We have two Christmas trees this year! When we got the new 9 ft tree for the living room last year, we kept our 6 ft tree in storage. Now that our basement family room is {mostly} finished, we decided to display a second tree in the family room.
The tree we had, the ornaments we did not. You know how I feel about using last years ornaments. Well, we used all the ornaments we had to decorate the big 9 ft tree in the living room. I still did not feel compelled to buy new ornaments for a second tree.
I wanted to decorate the second tree for free and still make it personal and meaningful!
The first place I thought to look was my party supply cabinet. There had to be something I could use in there. My eyes landed on my stack of paper lanterns. I prefer to use paper lanterns for parties rather than disposable balloons. It felt like a crazy thought, but I figured those colorful lanterns could really help fill out a bare tree.
As I started hanging them on the tree, the idea started feeling even more crazy. They made big colorful bumps all over the tree, like some sort of Dr. Seuss disease. But I wasn’t giving up….I mean, I had nothing to lose. So, to reduce the swollen bumps, I started radically reworking the branches on the tree.
When I set up a tree I always spread out each branch making sure the tree looks nice and full. Now I was going back through and smoothing branches and bending them out of the way to make room for my colorful paper globes. My goal was to get the paper lanterns nestled more in the tree. What do you know? It worked. It looked a little less crazy and a lot more awesome.
The party tree was born!
But, it needed more than just paper lanterns. Most noticeably it needed a tree topper.
I recalled my boring Saturday mornings as a florist making bows for potted plants (I worked at two floral shops in college), and made a big bow with wire edge ribbon. I let the two tails of the bow spiral down the tree a bit. I love the simplicity of the bow, like the topper on a wonderful present brought to the party!
Now the only thing missing was something personal. Something to make it our tree. Something to take this crazy party tree from just screaming “fun” to screaming “fun family”.
Well, what party is complete without fun pictures to commemorate the event?!
I knew just the right pictures to use. When we took our own holiday card photos, we ordered a memory game with the outtakes. Since they were all taken against the same backdrop they were perfectly themed! Each memory game card is like a coaster-sized portrait. Now, to get them on the tree (and still be able to take them down and return them to a memory game later).
I know I have mini clothespins somewhere that I could string on twine …but I couldn’t find them anywhere. While looking for clothespins, I came across a pack of mini silver binder clips. Even better! I put a binder clip on the top of each photo card and then stuck them on the tree through one of the loops. Perfectly free and easy!
Oh my goodness, the pictures are amazing! They bring this party tree to life! The consistent coloring, the almost Polaroid-like shape, and our hilarious outtakes are perfection for this family fun party tree.
A party tree in the basement is certain to become a new tradition for us. As much as ornaments used year after year hold memories, our paper lanterns mark important life moments. We hung the blue and green lanterns for the bug party and the yellow ones first appeared in the milk and cookies party. The pink lanterns are from the baby shower I hosted for my SIL and reused last year for a Valentines mantel. The smallest blue accordion balls were a fun surprise in my son’s 5th birthday in a box. It is so special to put them out all together!
So what do you think? Did I pull it off with the lanterns? Is a party tree in your future or do you already do something fun for a second tree?
Safety note: I am sure someone will ask about the safety of paper lanterns. Like with any Christmas tree, we never leave the lit tree unattended.
My favorite thing about this tree is the photos you clipped onto it!
Thanks, Melissa. Isn’t it fun? It would totally work with any kind of photos, too!
I love the party tree. I didn’t even put all of our ornaments on our Family Room tree so I am not bothering with a 2nd tree this year.
If you want to be sure there is no problem with the paper lanterns, pick up some LED Christmas lights during the after-Christmas sales – they don’t give off much heat and they are available in a “warm white” that is close to the white bulbs you are using.
Thanks for the tip on the LED lights. This is already a pre-lit tree, so I am not sure I can change out the lights.
I love the party tree idea and what a great way to show off those family photo coasters! I’m a big big fan of multiple trees in the house this time of year :-D.
In our house, my husband and I have different tree decorating preferences. He loves the traditional tree with tons (and I do mean tons) of colored lights and balls and ornaments, and I love the beauty and elegance of a tree with all white lights and red/silver thematic decor. When we lived in our townhouse, we didn’t have room for a full sized tree so I bought a fake prelit with white lights 4′ bushy tree from treetopia.com and we added colored lights on top and our ornaments, but now in our house we have room for a huge tree so we do both! I get my 4′ bushy white lights red/silver decked tree in our family room, and the living room has the 8′ traditional very real and awesomely pine smelling tree.
We also put a tiny fake tree with LED lights and no ornaments in our daughters room (she’s only 2) instead of a nightlight at this time of year and she loves it. Our second kiddo will get their own tiny tree as well :)
Laura, Totally love that you have his and hers trees :)
Love the Mantle!!! Love the tree!!! And it all is fun and goes!!! It says kids live here and we have FUN!!! I love it that your son rediscovered these fun animals and played with them too!! How classy it all turned out!!! As my Mom would say I give you A+!!!!
Thanks, Gwen! Merry Christmas!
Hm… I love the photos in the tree, but am not very fond of the lanterns as they look disproportionally big to me. It’s kind of fun but I like more rustic or elegant trees. ;)
We will have two trees (in Germany it is common to put the tree up on December 23rd or 24th): a big one in the living room and a smaller one in our daughter’s playroom. The living room tree will be blue and turquoise this year for the first time(we had champagne and gold ornaments the previous years). Also my daughter chose her turquoise ornaments for her little tree. We have real trees. I can hardly wait to decorate them, but they are still in the forest and will be felled for us a few days before christmas. We went there on Halloween day and chose our trees.
Jule
Jule, I understand. The lanterns aren’t for everyone. And, I admit smaller ones would tuck in better, but it is these ones that hold our party memories and were free :)
I love hearing about your traditions in Germany. What fun the anticipation must be waiting all the way up until Christmas eve to do the tree! So interesting that you choose your tree in October, too. Here I think everyone just goes to the lot and chooses one on the spot to take home.
So fun!
Hi Jackie, I think the tree is great; bright, playful, cheerful, and integrates family memories from throughout the years (lanterns from past years events and current year family pictures). I could see myself doing something similar with our second tree in our basement family room. I also like the ruffled tree skirt you paired with the tree. Merry Christmas!
-Amy
Amy, Thank you. I am sharing the how to for the tree skirt tomorrow :)
I really love the look of the tree! It’s super fun and family friendly! In our house, we have a tree for all our year-to-year ornaments, then a separate one for all the handmade ornaments from when everyone was little. Thanks for sharing a bit of Christmas cheer with everyone!
Avery, Thanks for sharing your double tree tradition!
How fun! I bet your kids love that tree. The cheerful colors are perfect for this time of year.
Thanks Lisa. They love it, although my oldest wasn’t sure about those lanterns at first before I hung them up.
What a splash of happiness! I love the big fun colors. I bet your boys love having pics if themselves all over the tree- I know my kids would! You’re a fun momma!
Thanks Diana. They do love them, but they are still getting over not being able to play memory for one month :)
What is teh blue garland that is on the mantle?
What colorful fun!! Love how resourceful you were and it’s so very festive!
I absolutely love this — so creative, fun and awesome! We have a single tree in our apartment right now, but I’d love to have multiples in the future.