DIY Christmas Decor: Faux Tree Repurposed 3 Ways
Clip-on Christmas Swags
This was the easiest project of all. I used two big branches for each swag. First, I flattened and arranged the needles to have them all on the one side of the branch.
Then I laid the two branches next to each other in a way to make the steel stems pointing at each other, as shown in the picture below.
Next, I grabbed a pine needle from each branch and tied them to each other. I did this in three different places to ensure the branches were tied to each other – one towards the top (but not at the very top), one in the middle of the branches and one at the very bottom.
With that, the main body of the swag was finished. Now it was time to add some embellishments to it. I used two sleigh bell sprays and a bow that I made from a plaid Christmas ribbon I had on hand.
Before I forget, if you are wondering about the sleigh bell sprays, I bought them at FactoryDirectCraft.com last year as they have a pretty good selection and decent prices for sleigh bells.
Attaching the sleigh bell sprays was really so easy. I pushed the stem through the swag (right through the first point where I tied the two branches), and I bent the stem at the back.
Next, using a piece of wire, I attached the bow, and my DIY clip-on Christmas swag was done!
To hang it to our garage lanterns, all I had to do was pull the two stems, place the swag and let the go of the stems (as shown in the picture below.) Pretty easy, right?
Oh by the way…these were the first swags I ever made! Hence they are nothing fancy 😉 But still…not bad for a first-timer, right?
Pretty simple, but “simple” was the best way to go, as I didn’t really know what I was doing. LOL. Now that I have learned the basics, next time I’ll be able to make better decorated swags. On the bright side, hanging them doesn’t even take me a second 😉
Next, I want to show you how I made the faux Alpine Christmas tree. Oh – and the DIY lighting star which I think you’ll love!
Click on ‘Next’ below to continue with the Faux Alpine Christmas Tree tutorial.
Really nice, Handan! Very imaginative. Hope the boys ate a little crow for laughing at you. 😉
Thank you so much, Grace! Lol. Oh it was nice to see their expression after we hung the DiY outdoor Christmas garland 😀
Finally !! for a couple of years i was looking for somethings rigid to put around my doors but in a store the ones that you buy does not bend easily and it s all crooked. Thanks for this simple but genius idea. !
You’re very welcome! I’m glad you liked the idea 🙂
Handan, you guys always amaze me with how you put things together, your porch is beautiful and I love the tree you made for insde!!! Would love to have you share your home on #OMHGFF http://ohmyheartsiegirl.com/friday-feature-linky-party-45/
Have a great weekend, Happy Holidays!!
Thank you so much, Karren! I would love to share it as I love your party!! 🙂
Awesome!!
Thank you so much, Robyn! 😀
What creativity! I’m just amazed at it all and LOVE every bit of it too!! GREAT JOB!!
Oh thank you so much for your lovely comment, Linda! 😀
I am sure if santa reads this post, he will hire you both to decorate his house next year xx merry Christmas
Lol. If that could happen I would be totally up for it, but I am not sure about our Grinch 😀 Merry Christmas to you and to your family too!! xx
You go girl!!!!The decorations looks amazing and that alpine tree is to die for. I want one!!!
Thank you so much, Michelle! Yes, the Alpine tree is my favorite! Guess what we named it? ‘Charlie Brown’s scrawny tree’ hahahaha 😀
That’s an amazing save and repurpose. It all looks so gorgeous and even better that you can enjoy it!!
Thank you so much, Amy! Oh we love how our portico looks now! It took me 4 days to get it all done, but the time given to all was so worth it 🙂
Hmmmm — I have a fake tree in my attic — which project will i do…… Thanks for sharing on the Pleasures of the NW’s DIY Party!
Thank you so much, Helen! Next week I will be sharing even more…thank you for hosting that wonderful party! 🙂
Wow, I have to admit I was skeptical how you were going to get all that out of one faux Christmas tree but you did and judging from the photo of the assembled alpine tree, have more branches to spare. Very clever way to make a strong garland for your portico. It all looks so beautiful and what a story to share to your guests about the old dilapidated Christmas tree that kept on giving. Merry Christmas!!
Thank you so much, Marie! Merry Christmas to you and your family, too! 🙂
I love all three ideas. I am definitely going to try the swag as I never use the bottom row of branches on our tree. Thanks for the great idea!
Thank you so much, Kristal! The bottom row of branches indeed would make the best candidates for swags, because they would be slightly bigger and fuller 😉
B R I L L I A N T !!!
Thank you very much, Cha!! 🙂
Your tree is so much nicer looking than so many fake trees. It’s got soul. I glued bark around my fake tree and use a stand similar to the one you built. My cats love it!!!!!!!
Oh wow, Nancy! That is a brilliant idea! If I happen to find another faux tree (of course I will make sure to check if it has a trunk next time) I will definitely try your idea 😉
My Dad has the same tree and when we replace it with a new one next year, I’m going to use the branches to make the swags and garland! Beautiful job.
Awesome! I am sure they all will look so beautiful! When you finish them can you post a picture or two on our Facebook page? I would love to feature it!! 🙂
That was the very first post I have read Word for Word top to bottom, your creativity is awesome and I loved everything and your Alpine tree is also my favorite.
I like it with just the star.
Thanks for sharing your great ideas.
Merry Christmas
Brenda ?
Thank you very much, Brenda! I am indeed humbled by your wonderful compliment!! 🙂
I love all of your projects here – especially the swags, as I have two garage lights that I haven’t been able to figure out yet. Now I do!
Off-topic question – What is on top of your lamp (that is standing next to your Alpine tree)? And what is it’s purpose? For the life of me, I can’t figure that one out! 🙂
Thank you so much, Laura! Oh that is our wi-fi router, lol… Hopefully when Greg starts building the media cabinet for our living room, it will have a better nesting place 😉
Loved this. I’ve also used the branches in my outside flower pots. Add some plastic big ornaments and battery operated lights.
Oooh, good idea! 🙂
Absolutely LOVE your creativity!!! So beautiful!!
Thank you so much, Erika! 🙂
Your alpine tree is so perfect. The white garland with trees and reindeer is adorable. Where did it come from?
Thank you so much, Susan! I bought the garland long ago from Ramstore (a store similar to Stop&Shop) in Kazakhstan…it has to be at least 8-9 years old if not more. Originally it had black leather string, but over the years that started break from here and there, so I had to redo it with red, white & black baker’s string and sometime later strengthened it with chunky white yarn 🙂
Wow! You have some great ideas! Thanks for linking up for Friday Favorites. I’m featuring you this week!
Oh wow! Thank you so much, Jerri! 😀
Great repurposing Handan. I love the tree it looks like something out of Dr. Seuss. But now my daughter is looking over my shoulder and says I’m wrong. It is more like Tim Burton’s style. Anyway I want to wish you and Greg Happy Holidays.
Thank you so much, Mary! Merry Christmas to you and to your family too!!
This is all so creative! What talent you both have for taking ordinary and making it extraordinary! Your outdoor decor is wonderful and the tree looks great, too! Thanks for sharing at Snickerdoodle. I’ll be featuring this at tomorrow’s party.
That is awesome! Thank you so much, Beverly! 🙂
Love it. Have used old tress for numerous things. I know what you are talking about. Very pretty.
Thank you so much, Lois! 🙂
WOW! You guys are awesome! Love your projects.
Thank you so much, Stephanie! 🙂
Ok…so I have had a “spare” 6 foot tall faux Christmas tree that I bought for $2.50 at the end of the season, a few seasons ago, that I did not want to pass up but had no idea what to make of it. THANK YOU! I now have a few choices. (I love all of the projects that I have seen you and the Hubster create – not just these).
Awesome! I am so glad you liked our projects, Alecia! 🙂
WHAT a super idea!!! I just found this link from Pinterest (I LURVE Pinterest for finding hidden gems like this!) You guys are super resourceful! 🙂
Thank you so much for your lovely words, April! It makes us so happy to receive comments like yours! 🙂
Saw this from Pinterest … great idea to salvage trashed trees.
How do you store it? Can it just fold at the links?
Thank you so much, Tsu! I store the garland in a plastic storage bin. Something like this: http://amzn.to/2BQjJtG. It doesn’t really fold at the links but it bends enough, so it fits into a storage bin.
Haha, the same thing happened to me! Brought the tree home and it was missing the trunk, base and top. No wonder the box was so light. I’m going to give this alpine tree a try, I love the way it turned out. Very clever!
LOL – Thank you so much, Collette! 🙂
Lovethe swags! What size bell and sprays did u purchase from the web link u added?
Thanks, they r beautiful!!
Sharon
Thank you so much, Sharon! Here is the link to the exact bell spray: http://fave.co/2sV2eIF. 🙂
Just wondering how many branches did you use? My husband cut me some tree trunks today and hopefully I can start asseembling soon. Love yours!!
Hi Julie, sorry for the late reply – I used 1 on top, then 2 on each row. I made the rows alternating so the 2 branches would cover more area without crowding the look. The number of the rows will depend on how tall you want your tree to be – somewhere around the middle of my branch, I stopped adding more rows. I hope this info helps!
You’ve got great ideas. Love the swag gonna try it?
Thank you so much, Rebecca! 🙂
It’s 2018 and I’m just seeing this posting and I LUV it! You did a fantastic job decorating that immense portico (with Greg, of course)! I’ll be looking for discarded trees this year to make the swags next year; THANK YOU for sharing.
Thank you so much, Donnamarie! I love those swags the most – they are so easy to hang over on our lanterns and they look awesome! 🙂
I love this!! I’m so glad I didn’t throw away my old Christmas tree! I’ve already made the body of the swags and I’m waiting for the sleigh bell sprays to be delivered. (I ordered them for the link you provided because they’re perfect). I’m sure once I post the finished project, I’ll be asked by my family and friends to make them some.
Thank you so much, Debra! Please send a picture to us when you finish it, as I’d love to see it! 🙂
That’s fantastic!! Great job!
Thank you, Crystal! 🙂
Thank you so much, Crystal! 🙂
Wow, what a great idea to turn it into an outdoor garland! My old tree is going to need to be retired in a couple years, but I plan to put it out on the back deck off the dining room outside to add some cheer there. I’ll have to keep my eye out for other castoff trees to turn into garland. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Michelle! 🙂
Hi Handan,
I am, just now in 2020, seeing your amazing transformation of a boxed Christmas tree with missing parts. You are fantastic innovator! I can’t wait to go to my thrift store and get a Christmas tree. I want to make those garlands. Your home looked so pretty.
Hoy me alegre mucho de ver tus videos. Soy de Colombia y no habia visto esta clase de árbol, alguien me hizo un regalo con adornos y todo y me encanto, Era el 15 de septiembre del 2021 y tan pronto llegue a la casa lo que hice fue ponerme a armar el árbol. Lo unico que sabia era que iba por tamaños y colores. Lo arme, pero quede como inconforme y eso que dure casi 1/2 dia. Lo desarme todo y compre alambres delgados y de colores y lo marque uno a uno nuevamente cada paquete, y termine. Luego le puse luces led blancas muchas. Y comencé con adornos. Quede exhausta. Les cuento ya no volvi a desarmar el árbol, así lo tengo en la sala con todo. De vez en vez lo miro, le cambio algo, le pongo algo, La verdad me alegra verlo en mi sala. Pero el cuento es que veo tus videos, y algo que deje fue una parte completa de hojas de abajo, las mas grandes, y que creen voy a adornar el balcón como tu lo hiciste, no voy a doblar varillas sino a comprar amarres, pongo luces, y bolas creo yo, pero te sigo tu idea. Gracias. O mejor a ambos. Gracias Adios. Marleny de Colombia. Un abrazo y que tengan una feliz navidad 2021 y venturoso año 2022. Le pido a Dios que lo pueda ver en Diciembre también.
Hola Marleny, ¡Me alegra que hayas encontrado útil nuestro blog! Espero que tenga un hermoso árbol de Navidad este año. Les deseamos una muy Feliz Navidad y un Próspero Año Nuevo. ¡Por favor, manténgase a salvo y saludable!
HA! Hubby wanted to chuck out my poor little ‘half of it missing’ Christmas trees I have been hoarding…I mean saving. They shall have a Christmas rebirth now. Thank you for sharing these great ideas. Any more ideas…I do have three trees and no large entry way arch to fill in.
Ha! Never give up hope for those hoarded stragglers! We’ll keep our thinking caps on for new ideas!
Great idea thank you for posting!
Thank you!
Lady, you are the “Queen”!!! I bow to your DIY-ness!!! I love the idea of your garland as I, too have a very tall entryway (although mine is just straight across at the top). I’m going to be on the lookout for a crap-load of tree parts!!!
Thanks for sharing! 😀
I moved into my newly purchased townhouse late in November of last year. Between the stress of moving and the strains on my bank account, I ended up grabbing a very skimpy artificial tree at the last minute, thinking that this year I’d do better. I foresee a very impressive front door swag.
I’m looking forward to making this place really right for the holidays after three years of dreary make-dos. Now all I have to do is remember where I frantically stashed all those boxes of shiny things and wire edged ribbon while unpacking from the move. Better start soon; it’s already July.
Awesome! I hope you have a great Christmas this year, Mandy!
I realize this is quite old. But, I have to comment. First, Greg on that tall ladder made me nervous.
When you said “color coded branches” I almost went in the garage to see if my old tree was still there. I hate that tree ! Plus, my paper with the position of the colors went missing. You had to lay all the branches our and decide longest to shortest, then, you put the lights on. A few years back, I decided I was never putting that tree together again. I found a two part tree with lights for $15. Then my daughter says ” I love that tree. Don’t get rid of it”
Those color coded branches were amazing! These days, there’s no need – most trees come in just two or three parts, and they branches are already installed. So much easier! 😀