Jump directly to the content
TREE-MENDOUS

Christmas-mad thrifty mum has transformed the same artificial tree into a creative new design for the last five years

A CHRISTMAS-mad mum transforms the same artificial tree into an incredible new design each year – all for just £40.

Mum-of-three Tina Robinson spends three weeks in the run-up to Christmas turning their tree into a themed spectacle.

One of Tina's creations included a pair of Santa legs
7
One of Tina's creations included a pair of Santa legsCredit: Mercury Press

Tina, 40, has gone for a minion design, crafted a tree shaped like the Grinch and created decorations inspired by a family holiday to Florida.

She also made one in the shape of an angel in memory of their grandparents.

The stay-at-home mum bought the fake tree in 2015, and decided to give it a festive makeover every year after branding their old decorations “boring”.

Tina, from Preston, said: “I make all sorts of stuff. I’ve always been quite crafty and I love Christmas.

Tina says son Jay loves getting involved
7
Tina says son Jay loves getting involved Credit: Mercury Press

“I got the idea when I went to Florida, I came back and made a Minion tree. Nobody wants the same Christmas decorations every year.

“I usually spend £40 on the decorations, I always get new baubles to match the theme but it’s the same tree under the decorations.

“It’s good to be different - our old tree was just so ordinary, it came out of the loft every year and it was just boring.

“Now, it looks different each year.”

She created an angel tree in memory of their grandparents
7
She created an angel tree in memory of their grandparentsCredit: Mercury Press

This year she made sure her 5ft tree is hanging from the ceiling so the family’s new adopted French bulldog, Caesar, can’t reach it.

Tina added: “Caesar can’t be trusted yet, so I’ve attached hooks in the ceiling and hung each branch up and put his kennel underneath so he can’t reach it.”

The mum goes shopping at garden centres and eBay to find a bargain, spending an hour a night perfecting her tree.

This year she's dog-proofed her Christmas tree
7
This year she's dog-proofed her Christmas treeCredit: Mercury Press

Some of her more memorable masterpieces included a snowman tree and an Elf-themed design – which had a pair of Santa’s legs sticking out the top.

She said her kids, Leah, 22, Dean, 21, and Jay, 11, can’t wait to see what she comes up with each year, but her partner, Craig Wardley, 40, thinks she’s ‘crazy’.

Tina said: “Jay loves it. He gets excited to see what I'm going to make and he helps me.

 The crafty mum made a full-sized Grinch one year
7
The crafty mum made a full-sized Grinch one year Credit: Mercury Press

"I start planning about one month before, I'll draw a picture and then start collecting the decorations.

"It gets me in the Christmas spirit.

"I love that Christmassy feeling, it's brilliant.

Tina made her own baubles for her minion tree
7
Tina made her own baubles for her minion treeCredit: Mercury Press

"One year, we made our own minion baubles with yellow paint and stuck some googly eyes on them.

"It's a nice thing for us to do together as well.

“But Craig does wonder where on earth I get all these crazy ideas from."

The mum turned their tree into a snowman one year
7
The mum turned their tree into a snowman one yearCredit: Mercury Press

And you can now buy glow in the dark Christmas bedding to make your bedroom more magical.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

Meanwhile the heartbreaking 2018 Christmas ad made for just £50 still has fans in tears as the filmmaker gets set to release a new ad.

Plus this 10-year-old's Christmas list has gone viral after she asked for a Chanel purse and Gucci sliders.

Doughnut Time release Christmas range including 'Good Pie-Dings' mince pie
Topics