She's Tiny. She's Fierce. She's Done. (Mostly.)

Look at her.

I started this whole thing with a sad little flocked tree, a box of forgotten ornaments, and absolutely no plan. Just a vague idea that I wanted to make everything from scratch on a $0 budget and see what happened.

And this is what happened.

**The tree is done.**

Well, mostly. I still have a few tassels left to make because I already cut the strips and I'm not wasting them. And there are two more salt dough ornaments that need hangers before they go up. But nothing major. The tree is lit, decorated, topped, and standing in the living room looking like a maximalist fever dream in the best possible way.

And I can't believe I actually pulled this off. Another lie. I can. When I set my mind to something, it usually works out, even if it’s not what I originally planned. Speaking of…

What Happens When You Follow Your Brain Instead of a Plan

THIS WAS NOT THE PLAN.

I started with one idea—muted vintage aesthetic, soft colors, traditional vibes. And then my brain said "what if we did bright colors instead" and I pivoted. Hard.

I dug out my sister's ornaments that I'd forgotten I had. The ones she made for me a few years ago—bright, bold, hand-stitched, bursting with color. And suddenly everything I'd been making without realizing it—the alcohol ink fabric scraps, the salt dough ornaments with their chaotic color schemes, the fabric tassels in every shade of pink and purple and teal and yellow—it all matched.

Not because I planned it. Because I followed my gut.

I let my brain lead. I followed the shiny things. I pivoted when something wasn't working and leaned into what felt right even when it didn't make sense.

And it worked.

Everything I made—without a plan, without a color scheme, without rules—came together into this cohesive, joyful, chaotic, beautiful tree that feels exactly right.

The $0 Tree Made From Scraps

Let's talk about what this tree actually cost: nothing.

The tree? Already owned it.
The lights? Had them.
The ornaments? Made from salt dough (pantry staples), fabric scraps (leftovers from other projects), alcohol ink (already owned), wooden beads (stash), twine (stash), wooden rings (stash).
The tree topper? Fabric scraps turned into one huge tassel.
My sister's ornaments? Gifts I already had.

This entire tree—every ornament, every tassel, every glittered salt dough circle, that ridiculous and perfect tree topper—was made from things I already had.

And it's stunning.

Not in spite of being made from scraps, but because of it. Because I used what I had. Because I worked with what was in front of me instead of buying what I thought I was supposed to have. I mean, I know it’s a tiny tree, but even if it was 12’ tall, it still could have been done.

What I Learned (Remembered?)

Trust the process even when it looks chaotic.

Following your gut works.

This is what happens when you let your brain lead instead of forcing it into someone else's (or your own!) plan.

Look what you can make when you stop following rules.

I've been saying this throughout the whole series, but now I have proof. The tree is done. And it's exactly what I wanted without ever knowing what I wanted.

What's Next

So, what happens now?

Well, first: my son closed on his first house on Friday. We spent all day yesterday helping him get moved in, and I am exhausted and exhilarated and so proud I could cry.

And here's the fun part: I'm going to be designing and decorating some rooms for him. Which means a whole new series is coming. Designing on a budget, working with what we have, making a house feel like a home from scratch—all the things I love doing, all the chaos and creativity and pivoting and following ideas down rabbit holes.

I'm so excited I can barely stand it.

This week—today through Wednesday—we're prepping for Thanksgiving and getting ready for visitors. Family's coming into town, some are staying with us, and I'm trying to figure out how to enjoy the chaos while still being productive. Which includes finishing those last few tassels, making sure the house doesn't look like a craft explosion happened (it did, but I can hide it), and pulling together some crafty projects to do with my almost-2-year-old great niece.

Because what's Thanksgiving without a toddler covered in glitter and glue sticks? Exactly.

For Now: Look at This Tree

She's tiny. She's fierce. She's covered in fabric scraps and salt dough and wooden beads and my sister's hand-painted ornaments. She has a tree topper made from leftover fabric. (I’ll show you how I did it next week!)

She cost $0.

And she's perfect.

This is what happens when you trust the process. When you follow your brain instead of the rules. When you let things come together in their own chaotic, beautiful way.

The tree is done. The series wraps up after Thanksgiving. And I'm so grateful I followed this idea all the way through.

See you Thursday.

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About the Author
Gal is an autistic artist, late-diagnosed at 49, and the creator of AuRTistic Expressions—a space where neurodivergent truth meets creative survival. Through books, blog posts, printables, and coaching, Gal explores what it means to unmask safely, communicate authentically, and make art that doesn’t ask for permission. Stick around—there’s plenty more where this came from.