Okay, so, I finally got around to trying out this “Twinkle Tree Monopoly” thing I’d been hearing about. Let me tell you, it was… an experience. I started out, like I always do with these DIY projects, super optimistic.
Getting Started (Easier Said Than Done)
First, I gathered my materials. The list was surprisingly simple, or so I thought:
- A small, artificial tree (I found one at a craft store).
- Fairy lights – the twinkling kind, obviously.
- Miniature ornaments. This is where it got tricky. I wanted a Monopoly theme, so I figured I’d need tiny houses and hotels, right?
- Some kind of glue. I went with hot glue, figuring it would be quick and strong.
I thought, “This will be a breeze!” I was so, so wrong.
The Ornament Struggle
I went to find the tiny houses and hotels, you can buy them,but that’s the fun? So I decided to craft it myself, I scoured the internet for mini Monopoly pieces, but they were either ridiculously expensive or just plain didn’t exist in the size I needed.I ended up getting little wooden blocks from the craft store and painting them myself. Red for hotels, green for houses. My hands were covered in paint, and they looked… well, let’s just say they were “rustic.”
Lights, Camera, Action (and a Lot of Tangling)
Next up: the lights. I unraveled the fairy lights, feeling all festive. Then I started wrapping them around the tree. This is where things went downhill, fast. The lights kept tangling. They got stuck on the branches. I spent what felt like an eternity just untangling wires. It was like wrestling a sparkly octopus.
Hot Glue Mishaps
Finally, time for the ornaments. I plugged in my hot glue gun, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. I carefully dabbed glue onto each tiny, hand-painted block and stuck it onto the tree. Some of them went on crooked. Some of them fell off immediately. I burned my fingers more times than I’d like to admit. Hot glue is evil, I’ve decided.
The Final Result (It’s…Something)
After much frustration, many curse words, and a near-constant state of mild panic, I finally finished. I stepped back to admire my * wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot, but It was definitely… unique. The lights twinkled (when they weren’t tangled), the houses and hotels were (mostly) attached, and it vaguely resembled a Monopoly-themed Christmas tree. I plugged it in, and you know what? It actually looked kind of charming in a wonky, homemade sort of way.
Would I do it again? Maybe. If I had an unlimited supply of patience and a better strategy for the ornaments. But for now, I’m just going to enjoy my slightly lopsided, definitely-not-perfect Twinkle Tree Monopoly creation. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best projects are the ones that are a little bit messy, a little bit challenging, and a whole lot of fun (eventually).
