Christmas trees themes....

**mommyto5** · 08-03-2002, 10:23 AM

Ok Ok I know it's soooo early but I have decided to redo my christmas tree because I am so tired of the same ornaments. I like to do my big tree in a theme and my house is kind of cottage decorated so I was thinking about doing it in gingerbread men and houses. Anybody have some cute crafts that I could make as ornaments? I couldn't afford to buy all new. I might make some of the apple and cinnamon ornaments but I am not too good at painting. Or I thought about doing snowmen with a lot of snowflakes. Any suggestions? Thanks, Amy

**Jerseygirl** · 08-03-2002, 06:05 PM

AC moore carries these cute little wood cut outs for .20 each and one of the shapes is gingerbread man, I made dozens of them to use as gift tags--paint it brown and details are simply white dots-they were adorable.

**Mumbose** · 08-06-2002, 12:52 AM

Amy,
There are so many things you can do using those ideas as a base.
~Cinnamon ornaments-- you dont have to paint them - just add a little plaid ribbon to hang with.
~Little twig houses- hot glue twigs together to form a house.
~small and large gingerbread cookie cutters - again use plaid ribbon to hang from tree
Or if you sew - trace a large cookie cutter and make some gingerbread men and stuff with batting
~small bird houses - you can paint
~~ last year I saved the caps of 2 liter bottles and wrapped/twisted them in different colored tissue paper to look like old fashioned pieces of candy (easy and looks great)
I love the look of an old fashion Christmas.
Snowflakes/gingerbread men/candy/ glass icicles/plaid ribbons/small birds pirched in the tree/pinecones/apples/old looking santa's/and of course the train.
All of these things remind me of how a real christmas should be - not alot of focus on money- be resourceful.
I think I still have an idea page that someone wrote last year with TONS of ideas on it for inexpensive decorations. I will see if I can find it for you.
Lori

**captclearance** · 08-12-2002, 11:03 AM

It's never too early to start your Christmas stuff. Try the Apple/ Cinnamon dough ornaments. I did a lot of these last year. Remember to use plenty of white glue in the recipe ..even if it does call for it. Go to walmart now and buy it for .15 cents a bottle. I bought 35 bottles. You live in the midwest, how about friends or nieghbors with apple trees ? Try drying them and stringing them along on raffia, just slice and dry, if you don't have a food dehydrator ask a friend to loan you one. I have snowmen on my tree, I did some out of fun foam, easy stuff, they came out cute and no two alike. I made snowmen out of everything !!! Pinecone, muslin, felt, stars, tin, wood, I get a lot of complements on my tree. I have over 200 handmade snowmen. All you have to do is look at everything in the junk drawer and say "How do I turn you into a snowman or a Gingerbreadman ? " I made a snowman topper for the tre, just sew a muslin star and stuff, now use scraps of fabric to turn it into a snowman, take a piece of wire (Coat hanger is fine) Make a cone shaped spiral and hot glue it to the back of the snowman.

**SewCrafty** · 11-20-2002, 06:30 PM

More great ideas!

**captclearance** · 11-20-2002, 09:57 PM

If you've disided on gingerbread man...anything in a brown color or natural would look nice...gather some twigs, tie them together in a bundle and fan them out a bit..... hot glue some dried flowers or pine greenery to the center, tie with a scrap of fabric..or use the fanned out twiggs to make wings for Gingerbread Angels...

**CAGmomof2** · 11-21-2002, 07:29 PM

Our Christmas Tree theme is Handmade , and Sentimental as well as a Little bit of Country Decor since we live in the Country and we love the Country Decor look.