Happy Holiday season, everyone!
To me, our Christmas tree is always one of my favorite aspects of our holiday decorating. I love how a tree can tell a story, with each branch containing a different ornament that serves as a connection to a long-ago time, place, or memory. That truly is, to me, one of the most precious aspects of the season! I always covet the gorgeous decorator trees I see in catalogs and magazines year after year, but I also cherish my collection of family ornaments and the memories associated with each one. For the Michaels Dream Tree Challenge this year, I knew I wanted to combine the decorator looks that I love with the meaningful memories and mementos that epitomize the season. I call this tree my Memory Tree, because adorning every branch is an ornament or photo that transports me back to Christmases past. Let me show you how you, too, can create a beautiful, meaningful tree of your own this Christmas!
This post is brought to you by Michaels.
To me, no tree is complete without a sufficient amount of sparkle! My tree features an abundance of strands of iridescent tinsel that really gives it a retro, homey quality.
Glittery gold feather and fruit picks and sprays are nestled on top of the tree, along with an abundance of handmade wired-ribbon bows.
Peering down from the top of the tree is a little owl that we always use as our tree topper year after year. This was given to us by my mother-in-law just after her mother died a few years ago. Grandma Maxine loved owls more than just about anything, and seeing this on our tree helps us feel connected to her even though she is no longer with us.
Along with Mr. Owl, there are so many other favorite ornaments that our tree wouldn’t be complete without, including this gorgeous bride and groom ornament given to us as a wedding gift (many!) years ago.
Without a doubt, though, my favorite part of our Christmas Memory Tree is a project I shared a sneak peek of on Instagram last week:
Over the years as we’ve watched our children grown, we have amassed a collection of cherished photos of Christmas memories. Armed with some fun plaster frame ornaments from Michaels, I turned many of my favorite pictures into lovely ornaments. These just about make my heart burst when I see them!
Creating these ornaments really was as simple as printing out wallet-sized photos with my computer’s printer, trimming them with scissors, and affixing them with hot glue to the back of the frame. I cut a piece of felt and glued it to the back of each frame to give each one a finished, polished look, but that is completely optional. Because these little frames are made of plaster, you can use craft paint to paint them any color you wish. I actually preferred the white finish, so I simply sealed mine with a bit of clear polyurethane spray before placing the photos inside. So easy!
I always use an abundance of ribbon on my Christmas tree each year, and this year, I am particularly smitten with this kicky red and green polka-dot and this fun red and white stripe. The stripes reminds me of the ribbon candy I used to eat as a child! Small handmade bows affixed to various branches throughout the tree add a whimsical, colorful touch.
To round out the tree, I headed to Michaels to pick up a variety of glass globe ornaments in traditional red, white and green, as well as some other fun starburst and teardrop ornaments. I love how Michaels groups their ornaments into displays for each collection, making it so simple to mix and match different ornaments that all fall within the same color scheme. It really makes decorating simple!
I’ll be sharing some of my favorite tree-decorating tips in a couple of weeks, including my fail-safe way for hanging tinsel (without the static!) and my all-time favorite method for crafting perfect handmade bows, so be sure to stop in often! For now, though, I think I am going to sit and bask under the glow of the tree and soak in the joy of all of the memories it contains. This truly is my favorite time of year!
Thanks so much for letting me share my Christmas Memory Tree with you! I hope you are inspired to create a beautiful tree filled with your own family’s memories this year.
I am so thrilled to present my Christmas Memory Tree as part of the Michaels Dream Tree Challenge!
To see all of the amazing trees created for the challenge, be sure to head over to Michaels’ blog, The Glue String. There is so much gorgeous inspiration!
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And, when you are ready to get started on your own tree, be sure to head over to Michaels November 3-8 for their Make it Merry Tree Event, where you can get 50% off of all trees 6 feet and taller!
Ready to kick-start your holiday creating? Don’t miss these other fun projects from the PS archives!
Classic Cuffed Christmas Stockings
Drawstring Fabric Gift Bags
Joy to the World Christmas Wreath
Or, for even more fabulous holiday ideas, be sure to check out the Michaels Make it Merry inspiration book for an abundance of fun inspiration!
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Michaels Stores. All opinions are entirely my own.
Having grown up in a home brimming with sewing notions and paintbrushes, Amy has a deep love for all things creative. On any given day, you’ll find her knee-deep in her latest creative endeavor, with projects ranging from sewing and crafts to home decor and kid-friendly ideas. Amy believes that everyone, regardless of skill level or experience, possesses the ability to create something beautiful, and Positively Splendid was born of her passion for helping others harness their innate creative potential.
Love, love, love it!! It’s so festive and colorful!! I go crazy with ribbon on my tree. Love the ribbon and the frames. You did a great job!!! Love it!!
I love your tree this year! I’m definitely going to look into those picture frames, they would be great for our family tree. Merry Christmas!