Tuesday, December 16, 2008

More Free Christmas Decor

I mentioned a few weeks ago of decorating the cabin with live greenery that we went out and collected on the mountain. I brought some back and made a live spray for my mailbox. Here is the final picture. I really need a bigger now, I had one last year but don't know where I put it, so for now, the scrawny one. I don't know if you can see the berries. They are gorgeous! I used berries of poison sumack, purple berries and Pyracantha. I mixed those in with wold magnolia (I am a southern girl) and some short leaf pine that had cones attached to the branches. And I threw in some sticks, reeds and dried ragweed for interest.
On Thanksgiving Bama won a live wreath at our annual Dirt Santa game. Here is the wreath on my door....

I finally got all of my wrapping done. What a great feeling. And the packages are so pretty tucked under the tree. Can you see the sticks coming out of the top of my tree. I have a "thing" for sticks! There are many of them. They are silver and gold glittery.

Speaking of sticks and trees....using more natural elements that I found in the woods at the cabin, crabapple branches make a perfect gumdrop tree. A gumdrop tree is easy to make. Take a small branch of any tree that has many stiff twigs. Wild crabapple or hawthorn trees are especially good for this purpose. Place the branch in a pot. I used a large glass cylinder but you may have to use soil or crushed rock in the flowerpot to hold the branch up and keep the pot form tipping. Stick gumdrops on the end of each twig. The crabapple is perfect for this because the branches have little sharp sticks on them that are perfect for holding the gumdrops. In case you wonder, yes, I rinsed my branches off really well. I love the look...very natural, and once again-Free!- with the exception of the gumdrops that I purchased at the Dollar Store.

12 comments:

Bama Belle said...

Beautiful! I love it. I have sticks out of my tree as well. Gold curly squiggly things covered in glitter. The gumball tree is so fun! I am now going to drive all over our town looking for that swag and wreath. As Jen said it isn't stalking it is investigating LOL Just kidding!
The decor is gorgeous just like you!
Merry CHRISTmas my friend!

Kristin - The Goat said...

I've always heard of gumdrop trees and have seen them in magazines, but I didn't know anyone who actually did it! Yours look great!

I had a lime tree in my backyard (when we lived in Daytona Beach) and those had long sharp thorns that would have been perfect to jab a gumdrop onto...hmmmm, it's something I'll have to keep in mind.

You are right, you need a bigger bow for the mailbox, but the arrangement looks great! Love the wreath Bama won.

Have a great day!
Kristin

Nicolle said...

Leigh- I LOVE the gumdrop tree!!! I am going to make one today! That is so cute. I will post pics when I do. I absolutely think it's fantastic!

Jerri junque said...

My grandmother always had a gumdrop tree, thanks for the memory.

Mari said...

Everything looks great! I love your mailbox! I have sticks coming out of my tree too - they fit in anywhere.

Cherry Hill Cottage~ said...

Love your gumdrop tree! Thanks for telling me to stop by to see it! Cutecutecute!!!

Tina~ Cherry Hill Cottage...

Anonymous said...

Your tree is so pretty! I love the gumdrop tree, I've never seen one of those before.

butterflygirl said...

Love the gumdrop tress!

Anonymous said...

I love the tree.. It's beautiful.. I wish I had talent like that. If I don't talk to you I hope that you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Kristy

"J" said...

WOW! I love it all!!!! I want you to come to the lake house next year and decorate!!!! Love Love Love your FREE ideas and soooooooooooooooooo very pretty!!!!!! =)

YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Everything is so cute..! I love looking at other people's Christmas decor.

michelle@somedaycrafts said...

Beautiful outdoor wreath!