scrappy burlap tree DIY

I have had a few people wanting to know how I made the burlap tree for my Christmas table scape, so here are the DIY instructions. But I warn you, it is super easy, but more time consuming than you would think! 

Here are some trees I found made with Burlap, if you wish to view them, just click on the tree and it will take you to the owners sight.

But I had an idea of how to make them a little different than that.

Here is the tree pictured in my Christmas dinning table scape.

I love the texture of it and how it looks up against the greens.

Here is a birds eye view. Why? Sometimes I ask myself that same question!

I also finished the bottom off with burlap, just so the Styrofoam would not flake off on to the table over time.

So I started with a Styrofoam tree, any size and some burlap. I am not sure how much I used, I had some from another project and then ran out and had to go get some more. 

 cut our squares, about 2x2" on the bottom, and got smaller as I went up.

First fold the square in half.

Then half again.

But try to pinch the square so that the hot glue can sit on the bottom of the pinched square.

I even took the glue gun and before I placed glue on it, I used the tip of the gun to flatten out a spot for the glue to sit.

This helps with 2 things. One, so you don't have glue running down the 'cone' shape you have made with the square. (HOT HOT HOT) and two so you have a larger flat surface to stick to the tree.

Hold it there for a few seconds until cool, or I just held it there with a few fingers and went on to my next square while that one cooled. I got pretty good at multitasking cause I'm ADHD it really needed a LOT of squares to fill the tree. I wanted it nice and fluffy so I put them very close together.

I did alter the cone a little and wanted a pointier top on it, so I just pinched the top 

to make it a little slimmer. You get the idea. You will hear some sizzling when you add the 

burlap square with glue on it to the tree. The hot glue will melt some of the burlap. 

Did I say it was HOT?!! But it did not affect the tree in any way.

You will have to  manicure your tree when done and pull off the loose strands of burlap. You could do this for an hour, but don't get carried away, just get most of the loose ones, if you keep pulling every strand, the entire tree will pull apart!

I thought of putting a topper on the tree or a few ornaments, but I like it simple like this. 

The other way I wanted to make it is to do an Ombre burlap tree with the shades of burlap getting lighter as it went up the tree! IF I have time...

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Christmas dinning tablescape

I finally finished my Christmas table scape.
The only bummer is my sweet hubby went out yesterday and got me some real evergreens to mix in with the faux. The bad news, they are still in his truck. At work. I don't want to put this off any longer so here it goes, minus the real!

I decided I wanted a more natural table setting. Less formal. I started by not having a table cloth on, so you could see the wood grain of the quarter sawn oak table. This table is about 80 years old, has never been refinished and has lots of life left in it.

Simple setting. Silver charger from Hobby Lobby, my Grandmothers Currier & Ives dishes, white Goodwill salad plates. The silverware is new. I went to my favorite thrift store, and while I was rifling thru the silverware baskets I kept noticing this silverware pattern. 

The were individually marked anywhere from $.90-&1.25. I pulled them all out and had almost a complete setting for 8. I am missing a few pieces here and there, but I have a jelly spoon and a butter knife. I asked for a group discount and I bought all 50 pieces for $35!

I finally found the pattern, it is Eternally Yours by Rogers 1941.

In the center of the table I placed a burlap runner, topped by my husbands 

great Grandmothers hand made doily. I added a red lantern I bought at 

Goodwill for $1. My favorite part of the center of the table is the Burlap Tree. 

I have seen a lot of burlap trees, and alot of fabric trees, but the burlap is usually glued down flat on the tree with embellishments added to it. I decided to treat it like a fabric rag or tissue paper tree and cut out a bazillion squares. I am only half exaggerating, cause I ran out and had to go to Joanne's and get some more. 

It took a lot of hot glue and a lot of time, more than I expected, but I think it is worth it. Well now that it is done!

I  had a glass pillar and added burlap, raffia and a pick of some green berrys I had.

I also added a sprig of greenery that looked like it had ice crystals on it and a few different kinds of Pines.

Notice my Cable Knit sweater candle holder? You can go here to see how I made it.

I can't wait to show you my Winter Wonderland buffet, you can see a 

little of it in the background so stay tuned to see it tomorrow.

Want to see some of my other Christmas decor posts:

Vintage China Hutch

Winter Wonderland Buffet

Vintage Christmas Tree

Burlap Tree tutorial

Front Porch Christmas

I have been a busy girl and can't wait to sit back and enjoy the Holiday as it unfolds. 

Wait a minute! I am a hairstylist and this is the busiest time of the year for me, so 

scratch the sitting. And enjoying. I will be able to enjoy starting Christmas eve!

How about you, is this a crazy hectic time of year for you, or do things slow 

down enough to relax and take it all in?

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