crap idea for a tree or utter genius

[WitchyWooWoo]

ds is 2, and we have a new kitten so we thought we would not have a tree this year.

however i had an idea which involved me cutting out a large tree shape from cardboard, painting it green and getting ds to decorate cardboard baubles/decorations for it and sticking them on.

is this a fab idea or am i losing the plot? should i just get a normal tree?

great idea. Will provide hours of fun for DS and he'll feel much proud of this tree than any normal one. Plus saves you the job of taking down tree and packing everything away in new year (i hate having to do this!)

Great idea. :)

sounds a great idea - you could mix in an advent calender theme with adding a decoration per day

thats a fab idea, i might get my kids to do one of them for their bedroom!!!

the only other way you could have a tree is to some how suspend it upside down from the ceiling! saw it in a pub one year and it looked surprisingly good!

Hmm. Probably a fab idea.

However, nothing is more christmassy than rescuing a small cat from the inner branches of a spiky tree whilst taking care not to disturb your artfully arranged baubles and lights.

With a 2-year-old, there is also the added entertainment of every adult lurching to grab said tree when toddler manages to get a good grip and pull it on top of himself. Probably the origin of many a Victorian party game.

Read the OP as a new Kitchen. We have had the same tree for about 9 years now. It is possibly time to buy a better one. Ours is a bit straggly and moth eaten but I get a green attack and think about how it will be disposed of. I suppose we could buy a fresh one with a root ball. Possibly.
The Op's idea sounds great

dont think i'll have the energy foundwanting i'll be 7 1/2 months pregnant at xmas and really dont want to duel wrestle a furry little cat and a furry little boy

thanks for all the encouragement, i think i'll go for it. we're also making salt dough cookie garlands etc so the place will probably look like an arts and crafts nightmare

Good idea, Witchy. A tip I got from DS nursery, was to mix glitter into PVA adhesive and paint a thin layer over the tree after you've painted it green and it is dry. When the adhesive dries it goes transparent and you get a lovely frosty sheen. Also less messy than applying adhesive and sprinkling glitter afterwards.

I would also add that our kitten was still climbing the tree at three yrs old, so may not be a long term solution!

You can't not have a tree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

but i will have a tree seeker, just a cardboard one :P

sorry but its a crap idea for your main tree. for a smaller or second tree yes but not for your main.

see reasons for not being able to have a tree this year.... its either something like this or no tree

i saw the reasons.

any suggestions on alternatives dance ?

It is a great idea witchywoo, bet your ds will love making & decorating the tree.

I did something like this year before last with dc for their room. We made it green by doing (their) handprints and footprints all over - was v cute! Was lovely seeing it again last year.

(We have had hated artificial one in living room too... 18mth old fine last year... not sure about kittens )

Of course you don't have to have a "proper" tree. Do whatever you want. I think it sounds ace :)

Sounds like a great idea, I might nick it! Esp love the pva glue and glitter suggestion. DD was 2 last christmas and we had a whale of time making salt dough decorations, mince pies with edible glitter, finger print snowmen...it was a fab month of messy craft and the thing I'm most excited about this year. Enjoy, I'm sure your DS will!

Decorate the cat instead

I like your idea OP. However, why not have a real tree in the garden and decorate it?

Lovely idea and wish I thought of something similar last year.

would love to tulpe but i live in a flat and dont have a garden, well, i do... technically i own the front little garden bit but its open and we have rather nasty neihbours who would think nothing of destroying it :(

oh the kitty would not be pleased with me whomoved can just see his face now lol