Simple Dreamy Feather Trees
November 28, 2011 by Aimee • 118 Comments
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!?!?
Don’t candle holders totally make it all come together!?!? Now they’re sure to get noticed at our Christmas parties this month!!! {UPDATE: These are from ZGallerie. It’s on my Christmas Wish List Under $30 Favorite Things Under $30 List – click for the link}.
Here are a couple other Christmas Trees I love on my Pinterest…
Etsy
Absolutely gorgeous! Thank you for sharing!
Oh wow! I would never have known what was at the bottom of those. They look so fancy!
Gorgeous…I love them and the others you showed
Love them…and my cats would adore them
-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!
Blessings,
Debbie
I would never look at those and think … paper bag. What a fabulous finish to a simple beginning.
Thanks ~ Mary @ SeaQuilts
beautiful!
Love it! Thanks for the tip!
Sally
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!!!
Blessings,
Linda
what a cool idea!
Beautiful white feather topiaries…Luv ‘n it.
So cute and fun! I can see so many variations as well! Great job!
I love feathers!!!! Great tutorial!
This is so chic! Oh, I wonder if you are thinking of a shabby & dreamy pink Christmas! This is to be copy cat-ted
Thank 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!
great idea im gonna have to try these! thanks for the inspiration!!
Ooooooh…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! : \
Oh, 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?
So…how super-new are you? You’re kicking some serious blogging tushy if you’re as new as all that!
Beautiful! Very Creative!
@Emily @ 52 Mantels Of Course! You’re trees were so bright and fun and a total work of art!
Easy 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!
Love your trees, the Feather ones are my favorite! Just wanted to let you know I pined them
Wow, 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!
The 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.
Thanks for sharing the beautiful ideas. Kiss of Maria of Portugal
Excuse the bad English
Your feather trees are brilliant!! So lovely & festive.
Love these. They look so whimsical. Would look adorable sitting next to my elf stockings.
Jamie
http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/
These are absolutely stunning! I think you picked the perfect bases for them too!
Very clever. I really want to try these!
Beautiful! Really lovely looking
Beautiful trees! Thanks for sharing!
So 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.
http://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!
Setting 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
Christmas Blessings!
Beautiful! I can’t believe that started with a paper bag!! Thanks for the tutorial.
So lovely!
Wow! 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!
These are absolutely stunning — thank you so much for sharing!
Blessings, Becky
http://www.fromgentogen.com
Inspiring DIY! Luv it!!
I love feature trees and never thought it would be so easy to make them!Thanks for the tutorial.
Carolyn
Ummmm this is amazing my friend. Just amazing. I love them!
Jaime
Very clever!
very sweet and girly…love them! thanks for sharing…visiting from Transformation Thursday
I love your feather trees. They look amazing. I would have never dreamed they were paper bags.
Ruth
Cute as can be! Thanks for sharing how you did them!
I 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.
Jan @ BellaCasa
P.S. Also come join me at WhereWomenBlog.com
They look fabulous.
I’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!
Carol
Very cute! Thanks for sharing!
So pretty. I will never look at a paper bag the same way again. Thanks for sharing.
Wow!! So something so beautiful from something so mundane… I’m impressed!
Those 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~
Vanessa
wow such a cute and fun idea! great job!
Very crafty and sweet with the feathers, for sure
Nice job.
Visiting from Refresh Your Nest linky party at Making Lemonade’s blog.
Smiles,
Suzanne in NW Illinois
Very lovely!
You’ve been featured over at House of Hepworths!
Congrats!
Those are beautiful. I am adding feathers to my shopping list. I think I need several of those.
Debbie
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!
Love love love~ they are darling! Thanks for linking up at Feathered Nest Friday!
Outstanding! Oh my… I must find some feathers. Can you imagine a wreath as well?!?
Shared 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.
Jessica
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.
I can’t believe how simple to make these feather trees are as they are so gorgeous!
Thanks for sharing your special secret!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia
Gorgeous. You make it seem so simple and yet the outcome looks very expensive.
Erika
It’s a Wrap Link Party at Artful Rising
I could totally do this! Thanks for sharing.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Those 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.
Gorgeous! What a creative idea! Thanks for sharing the diy.
I 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!
I love this! You are so clever… I need to get to work and make some of these cute little trees for my decor… Thanks,
Jeanna @ dramaqueenseams.com
Just gorgeous! Pinned these today
Thanks for sharing at Taking A Timeout Thursday.
-Trish @ Mom On Timeout
http://www.MomOnTimeout.com
Gorgeous!I love it!
Would 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.
~Shanon
What a fun idea! Love it!
Thanks 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!
I 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)!
http://www.betweenuandme.com
I 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)!
http://www.betweenuandme.com
Clever. I love em.
fabulous! who would have thought this was a paper bag?!?
Luv them! I’m with Jill, my cat would love them, too!
Love these…..beautiful !!
Thanks 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
So 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”.
Have 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.
xoxo 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
Omg! 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!
Love these. I wanted to make feathery trees, too. Now I know I can make them with paper bags! Thanks for sharing:)
Brilliant! What a great idea.
Just darling! Just found you via TT&J link party and your newest follower!
Great 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!!
Great 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!!
Great idea! And I really love your candlesticks. Can you share where you got those?
Thanks!
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
You made this look so doable, and the end result is FANTASTIC!! Thanks so much for sharing!!
I LOVE your trees and hope you will post a link at my Show It Off Thurdays party at:
http://ornamentplace.com/?p=1140
Thanks, Linda
These are so cute! I love them.
Megan
These are super pretty, Aimee!
these are fantastic! Can’t beat white feathers! I am going to feature in my weekly wow’s on Saturday.
soooo pretty!
Adorable I love feathers!
Such pretty trees and all at a pretty price too!
Very nice blog.
Adorable. I love that you used white feathers. I love using white feathers for the holidays too. they add such a cozy feeling to rooms.
Thanks for sharing they are so beautiful
They are very pretty Aimee! Great tutorial Thanks!
Your feather trees turned out really cute. I agreem Rustoleum is the best spray paint. The bases helped to give that extra pizazz! Hopped over from Common Ground. Now following you.
Hugs,
Jann
Oh, wow, how I wish I had the “crafty” gene!!! These are so cool for a fraction of the price you would pay in the stores!!! I have a ton of loose feathers that would work so well for making these, but I’m just not that confident. It’s the cone-making part that really intimidates me. You, however, did a wonderful job!
Love it! I especially like how you have them displayed on stands!
These are so cute! I’ve been looking around for a way to make my own trees too.
Please come share it at my link party
http://www.shecookscraftsruns.net
So beautiful!!!
Thanks so much for linking up at I Gotta Create!
<3 Christina
Love this! Would love for you to share this on our Kitchen Fun and Crafty link party… http://kitchenfunwithmy3sons.blogspot.com/2012/11/kitchen-fun-and-crafty-friday-link_23.html?m=1
Great tutorial…I used a white boa from the dollar store…easy peasy…and saved alot of time….
I love that you made your own cones Aimee! Sharing on Facebook today
Thanks so much Trish!!! Excited to be featured by you! XO, Aimee
How fun, love the white fluffy look!!
When I go shopping today think I’ll stop in at Abercrombie and ask for a bag. I can turn the cute young guy into a Christmas tree. Not sure I will feather one, but that is a great idea for a costume – minus the hot glue of course.
Bliss
LOVE these! Thinking this will be a week-after-Christmas project for me and my littles!