Monday, November 16, 2009

Dyeing Bottle Brush Trees


Hi everyone! Last year I did a "shiny and glittery" Christmas. This year's theme is "trees". So I'll be working on making all kinds of trees for the next few weeks. Look what you can do with those really inexpensive bags of bottle brush trees!




You can bleach them and then dye them any color you want! Here's Sarah's tutorial for making Halloween trees at Making Projiks. I think that she's been doing this as far back as 2006 so I do believe this is her original idea (correct me if I'm wrong).







This bag has 21 trees in it in several sizes and most craft stores have them on sale now or you can use your 40% off coupon. Be sure you get this one. I only wanted a few trees last year and I got a smaller bag - they looked the same-after using a gallon of bleach I realized they were plastic not bottle brush! They never bleached!




Here's how: Step 1 - I poured about a 1/4 of a bottle of bleach into a deep container and added some hot water and soaked the trees for just a few minutes (swished them around). I didn't have any trouble bleaching them but if you do try a second soaking. Be sure you wear gloves!!





Step 2. I rinsed the trees and let them dry over night.





You can leave them this color and pretty them up anyway you like. Or...you can dye them!





Here's one in some red Rit dye. I used the liquid dye. I just poured some in the glass bowl and added some hot water. It absorbed the dye really quickly!





How cute are they! Yellow and red bottle brush trees at the fraction of what it would cost to buy them retail! Plus you're free to choose whatever color works for your decor. You could do pink, or baby blue, black, multi colored...whatever!!





Then after you're done dyeing them you can leave them as they are or you can cute them up!




Some I sprayed with spray adhesive and then used some Martha Stewart glitter others I added some "ornaments".




I have a few more to do and Wednesday I'll show you where I put mine! Let me know if you try this. I'd love to see what you do with them!



74 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh man! Why didn't I think of that? I sold a great big bag of bottle brush trees at my garage sale because they were green and my decorating has become more of the silver and white theme. Never ever would have thought to bleach them! You are the cleverest Manuela!

Jane

southerninspiration said...

So, so cute and clever, Manuela!

Suzanne

Heather said...

Very cute project. I did some glitter fall projects and now I am looking forward to some glitter Christmas crafts! Thanks for sharing the idea!

Anonymous said...

So beautiful! What a fantastic project!xx

Sarah said...

How clever of you to do this. I've never used bottle brush trees. I remember them from my childhood. I'll have to think of project to use some of these. Thanks for the inspiration! ~ Sarah

Little Penpen said...

adorable... thanks for the idea!

Jen @ Halo Headaches said...

Awesome! What a great theme as well.

Holly said...

I never in a million years would have thought to do this! How cool!

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

Manuela! What a great idea!! I LOVE bottle brush trees!!! I don't know why but I do!!

I am going to have to do this!!

Lou Cinda :)

Darlene said...

Those turned out so CUTE! Love that idea!

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Wow - what a great project. They turned out so pretty.

june@craftyniche said...

How cute is that!?!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

How wonderful they turned out! What a great idea.

julie - eab designs said...

Oh, thanks for sharing! I want to make some off white trees with some glass glitter. I'm off to Michael's this afternoon. Hope I buy the right kind! :)

Lois Christensen said...

What a great idea!!! I love how pretty they look colored!!!

Julie said...

Oh how super creative you are! Love your idea, and you colors. Your nest will be beautiful this Christmas. AND I love your pedestal at the end of the post.:-)
Thanks for sharing!

Rhonda said...

very cute!

I learn something everytime I come to your blog.

The Old Parsonage said...

Love the concept, but I haven't seen the trees in bags. Where did you get yours? We have an AC Moore and a Michaels near us.

Thanks!
Leann

Cathy~Mille Fleur said...

Oh...you are a wonder!!! I love how these turned out...the white and the colors are adorable!!! I love the trees sitting on the pretty green tray...so pretty!!!

Enjoy!!!
XOXO
Cathy

Stacey said...

Your trees are the cutest Christmas idea I have seen in forever. I love it! Thank you for sharing. Hugs!

welcometomyfrontporch said...

Ohhhhh I LOVE this idea!

Julie Harward said...

WHAT A SWEET IDEA!!! I always loved these when I was a child..thanks for sharing such a cute idea..I just loved it! Come say hi :D

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Very cute! I like how you can make them any color you want with this method. How do you keep the base from not turning the color of the dye? Is it because they are plastic and don't absorb the dye or does the base pop off? Can't wait to see where you put them. They seem to be just the right size for tucking into shelves and tablescapes.

Unknown said...

The things you do are always beautiful. I like you're colors very cheery and the cake stand is gorgous. Linda

Nadine said...

These are adorable! Thank you for sharing. I am looking forward to seeing photos of your house all decked-out for Christmas!

Blessings!
~Nadine

Jennifer said...

How neat! I have never used bottle-brush trees in my Christmas decorating before, but I really like them. Such a great idea!

Happy Monday to you!
xo

Heather said...

what a neat idea. very cute!

kayleeg2005 said...

I looooovvvvve this idea!!
your so inspirational, thanks for the lovely blog, it's great, I
just love everything about it!!
Can't wait to read your next post!!

Sandy said...

Love the idea! so cute!!

Kim @ Starshine Chic said...

I got me a bag from Big Lots that I'm going to try this with. I hope they aren't plastic. Even if they don't bleach, I still like them green. It's just I prefer white/off white right now.

Its So Very Cheri said...

I would love for you to post this to my new mon. party Its So Very Creative

Cheri

Simply Heart And Home said...

What a wonderful idea! And they are so cheerfully colorful!

Kathleen Grace said...

Cute, cute, cute! I got a bag of these last year clearanced out after Christmas, gosh I hope they arent plastic! I may try this, I have heard you can dye them with Koolaid too!

Brenda said...

Those are awesome! I love the colors you are using. I cannot wait to see what you do with them.

Brenda Pruitt said...

Manuela, this is absolutely darling! I just love to look at your yellow and red bottle trees on your pretty tray!
Brenda

cindy said...

Love this idea! I'm gonna give it a try. They'd look so pretty under a cloche, no? Thanks for the idea.
peace.

Unknown said...

They are so pretty, great idea!!!

Richella Parham said...

How cute are these? What a good idea!

I mentioned you in my post today, Manuela. Stop by if you get a chance--I'm having a fun giveaway to celebrate my 100th post! You're such an inspiration to me!

Simple Home said...

You take such great photos for explaining exactly how you're doing everything. It helps so much. These turned out so cute. I love the way they look in your house too.
Blessings,
Marcia

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Oh how cute and how easy is that! Thanks for sharing this. laurie

Annabelle said...

Oh, how cute! I didn't know you could bleach & redye them. :)

Anny said...

I think I got a cavity just looking at these!

GlorV1 said...

Hi Manuela. At first I thought you meant the "real" bottle brush branches. I was going to run outside and look at my bottle brush tree and then I realized your were talking about store bought. How very clever indeed. Great idea.

Betsy Brock said...

This looks very fun! I'm going to look for a bag!

Susie said...

These are just too cute!! I am inspired to make some!! Thanks!

Stephanie O. said...

Very cute!

Sharon said...

Those are too cute Manuela! Thanks for the idea :)

Have a wonderful evening!

Sharon

Mimi Sue said...

I'm so glad you posted this. I tried to bleach some last year, left it in the bleach OVERNIGHT and they were still green in the morning! I gave up. Glad to know it was the wrong tree and not me. Love the colors you used. Mimi

Miss Janice said...

Love the little trees!

Jenni said...

Hi Manuela,
I love this idea, and can't wait to try it! I love how yours turned out, and think they look so cute! :) I think I will have to try making both bleached without added color and colorful ones too! :)

Thank you for sharing how you made yours! :)

Camille said...

What a cute idea...they look terrific!

Sherri said...

What a CUTE idea! I love the colors and added touches to them. Great tutorial.

Julie said...

They are so cute! I would have never of come up with that!

Anonymous said...

You never cease to amazing me with your creativity! I love this post! What a great idea!

Swing by my blog when you get a chance I have an award for you! :)

Kim said...

Very fun! I didn't know that you could buy them in large bags -- I'm going to have to start looking more closely!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this post....I'm going to try this.
Excited,
Lady Queenie

Manuela said...

Oh wow! That is so neat!! I love this project. Yours look the best!

Wendy said...

what a great idea! I love the creativity in our world!

Nerm said...

And to think I looked all over last year to get white ones for a table display! I will certainly try this idea, esp w/glitter.
Thanks for the tip. Nerm

Auntie Cake said...

I had just purchased that same pack when I saw your post. I bleached some of my trees, now I am running out to the store to purchase Rit dye. Love the idea, thanks for sharing with us.
Kate

Angie said...

This is such an awesome project! Can't wait to see all your beautiful Christmas decor!

matty said...

So pretty!

matty said...

So pretty!

Nobody Puts Mama In A Corner! said...

So glad you showed us how to do this!!! WOW! The possibilities!!! Love the colors! Love your blog! Coming back soon!
Mama Holli

nina@themissadventuresofnina said...

These are so adorable! I just wanted to say thanks for your sweet comment. I really needed that :)

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Those are so cute! I actually like the white ones too. I have several of these, but I will probably just leave mine green. Love to use them all over. Yours are adorable in your house!

A Southern Rose said...

I love your little trees. They are adorable. Come by...I have an award for you.

Hugs,
Lee Laurie

Natural Mama said...

So elegantly beautiful! And the photography is wonderful! Great idea!

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

Ach!! Absolutely brilliant.
Manuela, you are always thinking and doing. Thank you for generously sharing your multitude of creative ideas!!!
Love,
Tracey xoxo

P.S. I saw a packet of these little trees (green) at Big Lots last week~~I think they were about three dollars for a pack of six. xo

Nobody Puts Mama In A Corner! said...

Hi Manuella! I am a new visitor to your blog and wanted your permission to create a post about you on my blog. Let me know what you think! I love your creations!
Mama Holli

Moore Minutes said...

Really?!! That is such a COOL idea! love it and I really like how you put the trees in the cups, etc.

Its So Very Cheri said...

These are so Awesome and that is why--You've been featured today so go check it out and grab your I've been featured button and proudly display it-you deserve it.
The tree post--feature--is a tree one as well--love them both.
Cheri

Eden Marie said...

I loved this so much! I posted it to my blog to show everyone I know! =]

http://edenmarie44.blogspot.com/2009/12/my-obsession-with-christmas.html

Donna@Conghaile Cottage said...

"I LOVE these"... I Especially LOVE them just bleached out white!!! I'm going to be BLEACHING little trees next few weeks!!! Could it be done in the washing machine???
Hugs, Donna