Vintage Spindle Christmas Trees
- By Joan
- November 19, 2024
- No Comments
Vintage Spindle Christmas Trees
Hi friends, welcome back. One of my most pinned ideas from last year’s 75 homemade gift ideas roundup were these artificial trees in old spindles from The Junk Chick. The Junk Chick hasn’t made a new post since 2014 and I couldn’t find any instructions for you all so I decided I would make a pair myself and show you how I did it, though I’m sure you could probably figure this one out yourself.
I liked the original spindly Christmas trees in my inspiration photo but this pair of IKEA trees found at the thrift store for $3 each should work just as well.
One of the trees slid easily out of it’s plastic pot. The other one I had to bash with a hammer in order for it to be freed from it’s container. Whatever works. 😀
I found this chippy spindle in my stash. I believe it was a gift from my brother a number of years ago.
Cut your spindle where there are obvious breaks. If I wanted two identical posts I would have had to use 2 spindles. These are just going to have to be 2 different heights.
From scrap wood, I cut two bases and two tops about 2 1/2″ and 3 1/2″ square. You may want yours larger or smaller depending on the size of your spindle.
Sand the edges.
Nail or glue your tops and bases to the spindles.
Find a drill bit the width of your tree base and drill a hole at least a few inches deep into the center of the spindle.
This drill bit ended up being just a tad too small so I had to go up a size.
Paint as desired. You’re trying to match the spindle to the added wooden pieces.
I did a base coat of gray paint, followed by a light coat of tan chalk paint. I like to use this barely there chippy paint brush and lightly stroke on the top tan coat in a criss cross manner so that the base coat still shows thru. I followed the tan with an additional coat of white chalk paint applied in the same manner.
This is after the gray, tan and white have been added.
Wooden Star from Shutter Slats
In my inspiration pic each tree had a rusty star. I did not have any stars in my stash. Either go purchase some stars or create your own. Of course I had to create my own.
I started out with a shutter slat and made a few lengthwise cuts until I had 10, 3 1/2″ x 1/4″ pieces.
Create your star and glue with E6000 glue or other clear epoxy.
I painted mine with a nice dark green that matched the original shutter color. The paint covered all the cut edges.
To finish off the stars I added some gold leaf Rub ‘n Buff. Just put a little dab on your finger and apply as desired.
I did not have any gingham in my stash to match the inspiration piece but I did have a piece of red cotton. If you tear a strip of fabric instead of cutting you’ll get a nice, slightly frayed, edge.
Right now these are on my coffee table but if you get totally ambitious and want to make a bunch, wouldn’t they look great, all different heights, lining your dining table?
Until next time, stay inspired.
If I get lazy and don’t get a post out next week, I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
For another artificial Christmas tree base you may want to check out last years tree collar made entirely from scrap wood.
Copyright © 2024
Leave a Reply