Frugal Decorating...Tomato Cage Christmas Trees

Would you ever guess that these "Christmas Trees" are really just tomato cages turned upside down and wrapped with pine garland?

A very easy and frugal way to decorate for the holidays with something most gardeners have in storage over the winter months.

For starters, you need to dig out those old tomato cages sitting in your barn or garage.

For those unfamiliar with them, these cages are used to provide stability to your tomato plant.

This cage is bent up pretty good, but for purposes of showing you exactly what I am talking about, it will suffice.

Take the prongs of the tomato cages which would normally be inserted into the ground, and secure them together.

I used duct tape, but you could use a variety of materials. As you can see, when placed upside down, it resembles a christmas tree shape.

Next you wind an evergreen garland around the structure, and add any embellishments.

Some people even use real evergreen tree branches, holly, apples, and ribbon to dress up their trees.

I have to say that this project turned out WAY better than my expectations. I think these would also make great trees to flank the front door!

I secured my trees with some large garden hooks/staples that are typically used for securing weed blocker to prevent the wind from blowing them over.

I can't tell you how excited I am about this project because it definitely gives great results with little effort...and thankfully I had all the supplies at home so it was completely free for me to make 3 of them!

The $1 dress...

We're broke. My dear hubby has been on disability since August, with the exception of two weeks in September. My daughter needed a dress for our Thanksgiving dinner, and we're broke. Did I mention that already? (-;

Anyways, Dollar Tree and Make It and Love It to the rescue.

When I saw the dress that Ashley from Make It and Love It made from a sweater for her adorable daughter, I was impressed.

Coincidentally I went to Dollar Tree around the same time as seeing that post, and what did I see?

Why an ivory sweater for a DOLLAR!!! SCORE!

I have to admit that I was pretty nervous about cutting into a sweater, even a dollar sweater. I guess I had it in my head that the whole thing would unravel after I cut it, and that I would never be able to do the sleeves. But since it wasn't even in my size, I bit the bullet and just did it!

And I am so happy that I did because it wasn't hard AT ALL!!!!

Even making and reattaching the sleeves wasn't too bad! Probably the worst part for me was embellishing it and finding the stockings.

As a bonus, I was even able to use a piece of the discarded sweater for a headband!

I made the roses on the dress from a shirt that no longer fit me. I was short on time so I ruffled up some of the material and used pins to pin each one to the sweater. I thought that the color might bleed onto the sweater so this way I can remove them prior to washing.

I may eventually switch up to a more subdued color rose and attach it permentaently, but for now I can take them off or change them out pretty simply.

The stockings cost 4 times the amount of the dress! Talk about splurging. (-;

Unforunately I couldn't find a stripe stocking in her size, and basically the flower ones were all that was left that would fit her. I figured since it had roses on the dress that it all kinda went together. Definitely not my first choice, but they suffice.

I did have to cut the neck of the dress down because of a small hole in the sweater that I didn't notice till I got it home. I was quite nervous that I would really mess that up, but all went well.

And when you only spend a dollar on a dress, you don't care if your daughter runs around the farm in it and gets it dirty....

or if her older brother rough houses with her...although it would be nice if she could wear the stockings again!

So if you are looking for a sewing project, definitely check out Ashley's blog because her tutorial is great...

I wouldn't have been able to take the refashion plunge without it!