Christmas is one of my favorite holidays of the year. I love the music, the lights, the spirit and decorating the house! Each time I travel I am always on the lookout for small items I can place on my Travel-Themed Christmas Tree.
My tree topper is a Zulu Wire Bowl from South Africa. Draped around the tree are Beads from Sydney’s Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, and sprinkled throughout are tokens from around the globe.
Here’s how you can make your own travel-themed tree!
1. Dedicated Christmas Ornaments
The easiest ornament to find is the dedicated-Christmas Ornament. When you’re doing your shopping in town, search for a Christmas Store, Card Shop or Craft Market. With some patience, you’re bound to find something Christmas-y. No luck? Then try many of these other options…
2. Bottle Caps
Bottle caps make great ornaments. They are easy-to-pack, easy-to-find and have fantastic, colorful designs. Virtually every country has their own, signature brew. Take a few caps home and tape fishing wire to the back to hang it on your tree.
3. Leftover Currency
Forget to spend all your foreign currency? Looking for something to do with that paper note you discovered at the bottom of your suitcase? Leftover currency makes a colorful and unique display piece.Pierce the bill with a hook and prominently display! This 10 Malaysian Ringgit note isn’t worth a whole lot in U.S. Currency… but my 20 Australian Dollar Bill is for sure, the most expensive piece on my tree.
4. Dangling Thingies
Many countries sell things that dangle: keychains, bookmarks, cellphone accessories, or in this case, a Japanese Paper Charm and a Turkish Blue Eye. Keep an eye out for anything with a string loop and slide over a sturdy branch!
5. Boarding Passes
Boarding Passes are like couch money. After awhile, they accumulate and you find them all over the place. Instead of trashing them, you can hang them ( a la currency) or staple them together, twist them into a cone, and place them onto the top of your tree!
6. Tacky-Tourist Curious
While some souvenirs aren’t truly designed to be hanged, it doesn’t mean you can’t place them on the tree! Tape a hook onto the back and find the perfect spot. The tackier the souvenir, the better. So grab a mini-boomerang, pissing boy statue or an infamous mini-Eiffel Tower!
7. Find Whatever You Can
Let your imagination run wild! Don’t be limited by what I’ve shared here. Be on the lookout for anything small (like hotel room keys)! Grab a glue gun, tape, some hooks and decorate away! I somehow managed to turn this car sticker accessory into a shiny ornament.
8. Celebrate Your Travel Memories
Each year when I decorate my Christmas Tree, I am reminded of many years worth of adventures. As I hang each ornament, I can’t help but remember the story of each destination they came from and who I shared it with.
And if you’re going to have a travel-themed Christmas Tree, you might as well have some travel gifts underneath it! Search online for this year’s picks for the traveler in your family.
Do you have a Travel-Themed Christmas Tree or Special Travel Ornaments? Share by Commenting.
