On Christmas morning my sister handed me a box.
It was wrapped in paper and tied up with string. I opened the box and pushed back the corner of the tissue paper and this twinkly, glittery star was the first thing that caught my eye.
Glitter?
Chandelier prisms?
Eagerly, I reached in to pull back the rest of the paper when I heard my sister say, “Wait a minute.”
“Before you open your present, I have to tell you the real gift. I have to tell you the most amazing, awesome, incredible thing about this handmade present that makes it all the more special. The thing that will make you treasure it like the wise men showed up with it on your doorstep.”
“What?” I said. “What could be better than sparkles and glitter covered wire and a star that twinkles?”
She looked at me and laughed out loud.
“I couldn’t find another person who had made this on Pinterest.”
An un-Pinterested project?
Seriously?
Is that even possible?
Hasn’t everything in the world already been created and made and photographed and pinned?
Could it?
Would it?
Might it be true?
I tore open the paper and pushed aside the rest of the wrapping.
And then? With great care and reverence, I lifted out the gift.
This one-of-a-kind handmade present with all its layers and sparkles and worn vintage patina.
My eyes opened wide and I jumped up and down and ran to give my sister a hug when I SAW THIS.
A tree made entirely out of vintage sugar bowl lids.
The patina.
The vintage feel.
The layers of sugar bowl lids with the finials still attached.
She had challenged herself this year not to buy any more craft supplies. She had a closet full of them and she wanted to use what she had and created something for all of us from the forgotten recesses of her craft closet.
So she made trees.
She made my brother a tree out of lineolum floor chips. She made my sister a tree out of tiny origami folded paper pieces. She made my other brother a tree completely out of game pieces.
But me?
She knew I was all about vintage and silver and so she took parts of silver pieces and made a tree.
I asked her how she did it and she explained there were tiny plumbing parts in between each of the finials.
Each plumbing part or bolt was designed to fit the top of the final perfectly so it could be glued with epoxy to the next layer.
Then she just layered the lids one on top of each other to form the tree.
The very base of the tree had its own lid, too.
A crystal sugar bowl lid.
Tiny and sparkling and holding up all the silver vintage lids that made up the rest of the tree.
At the very top she attached one more tiny sugar bowl lid and wired on a sparkly chandelier ornament.
I love the tree from one sparkling end to another.
I love the vintage and the silver and tiny cut-outs where spoons of sugar used to rest.
But most of all?
I love a sister with an imagination big enough to come up with a tree that even Pinterest hasn’t invented yet. 🙂
PS I love you Whitney. You are a Christmas tree-inventing rock star. 🙂
So fun.......I’m pretty sure I’m your long lost sister who fell out of the wagon train as you crossed through Kansas (so your sister can send me a tree also!!!). I was raised by raised by wolves who taught me how to quilt. When I grew up, I left the wolf family behind but I kept my “crafty” ways. Merry Christmas to you and your family! I enjoy your posts very much. Sincerely, Your Long Lost (and much older) Sister
That is the true meaning of Christmas.
I LOVE THIS!
How wonderful and unique! But the sugar bowls, what will she make with them?!
your fam is so talented...and your brother? What pray tell did he make you. Ya filthy animal. , just in case you thought I turned mean, that's from Home Alone.
That is adorable! I share your love of old silver with patina. Made by your sister makes it so special!
It’s so fun, and inventive, and perfectly beautiful! I love it! Your sister is as talented as you are! I want one, too! 🎄✨
Wow, super sweet, and I don’t mean because they are sugar bowl lids! Could you please show us the other trees she made and gifted to your other family members? I so love your posts. : )
That's exactly what I wanted to ask too. And as the others have also said, you are so blessed to be so loved by your sister/family.
Always look forward to see what your creative family makes for Christmas. Please share photos.
So lovely! I love how she made trees for everyone!
That is absolutely gorgeous. Whitney is an artist! Love it!
What an amazing gift! A new perfect ornament for your new home, new life. You are blessed.
A-MAZ-ING. And I predict it'll be all over Pinterest now! :P
Magnificent! ;)
Handmade gifts are simply the best gifts ever and this one is amazing!
It's so pretty!! I was thinking the same thing as Jennie though - could you please show us the other trees? I can't picture a linoleum tree.
Oh, wow! What a great, creative, one-of-a-kind use for parts! Way to go, Whitney! Amazing! 😍
Karianne your family amazes me. Whitney is a keeper,please feature some more sibling creations.
I love the handmade gifts you all give each other. Truly amazing! Especially one not found on Pinterest! Just sitting here holding my breath until I see all of those other amazing gifts...don’t mind me. I’ll just be sitting here hanging out by my Christmas tree! Never ready to take it all down!! Thank you for sharing. Always.
It's beautiful!!!
Beautiful and oh how very special. This family has more than one Rock Star!!
Just beautiful!!!!
Wow, as much as I wish you would adopt me into your family......I would definitely be the lone wolf writing, " IOU-a-Christmas-gift-as-soon-as-I-can-come-up-with-one-I-could-be-proud-of!", then placing it in a gift bag..... She is amazing for sure....but then, who among your family members isn't? Thanks for sharing, and I, like so many others, look forward to seeing the other handmade gifts! Happy Day and Happy New Year, Little One.
That is one perfect, very special gift! At times like this, I’m very jealous being an only child! Lol.
What blessing to be part of such a talented and generous family. You are a very lucky lady! May your New Year be filled with joy (and crafts)! I am certain I am not the only one that would love to see the other trees that your sister created.
Wow.... just.... wow!
BTW... consider this now.... PINNED!
I love this too! What a loving creative sister!
Love Whitney’s individual recycled plan for each of your siblings. But love your silver patina sparkle tree the most. Definitely the true meaning of Christmas and from the ❤️.
Beautiful!!!!
Incredible !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I look forward to your after Christmas posts.... because I know you are going to show off those amazing.... one of a kind ...made from "Scratch".... family gifts !!!! Awesome !!!! Merry Christmas to you..... :)
How incredibly beautiful and thoughtful! Would love to see pics of your sibling’s trees, too!
This piece gets to stay on display ALL year. Find a shelf in the new home. You are blessed!
WOW! WOW! WOW! Amazing and so creative ! So you ! Whitney nailed it !
A true gift of love
Your sister is the best!!!! I always wait to see this part of your Christmas. It is my favorite! The rest of the gifts from them? Thank you. Happy New Year!
Gorgeous!!! may try it with all my vintage floral frogs.
WOW!! Just WOW!!
"He puzzled and puzzed till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. Maybe Christmas, he thought... doesn't come from a store." This is such a beautiful and thoughtful gift! You are blessed to have a sitter who is both talented and loving!
Such a thoughtful gift with a very gifted and talented sister! Are all member of your family so gifted:? No wonder you have achieved so much - you come from great genes. LOL I think its great your family does this every year. I can only "imagine" what it felt like to have Christmas with your families in your house that you grew up! God is good! Enjoy your blog so much and am happy for all you have accomplished this year and all the rest as well.
Beautiful! I am so curious to see pics of the other trees she made for your siblings? Is it possible to show us these also? Thanks
Wonderfully creative! I love it! I would also like to see the other trees!
WOW!! What a great gift! So creative and unique. You, girlie, are so very lucky to have such a talented family!! I want one... 😄. It's pretty enough to keep out all year long!! Happy New Year, KariAnne, to you and the family..
I'm glad you told us your sister made it because I was thinking you were mistaken about the base being sugar bowl lids...I thought they looked like candle stick bases! So now I'm thinking find myself some candlesticks and cut the bases off and make a tree! Never would have seen that in my mind. Please share the other trees and what your brother made you.
I love the tree but the story is even better. This Christmas I decided to make ribbon tutus for several great nieces. I figured it all out and got started, thinking I was so smart. Let me check on Pinterest and see if anyone else is this creative....everyone! Lol
What a great Christmas tree your sister made you! Thinking outside the box for sure. It is so special. You come from a very creative and talented family!
Any gift that is made and given in love is a treasure...but by your sister, well that’s over the moon!!! Happy New Year to you & your lovely family Karianne..✨
What a wonderful gift. I'd love to see the Others.
Ludicrous. This has just pushed me over the edge.
Wow, just Wow!
Such a treasure, KariAnne! Your tree is just so unique -- and beautiful! Enjoy! Each time you look at it, you will be blessed with precious memories of your dear sister! HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and your dear family.
It takes my breath away, Karianne! "And the heart said, "Give it a try"". What a beautiful creation!!! Thank you for sharing! Happy New Year to you and your wonderful family!!!
Oh how creative and beautiful! I wait every Christmas to see what gifts you get from your family. They are always awesome! Thanks for sharing. Love your blog!
This is absolutley gorgeous! AND the fact that she had that many sugar bowl lids in her stash! LOL I would love to see the other trees she created.
It is beautiful, and you can be sure, it WILL be all over Pinterest now! 'Sure would like to see the other trees, too. 'Any pictures?
Can hardly wait to see these all over Pinterest and know that I saw the original one! 😊. Love it and the creativity behind it.
Beautiful. I hope it's been pinned now. Very fun.
BRAVO to your amazing and clever sister Whitney - that is FABULOUS! It will be pinned to death for SURE! Well done, sis! ♥♥♥
That's just brilliant in every way!! xoxo
How are you doing Sis?Lol It reminds me of our Christmases growing up. Six girls--not much money, but we made each other gifts that we cherish still!!!
What a wonderful gift! Handmade gifts from the heart are so special. My sister is my best friend and gifts from her mean so much. I know you feel the same. Sisterhood, creativity, and sparkly trees--there's nothing better.