$5 Christmas {Starfish} Tree

Earlier this year, I was shopping downtown at my favorite antiques shop-Antique Company Mall and I stumbled upon this beautiful white Christmas tree! I was so excited to see it had a price of only $5!!! {SCORE!!} I couldn't believe it. I almost had a heart attack. You see for MANY years I've been searching for a white tree. But whenever I'd look at the price, I'd get sticker shock. I did not want to pay $70 for a tree. This tree had a Martha Stewart box. Sergio took it out of the box to see if all the pieces were there. Then he carried the box down the very narrow flight of stairs to the register.
Isn't he the best :D
I put it away in the attic knowing that next Christmas I'd put it up in our gameroom.
After we got back from our trip to Galveston, I remember all the beautiful Christmas decorations the hotel had with a sea theme. I decided to do the same with my white tree.
Since the white reminds me of the beautiful white seafoam on the waves, I decided to order some starfish from Oriental Trading Company. After putting them up, I wanted some larger starfish. I found just the right place and snapped up some gorgeous, HUGE authentic starfish straight from the Phillipines! His shop is Deltona SeaShells. He has a great selection and the price is wonderful!
I just stuck them here and there on the tree. I then got some irridescent blue ribbon, made a huge bow and put it on top of the tree. Then I strung the rest of the ribbon around the tree. The blue represents the water. I love the way it turned out.
I then made some cardstock seahorses. Very simple yet a beautiful reminder of our trip to the Gulf.
I remembered I had some fish netting from a previous decorating project and put that as a tree skirt.
I wrapped some gifts in left over burlap, made some scallopped gift tags and put the recipient's initial on it.
One gift I wrapped with a brown paper bag, added a greenery cutting from my front yard and wrapped some brown cording around it.
I try to use as much as I have from around the house.
We're getting our home ready for a BIG Christmas Eve party we'll be having this Friday. I can't wait to decorate my home further. I'll be back tomorrow with some great Christmas themed appetizer ideas for you to use.
Happy Holidays!

                            gifts wrapped in burlap and brown paper

           The seahorse ornament is very easy. Just use cardstock, punch a hole thru its eye and tape some twine to the back. You can use these for just about anything. Here is the link to the printable>>Seahorse

Linked this up to the following parties:
Under the Table and Dreaming
Met Mondays at Between Naps on the Porch
Dittle Dattle Amaze Me Mondays
Funky Junk Interiors