They — whoever they is — say that “necessity is the mother of all creation.”1 So just what does that have to do with a bottle brush headband?! Well, I found myself lying in bed this morning wondering what to wear for our office’ spirit week, “tree topper” day. My mind searching …. and finding — NOTHING! Then I remembered a PIN from Pinterest and my brain started to go out on a ‘limb’ conceptualizing just how I would bring this tree-mendous idea to fruition – and quickly!
As soon as I arrived at work, I hit the ground running! The clock was ticking for a grand reveal during the team photo, and I already knew I wanted to use small bottle brush trees.
I might be on a bit of a pink kick after my Ladies’ Christmas Tea Tablescape this year, but I was ecstatic to see our pink and ivory bottle brush tree set (1244230) hadn’t sold out yet! I grabbed a set and headed to the craft supply closet for hot glue, felt, ribbon and anything else my little heart desired. With my arms teeming full, I took a moment to formulate a plan. And then, I went to work!
How To Make A Bottle Brush Tree Headband
Bottle Brush Tree Headband
Equipment
- Hot Glue Gun & Glue Sticks
- wire cutters
- scissors
Materials
- 1 Headband
- 1 Set of Miniature Bottle Brush Trees (I used Bronner's 4.5" Pink & Ivory Bottle Brush Tree Set – 1244230)
- Gold Angel Hair Tinsel Strands (1121464)
- Floral Pick Pieces
- Cardboard
- Felt
- Ribbon
- Floral Wire
- Crochet Thread
Instructions
To Prepare
- To begin, decide on a rough layout — how many trees, color sequence etc.
- Next, cut a cardboard platform about the width of your bottle brush tree base. Mine was roughly 1". Length will depend on how many trees you decide to use. Bronner's pink and ivory set comes with 7 trees, I only used 5.
2 Options For Adhering Trees
- OPTION 1: Using hot glue, adhere the tree to the cardboard platform starting from the center. Then add a dab of hot glue to the top, center of the headband and align the bottom of the cardboard to the center tree. Next, cut small notches along the edge, between each tree, This will help the cardboard to form with the headband without adding tension to the glued trees. Finally, add dabs of hot glue beneath each section to adhere.
- OPTION 2: First, cut small slits along the cardboard length to help it arch with the headband. Then, making sure it is centered, adhere the carboard to the top of your headband. (This option will allow you to space the trees more closely.) Once the cardboard is in place, hot glue the trees onto the cardboard platform. Next, I strung crochet thread around the headband and each tree just to be sure the hot glue didn't come loose.
Adding Filler
- Using wire cutters, clip pieces of a floral pick to add as accent pieces. Glue into place, as desired.
- Then, cut a small strip of felt to clue underneath the cardboard. This both helps as an additional layer of adhesion, and provides a little more comfort for your head. I made my strip twice the width of the cardboard so I could have cleaner, finished looking edges.
- It's tinsel time! Bronner's angel hair tinsel makes a perfect filler and adds a whimsical flair. Just be careful when gluing as the hot glue can be … HOT!
- Lastly, loop ribbon with floral wire and twist around each tree base.
Bottle Brush Tree Headband Photos, Step-By-Step
First Step:
Lay the trees out to see how many you want to use and, consequently, which color order you prefer. Syme-tree is key for balance!
Prepare a piece of cardboard by trimming it down to desired size. (The width should cover the diameter of your bottle brush tree base.)
Second Step:
Regardless of which assembly order you take — you’ll glue a notched piece of cardboard with trees to a headband. (The first option from directions is depicted below.)
Then, using crochet thread or fishing line, tightly wrap around each tree and the headband to make sure your trees hold in place just incase your hot glue pops loose.
Third Step:
Cut a piece of felt to use as a backing. You can choose to glue just up the sides. (I did.) In this case, a piece of felt about double the width of your cardboard should suffice. Alternatively, you can choose to cut a generous portion and notch the edges to wrap around the top spaces as well.
Fourth Step:
Fill in the gaps between the trees with pieces of floral picks and shimmering strands of metallic angel hair tinsel!
It’s starting to look mighty pine if I might say so myself!
Fifth Step:
Finally, using floral wire, create small ribbon tucks and then wrap the wire ends around the base of each bottle brush tree.
Voilà!
This bottle brush tree headband is giving me all the dreamy, art deco vibes!
Perfect for as part of a Christmas-inspired Halloween costume or as part of your favorite pretty–ugly Christmas sweater party! What’s more, the blushing pinks, ivory and classic gold make this accessory a fun way to bring in the New Year!
Looking to make a Unicorn headband? You can still use this tutorial working instead with three trees: 1 large tree for the horn and two white ones for the ears. Make the ribbon tails on one tuck much longer so they can hang on one side, framing the face!
Find Even More Cheer Gear Inspiration!
‘Tis the season to spread Christmas cheer! … All-year-long, here at Bronner’s!
If you love a heart-warming story, you’ll enjoy meeting this group of strangers-turned-friends who first met at Bronner’s and have begun to call themselves the “Frankenbunch“!
1 Plato is actually credited with saying “Necessity is the mother of invention.”