The holidays are quickly approaching, and just the thought causes my heart to beat faster and worry to run rampant.
Do I have all my shopping complete?
NO
Are my Christmas cards made and mailed?
NO
Am I receiving cards and feeling guilty because mine haven’t been mailed?
YES
After talking with friends, I guess I am not alone in my holiday anxiety. Several said that they didn’t put up Christmas trees this season due to lack of space in their apartments or the large task of pulling out boxes from storage and unpacking their holiday decorations.
That had me thinking about a way to make an inexpensive tree that could hold a few ornaments or even become a card holder.
As usual, I was lost in the hardware store while my dear husband once again disappeared in his favorite place. I was wandering in the front of the store waiting on him to magically appear when I spotted, tucked away by the outside door, Tomato Cages! They were upside down and stacked past my head. I am sure visions of sugarplums danced in my head. Oh, they had two sizes -- large for $3.50 and small for $1.48. Decisions, decisions…what should I do? Since this tree is for small spaces and for a crafter on a budget, I chose the small tree for the least expensive price. On an end cap in the very same hardware store were glittery garlands of sparkling tinsel in all colors, textures, and types. They ranged from $3 to $5 in price and 12 to 18 feet in length. I picked the more natural looking garland, 18 feet for $4.89.
My dear husband magically appeared looking perplexed. He wanted me to know that I couldn’t grow tomatoes during December in the Midwest. Really…?
I informed him these supplies were going to be a Christmas tree, and I was gifting them to a friend that had too many other things to worry about this holiday season and wouldn’t have a Christmas tree.
I brought my cage home and realized that I needed to make my tree pointed by gathering the wires at the top of the tree together. I placed a small washer at the top to just hold it in place. Then, I wired my garland to the frame of the tomato cage. My husband warned me that the circles can easily come off the cage so to be careful. I hid the washer under the wired garland. It was perfect. Lightweight, easy to make, inexpensive, and it could be used for many purposes.
I decided that due to the small space the tree would be in, it would be best for it to have more than one purpose.
- My friend could hang ornaments from it,
- use it as a card display,
- or simply add lights and a pretty star for a little Christmas bliss in her apartment.
I decorated clothes pins with some glitter. They were purchased for $1.00 at our discount store.
My total price for all the supplies I purchased to make the tree was $9.39.
I was so happy to have thought of this Tomato Cage Christmas Tree. I got on the computer and just for fun typed into the search window Tomato Cage Christmas Tree. I though it was an original idea because it came to me in the hardware store. The joke is on me. Website after website appeared with a variety of cool ways to alter your tomato cage, from feather boas to grapevine wreaths. I have a saying that seems to hold true whenever I think I have an original idea, “A thousand monkeys thought of it first.” Even though my tomato cage tree was already discovered by other creative crafters, mine is unique to me. Isn’t that what crafting is about -- making your tree merry with your unique take on it, supplies you use, and your creative vision?
Happy Holidays!
~Kara (Studio Pink)