10 Best Self Made Christmas Trees
By Jeffrey Strain, December 21st, 2006 | 39 Comments »
I received an email from a woman that was depressed that she couldn’t afford a $100 for a Christmas tree at the local tree lot.
I remember seeing a number of creative Christmas trees that people had made using only the stuff they happened to have and did a search to give some examples to her. After sending them off, I thought it would also be worthwhile sharing them here in the blog. You don’t need to buy a “typical” Christmas tree to get into the Christmas spirit. Here are 10 Christmasmas trees that aren’t typical, but certainly a lot of fun and show how a bit of creativity can brighten up the holidays no matter where you may be:
#10
Chair Leg Christmas Tree: This 1946 photo of a Christmas tree made out of chair legs goes to show that creative use of what is around has been going on for a long time.
#9
Christmas Tree In Space: While this Christmas tree might not seem much to look at on first glance, consider it was made out of cans by the SkyLab crew on outer-space, it certainly deserves to be in the list.
#8
Chemistry Lab Christmas Tree: Give credit to these students who were able to brighten up their chemistry lab by fashioning the lab equipment into a Christmas tree and giving it color by filling the beakers with colored liquid.
#7
Wine Bottle Christmas Tree: Hey, if you drink a lot of wine and have bottles all over the place, why not build a huge wine bottle Christmas tree in your front yard?
#6
Mountain Dew Can Christmas Tree: Before you recycle (and while on a major caffeine high after drinking so much Mt Dew), build yourself a Mt Dew Christmas tree. Photos will even help you figure out how to build your own.
#5
Beer Keg Christmas Tree: What do you do with all those beer kegs from the pre-Christmas parties? Easy, build a Christmas tree with them.
#4
Everyday Stuff Christmas Tree: Even if you think you don’t have anything around the house to build a Christmas tree, this one shows that it is still possible.
#3
Plywood Christmas Tree: No money for a Christmas tree? build one out of plywood, paint it and you are set for this year and every year in the future.
#2
South Pole Christmas Tree: No reason to let minor details like freezing weather and no trees keep you from building a Christmas tree as those living in the South pole did.
#1
Ladder Christmas Tree: This tree gets the number one prize because it uses everyday stuff that anyone who owns a house would already have meaning the cost would be close to nothing, can be created by practically anyone, can be finished in little time and without a lot of effort and looks great.
Honorable Mentions
Doughnut Christmas Tree: Who wouldn’t love a doughnut Christmas tree?
Camouflage Christmas Tree: (emailed without link – if this is yours, let me know and I will link to your site). While the desert may not be hospitable to Christmas trees, a little creativity and camouflage netting can do the trick.
Upside Down Christmas Tree: Not really a do-it-yourself tree, but worth an honorable mention for nailing it to the ceiling.
December 21st, 2006 at 6:39 pm
first (in shock) $100 for a fresh Christmas Tree?
ok now, I like the wine bootle christmas tree — someone could also do that out of beer bottles as well.
December 22nd, 2006 at 8:07 am
I agree with the ladder tree as number 1. The doughnut tree would be much-loved by our dog.
December 22nd, 2006 at 9:39 am
Good grief! to the woman complaining…
Get a short tree, make one from green paper, paint one on the wall..there is no reason to go into debt for a tree.
Find solutions, don’t whine…fix the problem with what you do have.
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:45 pm
Thanks for sharing these with us. I just love these.
December 23rd, 2006 at 8:20 pm
In Washington, DC we bought a monstrous 8 ft tree for $45. I understand the use of the anecdote to start the article, but let’s at least make it believable. $100 tree? Try the fire station selling trees as a fundraiser. My parents got one for $15.
December 23rd, 2006 at 8:22 pm
I understand the use of the anecdote to start the article, but let’s at least make it believable. $100 tree?
Simply relayed what was sent to me in an email…
December 23rd, 2006 at 11:28 pm
FWIW, I live in a major city, and while you could get a small tree for less, a six-footer could easily be around $100.
ITA about the ladder tree. That is stunning!
December 24th, 2006 at 8:28 am
[...] [link] [...]
December 24th, 2006 at 9:52 am
We made our own paper tree a few years ago. No money for a “real” one, two energetic and aggressive cats at home, plus who wants to deal with all those needles falling off? I turned out quite nicely, if I say so myself. Merry Christmas!
http://flickr.com/photos/scurzuzu/127229130/
December 24th, 2006 at 3:32 pm
Absolutely Gorgeous Trees!
Thanks for this lovely post!
December 24th, 2006 at 11:22 pm
[...] For those of you who are either too frugal (read, cheap) to purchase a Christmas tree or you waited too long and they’re all sold out here is a handy dandy guide to the 10 Best Self Made Christmas Trees. [...]
December 24th, 2006 at 11:51 pm
I picked up a really nice tree at Home Despot on 12/23 for ten dollars! Quite fresh and fragrent. They close them out that close to the big day.
I do love that ladder tree and will remember it next year.
December 25th, 2006 at 12:58 am
a great collection of trees!
thank goodness for creative people.
December 26th, 2006 at 7:13 am
$100.00 for a Christmas tree? Come on. We bought a lovely Fraiser fur for $50.00. Had we waited until 12/22 we could have bought a Scotch Pine for $3.00 at a local “home improvement” store. A ladder 6 foot ladder there is well over $50.00.
December 26th, 2006 at 8:05 am
I like the wine tree it should not be number 7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 26th, 2006 at 8:54 am
They’re good, but I have a special attachment to my own home-made Christmas tree:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/samgraham/312938727/
December 26th, 2006 at 9:34 am
Our tree was $140
December 26th, 2006 at 2:18 pm
In NYC and anywhere else that matters
(not the fly-over states) trees cost that much. Sure in the backwoods where everyone makes 17,000/ year trees will be cheap since you can go into your backyard and cut one down.
December 29th, 2006 at 6:19 am
[...] Nog even hard werken op het kantoor vandaag en dan is het einde van dit internetjaar al zo goed als voorbij. Die ‘denneboom‘ waar we zo hard aan gewerkt hadden kan ook uit ons huis vertrekken en de kerstman is ook weer vertrokken naar de noordpool. Ik vond 2006 een fijn jaar en hoop dat 2007 niet slechter wordt voor mijzelf. [...]
December 30th, 2006 at 5:33 am
ohhhh. i love tree no. ten !
December 30th, 2006 at 12:54 pm
LOL, I love the kegger tree. too much.
January 4th, 2007 at 6:56 am
The pics are great but what a hoot.
Lord, what a bunch of pagans. Tree worship truly must be in the unregenerated souls of us all. As a bible believer, I now understand the xmass tree has nothing whatsoever to do with Christianity which most folks who claim to be Christians don’t have a clue about. The traditions of men die hard. I have to confess I love the lights, though.
January 10th, 2007 at 1:56 am
[...] • Top 10 DIY Christmas trees [...]
July 1st, 2007 at 4:44 am
i like the upside down x-mas tree for it is very unique,uncommon…so fantastic!
July 2nd, 2007 at 7:40 am
Doughnut Christmas Tree has to be the one for me but I’m guessing if she doesn’t have the $100 for the tree the donuts are out of the question also which leaves the mountain dew Christmas tree which you can make your money back by charging them for advertising.
October 30th, 2007 at 10:50 am
Great site! Best wishes!
December 19th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
[...] Best Self Made Christmas Trees 10 BEST … choinek od [...]
December 23rd, 2007 at 12:32 pm
[...] 10 cool trees Share and Enjoy:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]
December 24th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
What about the Jaegermeister tree??!!
December 24th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
[...] Best Self Made Christmas Trees – (Personal Finance Advice) Santa Claus Bank Robbery – (Wikipedia) Mother 21, Celebrates 5th Baby – (BBC) To Catch A Thief – [...]
December 26th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
the point of the article was to be creative and work with what ya got. some of these ideas were really unique and practical. the people should be commended and not criticized, some people just want to bitch to hear themselves bitch, even if its at the expense of someone else. remember, its the season to be jolly, ho ho ho and all that crap
October 11th, 2008 at 7:25 am
They are all great, my favourite is the wine bottles as that’s a lot of fun that must have gone into drinking that.
December 12th, 2008 at 7:25 am
I have another version of xmas tree on the wall using only nails and wire.Happy
Xmas to everyone!
December 23rd, 2008 at 7:46 am
Thank GOD I live in a flyover state!
December 23rd, 2008 at 9:36 am
i think the tree from the ceiling was to cover up an ugly dining room chandelier.
December 23rd, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Where I’m from, people pile up lobster traps in the shapes of trees, and cover them with buoys rather than ornaments. It is surprisingly tree-like, especially since the netting in the traps is usually green.
I am a big fan of the ladder tree myself, though I have to say the Mountain Dew tree is kind of beautiful…
December 29th, 2008 at 10:46 am
The wine bottle christmas trees seems to interest me.
July 9th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
i liked the one in the ceiling, although all of them are very cool..great job and great thinking..
October 17th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
I used an old tomato cage, turned on its topside, and extended it to a point using old coat hangers. Then I wrapped it with some artificial spruce garlands (bought for .99 each). You can space them tightly or farther apart, depending on how many you have, or the effect you want. Add mini lights, and whatever decorations you have! I placed mine outdoors, on top of a birdbath (had to drain it to avoid freezing)!