My Crap-vintage Christmas Tree

I use the term crap loosely (and lovingly), because as we all know...one man's crap is another man's treasure.

I feel like I should mention that I have had my tree up since Thanksgiving...I just haven't decorated it (mainly because when I went to plug the {prelit} thing in nothing happened...not a single bulb worked). So, I left the tree sitting there til I could muster up the energy to restring her with lights.

In the meantime I began the inner debate, {should I or should I not do something different with the tree this year}? My heart said "go for it, do something different for a change", but my head kept telling me "don't do it, you'll have stud muffin to answer to". (I guess it isn't really practical to run out and by all new stuff to decorate the tree with, when the stuff I already have is perfectly fine).

But then, I came up with a happy {medium}...do something fun and different, just don't spend any money. Easier said than done right? But I was determined to do it and I did (except for the $25 I spent on new lights...but that doesn't count).
I started by gathering all the crap I could find in the house and garage that I thought would look {decent} smooshed up in a tree.

Here's what I came up with.




I used some old, silver platters left over from my vintage platter photo frame project.


and a few other silver accents I picked up at the thrift store for fifty cents a piece.


I found this cool, silver sugar bowl and creamer set a little while ago. I didn't have any purpose for them until now.

Old picture frames I simply painted silver.



An extra {skeleton} shade I had sitting in the garage. I embellished it with some more family pictures by clothes pinning them to the frame.

I also stuffed a few {wooden} candle stick holders I picked up a while back in for good measure.

Some left over teacups from my teacup clock and Anthro teacup lamp projects.

Old sheet music that I turned into stars and banners.


And finally, a porcelin platter that I had been saving for something special. I found some left over Christmas rub ons that I used to embellish her a bit. I really like how it turned out.

And the skirt is an leftover, unused painters canvas.
I have to admit, that a tree blinged out in mercury glass ornaments and sparkly silver accents would have been pretty awesome, but I think my crap-vintage Christmas tree is pretty great too. It is {sentimental} becuase of the family pictures I used and {unique }I'm sure. And the very best part...it was {free}. HOLLA.

Linking to:

Thrifty Decor Chick's holiday home, Christmas tree link up party.