Post a Comment On: Larissa Another Day

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I have wanted to add cone Christmas trees to my holiday decor for awhile now. I always think, maybe this year. Then I talk myself out of it because I don't want to splurge on the cone forms...I know not all of them are even that much...but hey there are some many other things to spend money on...you know like milk, eggs, cheese, toilet paper...

This year I found myself once again really wanting to make some. Especially since, once again I found myself having to revamp our Christmas decorations. If you remember, last year I redid our Christmas decorations for the first time since we got married. Well tweeking was needed again with our new house and our new layout.

Still armed with my use-what-you-have-piling-up-in-my-craft-closet philosophy, I started putting together a game plan on how to make myself some of these beauties.

LIGHTBULB!

Use poster board and role my own forms. Add scraps of what I have in coordinating colors and I have myself some glorious cone Christmas trees.

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I thought I would share with you how I did this...and if you promise not to judge, I will even give you the template I made (using no logical math procedure and relying only on my eyeball it skills) for the cones.

So here is what you will need:
poster board
templates-
Template 1
Template 2

Mod Podge
hot glue
fabric, yarn, trimming scraps
tape

First download, print and cut out templates.  With the larger template (#2), you will need to either cut out two and then tape along seam to make a whole template, or you can trace half and flip over and trace the other half at middle seam. Next trace the templates onto a poster board. Make as many as your heart desires.

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Cut all your cones out.

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I suggest you give them a little temporary roll before you tape them. That will help the cone hold its form. Next using double sided tape, attach the rolled cone together at the tab. Hold secure for a little bit. Be patient while you roll these, sometimes the poster board is temperamental. Breath through it though, it will work.

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Make all of your cones.

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It will be okay if some of them are a little wonky or wrinkly...you are just going to cover them. See my wonky cone??

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Gather all of your glorious scraps.

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Get your Mod Podge out. I used the hot glue only for the sequin trimming. I doubted Mod Podge would hold it on.


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To start assembling your trees, pick which trimming you want. I started with 1" wide strips of gingham fabric. With a craft brush apply just a little amount of Mod Podge to the base of the cone. Start wrapping. Wrap, then continue to Mod Podge and wrap as you go up the cone.

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If your strip runs out and you need to add another one, simply apply some Mod Podge to the point you ended and then continue wrapping and gluing.

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Keep going all the way to the top and then wrap and secure the end of the top of your tree. Oh hey by the way, your fingers will get messy.

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This same process applies to any trim you might want to use. I did a yarn one, which I will say made me want to poke my eyes out. The wrapping and gluing process was much slower and took WAY more effort.

I got to about here and seriously wanted to give up and eat some chocolate. I had to take a break and do the sequin one.

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Eventually I finished wrapping the whole thing, and I was happy I stuck it out. If you do a yarn one, don't stress the Mod Podge will dry and the yarn will not have a white -

Let the cones dry before handling them to much, but once they are dry they are sturdy and ready to set out.

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I am pretty sure there are several more cone Christmas trees in this house's future. Happy Christmas tree making!

Linking:
Show and Tell Wednesdays: Blue Cricket Design
Strut Your Stuff Thursdays: Somewhat Simple
Deck the Blogs: Ninth and Bird
Friday Linky Party: Creation Corner
Weekend Wrap Up Party: Tatertots and Jello
Frugalicious Fridays: Finding Fabulous
Friday Flare: Whipperberry
Christmas with My World Made By Hand
Craft-O-Maniac Mondays: Craft-O-Maniac