Shipping Paper Tree

When I receive a package stuffed with packing paper I put the paper aside for later projects.  

I had a huge stack of it ready to make my tree.  

It took about 25 feet of paper rolled into a coil for my 13 inch tree.

The base for the tree is a cardboard cone made by Darice.

I also used pearls, faux snow, chalk paint and vintage lace.

I tore my packing paper roughly 6 inches wide.

Then I  twisted the paper into a rope as I glued it to the form.

Using hot glue I began at the bottom edge and spiraled to the top covering the entire cone.

When I came to an end of the coil I inserted the new coil into the old coil and tacked inside with hot glue.  And continued to coil and glue the paper rope to the cone.

Here is the entire cone covered with the paper rope.  You could leave it like this for a rustic tree with a paper rope star at the top.  But I wanted to decorate my tree further.

I inserted a pearl encrusted stick pin I made into the top of the tree for the tree topper.

Using an almost dry paint brush I stroked chalk paint down the sides of the tree just hitting the high points.

When this paint was dry I continued decorated the tree.

I glued 4 pieces of the vintage lace to the top of the tree.

And secured the lace to the bottom inside of the cone with hot glue pulling it snuggly down the sides.

Next I randomly added the faux snow in places around the tree.

And lastly I glued two sizes of light pink pearls, to match the tree topper, as ornaments.

Oh no, there is my assistant checking out my progress to the left.  I didn't even know she was watching me.  I was having a hard time getting a good background for a picture. So I took several pictures with different backgrounds trying to get a good shot.

Happy Crafting!

Old Trellis Becomes a Rustic Christmas Tree

I have a few of these old redwood trellises leaning against the fence.  I used them for climbing vines. But now they have seen better days and are falling apart.

So, while out in the yard one day I was think what to do with these.  Toss them away or make something new?

You know the answer make something new and since it is near the Holidays why not a Christmas tree.

I went out and started pulling the pieces off and when I had a stack of graduated sized I brought them inside and began to assemble my Christmas tree.

 Only the top few pieces needed to be cut to length the rest where already the perfect length.

I pulled all the rusty wire staples out and set them in order of size.

And started to glue them to my longest piece, that formed the trunk, with hot glue.

In the picture below you can see the tree fully assembled.  It stands about 2 feet tall.

Using a dry brush technique I brushed on shades of green, pink and white on different pieces of the wood.

When my paint was dry, which didn't take very long since it went on almost dry I added my decorations.

Vintage buttons, white faux snow on the edges and a little glitter for a frosty effect.

I have 4 boxes of vintage buttons that people have given to me over the years.  It is hard nowadays to find very many vintage buttons a affordable prices.  Glad I still have some to work with in my crafting.

Haven't decided where to use it but I am sure I will find just the perfect spot when the time comes to decorate the house for Christmas.

Happy Crafting!

Faux Rose Petal Christmas Tree

We have had a glorious weekend of rain.  Farther north has been hit very hard by the storms, luckily we just received a really nice rainfall.

So, while I watched the raindrops outside my window I worked on a small Christmas Tree.

I began with a  Styrofoam cone.

And a bag of ivory faux rose petals.

I choose 3 small rubber stamps, one with script, one with birds and the Eiffel Tower.

I stamped 3 stacks of petals each with one of the stamps with black ink.

After they were all stamped I aged each petal with distress ink.

I glued the petals to the styrofoam cone with hot glue varying the stamped images.

I also added flat back pearls and white stamens.

The tree is about 10 inches tall.

And here is my little shabby chic Christmas tree.

Happy Crafting!