Anyone in need of a forest of pink candy colored bottle brush trees? I made these for our wedding reception 3 years ago (our anniversary is in 2 days already, must buy a card).
They are super easy to make. Buy a bag of those bottle brush trees for those Christmas train/village layouts. You know the ones? Dark green, white plastic bases, come in big packs of like 10 or 20 for $10 at the Garden Ridge type places. Fill your kitchen sink with hot water and 2 capfuls of bleach. Plop in a few trees. The bleaching starts to work immediately. If you want light green trees like I have above, remove when they are the right color and rinse them in cool water. If you want white trees, let them bleach all the way to white.
Want pink? Bleach to white, remove and rinse. Refill sink with hot water and add a little RIT dye (I used Rose Pink). Follow the instructions on the dye package for rinsing.
Once your trees are the color you want, let them stand up to dry on a towel. When completely dry you can add glitter by using those glitter glue pens you can find in the children's art supply stuff at any store.
I need to buy some more because I want aqua colored ones too!
I display some of them with that fake glittery snow stuff in these Martha Stewart jars from K-Mart. A snow globe without the water.
Enjoy!
Oh my goodness, you are a clever girl! I never in a million years would have guessed you could make these! I just bought something cool at a thrift today (will post tomorrow!) that is just crying out for some bottle brush trees. Your craftiness astounds me!
ReplyDeleteFantastic idea! I don't know if we have those trees here in Australia. I know a store here that sells stuff for the villages, but VERY expensive!
ReplyDeleteI never ever would have thought to "customise" these bottle brush trees. What a brilliant idea, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHow did you ever think of that! They are just magical, especially in the jar of snow!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful! I love the "snow globe without water"
ReplyDeleteYou've been busy! And what a great idea. Better than Martha I think . . .
ReplyDeleteThank you thank you for telling us that! I have a new project to try...
ReplyDeleteWow! Easy and inexpensive. I really do learn something new everyday! I have that Martha jar....hmmmm. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAnother wonderful idea, thanks so much!!!!
ReplyDeletehow smart!!! What a cutie idea!!!
ReplyDeleteOh my I love these...
ReplyDeleteSuzie Sews
You are amazing! I would have never thought of that on my own. I can't wait to make my little forest.
ReplyDeleteWonderful idea! I spend a ton on the pastel versions and never knew I could lighten up those darker ones. I'm soooo trying this out!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU,
ReplyDeleteI just bought a bagful of vintage bottlebrush trees and after I got them home I noticed they are so dirty and nasty I didn't want to use them in my home.
This is a great solution to my problem, I know bleach will disinfect them and they will be the prettier colors I like and fit in with my decor. Thanks so much,
Your a genius....:) Bren
Oh Sarah... this is such a great idea! I'm soooo doing this. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this!!!!! You make it seem so easy-peasy - I hope to be able to give this a try!!!!
ReplyDelete(you can tell I'm excited - look at how exclamation point happy I am...)
I will so be doing this project,,,I adore these trees and must admit that I leave some of them out all year around. When my project is complete I will post some pictures and give you all the credit! Dianntha
ReplyDeletethey look wonderfully vintage!
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful and such a brilliant idea! OMG, I have to try making some! (I probably won't get around to it until next season.lol.)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiration...
Happy Holidays! :)
Fabulous idea! I'm on my way out tomorrow to find some cheapies!! Thank you for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteSmart girl! Thanks for sharing these tips.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful - delicious-ing you for future! ;)
ReplyDeleteWell this is just brilliant. Can't wait to try it. Thanks so much for sharing this. laurie
ReplyDeletenooo waaaaaaaaaay! I LOVE IT!
ReplyDeleteAs my two ten year olds would say, "AWESOME!" Thank you for sharing. I will be making a forest! Woohoo!
ReplyDeleteunDeniably Domestic
Thanks so much for sharing this helpful info! Mine are in bleach as I type ;)
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