Wednesday, December 10, 2008

My Very First Christmas Garland



The thing is I wasn't even going to participate in this since I don't have any garland at all, and with funds being what they are right now I couldn't justify going out and buying one. However, a couple of weeks ago I helped my mom put a cut tree up for my grandparents, and there were tons of trimmings from that ginormous monster. I asked to take some and they gave me about a quarter of what they had. Those branches have been sitting on my porch ever since!

I decided to challenge myself to see if I could make a garland from those trimmings and a box of decorations that I wasn't planning on otherwise using. Oh, and I didn't actually start working on this until about 8:50 tonight, so I can't guarantee that it will hold up.


Here are the results:


I didn't even think I had anything to tie the branches together until I remembered a bunch of multicolored yarn I had from eight years ago when I taught Sunday School.



I had this ugly brass pot of fake stuff that I shoved in here and there. I also had a few sprigs of fake berries and these gold thingies.



It's a little lopsided, but here it is hanging up... Oh, and I just nailed those nails in, too. My husband was asleep on the recliner as I did this. He didn't even wake up and neither did the kids! Gee, I think it needs a bit more.



What d'ya think??




Here's a close up:


I had a couple more pictures, but i don't know how to add more than five pics on blogger... Well, that's it. Even after I quit taking pictures I messed around with it some more, and I'm sure I'll probably keep at it until after Christmas. I'm like that, though...




58 comments:

sassy seamstress said...

good for you! that is pretty fabulous for someone who had nothing to work with! :)

Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...

Amazing....this is fabulous for someone who had lots to work with. :)

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

I think your homemade garland is fantastic. BTW...to add more pics...just hit the button again and do over...the only thing is...if you want them in order, the ones you download 2nd will appear 1st on your post. So, keep that in mind. It is a bit of a pain...but it will work.

jeanne @ Inspiring Ideas said...

Oh, I love this one! Great natural materials and colors!! Fresh is best!

Erika said...

See, ceekay, I knew it was going to be something easy peasy like that! Thanks for the tip!

Kristi said...

OH, that is beautiful and I bet that it smells so good too. Christmas blessings to you and your family!

Girly Stuff said...

Good Job! It's beautiful!

Mom in High Heels said...

You did a wonderful job!

Bee said...

Very pretty!

The Nester said...

Nice work--and all free!

Anonymous said...

It's beautiful!

Holly said...

Wow! It really looks fantastic! You know, there's just something about real. Thanks for stopping by!

Lisa said...

I don't think you need to add a thing, it really looks great! I can't believe you didn't have to buy a thing, that's awesome.
I think I'm going to try real greens next year, thanks for the inspiration!

Anonymous said...

Great job! And love how you showed us how you did it!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Fabulous job! I love it!

XO,

Sheila

Amy said...

I LOVE how lush and full it is. It's gorgeous. I am way impressed.

Stacey @ The Blessed Nest said...

Looks gorgeous, love the magnolia in the center :) You did a great job!!

Karol said...

Totally awesome job! You should be so proud.

Karol :0)

The Writer Chic said...

Um, for having "nothing," this turned out fabulous!

Judy @ In His Grip said...

You did such a good job. I cannot believe it is your first try. Those nail holes, my husband freaks out about them too, but he forgets about them when he sees how great everything looks.

Anonymous said...

Wow! You did a wonderful job.. I love it.

Rae said...

What a fabulous garland!! I just love it!!

Steph said...

Wow, what a great garland! Very pretty.

::Traci:: said...

Wow! I think it's beautiful! Great job!

Barb said...

Really nice job. Just beautiful.

Paula said...

WOW you did THAT starting from scratch? Very cool!

Anonymous said...

Your garland looks so beautiful! I always keep adding stuff until Christmas! I never FINISH decorating!

-Kim

Unknown said...

Your garland turned out amazing and on top of that I love the rich colors that you chose. Take care

Lamp Tramp said...

You did a super job. Looks like a PRO made it, get in the business, girl!
Lamp Tramp

Sara said...

Love it! Good job.

Marci @All Things Wonderful said...

It is really pretty! Merry Christmas.

CMB said...

Wow...your garland is absolutely amazing, I can't imagine working with live greenery and having it turn out so beautiful! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I will be back to visit!

Little Oak Table said...

beautiful! and i love how you created something out of what you had. i love to see God bless our efforts like that. your post encouraged me about using what i have!!! thanks!

Unknown said...

It is so beautiful!!!!! Well done! I am especially impressed that you didn't spend anything to achieve this much gorgeous-ness. Really, really nice!

leigh ann said...

Wow, it's a beautiful garland! I love your header picture...is there a story with it?

Astrid in Bristling Acres said...

Ohhh! I love it! And I bet it smells nice too!

Unknown said...

It looks phenominal!

Amber B. said...

Well, that looks just beautiful! Can't believe you whipped that up from things laying around your house. Impressive! :-)

Aleesha said...

I'm impressed. Wow.

Breathing In Grace said...

I love your Christmas garland...and your rag garland, too. Don't you just love getting ideas from others???
Merry Christmas!!!

Scooper said...

Oh, it's beautiful! You are so resourceful and creative.

Unknown said...

Beautiful natural garland. It must smell wonderful!

Unknown said...

I LOVE your garland! It turned out GREAT! I bet is smells WONDERFUL!

Trudi said...

Great Job. HI, I'm new.

Pat said...

You garland is very beautiful!!! Isn't this fun!!??
Blessings,
Pat

Miss Priss said...

I am very impressed! I think fresh garland is so pretty! Now you can volunteer to help with the grandparents tree every year to get your base to your garland :)

Melissa said...

That is great!! I love you did not have to buy a thing!

Beth said...

So beautiful!! I love it! Thanks for your nice comment on my garland!

Sandy said...

Fantastic freebie! You did a wonderful job from what you had on hand! I love that!

Anonymous said...

Wow! It's gorgeous! Just gorgeous!

Thanks for stopping by Tater Tales! Hope to see you around again!

Tamara Jansen said...

Don't you just love the smell of fresh pine needles? The garland looks wonderful!

Trudi said...

Thank you so much for for post on my blog. It was so sweat and thoughtful. I'll keep it in mind what you said.

Miss G said...

wow! this looks GREAT! You did a super job! Kelly

Nancy said...

Wow - I would give you an A+ if I was grading. Since I'm not...you did one fabulous bangup job. Absolutely beautiful. Nancy

Laila said...

If you want to put in more that five pics, you just add more than once. Then you can add many pics.

HSingMama said...

I love your garland!!!

Diana LaMarre said...

Wow, I think that garland is fabulous. You made it totally from scratch--took a bit of this and a bit of that and ended up with something beautiful to grace your mantle. What a great job!

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a nice comment on my garland. I love finding others who enjoy decorating for the holidays.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful. Fabulous job.