Cute, right! Simple, too!
I started with an empty Braum's paper bag, definitely not fancy yet!
I cut along the paper bags edges until I had a super long strip of paper still intact (with exception to the removed handles).
I decided I wanted my cones to be 9 1/2 inches tall so I drew on the paper bag, then cut a rectangle shape with the top half rounded. The tip to bottom length 9 1/2 inches and my width 15 inches. I overlapped the ends when pulling it into cone shape until I reached the thickness I was hoping for.
Attach with tape. Black tape may not be the best option, but it was what I had on hand and it worked!
I threw on my jacket and spread out my paint tablecloth on the grass and sprayed all three of my cones white with my favorite spray paint, Rustoleum Spray Paint, Special THANKS to my photographer (hubby) for introducing me to the best covering spray paint EVER and the nozzle is thicker then standard size which keeps your fingers clean! I love it and I'm not endorsed by it! It's that good. The picture below was me taking two seconds to cover it. One true coat would have covered the trees perfectly!
Next, I grabbed my glue gun and while it was heating, I opened my bag of feathers that were 40% off (thanks Hobby Lobby for your almost always available online coupon) of $1.99 bought at Michaels and began cutting feathers into thirds. You can see below that the bottom and middle are great for coverage and the tip is best for covering the stem.
Starting at the bottom I worked in a circle around each cone and covered with one solid layer and then went back over the tree to cover the stems or empty spaces.
It's all about making it look pretty, there's not a true formula for the order. Do make sure you hang the feathers below the bottom ridge so you won't see the paper bag when the trees are on display. The bag of feathers will definitely stretch far. I still have leftovers after decorating three trees. What to do with the rest?!? Hmm.
Here are my feather trees waiting for their new home....want to see where they ended up!?!?
Here are a couple other Christmas Trees I love on my Pinterest...
Absolutely gorgeous! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOh wow! I would never have known what was at the bottom of those. They look so fancy!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous...I love them and the others you showed
ReplyDeleteLove them...and my cats would adore them :)
ReplyDelete-Jill @ Junky Vagabond
Wow, love it. What a great idea. We have chickens so I have a great deal of feathers....to choose from...out in the barn! Love how you did this and yes it looks easy!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Debbie
I would never look at those and think ... paper bag. What a fabulous finish to a simple beginning.
ReplyDeleteThanks ~ Mary @ SeaQuilts
beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLove it! Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteSally
loveofhomes.blogspot.com
Oh I love your THRIFTY feather trees...so very PRETTY. I'm making a burlap one like the one you pinned. Thanks for sharing at my NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY PARTY!!!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Linda
what a cool idea!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful white feather topiaries...Luv 'n it.
ReplyDeleteSo cute and fun! I can see so many variations as well! Great job!
ReplyDeleteI love feathers!!!! Great tutorial!
ReplyDeleteThis is so chic! Oh, I wonder if you are thinking of a shabby & dreamy pink Christmas! This is to be copy cat-ted :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your sweet comment on my blog.
Aww...thanks so much for the feature!! I love love love your feathered trees! I can't wait to see the rest of your Christmas decor. I'm sure it will be beautiful!
ReplyDeletegreat idea im gonna have to try these! thanks for the inspiration!!
ReplyDeleteOoooooh...pretty. I was actually just thinking about making feathered trees earlier today, so thanks for the tute! But darn you! Now I'm craving Braum's! : \
ReplyDeleteOh, and dang, girl, you're a link-party machine!! How in the world do you find the time?
Do share your science, please! I feel like it takes FORever. And yeah. I totally get the no sleep thing. Multiple children + blogging + um...life = NO SLEEP. Whew! But it's worth it, right?
ReplyDeleteSo...how super-new are you? You're kicking some serious blogging tushy if you're as new as all that!
Beautiful! Very Creative!
ReplyDelete@Emily @ 52 Mantels Of Course! You're trees were so bright and fun and a total work of art!
ReplyDeleteEasy and inexpensive. Using a paper bag as the tree base is brilliant! I'm also going to have to try out Rustoleum spray paint. I used to use Krylon and then discovered Valspar which is my favorite!
ReplyDeleteLove your trees, the Feather ones are my favorite! Just wanted to let you know I pined them
ReplyDeleteWow, these turned out so gorgeous! I would have never even thought to make the cone myself! They're definitely sure to be a hit at your x-mas party!
ReplyDeleteThe beautiful trees, I loved it. I discovered your blog a little while but it really inspired me in so many beautiful things in the show. I made a decoration inspired by the bottles, I hope you do not mind.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the beautiful ideas. Kiss of Maria of Portugal
Excuse the bad English
ReplyDeleteYour feather trees are brilliant!! So lovely & festive.
ReplyDeleteLove these. They look so whimsical. Would look adorable sitting next to my elf stockings.
ReplyDeleteJamie
http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/
These are absolutely stunning! I think you picked the perfect bases for them too!
ReplyDeleteVery clever. I really want to try these!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Really lovely looking
ReplyDeleteBeautiful trees! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSo cute. I love how these turned out. I would love it if you could link this up to our linky party going on right now.
ReplyDeletehttp://junkintheirtrunk.blogspot.com/2011/11/link-it-up-wednesday-5.html
Genius! Love'em. ..I've been wanting to make christmas trees like this for awhile now!
ReplyDeleteSetting those beautiful trees on candleholders made them all the more special. Consider, if you will, sharing this with my readers at http://sassafrassalvation.blogspot.com/2011/11/although-i-must-say-that-link-response.html
ReplyDeleteChristmas Blessings!
Beautiful! I can't believe that started with a paper bag!! Thanks for the tutorial.
ReplyDeleteSo lovely!
ReplyDeleteWow! These are just beautiful -- you are quite clever to have come up with this idea -- love using the bags and making your own cones instead of buying them!
ReplyDeleteThese are absolutely stunning --- thank you so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Becky
www.fromgentogen.com
Inspiring DIY! Luv it!!
ReplyDeleteI love feature trees and never thought it would be so easy to make them!Thanks for the tutorial.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn
Ummmm this is amazing my friend. Just amazing. I love them!
ReplyDeleteJaime
Very clever!
ReplyDeletevery sweet and girly...love them! thanks for sharing...visiting from Transformation Thursday :)
ReplyDeleteI love your feather trees. They look amazing. I would have never dreamed they were paper bags.
ReplyDeleteRuth
Cute as can be! Thanks for sharing how you did them!
ReplyDeleteI just love, love your feather trees. I also used feather trees to decorate this year. Come on by for a visit and see my post about feathering a Christmas tree.
ReplyDeleteJan @ BellaCasa
P.S. Also come join me at WhereWomenBlog.com
They look fabulous.
ReplyDeleteI'd love for you to share this project over at my Inspiration Party at Simply Christmas ~ http://shabbyartboutique.blogspot.com/2011/12/inspiration-friday.html
Oh, that is right up my alley! I can see these in my shabby little house, I love them!
ReplyDeleteCarol
Very cute! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSo pretty. I will never look at a paper bag the same way again. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWow!! So something so beautiful from something so mundane... I'm impressed!
ReplyDeleteThose are fabulous Aimee and that is such a great tutorial...simple enough for folks like me! LOL! Thank you so much for sharing this at Inspiration Friday this week~
ReplyDeleteVanessa
wow such a cute and fun idea! great job!
ReplyDeleteVery crafty and sweet with the feathers, for sure :) Nice job.
ReplyDeleteVisiting from Refresh Your Nest linky party at Making Lemonade's blog.
Smiles,
Suzanne in NW Illinois
Very lovely!
ReplyDeleteYou've been featured over at House of Hepworths!
ReplyDeleteCongrats!
Those are beautiful. I am adding feathers to my shopping list. I think I need several of those.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
What a wonderful simple way to make some gorgeous and something that looks expensive. Amazing what paper, paint and feathers can do. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLove love love~ they are darling! Thanks for linking up at Feathered Nest Friday!
ReplyDeleteOutstanding! Oh my... I must find some feathers. Can you imagine a wreath as well?!?
ReplyDeleteShared on FJI Facebook and pinned for SNS 110. :)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150484929146141&set=a.192514281140.164586.175378011140&type=1&theater
Donna
Love these...I would be thrilled if you would share them on my Christmas linky.
ReplyDeleteJessica
http://myworldmadebyhand.blogspot.com
I did something similar last Christmas but did not use the paper bags. I glued straight to the form and this Christmas, they still look good.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how simple to make these feather trees are as they are so gorgeous! :) Thanks for sharing your special secret!
ReplyDeleteBe a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Gorgeous. You make it seem so simple and yet the outcome looks very expensive.
ReplyDeleteErika
It’s a Wrap Link Party at Artful Rising
I could totally do this! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThose looks so beautiful and dreamy! I love the finished look on the candle holders, it really pulls the look together. Nice job. Visiting from Sumo's Sweet Stuff.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! What a creative idea! Thanks for sharing the diy.
ReplyDeleteI have seen feather trees in Holiday Shops and they can be pricey! You did a wonderful job putting these together! I love the feather's and I am afraid my cats would also love the feather's too much! I hopped on over from Today's Creative Blog. Thanks for sharing. Have a super day!
ReplyDeleteI love this! You are so clever... I need to get to work and make some of these cute little trees for my decor... Thanks,
ReplyDeleteJeanna @ dramaqueenseams.com
Just gorgeous! Pinned these today :) Thanks for sharing at Taking A Timeout Thursday.
ReplyDelete-Trish @ Mom On Timeout
http://www.MomOnTimeout.com
Gorgeous!I love it!
ReplyDeleteWould you be interested in guest posting? i'd love to have you on my blog someday!
Great job!
Alyssa
Love these feather trees! The candle holders really give them the extra touch of gorgeousness.
ReplyDelete~Shanon
What a fun idea! Love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with me for Friday Favorites! Hope to see you again this week!
Adorable! Thanks for linking up to Refresh Your Nest Friday!
ReplyDeleteI featured this post on my "Best of" post this week! Thanks so much for sharing at the Crazy Cute party last week! I love your stuff (as always)!
ReplyDeletewww.betweenuandme.com
Clever. I love em.
ReplyDeletefabulous! who would have thought this was a paper bag?!?
ReplyDeleteLuv them! I'm with Jill, my cat would love them, too!
ReplyDeleteLove these.....beautiful !!
ReplyDeleteThanks for a nice post you have given to us with such an large collection of information. Great work you have done by sharing them to all
ReplyDeleteSo darn cute and creative! I am visiting you today from Susan's Between Naps on the Porch..I am your neighbor Poster.."Home is Where the Heart is".
ReplyDeleteHave a sweet day, Elizabeth
GREAT tut! Thank you so much for sharing it! All the time I was reading your post today, The Nutcracker kept dancing through my mind. :)
ReplyDeletexoxo laurie
so beautiful and whimsical. I love the way it just adds the feeling of snowy nights to the room. I'm having a link party on my blog and I'd be tickled pink if you'd link this up! http://caribbeanmissionarywife.blogspot.com/2011/12/t-time-48-and-link-party.html
ReplyDeleteOmg! In love with your blog! I found it tonight on tip junkie! I love feathers, and christmas trees! I am going to do these trees for Christmas this year!
ReplyDeleteLove these. I wanted to make feathery trees, too. Now I know I can make them with paper bags! Thanks for sharing:)
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! What a great idea.
ReplyDeleteJust darling! Just found you via TT&J link party and your newest follower!
ReplyDeleteGreat minds think a like! I was so determined to make feather trees this year, but I wanted them big and the amount of feathers would have been way too expensive.. even with coupons! That is when I got my idea for the snow cones. LOVE them... they are perfect on those beautiful candle sticks from Z gallerie!!
ReplyDeleteGreat minds think a like! I was so determined to make feather trees this year, but I wanted them big and the amount of feathers would have been way too expensive.. even with coupons! That is when I got my idea for the snow cones. LOVE them... they are perfect on those beautiful candle sticks from Z gallerie!!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! And I really love your candlesticks. Can you share where you got those?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Karen: They are actually on my "favorite things" list! LOL! I want more. They're from ZGallerie! And the shine on them is unreal! Hope Santa brings them to you!!! XOXO http://www.itsoverflowing.com/2011/12/favorite-things-under-30.html
ReplyDeleteYou made this look so doable, and the end result is FANTASTIC!! Thanks so much for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your trees and hope you will post a link at my Show It Off Thurdays party at:
ReplyDeletehttp://ornamentplace.com/?p=1140
Thanks, Linda