Well, making an upcycled chair spindle Christmas tree seems like a great idea, right?
Upcycled Chair Spindle Christmas Tree Display
They say imitation is the best form of flattery. My good friend Holly from Full Circle Creations makes these really great trees-not this one, that one is mine. I’m sure Holly would not want to claim it. It all sounded good when I started. I put a call out on facebook for an unwanted Christmas tree. My cousin Lois had one she wanted to get rid of. She’s always good about tossing stuff my way. Do you remember the sewing cabinet and the crib into an easel/sandwich board?
Repurposed Christmas Tree
The tree was in great shape, and probably worked just fine. It was difficult for me to dismantle a perfectly good tree, but I got busy removing the lights.
Here are some of the branches with their lights removed.
Bucket of Chair Spindles
I gathered some readily available upcycled chair spindles.
Cut the Pieces to Size
I cut some of the chair spindle parts.
Then, I cut some bases out of some leftover lumber.
Add Base to Upcycled Chair Spindle
These were made a lot like I made the pedestal stands a few months ago. I drilled a pilot hole in the base and the bottom of the spindle. By screwing the screw slightly through the base, and using some Gorilla Wood Glue, then attaching the spindle, I got a really tight fit.
Spindles and Bases
I made 4 different ones, and went looking for some taller spindles.
I found these hanging out in my shed. You can see some more bases laying on the table.
Testing out a branch from the tree. Looks pretty good eh?
Spindle Christmas Trees
I spray painted the upcycled chair spindles and their bases black.
Then it sort of goes horribly wrong. First, let’s take a look at my inspiration photo from Holly:
Holly from Full Circle Creations does beautiful work, and her trees look great!
Mine? not so much! I mean the trees look okay. The plan was to take a few decorated to show what can be done…
Maybe I should use them to show how NOT to decorate a really cute spindle Christmas tree. Craft fail? You tell me, what should I do?
gail
Check out this collection of Wooden Spindle Projects
see more bits and pieces projects here
Hi, there! I’m Gail, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!
Alba Warren
I like the idea, i would use Smaller tinsel or Beads & you could also use Small strings of lights keep working on them... I Love them.
Ann.
Jane H
You used parts of an entire, full sized tree. She used little trees, already trimmed and "cone shaped" as mentioned by others. Also, as mentioned, she used the smaller decorations that are in scale with the size of the tree. I also noted her "stands" are shorter, so they are in scale with her trees. You were on the right track, to be sure.1
Corn in my Coffee-Pot
Ok... I think yours are great. I don't even think that the size of ornament matters either. Her trees have HUGE ornaments on them or NO ornaments just lights...the example in your photo up top. Looking at her blog...she has a variety of ornament sizes there too.
I think it is the style... your's is more traditional garland and balls. Here's is COUNTRY THEMED.
I say... as many Christmas trees as there are in the world..There are THAT MANY STYLES.
Your trees look fine. Take them and sell them!
Now repeat after me...NOT. A. CRAFT. FAIL. ...NOT. A. CRAFT. FAIL. !!! LOL...:)
Pat
Bliss
I don't think those are so bad, they look pretty nice all grouped together. On a porch maybe too huh?
Bliss
Katherine
They definitely need a more cone shape, with more fullness on the bottom. Otherwise they look like a lady with her skirts flying up! I bet if you sorted the branches by length before you started putting it together and then worked your way up from longest to shortest. And put them in at 90 degrees, then tweaked them later. I think it also needs more branches in each round.
Nadine @ Chic with the Kool-Aid Mustache
Not a fail, just a proportion thing as others have pointed out. I think they're cute!
Anonymous
Shirley said:
I like them. I wonder if you drill holes in the spindle on a slant and add pine into them. Maybe that would make it look fuller.
Love your blog.
Stephanie
Not a fail at all! Just adjust the scale of the decorations and use less and your good to go. Putting the smaller decorations deeper inside the tree will help as well, rather than on the outside limbs. Tiny bunting would look cute and you could use fabric or paper for that with some twine. Or even tiny pine cones attached to twine for garland. I love the idea though!
Full Circle Creations
I absolutely don't think this is a fail project. I love your trees. I used an alpine tree that I took apart to make my trees which just gives it a different look. And it definitely is not a competition. If I didn't already make them myself, I'd buy one of yours!
Have a great day!
Holly
Toqua's Crafts
I agree with the above about using smaller ornaments. The ornaments you are using are over powering the tree.
Have a great day Gail!
No need to respond; rest that shoulder.
Toqua's Crafts
Oh you NEVER clog my inbox... I just didn't want you to feel you HAD to respond. 🙂
Mindi@MyLove2Create
They are really cute! I agree will all the above...I also think they would be cute put in groups of three. You know a tall one in the back and then one a little shorter and one shorter still... It would make a great corner display! Great job!
Anonymous
Good comments above. I think you should also consider cutting the branches so they are more of a tree shape. That's the main difference I can see between yours and the inspiration photos. She used small trees.
Shirley Hatfield
I love the idea! The small red one with the star looks the best decorated...maybe just show them with minimal decor...with ornaments on a smaller scale. I would love to decorate with several trees like that! =D
Sharon
They look okay to me, But loose the garland and use smaller ornaments. And use battery opterated lights. Check Dollar tree for both of those.
Sharon
Peggy
Gail,
Yeah.... a project we have both undertaken (and here I thought I was being original, having never seen Holly's)! First and foremost NO this is NOT a craft fail!!! That said it just needs a few tweaks.... take a pair of wire cutter and snip a few of the upper branches shorter to give it a more conical shape. We used garland which we had given a haircut so that it became mini garland (worked great and all I did was vacuum up the mess because there was a HUGE mess!) and miniature ornaments graced the trees. think super inexpensive at the dollar store.... You mini ball ornaments may look just fine once you give your garland a haircut... it will give you an excuse to watch an old favorite movie and rest your shoulder! If you have ANY questions please give me a holler!! (no I don't have any pictures because it was pre-blogging days... sorry!)
Love Of Quilts
They look fine to me!
Linda
I love the idea and I agree with smaller ornaments and no or mini garlands yours will look more professional. Frankly I like the homemade look of yours. Great tutorial.
IRedS
Shorter spindles and smaller ornaments -- I think they are adorable!! I'd place them on a shelf, mantel -- up high.
Y Mama
I think they are adorable!!
Michele {The Scrap Shoppe}
I think they are super cute, Gail!! Yours have a slightly more Charlie Brown-ish quality (and I swear I mean that in a good way!) than Holly's, but she looks like she used miniature trees or something. I think yours are adorable!! I would definitely use them in my Christmas decor. 🙂
MarthaVA
I like them! I agree with above - my first thought was....too many decorations - but then I realized - you need the decorations for miniature trees - they are much smaller and would not overwhelm the trees. They ARE cute though!
Martha
Sylvia
Your trees are very cute. I also took a look at Holly's site and I agree with others about size, scale and decorations. It appears that she used a different kind of tree, as well. Great idea and you did a great job, as always.
Jamie@OwlReally.com
I like the shorter spindles and I agree with everyone to use miniature decorations.. but they're really fun!
Sandra@Beneath this Roof, Within these Walls
I think they are precious. I went over and looked at all of Holly's, and I think the other posters are right, the only real difference I see is the scale of your ornaments is off a bit. Kinda overpowers the tree itself, especially the garland. But they are really cute. And it is not a competition, right? Holly's are done her way, yours are your way, as it should be!
Frances Altvater
I agree with Hopemore Studio--I think the size and shape are the problem. I would say that I think the red ones are better than the other colors. But I do like the idea and I think that with slightly different decorations they'd be very cute.
Hopemore Studio
Gail I think it may be the shape and size. Your inspiration trees are more cone shaped and have miniature decorations. Is there a way to make your trees more shapely?
Sue
I'll take the one on the right as well, it's adorable. But Goedele is right, Holly's are less decorated. Maybe just take the garland of the 3 big ones and replace it with tiny wooden ornaments?
I Play Outside The Box
What are you talking about??? I think they look great. I'd love to have that little bitty red one on the right! I say take em with yoiu...I think they will sell for sure!
The Gingerbread Gem
I think they look fine Gail! It's a nice project to do with the kids: a tree for each room! The only difference with Holly's trees is the decoration: hers are less heavily decorated? Is that it?
Goedele
Anonymous
Not a fail They are really cute....Just think te garland over powers them...maybe downsize the ornaments
Stephanie