// Michaels Dream Tree Challenge 2015 - Visions of Sugar Plums

In standard Michaels Makers fashion, I put my Christmas tree up on Halloween. This is the second year participating in the Dream Tree Challenge, and my tree couldn't be more different than last years! Last year we did a Rustic Cabin Christmas theme, and this year I opted for something much more feminine and fun. This year's theme is "Visions of Sugar Plums" and IT'S SO FLUFFY! Truth be told: I didn't start on my tree until Saturday morning. I've been so swamped with a million other things that honestly, it just slipped my mind. And I kind of panicked because Mike came home from work siiiiiick. He was laid up in bed all day Saturday and couldn't lend a hand. It was raining on Saturday, too, but I put the tree out on our carport and spent a few hours spray painting it. Loads of people have asked me about spray painting my tree and how it worked out, and honestly I'm so pleased with the outcome! My initial goal was a much more opaque coverage, but I only had 4 cans of spray paint and uh, it needed a lot more. Now I'm kind of glad I ran out because I love how it looks flocked with pink sugar or snow. The tree was pre-lit so I covered each light (!!!) with a tiny square of tin foil, then after I painted the tree I just slid the tin foil off. Easy peasy and it worked so great! (I used the Design Master ColorTool spray paint from Michaels and it worked like a dream!)




It looks like a totally different tree when it's lit up. It's warm and fluffy and fun. But I also really love how it looks without the lights, too. It really has a "winter" feel to it. For the ornaments I decided to just run with a pink, lavender, and baby blue accents. I wanted to use a lot of textures, too, so I opted to stuff various sized glass and plastic balls with feather boas! I also wrapped a few styrofoam spheres with yarn, and I glued rhinestones on ceramic ornaments. I picked up loads of fun little bits and bobs to wrap around the branches, too. And because I'm overly sentimental and needed a bit more of our family on the tree, I grabbed some mini frames from the dollar section of Michaels and I added ribbon loops to the back to make them ornaments. The garland I used is just several white feather boas strung together. In all the hustle and bustle I totally neglected the underside of the tree, but Linden put one of our falsa blankets down there Saturday evening and we just kind of ran with it. Now I sort of dig it haha It worked out since I totally blanked. I also didn't add presents or anything this year because, uh, time or whatever. But now I have so many ideas! 







I was really panicking that I wouldn't love this year's tree because I truly am still so in love with last year's. Luckily I ended up surprising myself and really digging this one too. Mike laughed when he woke up and saw it. He said "Everyone on the internet is going to hate you because you subjected me to this" ha! He gave it two big thumbs up though and said he actually thought it looked awesome. Toby loves it, too. Linden just likes to poke the lights. Georgia keeps parking her big butt underneath it and it's pretty adorable. I honestly wasn't too sure we'd even leave a tree up this year because we were afraid Linden would just pull it over. He's been surprisingly good about keeping his hands (mostly) off it so maybe we'll leave it up! I'll probably go grab a handful of the ornaments from last year though, and throw them on it, too. But now I am preparing to decorate the rest of the house for the holidays! I'll write more about that later though.

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  

Anyway, here it is! My Dream Tree. What do you think? Totally overkill? Way too feminine for a house of mostly dudes? Deliciously adorable? haha! I honestly feel like it's the tree I've always wanted. I'm sure the boys will overrule me next year, so I better enjoy it while I can! 

If you want to check out the other 49 Michaels Makers Dream Trees, you can see them on the Michaels' blog, The Glue String. There are some ornament projects and tutorials on the Michaels site, too. // If all of this wasn't rad enough, you can get free shipping on all Christmas trees (6ft or taller) between now and November 14th. Go on! Get your tree up! There's no shame in stretching out the season! (Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about Thanksgiving!) 

xo KB

6 comments:

  1. It does have a feminine touch to it, but not overly so that the boys wouldn't enjoy. I know at my house my husband loves a colorful, bright tree so that probably wouldn't work with him. haha looks beautiful. Both this and last year's are so different it's easy to love both! Wonderful job!

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  2. I feel like you deserve to have feminine representation around the house BECAUSE you're so outnumbered by boys! Plus it teaches your boys that pink is just a color like any other, vs. divided along gender lines. :)

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  3. your tree is SO fabulous!! My home always does a more traditional style but man, if I could get away with this much glitter I would!

    XO Sahra
    Que Sera Sahra

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  4. love it!!

    www.wonderlandclothing.com

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  5. It's so pretty! I would love to put my decorations up now.

    Amy - http://fourcatsplusus.co.uk

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  6. Frosty pastels are so not me. But girl, you rock them! I love it!

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HEY! Thanks for dropping by. xo KB