Rag (Ribbon) Christmas Trees

 

My Inspiration

         David and I went camping the week before Thanksgiving with Bill and Pam at Lake Catherine. So during the week, the 4 of us visited Central Market Flea Market in Hot Springs.  We just loved one of the lady's "rag trees", but decided we could make them ourselves.  But I did break down and went back to get one of the taller ones for $18. She used wired ribbons tied onto a painted yardstick-sized piece of wood, a bucket from Dollar Tree with what looks to me like a sublimation transfer.  Love the colors.

A friend from church gave me about 22 plus mason jars that her daughter sent to her. I did some googling and came up with a plan (which included a lot of trial and error), to make smaller versions.

These 2 are others that Pam and I saw at the flea market.

While googling, I saw this one that I really like, using a little Dollar Tree tree and adding ribbons.

But back to me.  First step was painting the jars I was given and the few I'd saved.  I prefer to use acrylic because it seems to adhere to glass better than chalk paint imo.  I gave them a couple of coats and sealed.  I'm finding the same little can of paint that I started with a couple of years ago is still doing just fine for this craft after sitting out in our storage bldg through the seasons.  

Then I did some napkin decoupage with, well, napkins and modpodge.  Sealed again.

I used 11 or 12 inch dowels, anchored them with wax (and I just happened to have a drawer full of unused scentsy blocks, as well as some partially used candles that I was finished with, so these trees smell pretty good, too), and then tied on the ribbons after the wax was dry.  This was my biggest trial and error. I used floral blocks, glue, rocks, glass "pebbles", but none of those things work as well as wax. Toward the end of this post, I'll share something that I'll try next year that'll prob be even better.

I also tied the ribbon onto the dowels before sticking them in wax, but backtracked on that.  Just easier to anchor them first.

I ordered little metal, rusty stars from amazon and gave them a couple of imperfect coats of yellow acrylic and sealed.  I thought I was ordering some without holes in them, but they do have tiny holes so you can make ornaments, garland, etc.  Not too visible because I made sure the holes were at the bottom of the star when I glued on. Hot glue took care of the stars on the dowels nicely.

Here's Lani's tree which I think looks great on her red desk.

I love the moss on the one that I bought. But DT was out and it is so expensive at the craft stores and amazon.

So I had some brown paper lunch sacks on hand and shredded them to make some paper "moss".  Since so many of these are going to travel, I didn't bring the paper moss all the way to the top.

And remember I said I have something better than glass to anchor those dowels with? Once I got completely finished, I started googling.  Evidently spray foam is a go to for crafters.  A can is $3 or $4 and you only need a small bit in each jar because it greatly expands.  So, next year.....

And here's the tree that Lisa chose.  Looks great with her sun shining down on it!

4 of the trees went to homebound ladies from Antioch, and then the 2 ladies that shared the jars with me each will get one, and my neighbors and other friends will get one.  It really makes a fun and easy gift!  And..... it kept me occupied as I wait on my knee replacement.  (which is the day after tomorrow as of this post)

 Next year's will be much less time consuming than this year's because I learned a few things!