Ideas for an alternative to a Christmas tree please...

trixietoes

Last year we didn't have a tree (artifical or real) the reason being is that we move countries a bit and need to keep furniture etc to a min as it costs a fortune in removals when we do move.

Anyway, last year was really drab with no Christmas :xmastree: so this year I want one, but need inspiration on ideas of what to do . We will be going back to England for the big event but I like a dressed house in the run up to get us in the spirit.

As you are all genius' in coming up with fab alternative ideas I thought I'd ask you.

Please help.

xx

bluestarrz

Ooh, that's a tough one..How about a large felt tree shaped piece of material to hang from the wall with pockets just like a big family advent calender and you coulld have little hooks to hang some little miniature decorations from? I see them all the time at Christmas, little flat felt ones, or you could make some little miniature sewn ones to hang just like real tree.
I'd fill the pockets with some little Christmas tree chocolates and maybe even make a felt 'Christmas' Jacobs ladder with photos of you and your family at each home you've been in at Christmas and it'll be nice to have the memories to look back on and see how the kids have grown etc
Then I'd put all the presents under the felt tree just like a real one - sorry i this sounds like an absolutely crazy and ugly idea but in my head it looks really good and then you just roll it up when Christmas is over and put it in a case!

Claire_Bear

Would you be open to the idea of getting a real tree? Then you just throw it out after Christmas. I've seen some really nice twigs in vases. That sounds horrible but it's branches sprayed gold or left brown, with fairy lights draped around, and you can hang baubles on it which looks lovely.

Bit like these...

GreenQueen

Claire Bear beat me to it - I did the twig thing one year (when we had small kittens and didn't want to risk a full-sized tree IYSWIM:D!), and got loads of comments about it. I put the twigs in a silver flower bucket filled with sand, used white lights and silver and blue baubles - it looked really stylish.

Rosie10_2

Some cracking ideas guys! Here's a few more tho: what about a large floral display or a poinsetta, very trad 4 xmas although can be expensive for a big one. A few wire coat hangers in a spiral and coated in tinsel, lights or other decorations could be cheap and cheerful. U could also buy a large house plant/tree that can be used year round but decorated during the festive period. Alternatively buy an artificial one and give it to a charity once u have finished with it. Lights are good, use wire to create a stylish hanging arrangement, pin them to the ceiling and use the wire to create your chosen shape e.g spiralling to the floor in an cone type shape.

Ninno820

Following on Rosie10 - you could get the artifical tree from teh charity shop in the first place if you time it right. Last year we held a christmas tree festival and bought nearly 50 trees from the charity shops in the area - over the year - it got so they would put them by for us!

esmf73

When I lived on my own and had no cash I found a large (yet thin) branch by the river bank, spent time painting it white, then put some glitter on it (like snow) and decorated that with decorations I either bought cheap or got from family members. It looked great at Christmas and I had loads of compliments. Best of all, after Christmas I was able to use the branch on my open fire!

trixietoes

Thanks for all the replies, I like the decorated twigs... will have to see where I can find some - we live in the middle of Warsaw at the moment (with no car) so they may be hard to come across... but I will keep my eye out. It's the same for getting a real tree... not sure where I could find them being sold - this is our 1st Christmas here... plus getting it back on the tram LOL... however, it could be fun trying!

I also love the idea of the felted christmas tree with hooks for baubles. I collect christmas decorations from places we visit so have some lovely things to hang on it ... brill..... need to find a big piece of green felt now LOL.

Thank you all, you have been so helpful.

xx

funkymonkey849

My friends had a christmas stick last year from out in the woods, they sprayed all the twigs sparkly and put fairy lights and baubles on. It looked quite cool

Alternatively get yourself a mini-tree, one about a foot high, or maybe a little fibre optic one

scotal73

It's not a tree but saw this product 'Santas Scented Chips' on Scottish Christmas Trees when i ordered my tree. It's meant to give the smell of a real tree from a bowl - not the same as having a real tree but maybe goes some way to creating the Christmas atmosphere!

mary-op

If you type 'soft trees' in the search box on here there's a thread about trees made from fabric.........they can be as small or as big as you want them to be.
I'm doing small ones to put on my dresser.