Scavenger Chic

Small Pallet Wood Christmas Tree Collar

• By Joan
• December 17, 2023
• 5 Comments

Small Pallet Wood Christmas Tree Collar

This is my latest thrift store find, a sad little Charlie Brown Christmas tree.  Yes, more than one person in the store remarked that I had a Charlie Brown Christmas tree in my cart.  Yes I know, he’s rather sad, but he just needs some loving.

The thrift store I shopped at had him marked at $20 but on the day I was there he was 75% off… so only $5!!

He just needs a little unbending and a little primping.  Trees don’t  grow with bent branches.

Getting straighter.  What’s even better, the lights still work which I did not bother to check out in the store.  He was coming home with me whether the lights worked or not.

To make this Christmas tree collar I’m starting with 3 long pieces of  5 inch wide, pallet wood.  Try to get them as close to the same width as possible.  

Cut the pallet wood into  8 equal lengths.  If you are using the narrower pallet wood you may need 3, or even 4 pieces per side.

Mine are all 11″ in length.

I’m using my handy dandy nail gun with 1 1/2″ nails to connect  the first four pieces of pallet wood.

Repeat for the second box.  I connected the pallet wood pieces so that each side would have one cut end.  You could also nail the pieces so that 2 sides have no cut ends and 2 sides have 2 cut ends showing.    So many options.   😉

If you would like a bottom to your box, nail slats to the base of one of your pallet wood boxes.  These are old shutter slats.  Whenever I see a broken shutter in my travels, I gather up all the slats. The slats can be used for so many things….like the base of a Christmas tree collar.

You don’t necessarily have to have a base, the tree could just sit on the floor.

To attach the two pallet wood boxes together, I’m nailing on thin pieces of wood to the perimeter of each side.

Did you guess that this is old plaster lath.  Just like the shutter slats, plaster lath is also great to have in your wood pile.  It has that old rustic look and is also great for trim.  Instead of plaster lath, you could also use more pallet wood cut down to  whatever size you need.

The plaster lath strips do double duty by hiding  the rough cut edges of the pallet wood and attaching the top box to the bottom.

You could leave the box as is, but for me, the plaster on the plaster lath was a little too white,  I want this box to disappear into the corner and the tree to be the star of the show.

If you follow me, you probably already know that I would have to get out the old trusty black paint.  The coverage does not have to be perfect because I’m going to hit it with the sander next.

He has been sanded, the perfect amount of rustic beauty. 

If you want a more finished look, I would suggest not using pallet wood or plaster lath. 😆 

To raise the tree up a couple of inches, I placed 2, 2×4’s in the bottom of the box.

At the last minute I decided to surround the base of the tree with some Spanish moss.  

Now I can call this project complete.

For a full size Christmas tree collar  check out last years collar made from old reclaimed hardwood flooring.

A Charlie Brown Christmas tree no more.  

Have a wonderful holiday season, I’ll see you all in January.

Until next time, stay inspired.

Related posts:

Make your own Wooden Vintage Sled Pallet Wood and Skulls for Halloween Easy Pallet Wood Outdoor Side Table Thrift Store Tray Makeover with Shutter Slats