Welcome to my blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I believe that everyone can have a beautiful home without spending a fortune! One of my favorite things to do is find creative ways to re-purpose things I already have on hand, or have picked up at yard sales and thrift stores. Join me as I share with you some of my favorite ideas for crafting and decorating, as well as travel adventures, and fun things that I pick up on my treasure hunts! Much of my work is influenced by my love all things French, nature, and of course shabby chic! I have gotten so many creative ideas from you very talented bloggers out there, and I hope that I can be an inspiration to you as well!

Monday, December 10, 2012

Woodland Themed Christmas Tree

I always thought it would be fun to have a themed Christmas tree, but I never had one, 'til now, that is!
Hubby was given the challenge of finding a small faux tree at the thrift store, and he came home with the cutest little tree that's about 4' tall.  I thought our sunroom, which is at the back of our house and overlooks the woods, would be the perfect spot for the tree.  I decided I wanted to go with a woodland theme, in honor of all the birds and other wildlife that frequent our yard.   Our main tree is in the living room, I'll show you that in the next week or two.  It's really tall!
Anyway, I had so much fun decorating this tree, and am thrilled at how it turned out.  Not bad for a $10 thrift shop Christmas tree!
 Before I started the decorating, guess what I did?  I took the tree out and spray painted it!  Yep!  I very, very lightly misted it with creamy white spray paint.  I wanted it to look as if it had been lightly dusted in snow.  (bet the neighbors thought I'd really lost it if they saw me painting a fake tree!)
I decorated it with ornaments we already had, as well as some that I created just for the woodland them.
 I had so much fun making a bunch of these glittered ornaments (above), from copies of vintage French Christmas sheet music, compliments of The Graphics Fairy.  I found this sweet little chickadee over at
 The Feathered Nest, and fell in love with him!
 I've added plenty of birds,  as well as a few bird houses, in keeping with our love of our feathered friends.
 This darling little bunny was also found over at the Graphics Fairy.
 I've also added glittery ornaments that I made out of milk weed pods a few years back.  Hard to get a good photo of them, but they are really pretty, I think!
 A glittery hummingbird hovers among the branches.
 And a cute little glittered raccoon is hanging out, too!
A bottlebrush squirrel is looking for nuts.
He even has his own beaded acorns!

Whoops!  I guess I didn't do a very good job of hiding the cords!
A sweet little bird is perched in a real (and glittered!) bird's nest.
Tiny faux nest.
I made the angel topper from more copies of the sheet music.  I really love the sepia tones.
I wanted to add a deer to our tree, in honor of those that we sometimes are lucky to glimpse in our yard.  I found this amazing angel with a deer over at the Graphics Fairy.  Isn't she gorgeous?  I had planned on making the sheet music into a medallion for the topper, but it just wasn't working out, so I settled for this fan!
Here I've added the angel and deer to a sheet music ornament (below).

 Pretty pheasant.
 I placed the tree on a small round table to elevate it.  I've covered the table with vintage linens, which I've layered over burlap (all were garage sale finds, even the burlap!).  I love the contrast of the dainty and delicate linens against the rustic burlap!
I've placed the tree in front of our glass block wall.  I really love how the glass just shimmers and sparkles from the reflection of the lights!
Here it is with the lights out.
 And looking thru the other side of the glass block (which is our bedroom).  I think it looks just magical!  The glass block looks kind of like icy, frosty window panes, don't you think?
And here are a few final looks
I'm so glad you stopped by to visit, thanks so much for joining me on my little tour!
I'm linking up with the following parties:
Timewashed Blissful Whites
Common Ground Vintage Inspiration Friday
Be sure to visit for tons of inspiring ideas!

19 comments:

Musings from Kim K. said...

What a special tree for your sunroom. Your woodland-theme is precious. Love all the touches of glitter with your graphics. It's perfectly YOU!

Karen said...

Hi Donna.....

I love your darling little woodland tree! It looks beautiful against the pretty window. All the ornaments are just so adorable. You did a wonderful job and I'm sure you'll get lots of enjoyment from it.

Love, Karen

NanaDiana said...

Donna, I absolutely love it. I love all your tags and I really love that little red bird. I think the glass block adds a really neat touch. Did you say that the other side of the glass block is your bedroom? How cool is that!?! xo Diana

The Bear's Blog said...

The tree is precious, so sweet, and celebrating the wildlife - it doesn't get any better than that!

The tree and glass blocks compliment each other in a magical, wintry way. Just beautiful.

Hugs

Susie said...

Donna, I love your tree and the cloth wrapped around it. xoxo,Susie

Renee said...

Donna: This is so pretty and festive in a woodland kind of way! I love theme trees.

Victoria said...

Your tree is so beautiful! You decorated it just perfectly, all your ornaments are so lovely:) I agree, it does look magical through the glass.

I've been enjoying the pics of your fur baby on your sidebar, what a cutie pie...love the raincoat pic!!!

Chris at Red Gate Farm said...

LOVE the addition of the vintage linens! And I love your idea to give the tree a bit of paint (and I know my neighbors would have been wondering what I was up to :))

~Chris

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

Your tree is adorable, and festive, Donna. The ornaments are just perfect, and I love the fan.

Little Miss Maggie said...

Donna, what an exquisite little tree. Everything is beautiful and just perfect for a woodland theme. I love your handmade Graphics Fairy ornaments.

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Donna, I simply adore your darlng woodland tree. Your hubby did a great job finding such a sweet tree. I love how you decorated it with the wonderful ornaments you created and the sweet little critters and elements of nature. It looks gorgeous in front of your glass block wall and from the outside it is stunning too. How cozy to sit in that room and enjoy your tree. Oh and I love the table cloth you added. Gorgeous.

Hugs, Celestina Marie

Connie said...

Hello Donna, your tree is gorgeous! I love the bottle-brush squirrel, the little birds in their nests and the use of sheet music (my new favorite crafting material).
Great job!!!

Come on over and enter my Give-Away:)
Your blogging sister, Connie

MONSIEUR LE CHAT ET MOI said...

Love that idea of several Christmas tree with a different thema. I have two trees : one with pink ornaments and another one dedicated to pink Santas ! I'll also show it next days !
xoxo from PARIS
Joëlle

Tiina said...

So beautiful, so christmassy, so magical! We have two trees, a white fake one and a real one.The real one is always a mix of old and new decorates and the white gets new brownish balls this year,for two christmases it was decorated with pink balls.Perhaps next year I'll try something like your woodland tree:)

Anonymous said...

Adorable, love the music sheet ornaments, like your idea to spray paint, does work well!

john said...

lovely themed tree Donna ...Its my sisters birthday on the 14th so we never put our decorations up until then ...its kind of a tradition ...lovely photos ! Gail x

Bente said...

Hi Donna. Your tree is so beautiful. I just love all the gorgeous things you have decorated with. Love the angel and the birds.

Have a nice weekend

Hugs

Susan EvelynAndRose said...

Oh Donna, you took this great idea for a theme and ran with it! I love all your 'wild' little friends keeping company in the tree, as well as your fab creations for ornaments. I think my favorite is your shimmering angel and deer. Sigh....

BECKY said...

Your tree is absolutely charming gal! Just love it, and those awesome ornaments you made! Love how you made them sparkle...so lovely!

Thanks so much for sharing at Blissful Whites Wednesday!
Hugs,
Becky