G'day lovelies, do hope you are surviving Silly Season?
Yep, that certainly is a green tree you see up there, yee haw. If you look back at last year you can see that we had a white Christmas tree, very silly indeed. Bought very much in haste when we had been in Australia approximately 2 weeks. We tried to convince ourselves it was fabulous, but really in the back of my mind, too non-traditional for me.
And this year when we got that white tree out, we noticed it had a new look. A suntan. Discoloured and yellowed and so in my usual fashion, I whined. Wanting a green one, and spurred on by Miss Beach Cottage, stating too, how much we needed Spruce.
What I really wanted was a real tree, the pine fragrance, the dropping needles, a few sparse baubles, but after much deliberation decided that I couldn't deal with it wilting and looking awful should it get too hot, which it's feeling like it probably will.
I looked at artificial ones, and guess what? The only one I liked was the most expensive one and $400 was so not in the budget this year for a tree.
Back to the drawing board and I had to swallow it and settle with the Suntanned Tree (you can see what it looks like all yellowed, here). That in fact is not white at all but now kinda creamy/yellowy. The look you may get if you leave a white tree in a smoky pub for a year. Not the best look for one's Christmas decor in their Beach Cottage 
Resigned to this Smokers Tree I was shooting round the supermarket minding my own business, not thinking about Christmas trees at all, when I saw this.
A 182cm pretty nasty artificial Christmas Tree for a ridiculous price. I phoned Mr BC, who had already suffered 2 Christmas Tree related phone calls that week (one whining for the beautiful $400 one and one deliberating over a real one).
I told him the price and he said, errrm adding a blue word or two. Buy the thing.
Me: But what if it looks too cheap
Him: Well it is cheap, it will look a bit cheap. (voice implying Do I really care?)
Me: Well I won't like it then will I if it looks all spindly and plastic.
Him: You can make it look good.
Me: I don't think so.
Him: You are the Queen of makeovers. (inject sarcasm re: blog)
Me: I can't paint this.
Him: Hun it's the price of a coupla cups of coffee. JUST GET IT. (wishing he'd married Kylie)
Me: But what if we get it, put it up, it looks hideous?
Him: We'll take it to Vinnies.
Too Easy.
So I slung it in my trolley and walked out with the cheapest tree in the Universe and on Tree Trimming Decoration Madness Day at the weekend, we slipped it in with all the other boxes of Christmas supplies for Miss BC.
in all it's glory…
the boys did the techno bit
Mr BC untangled, changed bulbs and tested
it seems someone in this family may have an addiction for buying Christmas lights
the girls got the best job…sorting out the baubles
I really liked it just like this, but there were peals of protest!
they piled them on
I sneaked by later in the dead of night and added some starfish decorations & the Beach Cottage Magic Makeover Wand…
if you look closely you can see the hand-made shell ones I made
and the Christmas version of the sphere shell ball you've come to know and love
Not bad for a $12 special?
Was Mr BC right & it looks good?
All I can say is that when we've turned the lights on outside, everything's twinkling around the cottage, our little memory-making homemade decs from the sea peak out and we're watching Christmas movies, it doesn't really matter what colour the tree is…
But, oh, it's definitely better than two cups of coffee.
See ya
p.s. if you want to see some more Behind The Scenes Shots, go here
and find more of the sphere balls, here, here and here
just to let you know, the Suntanned Smoker's Tree is up to…more to come soon!
blogged for Thrifty Thursday, Rhoda's Holiday Special, thanks
Hi there! WOW, how the hell did you make a $12 tree look so bloody good?? I would have made a disaster of it and my husband would refer to it for years to come as the “Christmas Treet Incident”. But heck, it looks fantastic! Your hubby is right when he says you are the Queen of Makeovers!!!
Your tree looks beautiful!! I love the beach decorations and all the white ornaments. You made that tree the star of the show!!
Jane
I knew you could do it Sarah! Lookin’ loverly and beachy and pleasant.
LOL!!! I think it looks great! Fabulous even, Like a million bucks rather than $12. Ha! I had to laugh at the Kylie comment. I assume its Mologue (msp) My husband likes her “music” too. Ummhmm.
Cant wait to see the suntanned tree. I am off to refresh my memory of how you made the shell ornaments. I want to try those. So pretty! And Mr. B is right, you ARE the queen of makeovers!Thanks for linking up to Thrifty Thursday, sweet friend!
Leigh
Tales from Bloggeritaville
http://www.lbratina.blogspot.com
Oh, I forgot to mention I love how it glows…and it looks like a few snowballs on there (feathered?) cute!
I don’t know how in the world you made your tree look so grand. Oh and I love the soft poufffffffy white balls!!
ah beautiful!
It may have been a $12 tree but you made it look like a million dollars!
Joyce
Your tree looks fabulous! Makeover queen, indeed!
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Lorrie
sarah – you guys decorated it to be the perfect beach cottage tree!
and the kids feet are great lookin too -
happy holidays
marsha
Unbelievable. It is beautiful
Oh my!!!! My lovely white tree did exactly the same thing, and i am now looking at it wondering what i can make out of it, seems like such a pity to throw it out, even if it does have a very yellow suntan!
White Christmas tree makers take note.
This is such a sweet story and gives me a bit of inspiration–I was really thinking of making do with some fir garlands in my beach cottage or as it seems so wasteful to have a tree and as you point out, the really pretty ones are tres expensive. Your lovely ornaments are just beautiful–esp love that fluffy white one!
I love the Christmas tree. It’s so beautiful.
I was seriously thinking of getting a white Christmas tree after seeing yours…it was beautiful! I would never have wanted one before. My husband and I just bought a house near the beach in CA, after living in the desert for 30 years!! So, I thought it would be fun to have a white tree..but after reading about it turning yellow I think not now!! I would be too frustrated with it later..so, glad I read your post today and I love your tree!! Ok, I will keep with tradition!!
Patti
ps..I am glued to your blog because we are remodeling the beach house we bought…lot to do and living by the beach is all a new world to me!!
Thanks,
Patti
Oh how sweet, and for $12 if it does have a imperfect side, you can overlook that when it is such a cute tree. Considering I am such a beach girl I should be raving over the shell decorations but the fluffy balls have caught my eye.
Almost makes me want to put our tree up!
Looks lovely Sarah – well done!
Now that is an unbelievable story about the price of that tree! It looks absolutely lovely. What a terrific job you did in decorating it. I love it! Please stop by my holiday home when you get a chance. BTW, I too, had a “yellow” white tree. Never again!
Big TX Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents
It’s early in the morning here so forgive me if I sound crazy but could you take that white tree to the tub and bleach the branches? Or could you redye them white? I know I’m a bleachaholic! Sorry forget I said anything : ) ! The green tree however looks fantasic. I too have waved my magic wand very late at night. Now they’re too old and totally have caught on.Looks like a million dawlas so now you can sit back relax and enjoy it hahaha! Wishing you and your family a wonderful happy healthy holiday!
Of course you made it look gorgeous! Love those mini shell spheres, it’s soooo… YOU. Beautiful, Sarah!
It look fantabulous, Sarah!!
I love the story and the photos are wonderful!
The Man in this house would have compared the old beige tree to beach sand ie: what better color to adorn with white shells? Your tree is beautiful. I have a feeling you could make any color tree work!
The tree is gorgeous! I love those dimensional stars. I was pretty sure you were going to say you’d grabbed a can of green spray paint for the other tree!
Wow! It looks like a much more costly tree now that you’ve had your hands on it! It looks beautiful
rue
I swear I just left a comment… hmm…
Your tree looks much more expensive, now that you got your hands on it! Beautiful job
rue
i just knew that your tree would be beautiful!!
love the conversation with the hubbie~ priceless.
happy holidays~
chasity
Sarah!!! your tree is gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. I love your simple but sweet style. It does not look cheap, it looks perfectly lovely! Hugs, Cindy S.
You’d never know it was only $12! Wow. That’s pretty amazing.
I have a white tree I usually put up for the kids’ ornaments in the playroom, but when we pulled it out this year, it was all yellowy and sickly looking, too. I wonder how you prevent that? I haven’t had time to replace it yet but I’m scared to buy another white one now.
I think it looks absolutely lovely.
Oh, Sarah! Your beach cottage is so pretty! Love all of your Christmas touches!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia
I love all the white! So sparkly and pretty!
YOU totally ROCKED that 12 buck tree! Fabulous just FABULOUS!
so yummy and cozy! makes me want a cup of hot chocolate with a HUGE marshmellow & sit down and enjoy your tree!
JUst lovely Sarah,
I just love the look of an all white tree but never do it. I always add reds and greens….your tree is very inspiring! Thanks for sharing. You made a cheapo tree look like a million bucks!
It looks great, although I can’t imagine Christmas without cold or snow. I think is something that you never get used to it…
You still reign supreme as “Queen of the Makeovers” Sarah. Pat yourself and the fellow BC’s on the back. A magnificent job!!
Merry Christmas,
Kerryanne
Hi Sarah, thats not bad, pretty good, but my one last year cost $9.95!!
I think it looks pretty good, except the piece of tinsle my daughter threw on when I wasnt looking!
Someone else had that same problem with their white tree, but I grew up with one in my family and after 30 years it was still white, of course it was vintage, that may have made the difference I think!
Enjoy decorating, not long now!!
Sue
It looks wonderful!! Hope you have a wonderful time celebrating around your new tree. I just finished doing up my holiday home.xoxo Lidy
Very fun and “furry” Christmas Tree!
Oh my gosh that is the tree I have been dreaming of for my bedroom. Really. I have been wishing I picked up starfish last time we were at the beach so that I could do this in my room.
Good for you! It looks great.
I am really irritated with myself for not buying some of the shell balls when we were in Hawaii when I saw them. Do you make them yourself (a la glue gun) or do you buy them? I really like the star fish on the tree as well.
I would love to see a comparison of how you used to decorate in England compared to now!
So fun and funky….teach me more….Merry Christmas to you from the lovely beach and white sands of Mississippi Gulf Coast!
xoxo!
Lamp Tramp
Love your all white decor for your inexpensive tree! Looks fantastic!
I love your decorations. I live in the outback in QLD so we are doing similar with gum leaves and sticks and anything else the kids pick up.
Your blog is very inspiring and I just love all your cost saving tips.
Angie
Looks great! I still like the creamy white tree. If I lived in Australia, I’d ask to buy it!
Your new tree looks beautiful! I love the starfish decorations.
My mother in law had exactly the same problem with her White tree last year she took it back to where she purchased it and they gave her a full refund! I would take yours back to where you got it and ask for a refund or a replacement.
Love your blog.
$12 or not,it looks amazing!!!!Love the starfish too!! Chrissy
It looks positively Sarah-lovely!
Brenda
Wow! That is one pretty tree and for about the cost of a couple cups of coffee! Beautiful! ? all the starfish.
Lovely….it’s a million dollar tree!
It’s the ornaments and lights that makes a tree beautiful. Great job!
You made that little tree look very pretty. I’d love to have a real one, but I have a daughter who’s allergies really act up with one, so we’ve got a fake one too. I miss the pine smell, but not the needles!
Blessings,
Marcia
Pretty, sarah! Of course you can make a cheap tree look beautiful, I had faith in you all along.
Love all the white on your beachy tree. Merry Christmas, my friend!! Thanks for joining the par-tay.
i think its simply wonderful!!!
i love the fact that you didnt get crazy and buy an expensive tree. with a little magic and creativeness it loks like one from a magazine. we bought our tree last year at an after christmas sale for $20.00. i love it!!
Sarah you would never know that was a $12 tree under all those wonderful lights and decorations.
Fabulous
Alison
Wow is all I can say! You are amazing as usual. Just stunning what you did with a 12 dollar tree!!!
I actually like the smoker tree color. Whites and creams would look really pretty don’t you think? Can’t wait to see it finished. I’m doing one of my trees later today. Hopefully the lights will cooperate. I’m so not in the mood to go buy new ones. Happy Weekend!!
I love the green tree but I have to tell you, I am partial to the smoky white tree. I have a white tree that has turned a creamy color over the years. It has sat in a shed for most of it’s 20 years so I guess that did the trick of turning it to the gorgeous old patina. I like it!
(confession…..I have a green tree too) xo
BEAUTIFUL!!
mY tOUR iS nOW sHARED….come by if you can to visit. Happy Holidays!
CLICK HERE FOR DIRECT LINK
beautiful tree. love the white!
Kathleen
So white and lovely!
Pretty, pretty, pretty. All those decorations are fantastic! I love the fluffy snowball ones.
Merry Christmas to you!
What a fantastic job on the tree. It looks brilliant, as does the rest of the house. And how refreshing to read another Australian blog, with all our Summer Christmas issues! Saeson’s Greetings.
Why, I think it’s lovely! Very pretty. And for the price of two cups of joe. . . well, you couldn’t go wrong, could you? But really, it’s quite nice. And it won’t droop and fade in the heat, so you made a good decision!
A Beautiful Tree. Merry Christmas.
WOW! That is incredible! LOVE it!
That’s exactly the same tree I bought this year! I thought mine was a bargain reduced from $40 to $20 but yours is even better!! Yours is decorated beautifully.