This is a simple, modern Christmas tablescape that you can make with scraps that you find on the floor of a Christmas tree lot. Yup. Seriously.
I should probably fess up that these scraps aren't from the floor of a tree lot, they're from my bushes plus a a bit is from some greenery I bought for my outdoor decorating. But the whole Christmas tree lot thing is still true.
If you've ever gone to a tree lot or a garden centre that sells greenery there's always small little sprigs that are left on the ground.
THAT RIGHT THERE IS FREE CHRISTMAS DECORATING CRAP!!!
It's all you need to make a beautiful tablescape.
I'm not sure how these places feel about people stealing all their scraps so be discreet about it. Or create a diversion. For instance, you could have your friend try to climb the Christmas trees while screaming I'M A CALLING BIRD, I'M A CALLING BIRD, while you stealthily crawl along the ground picking up bits of pine and fir, shoving them under your hat and into your bra. It's your basic perfect plan.
I think me telling you this might make me some sort of accomplice to the fact or something, so just keep me out of it if you're taken into custody.
If stealthing and stealing from stores isn't your thing because you already have a questionable police record, then you can clip off scraps from your neighbours trees and bushes on account of they're less likely to press charges.
That's what I did. Only the neighbours bushes were actually mine. But still a very badass move if you ask me.
Those tiny little scraps that look so insignificant on the ground, most of them no more than 6" long, become a beautiful, simple Christmas centrepiece that has impact.
Would you like to save this stuff?
We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.
Sometimes tiny things scream louder than big things. Just ask the mother of a newborn.
The trick here is to put them in a lot of little vases. It doesn't matter what kind of vases as long as they're small, roughly the same height and you have quite a few of them. I used tiny vintage crocks.
I told you I was going simple for Christmas this year.
O.K., this is actually my super simple early Christmas tablescape, which will change once I complete decorating the house this weekend. But I really am going to do my best to keep to a less is more mentality with Christmas this year.
Except with regard to food. Obviously.
The cedar came from my cedar hedge. Therefore - free.
The boxwood and fir also came from my property therefore - free. The long needled pine is from greenery that had fallen off a pine garland I bought. So kind of free if you ignore the fact that I did have to buy the garland.
The more I see this little free centrepiece on my dining room table the more I feel like keeping it there. The table is where I do all my Christmas wrapping and crafting and a big elaborate centrepiece is a pain to move when I have to make room for the hot glue gun and glitter (which is why my new tablecloth isn't on the table).
I have a couple of days to decide, and really all signs point to me being incarcerated by the time Christmas rolls around anyway. And we all know I won't be doing any Christmas decorating in there. Prison scraps might make an acceptable fruit beverage with a moderately high alcohol content, but it doesn't make an acceptable Christmas tablescape.
Jo-Anne Lennard
Beautiful Karen...simple, classic, minimalistic and elegant.
Debbie
Love it! Love it! Love it! I did this a couple of years ago and then I just asked the guys who were trimming down the trees for the scraps. By that point they've already finished all the wreaths and swags with the good stuff anyway. They're usually more than happy to hand them over. This year we got a bonus! We had a huge snowstorm that has knocked down a bunch of trees. I almost pulled over to the side of the road this morning to grab some branches but I drive in with my son and he was not going to let us be late for work for "garbage on the side of the road". This weekend I plan to drive around and grab some fallen branches!
Glad to hear that I'm not the only one that picks up those scraps!
Karen
Those scraps are gold! My niece also does a smart thing. She buys her Christmas tree at Ikea for $20 plus gets an extra one for $20 and uses it for greenery. She gets a TON of greenery for $20, lol. Plus Ikea gives cash back after Christmas if you bought a tree ... I don't know, she almost seems to end up making money by the end of it all, lol. ~ karen!
Debbie
Awesome idea! I was in Home Depot and they were selling bunches at $7.50 each. I thought I would need 4. I thought "at $30 bucks I can buy a whole tree and cut it up myself"! Had no idea about Ikea! I just love your blog!
Eileen
Ordering a copy of the Pitchy-Tits sing the Holiday Classics!
...as soon I can get up again after falling from my chair laughing.
Barb
Okay, now you've got me canvassing the neighborhood for greenery. Barney's got the boxwood, Lois is good for fir tree, a bit of holly from Deb's shrub. I've got great neighbors and what they don't know won't hurt them! ;-)
Karen
Perfect. I could use a bit of holly too if Deb's cool with that. ;) ~ karen!
sarajane
If you are feeling more law-abiding, just ask at the Christmas tree lot. I asked if they had any scraps for sale this year to fill the urns outside in the front of my house - they only had 4 branches, which they gave me. So I filled my urns for free, augmented with a little free holly from my holly bush.
Jody
You know what's fun, other than picking scraps up off the floor, is looking back through your previous years of Christmas decorating. Yup, I went down that rabbit hole. I love that you change it up every year.
Karen
I'm mortified by the photos from anything beyond 3 years ago, lol. Just once I'd like to do the exact same thing as the year before because it would be SO much easier. But alas ... I don't have it in me. Plus that'd be pretty boring for anyone reading my blog. I can only change it so much though because of my teensy tiny house. There are only so many places a Christmas tree - or 3 - can fit. ~ karen!
judy
Well Karen I was having my usual chat with my friend Idris and he confided how terrified he is of his latest stalker,a huge bizarre spider like thingy with weird huge eyes and strange appendages. Being a good "personal" friend of yours I didn't blow your alter identity but beware he's on to you and you may be incarcerated on a charge of unrequited love and that's punished by having to stare at snaps of Pat Boone and Mr. Rogers,both of which will cool you down ASAP. love the tablescape,needs some red holly berries-maybe?
Mary W
Or maybe one large candy cane in each vase. Cheap and easy - my favorite.
Tammy
So simple, Love it! Unfortunately my cat would try and eat them, ugh. No live greenery here, unless its nearly on the ceiling.
Ramona
Love this! Thanks💕
linda in Illinois
Working on being a minimalist this year myself. It's a beautiful tablescape. I would add only a red berry branch to each.
Rola
I'm with you up right up until the 'stuff evergreens into your bra'...nobody wants pitchy-tits, no matter how festive ;)
Nicole
Well, there's your name for your punk band, right there: The Pitchy-tits. :D
Rola
Starting with a Christmas Album: The Pitchy-tits Sing the Holiday Classics :)
Kelli
🤣🤪🤘
Karen
Hahahahaha! ~ karen!
Heather
Love that simple, natural look. Very pretty and festive! And low carbon footprint! Bravo!
Cathy
Fantastic decorating!
We are going to make all our decorations this year.
Riley our 10 year old grandson lives with us ( we are so fortunate to have him) and we wanted to try something different this year. So we will try. Time will tell lol. May be a very sparse decor.
Dana Studer
I know someone who stealthily sneaks over to a water utility and clips off pieces of their Norway Spruces under the cover of darkness. She has one arborvitae in her yard. They do in a pinch but they're not my favorite.
Those white chairs, Karen. Oh. My. Heavens. They're art and a place to sit all in one.
Can't wait to see your Christmas decorations!
Kathryn
Do you have tips for getting pine sap off your boobs?
Kim C.
🤣
Deirdre Fowler
Taking Christmas to the cottage this year. No option but to keep it simple. And I should find what I need in the woods and take it without anyone knowing. 😉
Suzette
Those crocks are seriously adorbs! Envy!
Lori
OMG!!! I love it!! So simple ,easy and so pretty!! Might have to try Nd steal this idea!! You won’t mind will you???
Paula
Excellent idea!
Marilyn Meagher
Kiss. Keep it simple stupid ..I love ❤️ it. I’m going to try to go simple this year too.
Karen
Oh Marilyn. I'm not doing well with that, lol. :/ ~ karen!