Tiny Christmas Trees

The tiny tree and framed Christmas gift card welcoming visitors to my kitchen. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Tiny Christmas Trees

Some of you spent Thanksgiving weekend decorating your big family Christmas tree, one of the many traditions some US families have over Thanksgiving.

There was a time when I did that, then circumstances left me without the time to get a large tree up for several years. That’s where the miniature Christmas trees snuck in, some less than 12 inches tall but ready to quickly add a hint of the holidays to any room.

These tiny trees started several decades ago, when one year we as children decorated a tiny tree for our grandmother who lived in an apartment on the west coast. I can still remember the fun we had making the tiny garland, star tree topper and painting some of the tiny ornaments.

Grandma loved it and wrote us every year thereafter, thanking us for the Christmas tree that fit on her living room table. Her biggest challenge was keeping her cat from playing with the tiny ornaments.

this was my office christmas tree now keeping my framed postcard cats company. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Her tiny tree inspired me to make one for my office desk one year. We used to have an office decorating contest so there was some incentive to do something more than hanging a stocking on a door knob. I didn’t have a lot of room on my desk so I made myself a tiny decorated Christmas tree with tiny apple ornaments. Then it was on the hunt to find ornaments, which I added every year.

Another tiny Christmas tree is very easy, a favorite little Christmas card that finds it way somewhere in my book cases:

This card of dogs and cats around a Christmas tree finds a place somewhere every year; next year I may frame it. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

The most challenging part of making these tiny trees is finding the small ornaments. Thrift shops and hobby shops often offer a complimentary collection although I looking for different ones and mixing and matching.

I also found this charming tiny tree with glass charms at a local thrift store. The tiny size is perfect for a table ornament as long as paws don’t play with the glass charms.

Tiny Christmas tree with glass charms decorating my dining room table. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

And you can make your own from scrap lace and ribbons. These 12 inch trees caught my attention at a local antique mall:

Miniature Christmas trees made out of lace remnants. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Once your tiny trees are decorated, you store them with ornaments on. When ready to use again, they are all set to quickly add the Christmas vibe to any room.

I also have a small collection of salt and pepper shakers that add some whimsy to my kitchen. If you don’t have room for a small tree, look for seasonal salt and pepper shakers. Don’t buy just anyone, you want sets that make you smile like this reindeer balancing an ornament.

the whimsical reindeer holding an ornament is a salt and pepper shaker. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

These tiny trees also make great gifts. Several years ago, I made a tiny Christmas tree for a friend getting married and added little cards with good wishes as ornaments. She recently told me it’s still the first Christmas decoration she sets out when she decorates for the holidays.

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Charlotte