around the whole thing....glittered of course!
I just adore making things for the Christmas season...it just wouldn't be Christmas for me if I didn't get involved in a few projects. I suppose that comes from making things at home and school and church when I was a girl.

What do you think?...will you give these trees a try?

27 comments:

Kayleen@The Johnson Home said...

I LOVE them! I would definitely like to make some. One of each. You are so creative and talented, girlfriend. Keep on sharing for us that are less fortunate in the "thinking of great ideas" category.

Sparky said...

If ever I thought " I need to make a tree" cause I had no idea how to make one...I know I could beeline over here...and a new designer tree would happen to come from the roots and appear...lol.
LOVE the pom pom one...my fav.

Jan Quigley said...

Wow Lori, your houses & trees are absolutely beautiful!!! You did a fantastic job. cheers, Jan

Caro said...

Awesome houses and trees. Where did you find them? I especially love the houses. Your mantel looks wonderful!

Leah said...

I love your tree village. The house and the trees are wonderful. I want to give it a try. Next time I am in Hobby Lobby I am going to look for those paper house and for some Styrofoam shaped trees. Thanks for the pictures and inspiration.

ohiofarmgirl said...

Oh my goodness, how I love your houses but especially your trees. I adore trees and I just have to mimic some of the things you have done!!! What a great lesson, all the steps and pictures. Thanks you so much and Merry Christmas. Blessings, Dianntha

Unknown said...

I think these are absolutely gorgeous. I, too, love doing projects at Christmas. They always bring back memories of Christmas' past as they are brought out each year.

Darlene said...

That's it - you are THE most talented person I have the pleasure of knowing through blogging. Those trees and houses are super adorable. I love all the different textures you've used for trees.

Jennie @ Porch Swing Quilts said...

You know what I love about your blog? Well, among other things, I love that my daughter wants to look at it with me and get ideas. We're now going to make a Christmas village!
I also love that you share your great ideas. Thank you!

Nielson said...

YEs Yes I WILL!!! I love this village--it's sooo adorable! Where did you find these little houses? I am totally going to copy--hope it's okay if we have twin villages :)

Needled Mom said...

They look wonderful. Perhaps I will give them a try next year. Where do you get the little house forms?

Juliejaz said...

You are such a huge inspiration! I love your little village, the trees are so cute. Next year I'm going to make my own. Where did you find the little houses?

Kimberly said...

Those are wonderful! Great job!

Sherri said...

Wow...I love them all....pom poms are my favorite too!

Wendy said...

Your village is brilliant! I've got an urge to go and buy some of those cardboard houses tonight on the way home but I can't, I've got to finish my gifts first!

Funoldhag said...

Lori, your projects just keep getting better! I love them. Carol

Heartsdesire said...

You are so clever and creative, Lori. First your button tree and now these cute little ones. I love your village and the trees are just perfect for it. I'd love to start something like this but I think it will have to wait until next year as I still have to finish a few projects for this Christmas.

Bowbailey said...

The trees and houses are just wonderful! I can't wait to make these for next year, but at least I can purchase the supplies now and work on them in the new year. BTW, I made your Fairy Drop Cookies and they are delish! Yummy,
Thanks for your wonderful blog...

billi said...

What a wonderful inspiration you are. I have seen these, but didn't know how long it would take so I have put it off. Now I know what to do with the fringe from an old bedspread. thanx for taking the time to demonstrate.

Jodi Nelson said...

Adorable! Seriously.

Christine M said...

Your little village is gorgeous!

Dana said...

I love every single version of your trees! I've really enjoyed seeing each one and now that you have them all together with the village.. wow! It all turned out so great!

Jacqui said...

Looks like you had a fun time making all those trees and your little village. It's very cute by the way and I love it. Wish I had somewhere to display this without my granddaughter wrecking it.

Carrie P. said...

Oh, what fun. I love them all. I really like the houses too. I am going to be on the lookout for them.

Shannon said...

Wow, that is so cool. I love all of it. I wish I had time to work on these. I just don't this year. Maybe next year. Thank you.

Auntie Lolo said...

I love these trees and the village! I featured it on my craft blog http://auntielolocrafts.blogspot.com, I hope that is okay!

Lois (Lindsay's BFF)

robin said...

i love the house and trees where did you purchase both of them great job

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