O Christmas Tree

Why not show off your favorite collection on your tree? Or continue the decorating theme of your home with all of your holiday decorations. We've created several that offer plenty of ideas for putting your collectibles to a new use.

Add contrasting texture and color to your tree by inserting broad-leaf evergreens among the boughs. If you live in an area that has mild winters, perhaps you can collect magnolia, elaeagnus, mahonia, or nandina from your own yard. Or purchase salal or eucalyptus from a florist or collect branchlets of dried oak leaves or beech leaves and spray them gold, copper, and silver. On a fresh tree, these branches effectively fill holes and help balance the shape. To duplicate the oversize red mittens, start with plain red oven mitts. Stitch or glue wide ribbon at the opening to make a cuff. Attach a Santa ornament and a bow.

Straw hats and kid gloves dress this tree. You don't need a whole hat collection to adapt the idea; two or three strategically placed bonnets will do the trick. The same holds true for the gloves. Add ribbon streamers and clusters of dried hydrangeas to evoke a garden-party feeling.

Almost anything is fair game when it comes to creating a themed tree. If you have a collection of mismatched teacups and spoons, tie them to the sturdiest branches with ribbons. You can even glue cups to their saucers with dots of hot glue (the cups can be gently pried from the saucers and the glue popped off after the holidays). Check specialty Christmas shops for ornaments in the shape of cakes and petits fours. For a Victorian accent, weave lengths of lace among the branches.