Welcome back to the second installment of our festive tree-decorating journey! After the enthusiastic reception of our initial setup, we’re thrilled to share the vibrant culmination of our holiday vision. For those who joined us previously, you might recall our exciting quest to assemble our pre-lit artificial tree, only to encounter a minor hiccup – a mischievous strand of lights stubbornly refusing to illuminate. But fear not, fellow decorators! The solution was simpler than anticipated, involving a quick listen for the tell-tale buzzing bulb and a swift replacement with one of the handy spares thoughtfully provided with the tree. With our tree now sparkling from top to bottom, the real fun began: ornament selection.
This year, we embarked on a delightful departure from our usual elegant white, glass, and silver aesthetic, which you might have seen in past holiday showcases. Perhaps it was the whimsical influence of a certain citrus-inspired pregnancy craving, but an unexpected yearning for bold, bright hues suddenly took hold. Out of the blue, I found myself drawn to the invigorating energy of bright oranges, zesty lime greens, and sunny lemon yellows. And just like that, a dazzling new color scheme for our Christmas tree was born! In this post, we’re excited to showcase a harmonious blend of carefully selected store-bought ornaments alongside a collection of charming DIY creations that we whipped up on a budget, adding unique character to our tree. Oh, and for those on “bump watch,” stick around for a little peek at the baby belly at the end!
The Big Reveal: Our Citrus-Infused Holiday Tree Comes to Life
To fully immerse yourselves in the spirit of our decorating adventure, we’ve captured the entire process in a delightful video. It’s the perfect way to see our vision transform from concept to reality, complete with a joyful soundtrack to get you in the holiday mood.
For those who might be at work or simply prefer a quick visual rundown without pressing play, here’s a glimpse of our magnificent tree, now gloriously “citrus-ified”! It’s adorned with an abundance of vibrant orange and lime green ornaments, many of which were incredible clearance finds at Michael’s. But the true heart of our theme lies in the clever array of DIY ornaments we crafted ourselves. These handmade accents truly underscore our deep affection for all things lemon and lime—a theme that holds special significance, having been the playful motif for our own backyard wedding. The strategic pops of orange against the rich green of the tree create a super festive and incredibly fun finished product, radiating warmth and cheer throughout our home.
Crafting Natural Elegance: Our DIY Dried Citrus Ornaments
While glittering store-bought ornaments certainly have their place, we were eager to infuse our tree with some unique, handmade charm. It was John who brilliantly conceived the idea of creating “natural” accents by drying slices of oranges and lemons and transforming them into stunning ornaments. I absolutely loved it! Seriously, he’s often the mastermind behind these creative endeavors, in case you haven’t noticed his genius.
Not only was this project a wonderfully unexpected way to introduce more of that festive citrus color to our tree, but it also proved to be incredibly budget-friendly. Our entire investment for these charming decorations amounted to just a few dollars for two oranges and three lemons from the local grocery store. This simple, affordable craft allowed us to create dozens of unique ornaments, proving that holiday decorating doesn’t have to break the bank to be beautiful and impactful.
Our Simple Step-by-Step Guide to Dried Citrus Ornaments
To our delight, a quick search for “dried citrus ornaments tutorial” online yielded several straightforward guides. We were thrilled to find one that was incredibly simple to follow, making this DIY project accessible for anyone. Here’s how we brought our vision to life:
Step 1: Precision Slicing for Perfect Ornaments
The first crucial step involves carefully slicing your chosen citrus fruits. We aimed for uniform quarter-inch slices. Consistency in thickness is key here, as it ensures that the slices dry evenly in the oven, preventing some pieces from burning while others remain under-dried. Using a sharp knife and a steady hand can make this process quite meditative, and the fresh, zesty aroma that fills your kitchen is an instant mood lifter.
Step 2: The Art of Slow Baking for Lasting Beauty
Once sliced, arrange your citrus on a cookie sheet. Ideally, a cookie rack provides better air circulation for even drying, but if you don’t have one, a standard cookie sheet works just fine – we certainly made do! Bake the slices in an oven set between 225 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 2-3 hours. The trick here is patience and vigilance. It’s essential to check on them frequently to prevent any scorching. To encourage drying rather than singeing, we found it helpful to crack the oven door occasionally, allowing some of the built-up moisture and heat to escape. This low-and-slow method gently dehydrates the fruit, preserving its color and form beautifully, while also filling your home with an absolutely delightful, natural citrus fragrance – an unexpected bonus of this holiday craft!
The Radiant Results: Oranges vs. Lemons
After a few hours of careful baking and frequent checks, we were rewarded with a bounty of gorgeously dried orange slices. Their translucent quality and vibrant, preserved color were absolutely stunning, and we couldn’t wait to hang them on our tree.
The lemon slices, while still charming, were marginally less uniform. They tended to cook less evenly, and the seeds, once dried, were a bit less aesthetically pleasing. If you’re looking for an ultra-simple and stress-free project, we’d recommend focusing primarily on oranges. However, it wasn’t a total loss for the lemons! We still found some truly pretty lemon slices that dried beautifully, resembling delicate pieces of stained glass, which we happily incorporated into our display.
The Finishing Touches: Hanging Your Homemade Treasures
Once cooled, transforming these dried slices into ornaments was effortless. We simply threaded them onto elegant silver ornament hooks, which we picked up for a few dollars at Pottery Barn. These subtle silver hooks are, in our opinion, a touch more refined than the standard green wire ones often found at general stores like Target or CVS, adding a sophisticated flair to our delicious-looking decorations. The dried citrus ornaments are especially eye-catching when illuminated by the tree lights. We discovered a clever trick: by hanging them a few inches in front of a white bulb, they achieve a sweet, ethereal “glowing” effect that truly brings them to life. This project quickly became our favorite DIY ever, yielding dozens of unique, beautiful ornaments for just a few bucks.
*Bonus Tip: We’ve heard through the grapevine that the natural scent of citrus can be quite effective at discouraging curious cats from climbing your Christmas tree. So, whether you have a faux or natural tree that you’d like to protect from playful feline attacks, these aromatic dried citrus slices might just be your purr-fect solution – a functional and beautiful addition!
Beyond Dried Slices: Incorporating Faux Fruit for Fullness
Whimsical Faux Lemons: Adding Playful Pops of Yellow
To further enhance our quirky citrus theme and inject more vibrant hits of yellow, we acquired three dozen faux lemons. We stumbled upon two large plastic tubs of these delightful foam lemons for only $8 each at Ben Franklin – a fantastic bargain! Transforming them into “ornaments” was surprisingly simple. We used green floral wire, specifically the “v-shaped” variety, which we purchased on a spool for a mere 99 cents at the craft store. We gently inserted one end of the wire into each foamy faux lemon, creating a secure attachment. Then, it was a matter of winding the wire around the ends of various tree branches, securing each lemon in place. This technique offered a wonderful complement to our hanging ornaments, as these faux lemons appeared to be “sitting” naturally on the branch tips, adding an appealing depth and dimension to the tree. The result was effortless, cheerful, and almost mouthwateringly fresh, don’t you think? Again, it might be the pregnancy talking, but I genuinely feel like I could snack on an entire lemon every day!
Unexpected Accents: Green Pears Join the Citrus Party
Adding another layer of charm, we also incorporated some beautiful green pears that we had serendipitously picked up from Target during an after-Christmas sale last year. Initially intended as vase filler (you can spot a little pear in the bottom right corner of the photo below, showcasing their original purpose), these pears proved to be perfect for our playful theme. We simply tied a loop of glittering silver ribbon to each of their stems, creating an instant hanger. While not technically citrus, their “edible” aesthetic and their lovely green hue fit perfectly with our vibrant green, orange, and yellow color scheme, enhancing the whimsical, fresh feel of our tree.
Our Completed Citrus Christmas Tree: A Symphony of Color and Joy
And there you have it – the comprehensive rundown of our Christmas tree decorating, complete with all the homemade “ornaments” fashioned from an eclectic mix of repurposed vase filler, charming faux fruit, and fragrant real fruit. This year’s tree is truly a labor of love, bursting with creativity and personal touches.
We absolutely adore the punchy colors, which, by happy coincidence, integrate seamlessly with our living room’s existing decor thanks to our cheerful lemon-yellow rug. More importantly, we cherish the overwhelmingly happy and vibrant vibe that this citrus-themed tree brings into our entire home, setting the perfect mood for the ho-ho-holidays. Get ready for more seasonal decorating posts, along with our eagerly anticipated roundup of fantastic, budget-friendly holiday gifts, coming your way very soon!
Join the Conversation: Share Your Holiday Decorating Stories!
But enough about our festive endeavors – we’re absolutely eager to hear all about your holiday decor traditions and innovations! Do you have an exciting new color scheme that you’re just itching to debut this year, perhaps inspired by an unexpected craving or a fresh design idea? Or do you faithfully return to a tried-and-true “theme” on your tree every year that never fails to bring a smile to your face? We’re curious about those who embrace the beauty of having no specific theme at all – what guides your eclectic choices? Is anyone out there still delighting in a classic popcorn garland or crafting delicious edible candy cane ornaments? We’d love to hear your unique stories, tips, and traditions! Do tell us all about them in the comments below.
Looking for More Holiday Inspiration?
Psst- If you’re craving even more holiday decorating ideas and entertaining tips to get you through the season, be sure to check out some of our past favorites! Dive into our guide to setting a festive holiday table, explore our previous Christmas tree themes, discover ideas for adding simple holiday sparkle, get inspired by creative ornamental ideas, find the perfect gift ideas for your loved ones, meet Frosty the Starfish for beachy holiday vibes, learn creative gift wrapping techniques, enjoy some festive decor humor, and explore tips for stylish holiday fillers. These posts are sure to tide you over until we share even more exciting content in the coming weeks!
Update: For all our savvy shoppers and decor enthusiasts, you can easily check out all of our favorite holiday decor finds right here – many of which are fantastic steals under $15! Happy decorating!