Obsession with conifers? check.
Crafty inspiration? check.
a trio of crafts? triple check.
I am back to share the third and final installment of tree crafts. As you can see, I have quite the collection already. And then this morning and afternoon I told ya’ll about how I added to that assortment with a FREE hemp cone tree and then a FREE waxpaper fluttery cone tree. Gotta love the free crafts.
This third and final tree was inspired by West Elm. They made a stick tree that I swore someone could make at home. And so I brainstormed my own version of the stick tree.
And ended up with a little different twist on the rustic christmas tree.
It all began with a bunch of sticks. We had a whole giant stack of them in our master bedroom (you can see a photo of them in the corner of an old house tour photo):
All we did was chop them to different lengths. For those of you attempting this at home, we started with 12 sticks at five inches and then did 12 more every size 1/4 inch shorter. (12 @ 5″, 12 @ 4.75″, 12 @ 4.5″, etc.). We did that till we got to 1 inch. You may not use all the sticks…because you like it the way you like it…but this is how we began.
Then we made squares. I used hot glue to secure the corners.
After I made all the squares, I tested how I wanted to stack them. This is just like Lincoln Logs. Just stack and stack and test and play.
In the end I went with a little twisty look. Basically I started with one square and then layered the next one at an angle. The third square was at a different angle. Then I just repeated that same thing all the way up.
Little dabs of hot glue whereever there was an intersection kept it secure.
All the way till I got the full tree 🙂
It took a bit of finesse to get the tree to be straight…but I considered it like a challenge on Survivor. Build this tree and get an excursion to see the waterfalls of Malaysia and eat OVER thirteen calories!
Seriously though…I am so glad that I got to craft these trees. It was super fun. Maybe next year I can add to the collection with a couple yarn versions or ones made from holly leaves or even maybe a little golden wire one 🙂 How bout you? Anyone create their own crafty conifer? Anybody attempt their own stick tree? Any past Lincoln Log lovers? Or maybe you just are glad to see the end of the tree-o? 🙂
I am loving all of the trees you made! So cute!
Wow! you really have been crafting up a storm, huh? Love the woodsy look.
This looks great – your “logs” remind me of pretzels. Mmmm a pretzel tree!
Jenga trees! LOL
This is definitely my favorite, and I like your version even better than the West Elm one. Nice job on all three. They came out great!
Love, Love, Love it. You never seem to amaze me, what is your secret? How in the world do you stay so motivated???? BTW your poor glue gun looks like it has been through the ringer !!!!
Love all the trees you made! They look great. I recently made one with bead garland…link below! 🙂
http://k-boofly.blogspot.com/2010/12/different-sort-of-christmas-tree.html
great tree trio post(s).
you have great free holiday crafting ideas.
love it.
I love you, Katie Bower! You and Will are part of my morning routine. Thanks for making a 52 year old blog stalker smile. And thanks for not making that tree out of pretzels!
Cute! Almost looks like a pretzel tree. 🙂
Great trees, KB! I was pretty sure someone could make those West Elm twig trees, too, and yours looks great!
I LOVE the trio of trees! So creative!
Great job – I am a huge fan of your craftiness! 🙂
Katie you are so crafty, I absolutely L-O-V-E every project you have done for Christmas!
Love your stick tree and the rope one too! Love finding cool craft ideas that use anything found in nature. Very clever!
I have to ask, where did you get that picture above your bed in your bedroom. My parents had that same picture hanging for years on their house. I dont know what happen to it. Can you tell me who is done by?
By the way. Love the stick tree and love the blog.
Supercraft-Woman you are!
I think that “Nat” is my favorite.
I’m tucking these ideas away for when we live in a bigger place and I have room to actually put Christmas decorations. I like the first and third ones the best.
Hi Cher,
I wish I could be more of help…but I have no clue who did it. We argue about what it is…a boy with a gun or a girl with a broom…and Jeremy inherited it from his grandparents.
xo – kb
The branch tree is great. I love using things from the yard for seasonal decor. I made my own branch tree here
http://styleandcentsability.wordpress.com/
cuuuuuuhh-yyyuuute.
it looks like pretzels!! 🙂 {in a very chic crafta-nista sorta way, of course}
Hey Katie, regular reader here. I did a little investigative work (took a few secs actually) and whoever of you or Jeremy that guessed it was a girl with a broom was right. The title of the painting, is funnily, “A Girl with a Broom” by Rembrandt. Pretty cool piece. Happy Holidays. : )
I thought the same thing when I saw those trees at West Elm. Of course it’s probably going to take ’til Christmas 2012 before I have the time to make them!
So I am a little late to the partay (notice the spelling, yeah I too have a hard time saying party anymore, boring)… but I too have a crazy obsession with Christmas Trees! My favorite is a white feather tree similar to your wax paper one… I bet that would be an easy DIY project for a crafty gal like yourself =) I already bookmarked these pages and the ones from your Christmas Crafty link post for next year. The husband is not going to know what hit him, thanks!
Lovelly craft.
Lovelly craft.thank you from wales uk.