Funky Junk Interiors

Reclaimed wood Christmas tree and star

I’m embarrassed to admit, I can’t remember the last time I decorated outdoors for Christmas.

Much of that has to do with the front door and side windows needing paint.

And the concrete needing work.

And the whole outside needing… a good farmhouse experience. Or something.

Or a pretty for sale sign on the front yard would work wonders…

When things aren’t up to par, they don’t make for great backgrounds!

So as I was glancing around my festive, surrounding neighbour’s front porches of cute toboggans and pretty greens, I looked at my own mess, called myself a scrooge, and vowed to change that this year.

With a scrooge-less reclaimed wood Christmas tree and star for the front porch!

Here’s how I made this adorable reclaimed wood Christmas tree without measuring every piece of board!

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Reclaimed wood Christmas tree and star

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Supplies I used:

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White chippy fence wood I picked up a while back

Plain reclaimed wood for the tree stand

Miter saw

Cordless drill and screws

Random hinges and rusty junk

Grabbing from my wonderful stacked setup in the workshop, I set to work.

How to make the tree stand:

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1. Cut two equally sized wood pieces, and two small supports.

2. Layer one plank on top of the other in a cross position. Slip small supports under the top board to create a rustic Christmas tree stand.

3. Predrill holes, then screw the Christmas tree stand together from underneath with screws.

My fav cordless drill in the whole wide world is the Makita HERE. (affiliate link)

4. Attach a tall post to the stand from the bottom using screws.

I suggest to cut your tree boards first, so you can determine how long to cut the support post.

Afterthoughts:

I’d criss cross the stand against the post if I made another, rather than having it sit like a plus sign. I think a criss cross would offer more stability.

Oh… and a little bigger too.

Call this one a 10pm brainstorm…

 

How to cut measureless tree boards:

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I wanted to figure out an easy way to cut all the tree boards evenly without having to take a tape measure to each one. I believe this is it!

1. Swing your miter saw to a desired angle for your Christmas tree edges.

Everyone needs a miter saw. Here’s my DREAM SAW. (affiliate link)


2. Starting with the bottom of the tree, cut the longest board first. 

* My first board was 28″ long, x 4″ deep. The tree ended up being 38″ tall. I suggest to cut all your small planks first, then the post last, to ensure it’s long enough for your tree.

Chop one side…


… then flip the board over, and cut the other side to your desired length.


2. To cut your next board, cut one edge first, then lay your fully cut board on top of the unfinished board, and pencil-in the same length.

3. Adjust board in miter saw until the pencil mark hits the 2, then cut.

Repeat, using your newest cut board as your new guide.

This will cut all your boards 2″ shorter from the last. So easy!

4. Mark the centre of each board, then screw it to the post.

My tree used one screw to attach each board.

How to build a reclaimed wood star

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I didn’t want to go to a ton of work making a perfect star. No patience for that.

So… I used the edge cuts from the tree boards to build this. How easy is that?

With one exception. The top peak will have to be custom cut, to align with the bottom legs. 

How-to:

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1. Cut angle pieces as shown.

2. Once your pieces are cut, pre drill holes, then attach with short screws.

3. Attach a large hinge behind the star, to attach to the tree.

The finished reclaimed wood Christmas tree!

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Then decorate your new old reclaimed wood Christmas tree and star as desired!

It looked really cute strung from side to side with white mini lights too, but my outdoor plug doesn’t work.

(whatever)

Set against the Christmas tree branches I found on the ground, it’s a festive indication on what lies beyond that unpainted front door… 🙂

Wouldn’t this be cute hung in an entry, loaded with key hooks?

Mason jar pinecone twig garland tutorial is HERE.

You really can’t do anything wrong with this tree! Any old relic or rusty junk or lights or Christmas decorations or just natural evergreen branches all suit this reclaimed wood Christmas tree and star!

Try making some different sizes to create a tree forest! And on it goes.

You’ll love the outcome, and honestly, with the white chippy boards, it takes on a winter tree after Christmas.

Think you’ll try making one?


Which brings me to close with… what scrooge? 🙂