Learn how to make Christmas decorations from an old fake Christmas tree. Outdoor Christmas garland, swag and an alpine tree – DIY Christmas decor at its finest!
8-Foot Faux Alpine Christmas Tree
As the Put & Take find didn’t have one, first I needed to make a trunk, so I took a little walk around our woods. I was looking for a thick and pretty long tree branch, and soon I found a fallen tree branch which fit the bill perfectly. Before carrying it into our house, I cleaned it properly, as deer ticks are everywhere, and I didn’t want to bring any nasty creatures inside.
Once my new tree trunk was ready to take in, I gave it to Greg for him to cut a bit shorter – it was a really long branch. Then I asked him to drill some holes in it: one hole right on the top center of the new tree trunk, and the other holes in the body.
The plan was to drill several holes in the tree trunk, so I could insert the faux tree branches. But before going any further, I wanted to test how these faux tree branches were going to fit, so I did a test drive with the tree top.
Okay, excellent fit! Now it was time for Greg to drill more holes in the body of the trunk. He drilled the holes all the way through and in a rotating way. The spacing between each hole was around 4 inches.
When all the holes were drilled, I also asked him to help me with the tree stand. I know… this was supposed to be my project, right? LOL. What can I say? He loves earning extra ‘Good hubby‘ points! 😉 [pfffft…I’d rather sit on my butt! -Greg]
For the tree stand, I went and found 4 pieces of scrap wood in the basement, and Greg cut them to size. I also asked him to cut one corner off of each piece so the stand wouldn’t have pointy corners.
Next, I set the wood pieces around the tree trunk for Greg to mark them.
Now that the pieces were marked, using wood glue and brad nails, he started attaching them to each other at the marked areas.
And within 2 minutes my tree stand was ready 😀
Next step was attaching the faux tree branches to the tree trunk. But before that, using heavy duty bolt cutters, I cut the steel stems a bit shorter, as I didn’t want steel stems showing when the tree was finished.
To attach the faux tree branches to the trunk, I simply inserted the branches into the drilled holes. As it was a nice and tight fit, I also bent the branches a bit downwards to lock them in their places even better.
Once all the branches were in, I started arranging them to get my faux Alpine Christmas tree into the shape I wanted.
There it was: my 8-foot tall Alpine faux Christmas tree! But I thought it was missing something. I didn’t want to add Christmas lights to it, because I wanted it to keep its plain, but cute, appearance. Instead, I could put a small star on the top branch, and if I could make a lighted star, it would look perfect! But the issue was the top branch was very weak, so the lighted star had to be pretty light. Therefore I had to use light craft wire to make that star shape.
To do so, I found a star shape that I liked on the internet and printed it onto copy paper. Then I cut the star shape out. Using craft wire, I traced the shape of the star and created my wire star form.
Then, I wrapped that wire star with starry string lights.
Starry string lights are pretty light-weight, but the star still wasn’t light enough for the top branch to carry it. Hence, I attached another piece of craft wire at the bottom of my star and I turned it into a pick. Then, to cover the ugly wire, I wrapped some Dollar Store cheap garland around it.
As the final step, I wrapped my lighted star to the top branch, and that was it.
Here is how my lighted star looks. Cool, right?
And finally, here is my favorite one of all three…[drum roll] I present to you our DIY 8-foot faux Alpine Christmas tree!
I love this tree! It gives such a cozy feel to our living room. Overall, this tree cost me $10, which basically was the cost of the starry string lights. But seeing a similar 8-foot Alpine tree online for $220 a week after I finished my tree is priceless! 😀
Handan, xo
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Grace Gleason says
Really nice, Handan! Very imaginative. Hope the boys ate a little crow for laughing at you. 😉
Handan says
Thank you so much, Grace! Lol. Oh it was nice to see their expression after we hung the DiY outdoor Christmas garland 😀
Oh My Heartsie Girl says
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!!
Handan says
Thank you so much, Karren! I would love to share it as I love your party!! 🙂
Robyn Wynn says
Awesome!!
Handan says
Thank you so much, Robyn! 😀
Linda says
What creativity! I’m just amazed at it all and LOVE every bit of it too!! GREAT JOB!!
Handan says
Oh thank you so much for your lovely comment, Linda! 😀
chris aka monkey says
I am sure if santa reads this post, he will hire you both to decorate his house next year xx merry Christmas
Handan says
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
acraftymix says
You go girl!!!!The decorations looks amazing and that alpine tree is to die for. I want one!!!
Handan says
Thank you so much, Michelle! Yes, the Alpine tree is my favorite! Guess what we named it? ‘Charlie Brown’s scrawny tree’ hahahaha 😀
Amy @ StowandTellU says
That’s an amazing save and repurpose. It all looks so gorgeous and even better that you can enjoy it!!
Handan says
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 🙂
helenfern says
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!
Handan says
Thank you so much, Helen! Next week I will be sharing even more…thank you for hosting that wonderful party! 🙂
Marie from The Interior Frugalista says
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!!
Handan says
Thank you so much, Marie! Merry Christmas to you and your family, too! 🙂
Kristal says
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!
Handan says
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 😉
cha says
B R I L L I A N T !!!
Handan says
Thank you very much, Cha!! 🙂
nancy says
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!!!!!!!
Handan says
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 😉
Leanne says
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.
Handan says
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!! 🙂
Brenda Schade says
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 ?
Handan says
Thank you very much, Brenda! I am indeed humbled by your wonderful compliment!! 🙂
Laura says
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! 🙂
Handan says
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 😉
Erika Wischow (@RikaWisch) says
Absolutely LOVE your creativity!!! So beautiful!!
Handan says
Thank you so much, Erika! 🙂
Susan Carroll says
Your alpine tree is so perfect. The white garland with trees and reindeer is adorable. Where did it come from?
Handan says
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 🙂
Jerri says
Wow! You have some great ideas! Thanks for linking up for Friday Favorites. I’m featuring you this week!
Handan says
Oh wow! Thank you so much, Jerri! 😀
Mary-The Boondocks Blog says
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.
Handan says
Thank you so much, Mary! Merry Christmas to you and to your family too!!
Beverly Roderick says
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.
Handan says
That is awesome! Thank you so much, Beverly! 🙂
Lois says
Love it. Have used old tress for numerous things. I know what you are talking about. Very pretty.
Handan says
Thank you so much, Lois! 🙂
Stephanie Rountree says
WOW! You guys are awesome! Love your projects.
Handan says
Thank you so much, Stephanie! 🙂
Alecia (Sarge) says
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).
Handan says
Awesome! I am so glad you liked our projects, Alecia! 🙂
April says
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! 🙂
Handan says
Thank you so much for your lovely words, April! It makes us so happy to receive comments like yours! 🙂
Tsu Dho Nimh says
Saw this from Pinterest … great idea to salvage trashed trees.
How do you store it? Can it just fold at the links?
Handan says
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.
Collette Barnard says
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!
Handan says
LOL – Thank you so much, Collette! 🙂
Sharon says
Lovethe swags! What size bell and sprays did u purchase from the web link u added?
Thanks, they r beautiful!!
Sharon
Handan says
Thank you so much, Sharon! Here is the link to the exact bell spray: http://fave.co/2sV2eIF. 🙂
Julie says
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!!
Handan says
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!
Rebecca Smith Earnest says
You’ve got great ideas. Love the swag gonna try it🌲
Handan says
Thank you so much, Rebecca! 🙂
Donnamarie Tonelli says
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.
Handan says
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! 🙂
Debra says
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.
Handan says
Thank you so much, Debra! Please send a picture to us when you finish it, as I’d love to see it! 🙂