Get ready for Christmas floral arrangement

I need to remind you to take inventor of items you will need for my favorite stuff to make for Christmas besides eating cookies and chocolate during the Holiday season.

It is a Christmas pine arrangement, either made out of fake Christmas tree branches or my favorites "real pine tree" branches. It leaves all the rooms you put it in with that heavenly smell of the season.
Here is a list of items you will need when the trees arrive on the lots. I have posted some pic's of the filler I like to add to my vase full of pine branches

Check this picture out of the vase; I have used in the past. It looks ugly, if you have one like this and you want it sparkly, use automatic dish washer soap, put a small amount in the vase with hot water, let is sit for a few days. It will look like new, but it is doesn't matter with this project, you are going to put wet foam inside the vase.



I live in So. Cal. so I only know about Christmas tree lots and of course the neighbors pine tree that has lots of branches on it, along with quite lovely pinecones, however, getting a ladder out to reach over the 6 foot block wall is a bit embarrassing to say the least. So I go to Home Depot and buy the bundle of green or go to the florist to buy the darn stuff.

List..........
1 large glass vase or those tall metal vases
1 pkg of wet floral foam (best price is Walmart unless you use a 40% off coupons at the usual crafts stores)
1 set of wire ribbon either you buy as a bow or make it yourself from the ribbon you brought from Costco
2 large fake floral holly bushes or branches with red berries on them.
5 or 6 Christmas picks in bright shiny stuff ( you know much I love shiny items, just love it when added to this project)

These are just some of the ideas, on what you will need.





This is a large arrangement so it can fit on the fireplace hearth or in the front entrance of the door or by the family room TV? Where ever you want something fabulous. This is a type of items your family will think you are soooooo smart and cleaver. I have made these cute florals for friends and family for years. I wanted to make them for my employees when I was working, but my husband said it was very hard to get everything together and have it fresh for them, so I made artificial floral items, so I could control the conditions of situation. You can hardly give your employees some dead stuff?

Lets get gathering up the items we need so when the trees arrive in December we are ready to make them up and look fabulous along with our creations. Come to think of it I added some real mums to the arrangement also. Well, my mind isn't as it use to be so we can make up stuff as we go along. What do you think we can add to this item?

I point to remember, if you want to make this for friends and family, plan ahead and buy all your filler ahead of time. I have brought all my Christmas filler at after-season sales, and found, that if you are going to do this,.... if you wait till 12/26? there will not be anything left.
I have found now days, this stuff goes on sale the week prior to the big day. So put on your Calendar, to check for sales the week of 12/22?

lets do this!!!