Help me turn the tree into "birthday tree" on the sly?

[lucysmam]

It's dd2's birthday on Monday & this year she's said she'd like the tree left up & her presents under it.

Any very quick ideas how to dress it up as "birthday tree", without needing to go and buy anything?

Colourful paper chains
A string of paper letters spelling out Happy Birthday
A Teddy or doll at the top instead of an angel

Thanks Bunny, I've got some coloured paper on my shelf - I'll root some out today & make some paper chains.

Don't know why I didn't think of that Putting a soft toy at the top of the tree might be harder - she loves them all & would realise if one wasn't there

Tie sweets / chocolates on the branches in place of baubles. I have non Christmassy baubles which I use for a birthday tree, too late for you to get this year but they comprise sweets, ice creams, doughnuts etc.

photos of her you can put a hole in, tie ribbon through and use instead of baubles?
If she's coming straight down to it you wouldn't need to worry about her missing her toys as you could nab them while she's sleeping, decorate tree with them and then she could rescue them once she's seen it?

Balloons on the tree instead of baubles?

Thats a really nice idea.

We do this! Wrap banners round instead of tinsel and stick balloons in, they hold on their own (if you have any) We leave the Xmas lights on but take all the other bits off. Coloured string, paper, anything to make it look bright!

Oh! You could cut happy birthday individual letters out with coloured card and hook them on the branches with string or tape.

What a lovely idea. Wish I'd known about that for my now-adult daughter's Christmas birthday. How about ribbon, fabric or lace scraps, if you have any, tied in bows (or recycled Christmas ribbon in less obvious colours)? Have your children got any craft stuff, like crepe paper, tissue? Scrunch it up and it will look remarkably like flowers (from a distance!) tied onto the branches with cotton thread. Old beads and costume jewellery draped and dangled. If it becomes a tradition ( and how could you resist?) you could buy little sale items throughout the year and hide them wrapped in birthday paper iwithin the tree. Have a lovely day.

How about a birthday candle decoration on top you could make it from cardboard and paper. Maybe some cookies in the shape of birthday cakes or cupcake.

Thanks everyone; I've just finished icing her cake but she's come for a chat so decorations are slightly held up 🙄 I think she's off back to Minecraft with dd1 though so I'll do those & set their dad on making a topper for the tree.

I think there are some balloons upstairs that could go on with paper chains.

highheeledhattie if I'd thought to do it sooner, I'd have raided the crafty stuff more easily than today when she's hovering to see what I'm up to . I do like the idea of little things hidden in the tree; I'll make a note for next year!