Natural Tabletop Christmas Trees

Hot-glue several layers of pistachios in their shells to the ring, then push the wreath onto a dowel and insert it into a planter that has been fitted with a piece of foam.

Glue a dowel to the bottom of a small cardboard box, then cover all sides of the box with rows of cinnamon sticks that have been cut to size.

Red and green peppercorns are hot-glued onto the balls and anchored in a terra-cotta pot that has been painted green, sealed, and fitted with a piece of foam.

For a fresh centerpiece, build a tiered tree with crystal candlesticks and plates. Use a mix of antique and new finds, or purchase clear pieces that match. To make the arrangement dazzle, add rings of boxwood and a mercury-glass bird.

Make this pinecone tree stand out by softening its rugged look. Fill a bucket with bleach, add the pinecones, and let them soak overnight. Then hot-glue the bleached pinecones to a grapevine cone that's glued to a weighted box.

Wrap a spiral-wire topiary with tinsel garland and place it in a pot filled with florist's foam to create this golden beauty.

Antique feather trees can still be found at antiques stores and flea markets. Decorate yours with little mitten shapes, twig stars, or miniature pinecones.

For an elegant decoration, fill a metal urn with florist's foam cut to just below the rim. Hot-glue a giant pinecone atop the foam. Insert greenery stems and wired artificial berries around the base, then hot-glue or place nuts or seedpods to empty spaces in the greens.

A fruit tree is a traditional holiday decoration. This version gets a twist with a vibrant color scheme and ivy leaves rather than pine greenery. Make it from real fruit, or simply hot-glue artificial fruits onto a foam form, then fill in the gaps with smaller pieces and silk leaves.

Decorations with a consistent theme make a graphic statement on a tabletop tree. To show off the ornaments, choose a tree with short needles and sparse branches. Don't be afraid to trim boughs to create display space.

For a holiday tree with a country twist, start by shaping cones out of ordinary chicken wire. Next, insert artificial roses or use fresh roses in water tubes. A base of fresh apples adds another punch of red.

Fresh bay leaves -- they curl naturally as they dry -- turned upside down give a fairly good impression of a holiday tree. Pin them onto a form and top with a simple star. Artificial berries at the base add a pop of color and texture.

Spoons become adorable tree ornaments when you paint Santa faces on them, then attach them to a small tree with raffia bows.

Purchase live topiary trees from a florist, garden center, or grocery store. Since ivy branches lack the heft of pine trees, use lightweight decorations. Curls of sheer ribbon add to the holiday look but won't make leaves droop.

An aromatic alternative to pine, a rosemary tree brings the heady scent of the herb garden indoors for the holidays. In warmer climates, place your tree outside next to the door.