Before and After - Low Budget Christmas Tree

BEFORE

AFTER

This is a new tree for our home.  Well, new to us.  I bought it on Craig's List last summer.  
A new tree means new ornaments.  Which can get expensive.  Also, I prefer a Christmas tree which appears to have been 'made' over time - rather than purchased straight off the shelf in 2012.  The same for my home.  A 2012 decor will look like a 2012 decor in 2018.  A house 'collected' over time, however, will tend to look less dated.  

So, after buying the "new" tree this summer, I started pinning.....and pinning.. and then pinned some more. (see more of my Christmas craft ideas on my Pinterest board here).  And then I started crafting.  I found sheet music on Etsy (here) and made some ornaments. 

(I always try to use crosses and churches on my tree- that is what Christmas is about, isn't it?)

My husband found some cotton for me without too much complaining.  My daughter made the chain link garland from sheet music.  My goal was a blue/aqua tree for my gray living room.  (I pretty much just decided I needed to match my painting on the wall.)  

Tuelle is fairly inexpensive and goes a long way when wrapping a tree.  I tied a knot every 15", or so.

I also sewed with scrap material.....

I found that glitter and glue were my two closest friends.  I used old Christmas cards and edged them in glitter.....

I found these Joy ornaments at Walmart 10 in a pack for a $1.00.  Shhhh - please don't tell anyone they are from Walmart!

I discovered these cute little gift tags on Etsy here and had the shop owner make me an assortment so that I could use them on my tree....

The flock of paper doves are from  Paper Source - clearance section. 

I know that the sheet music fad will be a 'dated' thing before long, but those items didn't cost much and can easily be replaced in the upcoming years.  

Pretty for a low-budget tree, don't you think?  And "yes," that is a football on the sofa.

Enjoy your day!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway! 

Christmas Giveaway

joining:brassy apple Just Something I whipped up homemaker on a dime alderberry hill cure for the common monday metamorphosis monday the dedicated house inspire me mondays skip to my lou nifty thrifty tuesday handmade tuesdays  cowgirl up elizabeth and co pjh designs our delightful homerustic pig toot your horn Tuesday TipJunkie Tuesdays  Treasures Blackberry Vine Get Your Craft On  Home Stories A to Z passionately artistic cheap crafty mama DIY Dreamer Wow us Wednesdays Wow Me Wednesday Power of Paint Claiming our Space creative kristi transformation thursday embracing change 52 mantles Live Laugh Rowe  Bloom Twirl and Take a Bow House of Hepworths I gotta Create at the picket fence Simple Home Life delightful order 504 Main 733 blog stuff and nonsense frugal friday Redoux Here comes the sun Imparting Grace Petals and Picots Delicate Construction Serenity Now  One Artsy Mama Jennifer Rizzo funky junk one project closer low budget tree gingersnap crafts centsational girl  the nester