10 Best Self Made Christmas Trees
By Jeffrey Strain, December 21st, 2006 | 40 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.
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.
I agree with the ladder tree as number 1. The doughnut tree would be much-loved by our dog.
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.
Thanks for sharing these with us. I just love these.
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.
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…
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!
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/
Absolutely Gorgeous Trees!
Thanks for this lovely post!
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.
a great collection of trees!
thank goodness for creative people.
$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.
I like the wine tree it should not be number 7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They’re good, but I have a special attachment to my own home-made Christmas tree:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/samgraham/312938727/
Our tree was $140
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.
ohhhh. i love tree no. ten !
LOL, I love the kegger tree. too much.
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.
i like the upside down x-mas tree for it is very unique,uncommon…so fantastic!
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.
Great site! Best wishes!
What about the Jaegermeister tree??!!
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
They are all great, my favourite is the wine bottles as that’s a lot of fun that must have gone into drinking that.
I have another version of xmas tree on the wall using only nails and wire.Happy
Xmas to everyone!
Thank GOD I live in a flyover state!
i think the tree from the ceiling was to cover up an ugly dining room chandelier.
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…
The wine bottle christmas trees seems to interest me.
i liked the one in the ceiling, although all of them are very cool..great job and great thinking..
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)!
Cindy judgement of others is a sin such as calling people pagens. WWJD if he saw this post, he might see the good of others trying to help someone not just see people worshiping a tree, btw no one here is worshiping a tree that I see. Where I come from Christianity is about forgiveness, teaching and love, I did not see any of that in your post. For the one who posted about fly over states I am one, I do make quite a bit more income than 17,000/year, and yes I could cut my own tree if I choose too, may I ask what that has to do with this post, people here are showing their creativity and helping others, not to show off how much money they have or what they can buy,oh if you need to know I bought a 400 dollar artificial tree after christmas sale at walmart for 50 dollars if that makes any difference which it doesn’t.. thank you both for showing people how not to respond to a wonderful post, peace out everyone