Succulents & Spruce Christmas Tree {Dream Tree Challenge}

DIYShowOff: Michaels Dream Tree Challenge Reveal

Why yes, I do realize the calendar has just flipped to November. And in real life, it’s a few weeks too early to be decorating for Christmas however it’s not too early to be collecting holiday ideas and inspiration! I’m excited to be a part of the Michaels’ Makers blog team, the 3rd annual Dream Tree Challenge and the #tagatree campaign, I present my “Succulents & Spruce” themed Christmas tree…

Succulents & Spruce Christmas Tree @diyshowoff - #michaelsmaker dream tree challenge

Michaels provided me with a beautiful pre-lit 7 ft. artificial pine and a gift card for decorating to participate in the dream tree challenge to kick off the decorating season in the DIY Show Off house. After I finished decorating it, I decided I wanted to remove the area rug…but moving the 9×12 monster size out from under a decorated 7 ft. tree is another challenge for another day. 

Succulents & Spruce Christmas Tree @diyshowoff - #michaelsmaker dream tree challenge

Materials I used: (Find materials and decor that you feel fit a succulent & spruce/enchanted evergreen theme at Michaels) 

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  • 7 1/2 foot pre-lit Willow Pine Christmas tree
  • succulent garlands
  • packs of matte orange Christmas bulb ornaments
  • grapevine orbs 
  • mini mossy fairy/gnome houses
  • lighted grapevine star tree topper
  • assorted pheasant feathers
  • large pinecones
  • glittery floral pics in copper
  • assorted floral pics: one with mini pinecones on branches, one with gold berries, gold/green ferns, gold glittery spiral branches, etc. 
  • clip on burlap poinsettias 
  • assorted potted succulents – for the ones hanging on the tree, be sure to use hot glue to ensure succulents are extra secure in foam base/pot as well as to adhere an ornament hanger to the pot so that rather than set on it’s base, it hangs like an ornament. 
  • burlap table runner for use as a tree skirt
  • birch wood slices for displaying succulents under the tree

Succulents & Spruce Christmas Tree @diyshowoff - #michaelsmaker dream tree challenge Succulents & Spruce Christmas Tree @diyshowoff - #michaelsmaker dream tree challenge Succulents & Spruce Christmas Tree @diyshowoff - #michaelsmaker dream tree challenge  Succulents & Spruce Christmas Tree @diyshowoff - #michaelsmaker dream tree challenge Succulents & Spruce Christmas Tree @diyshowoff - #michaelsmaker dream tree challenge Succulents & Spruce Christmas Tree @diyshowoff - #michaelsmaker dream tree challenge Succulents & Spruce Christmas Tree @diyshowoff - #michaelsmaker dream tree challenge Succulents & Spruce Christmas Tree @diyshowoff - #michaelsmaker dream tree challenge Succulents & Spruce Christmas Tree @diyshowoff - #michaelsmaker dream tree challenge Succulents & Spruce Christmas Tree @diyshowoff - #michaelsmaker dream tree challenge

We do decorate a Christmas tree in our living room with a more traditional (red & gold) look. I really enjoyed creating some a little whimsical and fun for the dining room.Succulents & Spruce Christmas Tree @diyshowoff - #michaelsmaker dream tree challenge Succulents & Spruce Christmas Tree @diyshowoff - #michaelsmaker dream tree challenge Succulents & Spruce Christmas Tree @diyshowoff - #michaelsmaker dream tree challenge Succulents & Spruce Christmas Tree @diyshowoff - #michaelsmaker dream tree challenge Succulents & Spruce Christmas Tree @diyshowoff - #michaelsmaker dream tree challenge Succulents & Spruce Christmas Tree @diyshowoff - #michaelsmaker dream tree challenge Succulents & Spruce Christmas Tree @diyshowoff - #michaelsmaker dream tree challenge Succulents & Spruce Christmas Tree @diyshowoff - #michaelsmaker dream tree challengeSucculents & Spruce Christmas Tree

My steps: Assemble the tree (seriously easy as 1-2-3…it’s labeled). The order I decorate: garland (in a diagonal spiral pattern on the tree). I used three. Next I tuck in floral pic items such as branches, ferns, etc. (decorative items with stems). Then I add succulents and ornaments, placing mossy fairy houses into bare spaces. Tuck in pheasant feathers. Top the tree with more floral pics and grapevine star. I laid out a burlap table runner in a circular pattern under the tree and added some potted succulents, some on birch wood slices to add height. You may acquire a supervisor…

DIYShowOff Dream Tree Challenge Christmas Tree - succulents & spruce/enchanted evergreen #michaelsmakers

The gallery wall of empty frames in my dining room was the perfect back drop for a shimmery succulent wreath and a few strategically placed succulents to add to the enchanted forest theme. 

Succulents & Spruce Christmas Tree @diyshowoff - #michaelsmaker dream tree challengeSucculents & Spruce Christmas Tree @diyshowoff - #michaelsmaker dream tree challenge

I love it! My girls love it! Mr. DIY prefers traditional {I guess it’s good we usually have more than 1 Christmas tree}. What do you think?

Succulents & Spruce Christmas Tree @diyshowoff - #michaelsmaker dream tree challenge

Last year’s DIYShowOff Dream Tree

ombre christmas tree decor

See MORE beautiful Christmas trees by visiting these awesome blog friends beginning at 9 a.m. Nov. 1st:


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Michaels has a lot of fun things going on this month:

  • Stop by Michaels’ blog, The Glue String, to see the full Dream Tree Challenge and all of the fabulous trees that were created this year by the Michaels Makers
  • To kick off the holiday season, make sure and check out of Michaels’ Make it Merry  inspiration book or all kinds of holiday tips and projects.
    • Head into Michaels Nov. 2 through Nov. 8 for the Make It Merry Tree Event  – 50% off all trees 6 ft. or taller!!!

Make it Merry at Michaels

As a member of the Michaels’ Makers team, I receive a gift card to complete and share fun craft challenges.

Roeshel #MichaelsMakers

DIY Lightning Bug Dog Costume

DIY Halloween Costume Challenge #michaelsmakers

The Michaels’ Makers October challenge is ‘Halloween costume’. How fun! I received a gift card to create a cute lightning bug costume for my love bug, Rosie, our Italian greyhound.

lightning bug halloween dog costume tutorial at diyshowoff #michaelsmakers

This will only fit small super skinny dogs. Rosie weighs in at 10 lbs. Alter the design to fit your dog’s size – sleeves of an old black t-shirt? Or sewing two stretchy/knit bands that fit your dog snug but comfortably. 

Materials I used:

Michaels.com: Your 24-hour Arts & Crafts Store

What I did:

Cut the ends off of each sock. 

lightning bug halloween dog costume tutorial at diyshowoff

Fold adhesive felt in half and cut out a set of wings. (I drew out a few shapes to practice/choose a shape that I liked best). Remove backing, place onto black felt and cut around the ‘wings’. This gives the wings a little more sturdiness. 

lightning bug halloween dog costume tutorial at diyshowoff

Cover light with black tape. 

lightning bug halloween dog costume tutorial at diyshowoff

One of the socks will go around the neck. Poke the end of a pipe cleaner into the sock, fold pipe cleaner in half. Twist the base and curl the ends. 

lightning bug halloween dog costume tutorial at diyshowoff

Towards the other end of the length of the sock, cut a small hole using a pair of scissors. That hole will allow a felt patch with velcro to show through for securing the wings. 

lightning bug halloween dog costume tutorial at diyshowoff

Attach a piece of velcro to the under side of the wings.

lightning bug halloween dog costume tutorial at diyshowoff

I added a piece of velcro to the back of the light and cut a small hole in one end of the second sock. 

lightning bug halloween dog costume tutorial at diyshowoff

Cut rectangles from remaining felt. Attach a 3″ strip of velcro to each square of felt (velcro opposite of that used on the wings and light). 

lightning bug halloween dog costume tutorial at diyshowoff

Dress the dog! One sock around her neck (this fits my dog comfortably). The other sock fits around her waist area, below her rib cage. 

Once the socks were on my dog, I tucked the felt square into each sock with the velcro side facing the small holes. Attach wings and light, velcro side down to velcro showing through the small hole.

lightning bug halloween dog costume tutorial at diyshowoff

She’s more interested in being a cuddle bug than being a lightning bug Halloween costume model. 

lightning bug halloween dog costume tutorial at diyshowoff #michaelsmakerslightning bug halloween dog costume tutorial at diyshowoff #michaelsmakers

Isn’t she the cutest lightning bug ever? 

lightning bug halloween dog costume tutorial at diyshowoff #michaelsmakerslightning bug halloween dog costume tutorial at diyshowoff #michaelsmakersDIY Halloween lightning bug dog costume #michaelsmakers @diyshowoff

Do you dress your pets for Halloween? Do they tolerate it? Act a bit embarrassed (like Rosie)? Roll around or proudly show off? 

*Note: Please take your own dog’s temperament, personality into consideration and make your pet’s safety your priority.  

More Halloween costume inspiration: 

  • Costume ideas from the Michaels’ Makers team (full linky at 10 a.m. CST): 


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  • Check out Michaels’ Halloween Market lookbook or Halloween Pinterest board for some project favorites, including costumes, personalized pumpkins, porch décor and more.
  • Haven’t decided what you want to be yet? Take a look at some of Michaels DIY Halloween costume projects on Michaels.com for inspiration.

As a member of the Michaels’ Makers team, I receive a gift card to complete and share fun craft challenges.

Michaels.com: Your 24-hour Arts & Crafts Store

Scenic Pumpkin Jack-o-lantern

Inspired by a picture of a pumpkin diorama from Country Living that I stumbled across on the Michaels’ Halloween Pinterest Board, I couldn’t resist making up a scenic jack-o-lantern of my own. *This post contains affiliate links. 

scenic faux pumpkin jackolantern tutorial @diyshowoff #trickyourpumpkin

Materials I used (all purchased at Michaels Craft Stores with the exception of stick trees and rocks): 

scenic faux pumpkin jackolantern tutorial @diyshowoff #trickyourpumpkin

  • faux pumpkin
  • carving tools
  • black acrylic craft paint
  • sky blue glitter craft paint
  • 4 small foam paint brushes
  • plastic toy wolf
  • moss
  • styrofoam disk
  • hot glue/gun
  • fall garland
  • tree-like sticks from the yard
  • small rock
  • small wood disk (for full moon)
  • white acrylic craft paint
  • glow in the dark paint
  • tiny faux pumpkin
  • small battery operated light
  • 3M adhesive velcro

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What I did:

Using chalk, I drew a circular shape onto the front of my faux pumpkin, then cut out the shape using small carving tools. Then I cleaned the dust and pieces out of the pumpkin.

scenic faux pumpkin jackolantern tutorial @diyshowoff #trickyourpumpkin

Using a foam paint brush, I painted the inside of my pumpkin black. I brushed on the dark glitter coat over top and let paint dry. 

scenic faux pumpkin jackolantern tutorial @diyshowoff #trickyourpumpkin

While the paint was drying inside, I attached a decorative fall garland with mini leaves and acorns to the outside using hot glue. 

scenic faux pumpkin jackolantern tutorial @diyshowoff #trickyourpumpkin

I painted the wooden disk white, followed by a coat of glow in the dark with a few ‘pounces’ of the dark glitter paint using my foam paint brush (not shown). Let dry. 

scenic faux pumpkin jackolantern tutorial @diyshowoff #trickyourpumpkin

I inserted the styrofoam disk into the bottom of the pumpkin. I left the plastic wrap on the styrofoam disk. Optional: I used some mini-pinecones to fill in the gaps along the sides.

scenic faux pumpkin jackolantern tutorial @diyshowoff #trickyourpumpkin

Then I topped it off with moss.  

scenic faux pumpkin jackolantern tutorial @diyshowoff #trickyourpumpkin

I carefully poked sticks (I found some in the yard that had sort of a ‘tree’ look) through the moss/styrofoam to create “trees”. 

scenic faux pumpkin jackolantern tutorial @diyshowoff #trickyourpumpkin

I then secured full moon to the back using hot glue. You could do this before adding the trees. I waited so I could decide the placement behind the trees.

scenic faux pumpkin jackolantern tutorial @diyshowoff #trickyourpumpkin

I added a piece of adhesive velcro to the back of the small battery operated light (don’t cover the on/off switch). It’s adhered to the “roof” of the pumpkin. The velcro attachment allows me to remove the light to turn if off and on. 

scenic faux pumpkin jackolantern tutorial @diyshowoff #trickyourpumpkin

I finished it off by adding rocks and a wolf. 

scenic faux pumpkin jackolantern tutorial @diyshowoff #trickyourpumpkin scenic faux pumpkin jackolantern tutorial @diyshowoff #trickyourpumpkin

Display! Isn’t it fun? I’m going to raffle this one off at a local event but may just have to make one for myself too…maybe with a different scene: mini hale bales and a scarecrow or a ‘nevermore’ theme with ravens or a graveyard scene with tombstones. What about you? 

scenic faux pumpkin jackolantern tutorial @diyshowoff #trickyourpumpkin scenic faux pumpkin jackolantern tutorial @diyshowoff #trickyourpumpkin scenic faux pumpkin jackolantern tutorial @diyshowoff #trickyourpumpkin scenic faux pumpkin jackolantern tutorial @diyshowoff #trickyourpumpkin scenic faux pumpkin jackolantern tutorial @diyshowoff #trickyourpumpkin

#TrickYourPumpkin Sweepstakes

The Michaels social team is working on a #TrickYourPumpkin sweepstakes. Crafters just submit their pumpkin creations via Instagram any time between Oct. 4th through 31th, 2014 for a chance to win a $250 Michaels gift card and Plaid products each Friday throughout the month of October! What would you do with a $250 Michaels’ shopping spree?

Shop at Michaels

Michaels would love to see your pumpkin creation! Post your pumpkin project on Instagram (using #TrickYourPumpkin #sweepstakes and tagging @MichaelsStores). Simple! Good luck! 

scenic faux pumpkin jackolantern tutorial @diyshowoff #trickyourpumpkin

 

*I received a Michael’s gift card to complete this project.