Well you know we love celebrating Christmas here all year long…especially when it reminds us to watch another Hallmark Christmas movie! This DIY was inspired by “Christmas at Grand Valley” which stars our friends Danica McKellar and Brennan Elliott. Danica plays Kelly, a struggling artist who returns to her hometown for the Christmas holiday and becomes involved in an effort to save the town’s beloved lodge from the wrecking ball. In the process, Kelly finds herself falling for the handsome widower, Brennan Elliott’s character, who’s sent to Grand Valley by his company to decide the fate of the lodge. The town where the movie takes place is fully decked out for Christmas and Grand Valley’s love of Christmas really inspired me to create some fun and whimsical Christmas decor!
I was also inspired by this cute couple from Navage Patch and they made some cool and funky tree shapes so I also wanted to build on that idea, and so was born my Whimsical Feather Trees. Here is how to get started.
You Will Need:
- Scissors
- Glue gun with glue sticks
- Feathers (in a variety of colors)
- Styrafoam cones in various sizes (10”, 12”, 14” or larger!)
- Craft wire in 18 guage (can be any color since it will be hidden)
- Wire cutters (you can use the little jewelry ones)
- Copper wire in 22 guage (this will be seen)
- Extra little Christmas embellishments for your tree like stars, beads, jewelry accessories, etc.
- Aluminum foil
How-To:
- There are several types of these fanciful trees that you can do. I will start with the white feather tree with copper wiring that hangs funs things from the top.
- Take your styrafoam cone form and start hot gluing on feathers from the bottom of the foam, and continue this all the way to the top. Be sure that you are using a low setting on your glue gun for two reasons – one, you will burn your fingers since the feathers are so small, and you want to make sure you don’t disintegrate your cone! Typically VERY hot glue guns and styrafoam like each other.
- When you get towards the top, about 1.5” down, start wrapping copper wire over some of the feathers and continue up to the top of the cone. You can secure this with hot glue where you need to. Don’t cut it yet! Leave lots of extra wire so that you can use it to hang fun things on the wire to hang down.
- Attach your accessories, and cut the wire where you would like, and enjoy your first fanciful tree!
- For the second tree, grab your thicker wire, some aluminum foil and your styrafoam cone form. Take about 5” of the wire and bend it in a fun way. Cover this with aluminum foil so that it looks like it’s the same width as your cone. Make sure to leave about 2” of the wire exposed on the end since that is how you will attach this to the cone. You can do this another time or even two more times to get the look that you want.
- Once you like your fanciful tree form, start attaching the feathers just like above. You can use the same color of feathers or mix it up!
- Completely cover all of the form, including your fun aluminum foil pieces with feathers. Once you are done, you can take some of the small copper wire and hang little items off of the top of your form.
- Copy this same method for our last tree. Use the wire and aluminum foil, but this time reach a happy medium between the two versions you just did. Finish this one off with a star or a tiny ornament/embellishment.
- Add some whimsical creatures, set up your trees and enjoy the fanciful feel of Christmas!
Tips:
- Be sure that you are using a low setting on your glue gun for two reasons – one, you will burn your fingers since the feathers are so small, and you want to make sure you don’t disintegrate your cone!Typically VERY hot glue guns and styrafoam like each other.
- If the hot glue is too hot, feel free to use gloves.
Do you have a fun & festive Christmas DIY? Share with us on Instagram and Twitter @paigehemmis
If you missed the episode check it out by heading over to Home & Family!
XOXO,
Paige