PHOTOS: How to decorate a Christmas “Quarantree”
One of our Red & Black photographers is putting presents under a “Quarantree” this year. Here is how you can have yourself a merry little COVID-themed Christmas tree as well.
Before you begin, you will need the craft supplies listed below. Because glitter and paint is involved, an easy-to-clean workspace is recommended.
Supplies:
- Christmas tree
- Scissors
- Tape
- Styrofoam ball
- Grey paint
- Paint brush
- Red pipe cleaners
- Ornament hooks
- Empty hand sanitizer bottles
- Glitter
- Green pipe cleaners
- Colored paper
- Elastic cord or string
- Glove
- Tape measure
- Toilet paper
Follow along with the instructions in the photo captions to create your own tree:
The first ornament you will be making for your “Quarantree” resembles the COVID-19 virus. This ornament will take the longest amount of time but will set the theme for your COVID-themed tree. You will need styrofoam balls, grey paint, a paint brush, red pipe cleaners and ornament hooks.
Once you paint the styrofoam balls grey and let them dry, cut up the pipe cleaner and stick the cut pieces in the ball. When you feel you placed enough in the ball, find a space to stick in an ornament hook.
The next ornament for your “Quarantree'' is a decorative hand sanitizer bottle. You will need empty hand sanitizer bottles, glitter and green pipe cleaners. If the bottles are not already empty, start off by emptying the sanitizer into another bottle to prevent waste.
After you fill the empty hand sanitizer bottles with glitter, wrap a green pipe cleaner around the lid and attach an ornament hook. Just like the COVID-19 virus, glitter spreads easily and quickly, therefore, filling the bottles over a trash can or paper towel is recommended.
As many places mandate masks, so should your COVID-themed Christmas tree. You will need a sheet of paper of any color of your choice, elastic cord or string, tape and scissors.
In order to make the creases seen on many common masks, fold your paper accordion style. Rather than having each fold display an equal amount of paper, you will need to increase the amount of paper between each crease for it to line up correctly. After folding, tape each fold so that it sticks together as a whole. Finally, flip over the mask and tape cut pieces of elastic cord or string to the back of the mask.
Before decorating your tree with your hand-crafted ornaments, wrap your tree in a tape measure garland to symbolize the importance of social distancing.
To make the “Quarantree” star, fill a rubber glove with air, then tie it off.
Now that all of your ornaments are complete, you’re ready to hang them. You can even add toilet paper and tissue for a COVID-themed tree skirt as a final touch.