Today I’m sharing my woodland-inspired Christmas tree decked out with red and rustic Christmas tree decorations!
Welcome to Day 1 of the 12 Days of Christmas! I can’t tell you how much I love participating in this series each year. Honestly, it’s one of the things I look forward to the most when the holiday season rolls around. Not only do I get to share inspiration with all of you, but I get to team up with some of my favorite bloggers. Be sure to check out all of their Day 1 projects at the end of this post.
Also, if you’d like to join us in this 12 Day adventure, we’d love to have you. If you are inspired to recreate anything we make, share it with us on social media using the hashtag #12days72ideas. We can’t wait to see what inspires you!
Technically, I’m cheating on today’s post because I’m sharing a tree I decorated back in October. It turned out super cute, and it is a Christmas tree after all so I hope it’s OK to post about it. Please know that I also will be sharing some techniques and unique touches that you can use to make your tree extra special. Sound fair?
Woodland Inspired Christmas Tree with Rustic Christmas Tree Decorations
I started with a standard green tree. (This one here.). I always think it’s wise to invest in a quality tree. Not only will a good tree last for years, but you get what you pay for. You want a full tree so you can’t see through it. Realistic branches are also always a plus. I opted for the pre-lit variety because it saves so much time.
Whenever I’m decorating a tree, I like to begin with a ribbon. Ribbon offers a bit of a backdrop for your decorations. It also helps to fill up the tree if you happen to be light on ornaments. I chose this thick black and red gingham flannel. I could spend all winter in a shirt with this pattern, so why not wrap my tree in it?
For this particular tree, I opted for an “Into the Woods” theme. Although the tree bears no resemblance, the theme was inspired by the movie of that name that’s coming out soon and Taylor Swift’s new song. (People, you have to take whatever inspiration you can get wherever you can get it, no questions asked.)
As much as I love traditional ornaments, it’s always fun to think outside the box when it comes to Christmas tree decor. (Donna of Funky Junk Interiors is the queen of unique tree trimmings.)
These red lanterns are the perfect non-traditional ornament! Not only do they go with the tree, but you can put smaller ornaments, battery operated tea lights, or other treasures inside the lanterns.
I also found an inexpensive Christmas village, so I just tucked several of the houses right inside the tree.
Lastly, I picked up these adorable woodland creatures (a.k.a. squirrels) and added them as well.
I then threw on some traditional ornaments to fill in anywhere things looked a little sparse.
Finally, to bring my “Into the Woods” theme home, I added some icy red berry picks and a few snow covered pinecones.
What to see more Christmas Trees? Check out these:
- Navy Blue Christmas Tree
- Flocked Christmas Tree
- Rainbow-Inspired Christmas Tree
- White Flocked Christmas Tree in Gold and Green
- Rustic Modern Christmas Tree
With that, my tree was complete! Colorful, warm, and cozy. I think it turned out pretty well. What do you think?
See how the other 12 Days Bloggers are decking their halls.
Front Door Christmas Decorating from Shanty 2 Chic
Branch Candle Centerpiece from Funky Junk Interiors
Blue and White Christmas Decorating from Thistlewood Farms
Advent Calendar from Songbird
Colorful and Crafty Printables from Remodelaholic
Our tree is special because the kids decorate it, both with my pretty stuff and the handmade ones by them. All the ornaments are on the bottom half of the tree, but that’s ok. 🙂
All of the handmade keepsake ornaments made by my children and grandchildren that we have collected over the years. It’s fun to look back at the ornaments and reminisce about the times when we made them together. We always try to make at least one a piece every year 😉
What makes my tree extra special is that it hangs upside down from the ceiling. I have been doing it for about 23 years, since my oldest was almost 2. It also has ornaments I made as a child and ones my kids have made, plus ones we buy each year that tell a story of that year for each of us, me and my 2 boys. I also have a smaller pink tree because I battled breast cancer and won!! I have a smaller one for the bathroom that has my Christmas jewelry as ornaments and another small one that holds all my keepsake ornaments that my mom has made me over the years.
Every year, I love our Christmas tree even more. I feel as though it has evolved with our family over the years. I begin with beautiful ribbon that I weave all throughout the tree. This adds a common thread throughout. Then I fill in the inside of my tree with large and medium sized ornaments of solid color. I feel this adds depth and a background with a consistent color scheme. I then hang all the sentimental ornaments my family has collected, made, you name it! The ribbon and plain ornaments hung earlier help to tie in all of our sentimental ones and prevent our tree from looking “random”. Finally, I finish with glass icicle ornaments that dangle from the tips of the branches like diamond earrings…my favorite part!
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What makes my XMAS tree special is that I make my own ornaments for it every year and they mean more to me that store bought ones.
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Love the berries on your tree! I think what makes our tree special would be all the old ornaments we had growing up/ our baby ornaments given to us. They are so sentimental and when we unpack them every year it brings back fond memories of Christmas as a kid! Also we laugh because we always have live kitty “Ornaments” – the cats LOVE to climb the tree.
My Christmas tree is special because there are only two types of ornaments on it: the full ceramic set my mother made for me when I was a kid (and by made, I mean she shaped, baked and painted all of them!) and the dated ones we get from my husband’s side each year. As our family grew, so did these ornaments. Those, plus lights and the angel passed down from my paternal grandma. It’s a simple tree but every single thing on it means something to our family 🙂
The Hubs weren’t around much of last December so we didn’t even bother putting a tree up… this year we’ve got it up and already decorated. That alone makes it special. 🙂
Michael,
Where did you find your mini lanterns? I’ve been looking for some. Thanks!!
p.s. Love your tree!
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Our tree holds all the ornaments we have collected summarizing events of out lives.
Subscribed to the newsletter 🙂
You know I Love your Christmas trees! Always, always unique. Where did you find the inexpensive Christmas village?!!
At my age – ah hemm , don’t ask! – every ornament is wrapped in memories: my children coming home from school with glittered construction paper hands pasted in a circle to form a wreath. Friends and family giving one of a kind ornaments they found here or there that reminded them of me. Every ornament purchased has a unique story behind it I’ll always remember: the shopping spree when an old friend came for a visit and we talked away the day in and out of shops. A church sale with a child’s special glowing face watching as I held tight something they made… Only two dollars?! I gave her five – it was extra special.
Okay, this sounds sappy – but it’s my sappy and it’s all bundled up each year on my Christmas tree!
I still have a lot of my cherished childhood ornaments and hang them every year. Many given by beloved relatives no longer with us.
Shared this post and giveaway on facebook. Generous giveaway and I would love to win. Thanks for all the great ideas.
Love your tree. I love my Christmas trees because I go out and find one that is already potted and bring it home and decorate it. After Christmas I plant it in my yard, so I always have something to remind me of the years past when I see my trees. Blessings to you Michael. You are terrific and I really enjoy your blog and ideas. Peace
Love the tree! Our tree is full of ornaments that my husband and I have collected – my favorites are the silver ornaments released each year from the major silver companies. We never buy the current year because it is so expensive, but past years are more reasonable. Also, the ornaments that our kids made when they were little, which I never thought I would agree to put on the tree, before we had kids 🙂
my tree is special cuz my kids decorate it with me!