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12 Days of Christmas – Oh Christmas Tree

OUR 1st HOUSE

This year we decided to stick with a more neutral and mature color palette when it came to Christmas decorating.  So when it came to our ornamentation of the tree, we nixed our red ornaments in favor of our white and silver balls with a bit of gold ribbon.  This color palette and our entire theme would be rustic-meets-disco charm.  It’s like Jeff Foxworthy on Dancing with the Stars.  Now THAT would be a Christmas to remember! 

And since we are gonna have many years to come of our future children’s homemade decorations and young fun colors, we figured that this might be last season to have a totally grown-up tree…free of red and green ornaments. 

So Jeremy pulled out the Christmas boxes from the attic and we set up our fake tree in a jiffy.

No seriously. 

It only took about two minutes from complete darkness to 3200+ lights. 

Did you just die of jealousy?

Because I think my mother just did.  You could have a joint funeral.  I’ll bring the bacon.

Here’s how we did it:  We have an umbrella style christmas tree.  The base is pretty simple.  A pole with feet and some ‘hula hoops’ that hold the branches out in the Christmas-tree fashion.  The top of the pole has individual slots that fit the hooks on the branches.  The lights are already strung up on each of the individual hanging branches and all we have to do is slip the branch into the correct slot and plug the cord into the power strip.  And lucky for us, we strung up all 3200+ lights just last year.  We also took the extra step by attaching the power strip directly to the base pole of the tree allowing us easy access to the on/off switch.

After setting up the tree, it looked a little something like this:

I made the executive decision that this year would be the year of the horizontal ribbon.  Last year we did vertical ribbon.  But this year?  This year it was time to make our tall tree look a little more porky by layering on some stripes of curls.  I went to work using the method I showed ya’ll in this video to make each curl and then did some stripes with gold and some with both silver & gold sparkly wire ribbon.

Then I pulled out every silver ornament we owned.

My holiday lovin’ boyfriend popped in a Christmas cd and we got to hanging.

And Jeremy even posed for his infamous-ornament-as-eyeballs shot.

That is the man of my unborn child.

oh so sexy 🙂

Then after all the ornaments were up, we flipped off all the room lights so that we could see the glory of the newly decorated tree with one flick of the finger.  It really adds something to the anticipation.

Countdown with me –

3

2

2.5

2.25

1

1.95 (just kidding!)

TADA!

Golly gee….it’s just so darn swell.

And here is a video of the whole yule-time experience:

Christmas Tree Decorating 2009 from Katie Bower on Vimeo.

***UPDATE: Before anyone says that we copied YHL’s video – I would like to say that I invented Christmas tree decorating and the high-five 🙂  Seriously though…Sherry & I had a very hearty laugh about the similarities (I sent her this video link after seeing her awesome fruity tree post) and we credit it to both being from the garden state.  See New York?  Good things do come from New Jersey 🙂 *** 

And seeing such a beautifully grown-up tree had me thinking only one thing.  WHAT THE HECK WOULD I USE FOR A TREE SKIRT?!?  Afterall, the only one I owned was red.

Enter my friend, the pottery barn woven runner:

Yes.

It is a rug.

We bought it for $40 a long time ago for our hallway but the edges would keep curling up and it drove us both crazy so it got banished to the basement storage.  There it lived until a little light bulb went off in my head.  It doesn’t happen often…so when it does, it tends to sting.

After digging it out of the basement, we folded it in half longways (an elementary school teacher would say like a hotdog).  Then Jeremy assisted me in crawling underneath our newly decorated tree and wrapping it around the feet of the tree  until it covered the base completely.

I love how it gives a subtle textural look.  It also gives a little more weight to the tree.  And is it just me or does my runner resemble a basket as it is wrapped around the bottom? 

So there you have it folks.  One decorated christmas tree.  Is it right up your alley in style or does it leave you high and dry with a bland taste in your mouth?  Or how bout that theme – anyone feeling rustic meets disco like me?  Or riddle me this – are you a vertical or horizontal ribboner?  Or maybe you are a bead or popcorn garland kinda peep?  And finally – anyone else use a unique item as a christmas decoration like my runner-turned-tree-skirt?  Whatever your Christmas tree decor, share it with me…all of it….theme, colors, everything.  It gets me all ready for next year 🙂

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Comments

  1. It’s so beautiful! Love the runner-turned-tree skirt! I would love to do something like this at our house (time to shop after-christmas sales for a used tree?), but we always get a real tree and decorate it using ornaments we’ve collected since we were kids so it’s all red and green and eclectic-y. (My policy is that ugly ornaments go in the back, and my husband always asks why we even bother to hang them if no one is going to see them. I usually just go with “because it’s Christmas!” because you can’t argue with Christmas.)

  3. Love it…beautiful! Love the video too!
    Keep up the great posts, I am enjoying the
    12 days of Christmas

  4. That’s a serious tree! It almost doesn’t look real (ok, I know it’s a fake one — but you know what I mean, it’s gorgeous with all those lights!).

    I especially like your tree “skirt” . . . very resourceful.

    And PS: My husband is also from the garden state. So, I agree — good things indeed do come from NJ!

  5. Love it! I think Sparkle says Merry Christmas just as much as red and green. It’s very festive. We cut our tree down this year for the first time. We went up to… well I dont know where it was. I just followed my brother up to the mountains of Georgia to cut it down at this awesome tree farm. It’s much bigger than we expected. But that’s ok cuz we dont have any furniture yet. LOL. I have this crazy collection of novelty ornaments from my childhood and tons of red and green balls. And colored lights. We didnt have a tree skirt that was big enough so I cut a round christmas tablecloth and slipped it under the tree. Well, merry Christmas. I’m loving this 12 days thing, it’s getting me in the Christmas Spirit.

  7. Okay several things I love about this post:

    1. I love the white curtains behind the Christmas tree & those precious white and green pillows.

    2. We also have a metallic themed tree this year. It does feel more grown up than the typical red & green. I want a pink ornament tree next year so I’ve started working on the hubby now.

    3. I’m a horizontal-ribbon-stringing-girl.
    I think that’s because I would fuss with vertical ribbons way too much.

    4. The rug turned tree skirt – love it.

    5. You and your baby bump is so cute.

  9. Your countdown wasn’t actually counting down…it was going down, up, down, up…

    It should have looked like:

    3
    2.5
    2.25
    2
    1.95
    1

  10. Your tree looks beautiful. I’ve never used curled ribbon to decorate the tree, but I am definitely going to try this next year (we’re not decorating our tree this year as we’re going to be in the UK for the holidays).

  12. It looks like it could be in a window display it’s so pretty! We didn’t have a cover for our little 3 foot target tree, but I used the Pottery Barn reindeer table runner and it works great! Maybe Next year I will try putting it in a basket like your rustic tree.

  15. That video was so darn cute!!! Your ‘bump’ is so darn cute! This post was so darn cute!!! That tree is so darn fantastic!!! LOVE IT Katie!!!

  16. Katie, you’re SO CUTE all preggie! And your tree turned out gorgeous. I would love to know how you guys edit your videos. If you have a moment to shoot me an email, I’d so appreciate that. Thank you! Merry Christmas!

    P.S. Love the N’Sync Christmas tune, lol. I love that album and I am NOT ashamed.

  21. Hi- I’m a newish reader, first time commenting!
    Katie- first off your are one adorable preggo girl and secondly where did you get your tree?? I love fake trees and yours is amazing!! I want a tree with 3200 lights!

  22. AWww gee willikers Nat….you had me all blushy 🙂 So thanks – it’s been a while since I got a good body flush 🙂

    As for our tree, we got it from my boss. He was moving and generously gave us ALL of his Christmas stuff. It was unbelievably generous! I spent about four hours last year wrapping each stem with lights…and we pack it away with the lights still attached. Maybe you could google it or ask a Lowe’s or Home Depot expert about the style name…I have no clue. Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful.

    XO – Katie

  23. Jersey represent! {I kinda love that you & Sherry are from the jerz.}

    I love your tree. It’s so elegant & beautiful.

    I wish we could pull off a themed tree; a designed color palette that’s grown-up & cohesive. We have such a random assortment of ornaments and I’m an “ornaments as memories” type of person. While they all tell different stories or represent different milestones, it’s not a cohesive palette.

  24. Your tree is gorgeous! I love how the lights reflect off the glass surfaces!!!

    We forego using ribbon and instead use a ton of picks. Our tree is a 9′ covered with red, white and gold. We use a sheer & elegant Christmas fabric for our tree skirt, and just tuck under the unfinished edges. Simple and cheap! 🙂 We decorate all sides, as we keep it in the big bay window at the front of our house, and it can be easily seen from the street.

    Merry Christmas!

  26. Gorgeous! I love how your “tree skirt” resembles those small alpine trees that have their rootballs wrapped in burlap– so natural and rustic! Awesome contrast with the disco ball on top. Just think– next year you’ll have a sweet son to lie on the floor with under the tree and stare up at the lights. How fun!

  27. Katie, quit climbing on furniture – at least for the next several months!!!! (OMG – I’m channeling my Grandma now!!!)

  29. Beauty-full! And high fives for NSYNC. I thought I was the only one that even knew that song existed! Loving the disco ball topper too! And yes , I’m sir-lightly jealous of the 3200 lights!

  30. The runner idea was brilliant! It totally fell right into your rustic themed Christmas 🙂
    Also, the video similarity is too funny! With the high-five at the end and all, you guys are 2 peas in a pod!! (and both have peas in your pods?!?!) hehe

  32. I love the “rug-as-tree-skirt” move. Very cool. And I love disco meets natural. Very nice.

    And, could you please tell me how to take a picture of a tree? Mine all look like… well, poo. I’m bowing down to your photographic goddessness.

  34. Your tree is classy and gorgeous, Katie! I’ve gone with a silver, white and green theme for our tree this year. But it just needs something else, and I am thinking that a horizontal ribbon treatment might be in order… And excellent call on the rug turned tree skirt–love it!

  35. I never would have thought of curling wide ribbon the way you did! It looks great. I went with beads this year (for lack of other ideas) to avoid the nastiness that ensues when my cat gets involved with garland. The ribbon is a MUCH better alternative that I will remember for next year.

    Stop by today – we’re having a giveaway!

  36. Oh Kim – I am sure your tree photos don’t look like poo. Poo would be brown and not as cute as those pics I’ve seen on your blog 🙂

    As for tree taking photos – I don’t know what kinda camera you have so it might make this more complicated. How bout I just tell you how I did it? Will that work? I turned all the lights on in the room and on the tree. Then I set my camera to manual. With the flash OFF, I set the light meter according to the light on the wall behind the tree and then focused the camera on the tree itself. Then I made sure that I got the entire thing in the photo before snapping. Also, as with all my photos – I always take a couple of them just in case my near-sightedness gets in the way of the clarity 🙂 Plus it always helps to have options.

    Hope this helps!

    XO – KB

  37. It is still so crazy that you and Sherry are both pregnant and such good friends. Crazy!! But it’s totally cute. And ya’ll both got to decorate your tree being preggers 🙂 Congrats to ya

  38. Love the tree. Horizontal ribbons look wonderful. I noticed your beautiful curtains behind it and wondered where they were from. Also your pillows in the first shot(with the green) Lovely? Pottery Barn?

  39. How beautiful and as always, you have the BEST photos! I’ve never actually seen lights on a tree sparkle like that- beautiful! I think your rug does look just like a basket and I was thinking that after I saw the first picture before I scrolled down and saw the rest… great idea!

    PS: You’re looking adorable preggo!

  40. Thanks Bailey –
    Actually the curtains are from Ikea. Here is the link.

    And the green & white pillows were from Target…but unfortunately I don’t think that they carry them anymore. They do look like something from Pottery Barn though – like their spring lines are always so bright and simply cheerful 🙂

    XO – B…KB

  41. Are tree skirts just an American thing? Does anyone from Australia use them? I’ve never seen them before – we just pile the presents around the bottom of the tree to hide the base.

  42. I like it very much. I liked that you pulled off disco balls in such a sophisticated motif. I have some mini-disco balls, but I pair them with my blown glass Hello Kitty ornaments for a more whimsical look. I will probably use them for garland this year.

    Our tree is white with orange gold ornaments. My sister-in-law has the drapey/umbrella kind of tree. But I don’t think they stick the branches on, I think they just pull from the top and it’s pre-strung with lights. I’m more into the horizontal ribbon. I will have to check out your ribbon curling technique. I really liked the YHL idea of using a sheepskin rug. B/c I love sheepskin rugs and b/c it gives it such a natural look. My tree skirt was made to be a tree skirt and matches the leaf design on my orange-gold ornaments. Not too much creativity required, but I am placing handmade paper origami cranes on the tree this year.

    Very lovely tree indeed.

  44. Haha, So I suppose I commented too soon about the BIG tree yesterday, it looks bee-yoo-tiful! I’m jealous! I’m definitely a fan of the color scheme and surprisingly I didn’t know how you’d make the runner work but it does perfectly. You have me inspired as to what I could use around my own house, I LOVE that it also takes up no space at the bottom of the tree.

    Also, have to further comment about the pictures. Mine all come out looking like a swarm of lights. May I ask the fancy camera make you have? I was thinking about a new for Christmas but it may just be a lack of skills on my own part 🙂

  45. Excellent question Jo. I have no idea. I know that the presents don’t arrive until Santa brings them on Christmas eve so maybe that is why we cover the base.

    Anyone out there with some Australian/American Christmas decor history for us? Please do share… I am totally intrigued 🙂

    XO – Katie the curious

  46. Hi Lauren –
    Yes – the infamous swarm of lights picture. I know it well 🙂 As for the camera – it definitely helps eliminate some of the swarmy look…the one I use is the Rebel XSi. My dear sweet boyfriend gave it to me last year for our anniversary and I literally am not ever found without it by my side 🙂 BEST GIFT EVER.

    XO – Katie

  47. Awe, it looks wonderful! 🙂 I love, love your rug as a tree skirt idea ~ I did something similar this year with an old linen curtain, we put it under the tree, added stuffing from an old throw pillow, and tied it up with twine! It almost looks like the tree is sitting in a burlap Santa bag 😉 I’ve been inspired this year by you & other thrifty bloggers to use what I have. Keep up the good work girl!

  49. Oh Mango Mango Mango,

    I was taking bets to see if a “you-copy-Sherry” comment pops up…and I just won. So thank you, from the very bottom of my heart 🙂

    XO – K

  52. Tree looks gorgeous! I agree, I wish I had a better camera, my photos did NOT come out that great!

    This year, we did a silver and blue tree. Various teals, turquoise and royal blues. I was going to go with horizontal ribbon but wasn’t feeling it, so I went with the old standby, silver garland with snowflakes! Plus, in addition to several hundred white lights, I bought a few strands of blue garland lights to alternate rows with the garland. My tree skirt is bought, white felt with glutteet silver damask pattern – I like to think it represents snow under the tree!

    I sewed us new “in-christmasy” stockings that just matched better with the tree. I think the color palette is very wintery!

  54. Oooh Tiffany – I love that red mercury glass ornament – super awesome dude. I need to head to World Market for reals. Thanks for the link – I love checking out the decor for Christmas!

    XO – KB

  55. Love this idea! It goes so well with your tree decor. So unexpected!! Thanks so much for such a fun and inspiring blog! Congrats on the lil bean as well…Lovin reading 12 days of Christmas with the Bower’s!! Power on!

  56. GORGEOUS tree Katie!!

    And I can’t remember – when is your due date?? I know it’s before Sherry but I can’t remember when!! Sorry, this is so not related to this post but I’m curious 🙂

  57. Ok, beautiful tree, but seriously, my heart stopped for a millisecond when you stood on that chair! i would’ve had my bf hold it..you know, just in case! ha! 🙂

  58. Well Victoria – I am so sorry to cause any panic! Please no heart attacks while reading ABP, kaythanks.

    And just in case you missed it, Jeremy was kneeling on the other side of the chair when I hung the topper just to make sure that the thing didn’t knock over 🙂 I’m sure that now with my current weight gain I wouldn’t attempt it again.

    XO – KB

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