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Super Simple Christmas Swags End up with too much tree for your house, again this year? They always look so tiny in the woods. Don't toss the trimmings. The extra branches can make for quick and easy swags. If you put up a fake tree, just keep an eye out for neighbors hauling in trees, that are clearly too tall, and maybe you can talk them out of a branch or two. Lay them out... ...with the cut ends overlapping in the middle. Layer on two or three branches per side, until you reach a nice thickness. Cut a piece of twine about six inches long. Slide it under the center of the branches... ...and use it to tie the entire bundle securely together. Finish the whole thing off by securing a bow to the front (I picked mine up for 99 cents at Kmart). You will need a few small hooks under your window... And, if it's a second story window, you'll need someone willing to climb a ladder, to hang the swag, while you observe from the ground to make sure it's centered (that's a very important job). And, unless you want a droopy swag... ...you might also want to tie the branches together with twine, near the edges. ...preferably before hanging. You can also tie several branches together, with the cut ends up... ...for a door swag. You could even get really fancy, and tie a few pine cones to the branches. I'm debating whether or not it's worth another trip up the ladder (as you might imagine the Man of the House has decided plain and simple is just fine with him). Plain and simple can be good - right?
 

November 26, 2011 at 10:12 PM 
Those are beautiful! I don't know why, but every time I try to do something like that, it turns out looking like just some branches stuck under the window, but when other people do it, it looks beautiful.

November 27, 2011 at 7:19 AM 
That is so pretty. My Mom used to always cut off a few branches from the tree to put up on the mantle around the nativity set.

November 27, 2011 at 2:26 PM 
Great idea. looks nice.

November 27, 2011 at 7:30 PM 
Your house looks gorgeous with these decorations. It looks pretty good without too!

November 28, 2011 at 8:11 PM