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mtnrdredux_gw

Morning! Happy Turkeyday. Tree question

7 months ago

No one else is up and i have 2 quiches in the oven, just to have around so no one bugs me for anything to eat (dinner is at 6, like always).


I am thinking ahead to our tree. We have a faux flocked one in the third floor palladian window, which DH complains about bitterly as it does leave a trail of faux snow. Looking to replace it.


Meanwhile, I just love flocking and want to flock our live tree. DD and I tried this years ago, forget what we used, but it did not work well. I found this article https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/a62884643/how-to-flock-christmas-trees-like-a-pro/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_ga_clv_md_pmx_hybd_mix_us_18459994477&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAxqC6BhBcEiwAlXp459HWSMyjYEo38uk0dc8WcWtVOaXWCX9z7H3tdDWQYbfl-V9X6PIZpBoCICwQAvD_BwE, which recc. these items, below, but I'd love to hear from any DYI flockers out there.




Comments (36)

  • 7 months ago

    I’m no flocking help.

  • 7 months ago

    Anyway 😁 Christmas trees look so pretty flocked. I wish I could have a real tree, but I am so allergic to them when they are in my home. Did away with real trees years ago.

  • 7 months ago

    No flocking way would I ever attempt this. I would leave a trail of flocking flocking behind me.

    (couldn't resist either.

  • 7 months ago

    I‘ve never had a flocked tree but I have friends who have. No DIY experience. Our nursery pre-flocks some trees, and they will also flock whatever tree you buy for an extra fee.

  • 7 months ago

    I say Flock off :)

  • 7 months ago

    Happy Thanksgiving!

  • 7 months ago
    last modified: 7 months ago

    I’d say you’re flocked 😎


    I have used the spray on kind with mixed results. You can have it done at many lots where you buy the tree down here.


  • 7 months ago
    last modified: 7 months ago

    Everyone is a flocking comedian. We have a faux flocked tree that I keep meaning to replace and think about it this time of year and then forget about it after New Year's Day. So here we are and up it goes another year. Our little dog is actually allergic to live trees. We found out a few years and more than $2k ago.

  • 7 months ago

    Flocked trees are so pretty. Wishing you much luck with the flocking. Please post a picture of yours when all done, can't wait to see it.


    Growing up my aunt always had a flocked tree in her living room. She had a white living room with turquoise accents. The tree was just lovely, very magical.


    Due to allergies we use a faux tree, so no personal experience with flocking.

  • 7 months ago

    I hadn't checked in here since first thing this morning. Now that I'm back I'm laughing my flocking head off. Never had a flocked tree and not much of a fan myself.

  • 7 months ago
    last modified: 7 months ago

    My fake tree sheds as I put it up and when I take it down. It is not flocked. I just vacuum. There is not a problem during the time it is up.

    If you want a flocked real tree, do it outside from a ladder.

  • 7 months ago

    I can't imagine DIY flocking being anything but tacky. Back in the day I recall the flocking tents at tree lots. I remeber had a kid being soo confused by the green flocking. It was more of a lime green but still flocking green on a green tree??!! I don't know if they do fake trees. I would imagine there are different chemicals for real vs fake.

  • 7 months ago

    Look what Longwood did to a tree!:

  • 7 months ago

    Now that's flocking amazing : )

  • 7 months ago

    That is flocking beautiful!

  • 7 months ago

    I bet your quiches were delicious, but the rest seems pretty flocked up. (Sorry... couldn't resist.)

    But I understand the desire to do this if you like the aesthetic. I can excuse a lot around the holidays. I would do the flocking outside, with the spray because that seems easiest and most convenient.

  • 7 months ago

    We always had a flocked tree until the invention of aluminum trees when I was a kid. I was highly allergic and flocking seemed to help.

    I would check with local nurseries to see if they flock live trees. But a live flocked tree is likely to be as messy as your faux one

  • 7 months ago
    last modified: 7 months ago

    You guys are flocking nuts. I don't have a nursery who will do this; I think it's a Southern thing? I asked this question 10 years ago ... it was at least 5 ... and got the same replies.

    Unless I missed it , no one has flocked their own tree. Just flocking say so, ok?

    Thank you, Jojo, for putting to rest the idea that it is "tacky." And IDK what anyone is talking about w green flocking.

    The best idea I have heard to far, from a set designer, is to rub Elmers glue on the branches and then sift flour over it.

  • 7 months ago

    If you use the flocking glue-and-flour method, we all need to see the flocking video.


    No, I don’t know anyone who has done it.

    mtnrdredux_gw thanked Sueb20
  • 7 months ago

    Maybe try it on a wreath first, to experiment?

    mtnrdredux_gw thanked Sueb20
  • 7 months ago

    super idea!

  • 7 months ago

    Maybe use a spray glue and a sifter, the kind you use for powered sugar ( just guessing here, but maybe worth a try)
    Please post a picture of what you look like after this process 😂

    mtnrdredux_gw thanked njmomma
  • 7 months ago

    I had no idea that flocking live trees was a southern thing. Maybe it’s because we don’t get actual snow?

    mtnrdredux_gw thanked porkandham
  • 7 months ago

    LOL, NJMomma. You cannot use spray glue because, flammable. I like the idea of Elmer's because it is washable.



  • 7 months ago
    last modified: 7 months ago

    Many years ago, as newly weds, we used a spray can of snow on our beautiflul, tall, shiny and bright decorated tree.

    We Flocked it up big time.

    What we thought would look like a dusting of snow on the branches, turned out to dull every light, bead and ornament on the tree. Just a reminder to always flock before adding accessories.

  • 7 months ago

    Are y'all not allowed to curse at home? 'cause you really seem to be enjoying saying 'flocking."

  • 7 months ago

    “Are y'all not allowed to curse at home? “


    Not til I had a house of my own. We just knew that some words shouldn’t be used in front of our parents.


    Just yesterday (house full of family) a brother mentioned that he had never heard either of our parents use stronger language than the occasional ’damn’. Our mother usually added ’IT’.


    I shared that I heard our mom say the ’f-word’ one time. They were surprised and a little proud of her.


    When our daughter was about 2 she stubbed her toe and said, “ sh*t!” Pretty loud and in front of visitors. Appropriate word for the situation. A room full of adults laughing at this tiny, angelic looking child did not lead her to the dark side of frequent cursing.


    I read the suggestion to sprinkle powder sugar on your tree. Round these parts the tree would be full of ants within hours.

    mtnrdredux_gw thanked maddielee
  • 7 months ago
    last modified: 7 months ago

    Nope, no cursing ever heard in my parent's, relatives' or friends' parents' houses when we were young and even when we were grown with our own kids. At the end of my freshman year, a friend at college commented that she had never heard me curse. Interesting. My mother (summa cum laude English major at Swarthmore in the 40s and an editor at the Ladies' Home Journal) always said it was a sign of a poor vocabulary. Nonetheless, I think that the occasional word can often be just perfect for some situations.


    ETA for spelling typo

    mtnrdredux_gw thanked cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
  • 7 months ago

    @Mtn, you left us a hole big enough to drive a semi truck through. I just cannot resist bad puns!


    I forgot that Mother used to make ”snow” for the Christmas tree using Ivory Soap Flakes. So I went looking for instructions. I found this post which seems to be pretty close - http://craftthyme.com/soap-tree-flocking/ - except Mother never ever used glitter and AFAIK she also never used starch. The link uses grated Ivory Soap bars. Apparently the poster grated the soap by hand. Sounds to me like the perfect use for a food processor.


    The two things I distinctly recall were (1) Mother applying the soap mixture by hand. A long and tedious job. She would take a small amount out of the bowl with her fingertips and spread it on each branch individually from the trunk to the tips. And (2), the way it made the house smell fresh, like Ivory soap which was not an unpleasant smell at all.


    If you want a little shimmer, you can buy irridescent flakes from AMZ. Used sparingly, I think they would give the sparkle of fresh snow.



  • 7 months ago

    The Longwood tree is flocking fabulous!


    I think it's a Southern thing?


    Um, no. I know no one that has flocked, or flocked up, their Christmas tree. Not even a faux flocked tree.

    mtnrdredux_gw thanked Allison0704
  • 7 months ago

    My uncle would have a flocked tree every Christmas — in Southern California — and from comments overhead, attributed to showing off that he had more money than his brothers (or was willing to spend for impress).


    Nostalgia for snow did not play a part in my uncle’s flocking addiction as my grandparents lived in Los Angeles.


    As a child I remember seeing flocking offered at Christmas tree lots.

    mtnrdredux_gw thanked nancy_in_venice_ca
  • 7 months ago
    last modified: 7 months ago

    My mother (summa cum laude English major at Swarthmore in the 40s and an editor at the Ladies' Home Journal) always said it was a sign of a poor vocabulary

    My Mom would say that too, and when we were teens she would post suggested "curse words" (some Shakespearean) on the fridge. BTW, Cyn, how cool for your Mom!

    I forgot that Mother used to make ”snow” for the Christmas tree using Ivory Soap Flakes.

    My Mom used to tell me that her Mom did this! Maybe flocking is genetic. Our tree was unflocked growing up; it skipped a generation.

    I like the Elmer's/flour idea, and starting with a wreath. Now I need to think up a place to hang a wreath indoors....

  • 7 months ago

    We had flocked trees in white, blue, pink over the years in the 1950s. I'm in the PNW and so it's not a Southern thing. I do remember hearing about the Ivory soap flake method, but we always had ours done at a nursery or the tree lot had them pre-flocked and ready to sell.

  • 7 months ago

    I bought giant bowl to use as a DR centerpiece for the holidays, and I am going to fill it with pine cones (there is a local historic cemetery that has the best pinecones). I have now ordered that flocking spray because I think pine cones might look cool with ”snow” on them. If I like it, I might try some on a wreath too.


    Signed,

    Easily Influenced

    mtnrdredux_gw thanked Sueb20
  • 7 months ago

    OOh lmk how it goes it sure seems easier than "my" method