Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…
I’m not sure if you know, but I LOVE the Christmas season. I
don’t know if it is because it is widely more acceptable to put glitter on
pretty much everything, though I’m sure it’s a contributing factor. I love all of
the decorations and pretty ornaments.
don’t know if it is because it is widely more acceptable to put glitter on
pretty much everything, though I’m sure it’s a contributing factor. I love all of
the decorations and pretty ornaments.
 |
| Christmas Tree with Lights and Snowflake Installation |
This year, I decided to make a mini art installation are
part of my seasonal décor. I live in Florida, and have yet to see actual snow
falling from the sky. And as much as I’d love to take a nice little getaway up
north and see the real deal, this is going to be my snow for the season:
Now before I get started on showing you how I made it, let
me just say that this is NOT the best way to do it. There is probably 100
better/easier ways to go about it, and I plan on trying some better strategies
next year. But for now, it works. Also,
this project is not for the faint of heart. It’s a lot of work, and a lot of
time. And not the easiest to hang.
me just say that this is NOT the best way to do it. There is probably 100
better/easier ways to go about it, and I plan on trying some better strategies
next year. But for now, it works. Also,
this project is not for the faint of heart. It’s a lot of work, and a lot of
time. And not the easiest to hang.
That being said… if I haven’t scared you off yet, here is
how to make it…
how to make it…
This is what I needed for the project:
1 large piece of insulation foam from Home Depot – roughly $7 (I barely used
half of it)
1 large piece of insulation foam from Home Depot – roughly $7 (I barely used
half of it)
Box cutter or knife (for splitting up foam)
Glitter of your choice
Glue or Modge Podge
Plastic snowflakes (mine are a combination of ones from the
dollar store and target)
dollar store and target)
Clear tape
Fishing line
Eye hooks
Stepstool
A wooden skewer
Patience
So the first step! Cut out the shape of foam you want, and
get glittering! Do whatever design or colors make you happy or go with your
color scheme. You can add the glitter with regular glue, or modge podge. I used
the latter, and had great results. I will say this; it is a little tricky
mixing the different types of glitter. Think about trying to pick up and tap
off the excess glitter on a massive board. It’s kind of a pain, and makes a
glittery mess. I used a tarp and paper plates to gather the loose glitter, but
it’s still a bit of work. Here are a few shots of it:
get glittering! Do whatever design or colors make you happy or go with your
color scheme. You can add the glitter with regular glue, or modge podge. I used
the latter, and had great results. I will say this; it is a little tricky
mixing the different types of glitter. Think about trying to pick up and tap
off the excess glitter on a massive board. It’s kind of a pain, and makes a
glittery mess. I used a tarp and paper plates to gather the loose glitter, but
it’s still a bit of work. Here are a few shots of it:
Now this next step is a little time consuming. At this
point, I placed my dried foam glitter side down over two stools placed next to
each other. You can put it over anything you want, but you have to be able to
get to the outside edges of the foam. This is where the skewer, tape, and
fishing line come into play. I used the skewer (like a wood skewer from the
grocery store) and poked it through the foam from the top, to the bottom. So
push it from the uncovered side (what would face the ceiling) down toward the
decorated side. After this is done, remove the skewer, and insert a section of
fishing line. I’d opted for cutting longer strands of line than needed; it’s
easier to just cut it off if there is too much. Run the string through the
hole. I used several pieces of tape on the undecorated side, to tape down and
secure the line.
point, I placed my dried foam glitter side down over two stools placed next to
each other. You can put it over anything you want, but you have to be able to
get to the outside edges of the foam. This is where the skewer, tape, and
fishing line come into play. I used the skewer (like a wood skewer from the
grocery store) and poked it through the foam from the top, to the bottom. So
push it from the uncovered side (what would face the ceiling) down toward the
decorated side. After this is done, remove the skewer, and insert a section of
fishing line. I’d opted for cutting longer strands of line than needed; it’s
easier to just cut it off if there is too much. Run the string through the
hole. I used several pieces of tape on the undecorated side, to tape down and
secure the line.
When you are puncturing the board, keep in mind that this is
hanging over the tree, so you don’t really need to make the holes on the inside
of the board. See my diagram:
hanging over the tree, so you don’t really need to make the holes on the inside
of the board. See my diagram:
The hanging part. Ugh. This was by far the most difficult. I
created a “whiskers” like concoction out of fishing line. In short: where the red lines are in the
picture below is clear fishing line. I tied three long strands of fishing line
in the middle, and spread them out and tied them into eye hooks in the ceiling.
This was a pain. Not only was it difficult to tie and keep even, it sprinkled
glitter every time you touched it! Even with two people it was a challenge. And
even after it is up, you have to re-arrange any of the hanging strands that may
have gotten tangled or mixed up in the support lines. I found it helpful to
loosely gather and tie them together so they were out of the way. Here are some
pictures of that part of the process:
created a “whiskers” like concoction out of fishing line. In short: where the red lines are in the
picture below is clear fishing line. I tied three long strands of fishing line
in the middle, and spread them out and tied them into eye hooks in the ceiling.
This was a pain. Not only was it difficult to tie and keep even, it sprinkled
glitter every time you touched it! Even with two people it was a challenge. And
even after it is up, you have to re-arrange any of the hanging strands that may
have gotten tangled or mixed up in the support lines. I found it helpful to
loosely gather and tie them together so they were out of the way. Here are some
pictures of that part of the process:
 |
| strings tied to the side to make it easier |
After that mess is done, and I do mean mess…. Your floor will
probably have a nice coating of glitter. And your hair, and everything else in
like a 3 foot radius! Anyways, after that is done, you are in the clear.
Now comes the fun part. The hanging of the snowflakes!
The snowflakes I used were a combination of plastic ones I
had bought over the years from the Dollar Store, as well as some I bought this
year from Target. I wanted to mix it up a bit with different colors and
textures for more dimension.
had bought over the years from the Dollar Store, as well as some I bought this
year from Target. I wanted to mix it up a bit with different colors and
textures for more dimension.
Take your step stool and start from the back strands on the
foam and start adding snowflakes! I just double-knotted the sting onto the
snowflake to hang them, nothing fancy. Cut the string as much or as little as
you want. I highly recommend stepping back after adding each snowflake to see where
(or what height) you need to have your next snowflake at. Trim away extra line.
The most important thing is work from the back to the front, and keep stepping
back and checking out your progress.
foam and start adding snowflakes! I just double-knotted the sting onto the
snowflake to hang them, nothing fancy. Cut the string as much or as little as
you want. I highly recommend stepping back after adding each snowflake to see where
(or what height) you need to have your next snowflake at. Trim away extra line.
The most important thing is work from the back to the front, and keep stepping
back and checking out your progress.
Here are some of the shots as I’m hanging and editing the
lengths of the snowflakes:
lengths of the snowflakes:
And the grand finale, of seeing the beautiful glitter snowflakes with dazzling lights:
Here is a quick video that does a MUCH better job of capturing the sparkle and shine of the installation:
Whew! What a project! I loved working on it, and absolutely learned a TON. There is a pretty decent chance it will need to be recreated next year….I mean, the poor thing is being supported by a sturdy wire star I found:
Check out my post on hanging Christmas lights I shared the other day HERE, make sure to watch the video!
 |
| Christmas Tree with Lights and Snowflake Installation |
Next year:
I’m going to try and find a sturdier method; this drooping
is not what I had in mind.
is not what I had in mind.
I’m going to find a better way to hang it, tentative to what
other material I use as a base.
other material I use as a base.
In the meantime, I’m enjoying it, and really loving how it
came out for an on-the-fly project. What do you think? Would you put this in
your house?
came out for an on-the-fly project. What do you think? Would you put this in
your house?
what a brilliant idea!!!! i love it!! if ours wasnt so big (thanks to my big kid of a hubby!) i would love to try this! well done my lovely xxxx
Thanks lovely! You'll have to convince him to tone it down and help you with one of these next year 🙂
What a fun idea! We won't get any snow here in southern California either so this would be awesome in my house! We're not getting a tree this year because we are moving soon, but if we were, I'd love to try this out!!
Oh yeah, I sometimes forget you guys over there don't get snow either! Well, there is always next year! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
I don't normally like all white lights on trees-I keep my multi lights up year round-!! But this really is one cool idea and a gorgeous tree. Really nice job!
Thank you! I don't know why, but I LOVE having multicolored lights on my porch. Maybe because its 80 degrees out and we can have a little party outside if we wanted, but they seem super lively outside for some reason. I'll have to try them indoors one year 🙂
He he he….I work at Pier 1 and you know how crazy we are for glitter there, but even WE haven't gone to that extent. This just made me smile so much! I sparkle just about everywhere during the Christmas season because I get so covered at work that I drip glitter everywhere I go, and then pick it up again every time I sit down at home.
OMG Denise you just made my MORNING! +1 point for me for out glittering Pier 1! I didn't know I had it in me lol. Unfortunately, the carpet our apartment has in it is that berber stuff, and it hold EVERYTHING. So it's begining to look like I'll be having a sparkly carpet year round! Yay!