There are a few Christmas decor trends that I love and love to incorporate: the tabletop tree and a non-traditional color palette. This summer-friendly Ladybug Christmas Tree let me indulge in both of those loves!
I love to come up with themes and decorate for Christmas all year long, but it definitely doesn’t mean that I’m immune to seasons. I feel like you can definitely tell that this tree was concocted during the warmer months. There’s something really lovely about bring a bit of summer into winter as well. I also follow several Australian Christmas accounts, and since their Christmas celebrations always take place in the summer this felt a little like a Christmas down under.
Since it’s summer, that also means no childcare for my very active 4 year old. Since my income-making job is still happening and I’ve got a preschooler bouncing off the walls, my time for crafting Christmas trees dries up faster than a pine tree in July. So, if you also find yourself short on decorating time, I highly recommend a tabletop Christmas tree. There’s, frankly, just less to do!
Bug Making for A Ladybug Christmas Tree
I will admit I’m not a bug person. But I do have a few exceptions: ladybugs, butterflies, moths, and crickets. The “pretty” bugs, if you will. So making a ladybug felt like a non-gross task. And, I decided to skew them more “cute” than anatomical.
Supplies for diy ladybugs
- styrofoam eggs
- paperclay
- eyelets
- floral wire
- acrylic paint
- modge podge
Quick Instructions for Christmas Ornament Ladybugs
- Cut your foam eggs in half. I have a hot wire cutter that I bought from Amazon for like $15 that works great for cutting foam. But if you don’t have one, don’t buy it just for this. Instead, use a table knife or tightly serrated kitchen knife. These eggs are small enough that it won’t be too much trouble.
- Cover your half eggs in a light layer of paperclay. This was my first foray into paperclay, and I’m obsessed! It was so easy to work with. If you need to smooth anything all you have to do is get it wet. It’s super forgiving. And it dries so quickly.
- Add antennae and eyelet. While the clay is still wet insert an eyelet in the top of the most narrow part of the half egg. You can also use small cuts of floral wire to look like antennae. However, if I was making these again, I think I’d skip this step. It was kind of a hassle and I don’t think it really shows up that much anyway.
- Paint your ladybugs. After the clay has dried, paint your little ladybugs.
- Cover with Modge Podge. To give them a nice glossy glow like an ornament (and a little like a bug), spread on a light layer of Modge Podge and let dry.
Congrats! Now you’ve got a loveliness of ladybugs. (That’s what a group of ladybugs is actually called! Isn’t that completely delightful?)
More Tabletop & Colorful Christmas Trees
Decorating so many Christmas trees (especially on a budget) usually means that going for a tabletop tree is the best bet if I want any hope of completing it. So I’m here to advocate for tabletop trees! If you’re wanting to add more Christmas in your home or more creative Christmas decor, test the waters with a tabletop tree. All of the decorating rules still apply, but you’re working on a smaller surface area. Some of my personal favorites that I’ve shared on the blog are my Nancy Drew Christmas Tree, an Owl Tree complete with Nest, one that utilized my collection of Taper Candles, and another that housed my collection of Heirloom Santa Heads from my dad.
I’m also big on branching out from the traditional red and green Christmas palette. You don’t even have to branch out completely, you can simply swap one of those traditional colors for another. For instance, this Ladybug Christmas Tree still has a lot of the traditional red but gets an energy boost from the pink!
I hope your holiday is full of sunshine, be it literal or metaphorical. And if you need to borrow a little, please feel free to add some loveliness with this Ladybug Christmas Tree.
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Make merrie with this little freebie
Download this bow SVG cut file - on me! Perfect for ornaments, garlands, or gift tags.
