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trinket-filled-tanenbaum

Trinket-filled tanenbaum.

I don’t know what’s gotten into me this year. For the first time ever, I wasn’t clambering to get to the Christmas tree store (er, Home Depot) to pick up my usual 6′-ish tall Noble Fir.

Which some say is the “Cadillac” of Christmas Trees.

Nope. I had a whole other idea to gather all my scrap wood and bits of reclaimed wood I’ve collected over this past year, and turn it into a fabulously “green”, trinket-filled tanenbaum!

So I did!

reclaimed-and-scrap-wood

Reclaimed and scrap wood ready for Christmas.

Supplies:

• scrap/reclaimed wood – approximately 2-3″ wide, varying lengths

• jigsaw/table saw (I use the fabulous BladeRunner X2)

• sand block & sandpaper (P60 for rough edges, P120 for a finer finish)

• drill

• dowel

• wooden beads

• tree trunk piece for the base (available at most craft stores or Michael’s)

Instructions:

1. Choose your wood scraps. The more different they are, the better.

2. Cut them from smallest to largest in the shape of a tree. Sand the edges smooth.

meaure-bigger-pieces-to-cut-into-the-size-width-you-want

Measure bigger pieces to cut into the size width you want.

cut-your-pieces

Cut your pieces.

cutting-in-the-shape-of-a-tree

Cut into the shape of a tree.

3. Measure the width of your dowel, then drill a hole through each wood piece. Sand rough edges smooth.

find-the-center

Find the center of each wood piece.

drill-your-center-hole

Then, drill your center holes.

drilled-holes-ready-to-assemble

Drilled holes ready to assemble.

4. Drill wooden beads. Note: if you’d rather cut more wood pieces that can eventually stack upon each other to make the entire tree, you can skip step 4.

5. Assemble your tree. Place a bead in between each wood piece. Note: again, skip the beads if you’d like only wooden pieces.

assemble-your-tree

Assemble your tree.

Insider note: With mine, I actually cut flat pieces, sanded their edges, then drilled them to be placed under each wooden slat. I later realized I could have just cut more wood to skip this step entirely. Oh, well…Oh, Christmas tree!

6. Drill a hole in the base of your trunk base, then place the tree into the hole. Note: if you’ve cut your own trunk base, be sure to sand it smooth before drilling.

sand-diyd-tree-trunk-piece

Sand your tree trunk piece smooth before drilling.

drill-base-hole

Drill base hole.

7. Top your tree with a bead or star or whatever you wish. Done!

reindeer-watching-over-the-ornament-animals

Reindeer watch over the ornament animals.

aerial-view-of-tree

Aerial view.

add-interest-dimension-and-something-quirky-to-your-christmas-decor

Add interest, dimension and something quirky to your Christmas decor.

All photography and video by Skaie Knox, HomeJelly

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