I finally got our tree up! It’s the same as the past three years but I just love the look. Orange is my favorite color so I just love the copper tree. It’s non traditional yet just right for our family! As I was decorating I decided to take step-by-step pics on how to decorate a Christmas tree. So here is the step by step tutorial along with a video tutorial at the end of the post!
So I start with our artificial wide 9 ft tree. Some things to look for in an artificial tree.
- Right proportion for your space. I love the look of the wide full trees but they aren’t right for every space, my next tree will definitely be a pencil tree, I like the lean streamline look and its easier to find the perfect spot for it cause it doesn’t take up as much room.
- Look for trees with at least 3 different types of branches, just like garland, the different textures give them a more realistic look.
I always start with my topper!
I know you always see pictures of people putting that on last, but why risk the whole tree falling over at the end of your hard work lol.
My cousin Wendy made me this bow out of copper glitter wired ribbon some years ago.
Its held together with floral wire and I use the wire to attach it to the top of the tree.
Next I take strips of the same ribbon
Use floral wire to attach to the tree, I attach them on the top, right under the bow.
I attach four going around the tree
Ok all four on and the bow. Next step…make loops
I make three loops with each ribbon
I secure it just like I did in the mesh ribbon garland tutorial, using the branches of the tree to secure
And Voila! the topper is complete.
I then used these and stuck them behind the bow topper for some extra something up top.
Now the bottom of the tree looks so plain, time to add the deco mesh!
I went row by row and did three rows with the deco mesh.
Once again securing with the tree branches, I also tried to put the mesh deep into the tree so it would be in the background when I added the ornaments.
All done, three rows of copper mesh
Ok so the tree skirt was looking pitiful. yuck! no bueno
Add a little burlap
ok pretty good. (I got this skirt from Michaels some years ago)
Next add ornaments and Viola!
Now some tips for ornaments
- Pick your Colors! There is so much you can do with color, I say choose two that compliment each other. But there is so much more you can do…you can even do an ombre tree and start with a lighter color on top all the way to darker on bottom! I wanted a uniform color scheme of copper and gold and all my ornaments are those two colors, but that’s where the uniformity ends!
- Different Types…all ball ornaments are boring! For our tree we have flower sprigs, deer, feathers, Santas, wise men, angels etc etc. I also see the mesh ribbon as ornamental because it takes up space and adds color to the tree so I need less actual ornaments.
- Different Sizes. choose ornaments of different sizes and put the big ones on first then use the smaller ones to fill in the gaps.
- Keep it sentimental. So much about my tree is sentimental to us. My mother in law passed away some years ago but I think about her so much on xmas. She absolutely loved Christmas and she had a hugeeee beautiful tree. Our first xmas we were married we didn’t have a tree and she bought one for us during the after xmas sales. Every time I take it out the box I think of her! She even wrote her name on the box at the store so I can’t bear to part with the box. Also several of our ornaments are her old ornaments. We have one of the wise men and several angels, whenever i see the angels I tear up cause I swear this one angel looks just like her, I can just imagine her in heaven 🙂
- Handmade and gifted. The girls have been getting alot of ornaments as xmas gifts and even tho they don’t go with the color scheme I always still hang them at the back. Even my pinterest FAIL salt dough ornaments I hang cause even tho they aren’t the prettiest, I can still see their tiny foot and hand prints.
pinterest fails and greenbay ornament from when Daddy played for that team!
I placed a gift box the girls 2 years ago (Thanks Cherrie!) to hide the cords. I think the red is clashing a bit tho, so i’m going to wrap one of the girls diaper boxes in some beautiful gold gift wrap and use that.
It looks great during the day but at night, I think it looks magical! It really puts me in the holiday spirit!
I am obsessed with owls…gotta have them!
The topper in all its glory
1) How to make Holiday Garland with Deco Mesh
2) How to Decorate a Christmas Tree
4) DIY Burlap Christmas Banners
5) DIY 3-Tier Christmas Wreath
Love how it looks at night, great job!
Your tree looks great!
Thanks MJP!
Thanks Deanna
Beautiful tree!
Thank you so much Marianne!!
can't wait to decorate my Christmas tree this year. Christmas you need to get here fast for me to unleach my decorative skills. Thank u keits