Over the summer I got this fence from my sister Jo, well, this and a whole LOT more!
I use the good boards to make signs for My Repurposed Life Etsy shop. This one was for a rehearsal dinner clambake.
Many of the boards are too rough to paint on, so I’ve been looking for other uses for them. I’ve made some faux gates and shutters for mantel décor. I also made some rustic chalkboards and some plant koozies/planters.
There are wooden Christmas trees all over Pinterest, so I decided I’d try my hand and some.
I cut my boards at random lengths, starting from the bottom and working my way from largest to smallest. After cutting the first board, I would mark the next board so that it would end where the larger one begins. I glued and nailed the fence boards onto one of my fence board stakes.
I made a little twig star for the top to see how it looks. I put the wooden stake into a galvanized bucket filled with rocks.
I used some $$ Tree bulb ornaments and a star to decorate it, while using a Christmas ribbon on the bucket.
This is another tree I made. The first one and this one are different in a couple of ways. The first one has the boards butted right up against each other. This tree has a small separation between each board.
Here is tree #1 and tree #2. You can see the difference of the separation of the boards. The other difference is the degree of the cut on the compound miter saw. The tall narrow tree is cut on a 22.5° angle, while the wider tree is cut on a 33° angle.
This is tree #3. It’s smaller in stature and cut on the 33° angle.
I sort of think this one is a project fail. These boards are really too rough to paint/stencil, but I tried it anyway. I made the stencil using contact paper and my Portrait. You can see in this collage picture that I used a pencil to get an even distance between my boards.
We all know I’m not very good at styling these things. 
My job is to give you the idea and the tutorial, then you can make your own, and decorate it all pretty!
You can see that I simply added curly hooks from the $$ Tree and hung the ornaments between the cracks of the boards.
Do you have a favorite? How would you decorate one of these wooden trees? I think they are great for outdoor use, including your yard or porch—they could be painted, used to hold Christmas cards—the possibilities are endless. I have narrow one with the multi-colored balls on my front porch to welcome my guests.
gail
More rustic fence projects here:
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see more bits and pieces projects here:
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sharing here:
Sandi Allen
Love these trees! Thank You for sharing!
girlfromwva
Love the Have A Merry Little Christmas tree. So cute!
girlfromwva
STILL love these trees made from reclaimed wood!
Korrie@RedHenHome
I think these are super cute, Gail. I have wanted to do something similar with some barn wood I have, but it is SUPER thick, and it would make some really heavy trees! Oh, well, it probably isn't going to happen this year.
I really like yours cut with the steeper angle, and the look of the colorful balls hanging on.
Pat
this is such a cute idea.
I love the one with the twig star on top and the multi-colored balls. (sort of a traditional- NON-traditional tree)
🙂 Patricia
Mindi
I love them all, and the stencil is totally not a fail! I have been wanting to make on of these, your design with the angles is perfect! Great inspiration Gail! Pinned!
Becky
So cute--I love how you hang the ornaments! I also love the one with words on it.
Julie @ follow your heart woodworking
Those trees are so creative, my favourite is the one with the wording on it, but they are all great!
Mary
I love all things rustic and these trees are so cute! I think the one with the stencil came out great. I have to say that is my favorite!
Nadine
Oooh Gail...you are always such an inspiration! I've been wanting to make some unconventional trees this year and I happen to have a whole stack of old fence boards too! Now...to dig the saw out...
Kim @ The Cookie Puzzle
I LOVE these! I will have to beg my husband to make me one...or two...or five!
Janeane
My favorite is the stenciled one. These would be perfect for an outdoor decoration for me. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful idea!
Janeane
http://www.designwithj9.wordpress.com
Bliss
Pinning, because I love these, and I'm thinking my husband would prefer to cut these out for me than the one he cut out from a spool top.
girlfromwva
love these Christmas trees! especially the little one!!! hope you make some to sell !!!
Terri
Love this idea...wish I had more time to whip one up! Maybe next year...
My fave has to be the one with the stenciled quote but they are ALL adorable!
cassie
love these! i really love the red garland one- the red against the wood is so fun!
Holly
I love how these turned out. I would drill holes and add a string of Christmas lights by pushing the bulb through the hole from the back. Great job. 🙂
Donna Wolter
I purchased one several years ago that was painted green. They drilled small holes in it and stuck tiny Christmas lights thru the holes from the back (one string of lights). It is the very rough wood also. Skinny and about 4 feet tall with a wired bow on top. Very cute. I really like yours too. I think the stencil is fine. It probably wouldn't look right on that rough wood if it were too solid anyway. Love the hooks. Mine doesn't have ornaments but I bet I could put some on it with cup hooks...?