All That Glitters

Total cost--$9.73
large bottle of glitter: $3.50
3 sheets of poster board: $1.50
2 (50-count) light strands: $2
florist foam: $1.23
bottle of glue: $1.50

Use a sheet of poster board for each large topiary. Purchase one extra sheet for the smaller trees. Apply glue to poster board in a swirl pattern, and then sprinkle glitter on glue. Allow glue to dry completely; shake off excess glitter. Staple two ends of poster together to form a cone-shaped treetop. Repeat for more trees.

For the base, use terra-cotta pots you have on hand. Cover each base with moss or greenery from your yard, and wrap strands of lights around it. Cut pieces of florist foam, and place one in each pot; position a 1-inch dowel in the center of the foam, or use sticks from your yard. Balance each treetop poster on the tip of dowel or stick.

Line the mantel with nandina berries and greenery from the yard, and add mini trees. Finally, attach pinecones to ribbon or string, and allow them to dangle from the mantel. --created by Mary Leigh Fitts