Of course part of the problem was I decided I "needed" it late in the season and like all things, I wanted it immediately! So I decided to play around a bit and see what I could do myself. So, it was off a Dollar General Store where I remembered seeing a $10. very full white Christmas tree for sale.
Next I was off to the hardware store and bought three cans of a cheap red spray paint.
I put the tree together, which basically consisted of just assembling a few pieces together. Took the tree outside and started spraying away. After it dried I decided it needed a little more sparkle, which was achieved by spraying tree with spray-on adhesive and sprinkling with a LOT of glitter. This added a little more depth and sparkle to the branches.
The next day I had my sparkly 6' Red Tree for less than $20.
It's shown here in an English Tudor-style bay window. Blue lights were hung on the windows and gave it a great contrast at night.
Hints and Tips:
- Have a dingy old white tree that is otherwise in good condition? Paint it!
- Look in thrift stores or garage sales to find light colored trees that might work well with a little paint enhancement.
- This would not work on a tree that was made of a vinyl or plastic type of tree branch/leaf
- Make sure there is plenty of ventilation when spraying both the tree and the glitter. OUTDOORS!
- Let dry overnight and a day or two longer will help get rid of that paint smell.
- The spray painted trees won't have the deep colors of a purchased colored tree, but this was exactly the look I wanted. A subtle red.
Also see:
Upside Down Christmas Tree Gallery
Baby Boomer Christmas Tree
The Aquarium Water Tree
