I love this... and there are so many different ways to do this... not just ball ornaments.. or you can mix them up... I have some gingerbread and crystal ornaments that would look great for this.. add some string beads.. you have a decorated tree!! Thanks...

I love your ideas for Christmas decorating ideas was searching the net and I came across your wonderful blog, congratulations and Merry Christmas from Spain.

I like the look (it reminds me of the add on this season where they do this over a table, don't remember the store), but in our house that would be ruined in a couple minutes. Our cats would love batting at all of those hanging balls.

It looks very doable--except the cats would probably would make short work of tearing it down.

I second (third?) the "it's great but not for cat owners" sentiment. I'd love to make one in teal and turquoise and chartreuse... but gotta keep the cats!

What fun to see this here! Kim Myles featured this project in her column in our Holiday issue of House of Fifty. I love seeing "outside of the box" ideas!
Janell

After reading the instructions, I have a thought. You could get one of those tall moving boxes from UPS or somebody, make cylinders of poster board to put between the tiers, and store the thing intact (assuming you have the space.) I feel pale when I think of disassembling and reassembling this every year! ;^)

Has anyone else seen the Lowe's or Home Depot commercial where they make this exact type of tree as a craft idea from Martha?

LOL, yes, not for cat owners (or toddler owners for that matter).

Very cute, but i'd never replace a real tree with it. But for those who can't have a real tree, or don't want one, I get it. Cute alternative.

To the cat owners, if you use non-fragile ornaments the cat interest might be an adorable bonus. It's the cat christmas tree.

Thumbs up! I like this a lot.

@amygoog, ah but the tangled strings would be awe-inspiring if cats played with this! Really!!! (And any appearance of a cone quickly lost, too.)

I never thought about cats and christmas decorations until this year when a stray has been worming his way into the house. When I put the tree up, which has a few birds on it, he acted like it was a gift made especially for him. All of the birds are now a little tattered and missing feathers.

I love the hanging ornament mobile though. Maybe it could be hung high enough to be out of reach.

For fellow cat owners: maybe make this using cat toys? Surely I can't be the only one who has accumulated so many cat toys to make this without needing additional ornaments!

when I was a kid learning to make jewelry, the called it "fishing wire." now I'm learning to make mobiles, and they call it "jeweler's string." hmm.