Trimming the Tree, Literally

A Primitive Christmas Tree

Have you ever had a kid who cut their dolls hair?  This project is a lot like that, for adults who never had a chance to use their paper scissors on a Barbie doll.

There are lots of scruffy worn out fake Christmas trees around; everyone has one in their attic, the garage or basement, to be brought out, disguised with tons of ornaments for a week or two when the right season rolls around.

Another good place to find them is at the thrift store, usually near to Christmas, or just after, when people decide to just get rid of it instead of packing it away in a box in the garage.

Here's a way to make it into a primitive version of a Christmas tree. 

Someone gave me a tatty little two footer, on a plastic stand. The 'needles' are plastic, made in a long piece that winds around the metal branches, arranged in a spiral.

The branches are very bendable, you can configure them however you like. For this project, they are stretched out straight from the main trunk.

So I took the scissors to it, and trimmed off all the needles so each branch is about half an inch wide.  I think it looks great!

The best scissors for this turned out to be the plastic Fiskars scissors for crafts.  That way, you're not damaging your special sewing scissors.

I'll decorate it with tiny birds nests, little reindeer and some hearts, and even some mercury glass ornaments and wrap the stand in burlap with cedar shavings in to give it the look of a dug tree. 

I might display this on my porch, or even out in the yard with popcorn garlands for the birds while the snow falls on it. 

So dig out your fake tree, and get to work.  If your inner child wants to be let out to play with scissors, this is the project for you.