Comments on: How to Decorate a Western-Theme Christmas Tree

on 1/25/2006 Go to the second hand store and buy a couple of very inexpensive jeans, different shades of blue. Cut the jeans into strips, about 8 inches, give or take. Now get a spool of twine and unwrap it. Tie the jean strips around the twine, changing colors of jeans as you go. You can add some floral fabric strips and bright reds or green jean strips. It makes a very beautiful garland to go around the tree. We cut a star out of the leg of a pair of jeans, sewed it together, filled it with stuffing and had it as our star on top.

on 1/25/2006 I decorate my tree with western things each year. One idea for garland is to use all of those leather belts that you and your family may have lying around. I actually use vintage belts from the 1960's. Another idea is to make your own barbed wire star ornaments. This can be done by cutting five pieces of barbed wire of the same length and use floral wire or craft wire to connect your ends. Tie raffia around the top point and then hang on your tree. You can also use the raffia tied in bows to add that straw-look to your tree. Sometimes, I just stick the raffia in bunches in the tree so that the ends are facing out. It gives your tree a little something extra. Jute can also be used as garland. Just wind it around right off the roll and allow it to curl around the limbs of your tree. You can make additional ornaments of sisal rope. Just take a 12 to 15 inch piece and wrap it in a circle twice allowing one circle to be larger than the other. Tie at the top with some jute or other string. Attach a piece of western or bandanna print material.

on 11/30/2005 TAKE A BAIL OF HAY & SPREAD IT AROUND THE BOTTOM OF YOUR TREE AS A TREESKIRT. i ALSO PUT A DECORATED BAIL IN THE CORNER AS AN EXTRA SEAT.

on 11/22/2005 Mix a dough in a Ziploc bag using equal amounts of ground cinnamon and applesauce and a little white glue. Knead well. Roll out about 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch thick and cut with a Texas shaped cookie cutter. Make a hole big enough to get a narrow ribbon or cord through and air dry for a day or two. An old window screen is perfect for drying on because air can circulate around all sides.

When dried they look like they are made of leather and they smell heavenly!

on 11/22/2005 You can use burlap around the bottom of the tree for a rustic look. You can use old cow bells for ornaments. You can also use pheasant feathers to decorate with.

on 11/22/2005 Besides using the bandanas, I use my husband's used ropes as garland and tie on some of the smaller trophy buckles for ornaments. A trophy blanket can be used as a tree skirt.

on 11/22/2005 I have done a cowboy-style tree for six years now. I buy bandana ribbon and make bows. I also get jute rope for mini lassos, and I put an old cowboy hat on top of the tree. Stars also look good with a western tree.

on 11/22/2005 I do a Western tree every year. In addition to what you mentioned, I tie bandanas all over, and I decorate with doll-size cowboy hats, plastic sheriff badges and old-fashioned large lights.