usaneill's Profile

This year has been my "do everything recycled" year. I made a cardboard christmas tree like the one above after I saw that the cardboard one costs $20. My tree is 5ft tall and multi dimensional like the one above. Made from huge pc of cardboard from recycling center. I painted it white with paint already on hand. I drew some beautiful spirals out of glitter glue ($3). I used the designs from images I googled as "christmas tree decalls" as inspiration. Then I bought a little box of gold glitter snowflakes $2 that I glued in the spirals. Then I wired lights around the perimeter. It is a spectacularly shiny bright tree. Very festive! I've had many compliments on it. All less than $10.

I think the "traditional" tree needs to be rethought. If its about festivity and sparkle and celebration, then there are many ways to do that, even to excess. My cardboard tree has so much gold glitter! And I'll be trying my hand at decorating it "traditionally" while still using the cardboard. Any celebrations should be about the feelings and joy shared, never about the trappings.

ps-and I used my 6ft aluminum ladder as a form for an outside christmas tree and wrapped it completely in christmas lights! My neighbors love it!