Wednesday, November 2, 2011

The Crafty Christmas Tree Challenge!



Each year I try to decorate the Christmas tree a little differently. This year I thought I'd try to do a tree completely decorated with handmade ornaments. Fun right!

(Snowflake Ornament I made Last Year)

The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea.

It occurred to me that with the right parameters this could make a great crafty challenge so I started coming up with some "rules" for myself. Once I started, it seemed like this could be a fun craft-along so...

I'm inviting anyone who'd like to join me to play along and take The Crafty Christmas Tree Challenge.

I might end up being the only one to do it (and that's ok) but I'd love it if some of you out there in blogland joined me.

Here are the rules:
  • $20 dollar budget
  • The tree needs to be at least 4 ft tall
  • If you have to buy a tree the cost of the tree and the lights don't count as part of the $20 budget
  • Adhesives (tape, glue, ect) are the only stash item(s) you can use that won't count against the $20 budget). But adhesives must be used to stick other materials together. If adhesives are used in any other way (i.e duct tape ornaments) the cost of the adhesive will count against the budget.
  • Fractioning the cost of materials is NOT allowed. (i.e. a pack of paper with 10 sheets costs $1 dollar, but only one sheet is used. $1 dollar should still be subtracted from the budget, rather than .10 cents).
  • Coupons CAN be used to help the budget stretch farther
  • Upcycling and Recycling are allowed
  • Each ornament doesn't have to be different, you can make as many of one type as you want.
  • Update- Just to clarify, any tools you have (i.e. knitting needles, craft knife, scissors) can be used and don't count against the budget. Only materials count.
  • Update 2- Some people have asked about stash items and scraps. If you are going to use stash items just subtract the cost from a virtual $20 budget. Also scraps count as upcycling/recycling so scraps are perfectly acceptable per the rules!
I'm planning on doing update posts as I make ornaments. But I'll do a big tree reveal post on December 15th. If you'd like to join the challenge grab the button and leave me a comment with a link to your blog.


Megacraftychirstmastreechallenge


I'm sort of making this up as I go along so if anyone ends up joining me I'll decide on how to include everyone in the reveal (maybe something like a blog hop, or a link party).

31 comments:

  1. I'll be waiting to see your tree! Unfortunately, we lost our tree in the hurricane flood--how sad is that?
    The ornaments are safe however and most of them are handmade.

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  2. Well, I probably won't participate but I would love to come back and see the finished products!

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  3. Thanks both for leaving comments. I'm really excited to reveal tree and post about the ornaments along the way. I think it will be a fun challenge.

    Craftymoose- I'm so sorry to hear that you lost the tree in the flood. But I guess at least the ornaments were safe- I'm sure they hold lots of memories.

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  4. Ok you can count me in my friend! I won't use the button because i don't generally do the button thing, but i WILL participate and link and tell my readers about it and post pictures of my own ornaments! Like I need more ornaments!

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  5. YAY- so happy that your are going to play along Pam!

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  6. One year we had a Thanksgiving party with friends and I bought all sorts of ornament-making supplies. I had everyone at the party make their own ornaments and now they are part of our holiday decorations. It was a lot of fun and I enjoy looking at the ornaments and remembering that party.

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  7. Jane I LOVE that idea- what a wonderful thing to have your family and friends create the ornaments for your tree. Thanks for sharing!

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  8. Sounds like fun! I was planning on making all new ornaments for the tree this year as I will have a very curious 16-month-old and couldn't bear to lose any of my family heirlooms. Count me in! My blog is www.shadowfell.com.

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  9. Yay Shadowfell I'm so happy you are going to join! And what a great reason to make new ornaments.

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  10. I love this idea! I'm changing my Christmas theme this year, so I'm making all new ornaments for my 6' tree. But if we're counting stash, then I KNOW I'm going to go over $20! I'm already at $13.74 and I've only made 20-something ornaments!

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  11. Hi Anne- I sent you an email about the budget. I hope you play along!

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  12. This looks like lots of fun - I might try playing along. Does paint from your stash count as part of the budget or is it allowed in the way adhesives are?

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  13. Hi Cyn,

    I really hope you play along!

    Paint is going to count for my budget. How I'm handling it is: if I already have a color I want to use use I am going to "virtually" subtract the cost (usually no more than a dollar for a bottle of craft paint) from my budget. If I purchase a new bottle I'll hopefully be buying it with a coupon so it shouldn't make that big of a dent in the budget.

    Although for some people paint could fit into the category recycled/scrap/upcycled materials. To me if you are going to be using up paint you had from another project that's definitely "scrap" materials that are being used.

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  14. That sounds like a super fun project. I'm looking forward to our first real, just for us Christmas tree this year. I don't know if we have enough ornaments, so I may have to make some too.:)

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  15. Shiloh- thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I hope you join the crafty challenge and make some ornaments! I remember how special our first "just ours" Christmas Tree was- I still look back at the pictures and think it was the most beautiful one we've ever had.

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  16. This is such a GREAT idea!! I might participate in this challenge but need to see how well I make out at this weekend's sales!! I'll definitely let you know what I decide asap.
    Thanks for coming up with such a neat challenge!!
    ~Lisa
    www.lisascraftblog.blogspot.com

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  17. Lisa- Thanks so much for leaving such a nice comment. I really hope you join us!

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  18. I LOVE this idea! I actually just made our Christmas tree out of driftwood so using all homemade ornaments is an awesome idea. (I made sure to make the tree just over 4 feet after I read this post!) Count me in!
    Karah @ thespacebetweenblog

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  19. I would love to see your ideas. We have a lot of decorations but my mom is coming and I would love some new ideas for ornament making with Grammy visiting. I can't wait to see them!!

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  20. Karah- I LOVE that you made your own tree out of driftwood! I'm so excited that your going to join us. I think yours will be the only handmade tree with handmade ornaments- that's awesome!

    Let me know if the blog address you left is where you'll be posting your tree. I didn't see a picture of of on your blog.

    Not your average homeschool mom- thanks for leaving a comment. I hope you find some ideas that you can use. I you make some ornaments I'd love to see the results!

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  21. I'M IN!! After giving it some major consideration and doing some sale shopping, I realized I can't miss this!! It's just too much fun!!

    I've found sooo many great ideas for inexpensive ornaments and have already gotten to work on my decorations!! Click HERE for a link to my blog's 1st post about it.

    I'll keep you posted on my progress!! Thanks again!!
    ~Lisa
    Lisa's Craft Blog

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  22. Us girls at "Gals and Wine" read about your challenge and can't wait to get started!! There are 4 of us that contribute individually to our group blog and atleast 2 of us will for sure be participating! Keep us posted on how you're planning on doing the big reveal!

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  23. Hi Meg, so sorry I hadn't gotten you a definite answer yet! I am so in! :) Now I really need to get crafting!

    annehogan.net/blog

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  24. Anne- I'm glad you're in. I'll add your blog to the list. : )

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  25. The 99 cent store in California has the 325 filter pkgs for 99cents.Also, where can one get the templates for the snowflakes?

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  26. I LOVE this idea! It is fantastic. This year is the first year I have ever had my own tree and since I was lacking in decorations I made all my ornaments for $1! I'll be sharing them on my blog (sugar and spice and sandpaper) after Christmas. I wish I could enter but my tree is only 3 feet tall :-( However I'm very very excited to see the other trees people share. Happy Holidays everyone!

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  27. WOW Jessica- all only for 1 dollar that's AMAZING! Can't wait to see the ornaments you made!!! That's just really amazing!

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  28. Hi Needles and Threads, Sorry I didn't mean to overlook your comment I missed it in my email. I haven't actually made templates for the snowflakes I just cut them freehand. The suggestion for templates came from a reader, hopefully I'll get to making some and if i do i'll post them.

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  29. I really enjoyed seeing the reveals! I hope u will do this again this year so I can play! Of course I re-did my tree last year (2011) but hubbie might go for the $20 budget and let me do a new tree!!!

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  30. I really enjoyed seeing the reveals!

    I hope u will do this again this year so I can play!

    Of course I re-did my tree last year (2011) but hubbie might go for the $20 budget and let me do a new tree!!!

    I'll have to figure out how much my tree cost! I'll prob be shocked!

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  31. I really enjoyed seeing the reveals!

    I hope u will do this again this year so I can play!

    Of course I re-did my tree last year (2011) but hubbie might go for the $20 budget and let me do a new tree!!!

    I'll have to figure out how much my tree cost! I'll prob be shocked!

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