Tag Archives: Christmas A to Z

A to Z Planning

Posted on by

I like to plan my coming week on Sundays. So today I sat down to make a real plan for completing this project. First I needed to figure out a real deadline. It is November 15th, just six weeks away. Oh my, I’ve got lots to do. Last week I didn’t get as much done as I’d planned because I got sick. Hopefully I’ve got my cold done and out of the way for the next few months. I hope the check from South Jordan shows up this week, otherwise I think I’ll need to check on it. So here is my plan.

October 3rd to 8th
Add the lights to the tree structure

Make structures for under the tree:

  • quilt
  • unwrapped package with jacket inside
  • x-mas tag
  • Mary
  • Baby Jesus

If needed under the tree:

  • drum
  • ice skates
  • yule log
  • more packages

Supplies to buy:

  • get hot glue
  • rolled fondant

October 10th to 15th

  • cover lights with candy

Start on ornaments by making the following:

  • angel
  • elf
  • gingerbread man
  • Kris Kringle
  • reindeer
  • wise men with frankincense
  • ice skates (if not under tree)
  • Finish:
  • Mary
  • Baby Jesus

October 17th to 22nd
Finish Ornaments:

  • bell
  • candy cane
  • holly
  • mistletoe
  • poinsettia
  • star
  • drum (if not under tree)
  • yule log (if not under tree)

Attach all ornaments
Make sure green candy is ordered.

October 24th to 29th
Cover everything under the tree with candy
Place them all in place and attach down

October 31st to November 5th
Cover the tree with green candy

November 7th to 12th
Final touch-ups and prepare for transport
Make arrangements for a pick-up to transport
Take lots of photos

Novermber 14th or 15th
Transport and set-up
Make sure there is a table with power

This coming week will be a good test if this schedule is possible. I don’t have a bunch of other obligations this week. I need to get as much done as I can in the next few weeks because on November 10th we will be getting our next puppy in training from Guide Dogs for the Blind and new puppies are a real handful and take lots of time.

Construction Day 4

Posted on by
shaped tree structure

I got the tree structure all shaped today! I like the new shaping technique I figured out. I think it will work well when the candy is put on. It better because I’m stuck with it now. It was hard work to get the shaping finished and I felt like I was on the verge of getting a blister on my thumb to I did the last bit wearing a leather gardening glove. I hate to admit it but I’m getting a cold so I’m not sure how much more I’ll be getting down in the next few days.

Construction Day 3

Posted on by
Partially shape tree structure

This afternoon and took the tree out in the back yard and started the shaping phase. I though I’d be able to use a saw to take down some of the ridges but it didn’t work very well. The next ridge was getting in the way. So I ended up doing the scrap method, with a chisel. I got the ridges knock down most of the way but there is a lot more work to do to get the shaping right. Towards the end I was experimenting with how to use the chisel and came up with a twisting sort of stroke that leaves an interesting and uneven surface that I think I like. The tree will have a simple cone shape but I don’t want it to look too sterile and I think this method will help.

Construction Day 2

Posted on by

With Bill’s help we got the structure of the tree all put together. Yeah! We ran into a few snags but we go through them all. First Bill couldn’t fine his jig saw so we had to cut the plywood base by hand. I had to make three trips to Lowes to get things. First the plug I got for the end of the pvc pipe didn’t fit inside the pipe because it was the same side. So I went to find the right size. I couldn’t see one so I got a coupler and that fixed that problem. Next the 1″ bolt I got was too short. By the time we got all the layers – metal plate, washer, plywood, pvc plug and two more washers there wasn’t any bolt at all to put the nut on. So I went and picked up a 2″ bolt. After we got the support system all assembled we started gluing together all the Styrofoam tree parts. Then we ran out of liquid nail on the last big piece to stick together. So I made one last trip to Lowes.

assembled tree structure

 It feel so good to have this phase of construction done. Bill is happy with how the support system worked out too. Now I should be able to do the rest of the project without any help from Bill. Next week I want to get the tree to its final shape, insert the Christmas lights and paint the structure. If possible I’d also like to rough in the large objects that go under the tree.

Construction Day 1

Posted on by

This afternoon I went to Lowes and purchased a 2″ x 4′ x 8′ sheet of Styrofoam, two tubes of liquid nails and some hardware to attach the tree to the base. This evening I spent about an hour and a half cutting the Styrofoam with a hand saw into tall triangles to form the structure of the tree. The largest triangles are 48″ tall and 24″ wide at the base. The next size was 40″ tall, then 32″ etc. until the last one was just 10″ tall. There are two triangles of each size plus one that is cut in half to fit around the pvc pipe that goes up the center of the tree for structural support. I glued the two halves of the tree together with liquid nails and bamboo skewers to help hold everything in place while it dries.

two halves of tree structure

Tomorrow I hope to get the base cut and assemble the tree structure the rest of the way. I hope to get Bill’s help on some of this because he is a much better engineer than I am and it is important that the structure is very sturdy. Things get heavier than you think when you get all that candy glued on.
I actually enjoyed the process. It has been 3 years since I made a candy creation on this kind of scale.

Sorting Candy

Posted on by

Yesterday I met with Kathryn and picked up the candy that she had. She doesn’t know what happened to the turntables but she doesn’t have them. So yesterday I looked on line for turntables and came to the conclusion that I just don’t have the budget for one. I could get one without an outlet but then I couldn’t have light on my tree and I really want that. It is probably better this way because it really simplifies the construction phase.

I spent a bunch of time today sorting through all the candy. I threw out a bunch that is just too hard to work with or all stuck together etc. I’ve got all the same color candy together in boxes. It was kind of fun to be sorting candy again. This year really is a test to see if I seriously want to get back into doing candy windows again or if I’m really done. So far it seems positive. Now the boxes of candy are all neatly stacked under the table in the storage room downstairs. I think I might make that my main workspace. For sure it will be were I put things when I’m not in the middle of working on it.

I’ve decided on the green candy for the tree, the green licorice pastilles that I posted about before. But I think I’ll wait to order them until I get the check from South Jordan. I’m a little anxious to get the supplies to build the structure. Not sure when that will get fit in. And Bill told me this morning that he might need to go to Seattle next week. I think I only have about eight weeks to get this thing put together. Yeaks!