Monday, September 22, 2008

Why is there a WEIRD story behind everything I do???

If I didn't know better, I might start to wonder if maybe I'm weird???..................Naa.................... Okay, so here's how it all happened. Saturday, we went to the City dump to unload a truck bed full of landscaping debris. All of a sudden I look to the right of where I'm tossing our stuff and I see the most beautiful dead branches ever! The girl in my head says, "Hmm, those would be perfect for one of those dead Halloween trees I see everyone else making in blogland."
So I'm hoping and praying that no one will notice the crazy lady (that's me) taking stuff from the City dump when it's really meant for dumping...not taking. Before I could finish my prayer a man and his wife start backing up their truck right next to ours to get rid of some old wooden thing. I knew without a doubt I'd been caught in the act. So they slowly get out of their truck and look me over, not knowing what to say. Finally, the wife says..."Um, you're taking that stuff back home with you?" I then had to explain to her that anybody who's anybody in blogland has to make a dead Halloween tree. Thank heavens she laughed. The husband was still eyeing me over suspiciously.
So here are the treasures. Aren't they lovely? First I whittled the end of one branch so I could stick it in the PCV pipe (the trunk of my tree).

Next, it's off to the backyard to spray paint.I'm not sure why I took this picture cuz it just looks like someone's putting a clarinet together. This is me painting the duct tape. I also drilled holes in each branch so that I could use wire to secure them in place.
And there you have it. The sordid tale of the scary Halloween tree.
Sometime this week I will be doing a tutorial on cute place mat purses. It's okay to crack up because that's just what I did the first time my cute friend, Cathy, told me about them. However, I had to take it all back once I saw them. Very inexpensive and amazingly CUTE! : )

42 comments:

ROXY said...

haha what a great story! I do love the way it turned out though. just right for the season!

Tiffany said...

It does look really great. My cats would try to climb it. lol

Blissfully Enamored said...

i love your tree! it looks great being bigger and in a corner with your white pumpkins! Who cares what those people think? You will never see them again I'm sure! :)

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

The tree looks great...what a funny story!!

I use white branches in a huge urn during the winter months and during Christmas I usually decorate them with ornaments...

I never thought to do a black one like this for Halloween...very clever

Robin Beck said...

Everything you do may have a weird story behind it BUT everything you do is GREAT! LOVE IT!
I like the tree when it was white too (nice eye you have there)
Happy First Day of FAll!
Robin~♥

Rae said...

I love your weird story and you way funky tree! It's fantastic.

I have to ask you about your fabric pumpkins in the background. I am trying to make some for myself and having a heck of a time. They keep looking like raccoon heads instead of pumpkins. Any tips or advice?

Blissfully Enamored said...

thank you so much for your kind kind words! i really do appreciate it! it means the world to me when, even someone you don't know, has such nice things to say!

Buzzings of a Queen Bee! said...

What a cute idea! I am so impressed with your craftiness!! :) And yes, I did get my vinyl letters at Hobby Lobby! I bet yours has them too!
Carrie

Unknown said...

Your tree is awesome! What did you anchor the pvc in? Brilliant idea-that pvc. I'm just now in the process of collecting my branches- I can't wait to make a tree with my kidlets. Where did you get your crows? I know Michaels had some nice big ones, but they were $5- too rich for me!

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

LOL Great story with such a happy ending - it looks really great!

Manuela

Empty Nest Full Life said...

Ok, that tree is too cute! I hope to get some pumpkins cut out tonight. I have some great pieces fabric to use. Did you cut your pumpkins in squares and rectangles, and then round them?
Jackie

Empty Nest Full Life said...

I forgot to say what is wierd is when they see you picking it up off the side of the road. Jackie

Kristi~The Slipcover Girl said...

Love it! Your are Miss Resourceful! I can't wait to make one of my own! Thx!

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

How fun to turn Trees into treasures..of a Halloween Tree. I must be behind in blogland as this is the first Halloween tree I've seen and it looks great with the birds and pumpkins. Thanks for stopping by..Have a great week.
Warmly, Deb

The Berry's Patch said...

You go girl! The scary tree is perfect next to your fireplace with gorgeous pumpkins. Love the whole display. :-)

cherry said...

Ok...rofl..you crack me up...me not read my comments....ummmm they like make my day! Yeah I am trying to be vally girl but failing miserably. As far as your tree...don't tell anyone else but I think yours is the BEST in blogland...perfect display. I would love to see your faux fireplace...that is sooo cute..mantle and cabinet down below with what looks like the perfect vintage fan, phone etc evaaaaaa! Really thanks for visiting me..makes my day! Cherry

Tami said...

I really cannot stop laughing, it is such a great story. Love the tree with the balck birds.

edie said...

This is so splendidly spooky....I love it....and the story of the city dump only adds to the mystery!!

Ruby Red Slippers said...

Awesome ideas!! You are brave to go to the dump...

Mimi Sue said...

I know this is weird but I love going to the dump. My SIL found an old antique trunk in great shape at a dump. She took it home, painted it and uses it for an end table in her family room. It's way cute. Our dump, I mean landfill, has an area where you can put items that are still good but you don't want them anymore and then other people can take your trash, I mean treasure, and give them a good home. It's kinda cool... Mimi PS Your tree turned out great. Love It.

Ms. Tee said...

How funny! Isn't it funny how blogging and doing crafts makes you see things in a whole new light? I look at stuff so differently now! Your tree is great and worth the funny looks!:)

Free Art Printables said...

Very cool tree! and i am all over taking stuff from the dump! :) Why not???? one man's trash.... ?????

Anonymous said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

That is so funny!! The tree looks amazing - I love when people throw good stuff away (for me to find and keep).

Unknown said...

You are just too cute! I smiled when I saw it, laughed with you when you got caught in the act and stood back in admiration remembering just how clever you are! I love the odd number of birds in the tree too! Big Smiles Here!

Blessings - Debbie

Wendy said...

I love that story!!! That sounds like something that would happen to me! It was worth it because your Halloween tree is great!

trish said...

I love your story! I would have done the same thing ... then waited for the people to leave (who were dropping off wooden items) and seen what they had! My poor husband would have been scared for life though! Maybe that is why he doesn't take me along with him? :o) Your tree is so cute, my cats would have a blast scaling it though!
Have a wonderful day!
Sincerely ~ Tricia Anne

Jennspiration said...

OK, that is so strange, I was just thinking about spray painting some of these really cool twisty twigs black and then I read your comment on my blog and stopped by and saw this...I will have to post pictures of mine...but I didn't copy you! I promise!! :)

Anonymous said...

LOL... LOVE IT! A girl after my own heart. Are you going to put it out front for Holloween?

Cindy Sue

TupeloLove said...

Such a great idea! And I love that you just took them from the dump - no shame! I would have done the same thing!

Chris said...

I love this idea, and I love your spin on it! It looks fantastic. I especially LOVE the great tutorial you gave! I'm horrible at those, but yours was perfect!

Shannon said...

You went all out on your tree!!! I love it! It turned out great!

Kimba said...

NO WAY!!! I love that!!! Seriously love that! The story and everything! What a great idea to use pvc pipe to make a tall trunk. I have resisted this little project until now. You've pushed me over the edge. I'm going to find some sticks right now. Hmmmmmm...the dump isn't too far from here. ;-)

duchess said...

They are really great branches.
Good find.

Angie said...

What a great decoration and conversation piece! I love that it is big and makes a statement!

Marie said...

I LOVE this! What an awesome job you did on your tree! Cherry may be right... best in blogland! :o)

ElizabethClare said...

Love your gigantic tree! It is great in big proportions!

Blessings to you and yours,

Penny said...

I love your stories and I love that tree!

Stacy said...

Perfect! I love it!

And, if I saw someone taking something out of the dump I would probably be mad... BECAUSE THEY GOT TO IT FIRST!! LOL.

Thanks for the comment on my blog!

~Stacy

Anonymous said...

amazing....you did such a great job with making these branches. I could just imagine the whole picture as you told your story..*lol*..
Great hallowe'en corner!
Thank you for sharing
Judi

Joanna said...

It looks great! I love the corner with the tree and the decorations!

Megan {The Brick Bungalow} said...

I've been thinking about making a tree. I would have never thought about the city dump.... but I also have my parents' 80 acres to go walk through in hopes of finding something. Good job on the tree! Where did you get the birds?

M.L. @ The House of Whimsy said...

Hi Megan,

I got the birds from Michael's and JoAnn's. But today I checked out the $1 birds everyone has been talking about from Dollar Tree. Mine still had about 20 left.
Good luck,

Mary Lou