Learn how to make a Christmas Tree that is festive for the holiday season. This rustic wood Christmas tree is the perfect decor.
How to make a Christmas Tree
I found a beautiful rustic Christmas Tree decoration at a fall bizarre several years ago and I just loved it! However, what I didn’t love was the $80 price tag for Christmas decor.
With this easy tutorial, you can use scrap wood or pallet wood to make this wooden Christmas tree craft. It is perfect for your front porch and such a fun DIY project.
Supplies
- (2) 3-1/2″ x 6′ dog ear fence pickets
- 10″ wide green garland (about 4′ in length)
- mini light strand (35 count)
- 1/8″ thick plywood (8″ x 10″ section)
- wood glue
- yellow spray paint (for star)
- 3/4″ finishing nails (about 12)
- (1) sheet 150 grit sandpaper
Tools:
- hand saw (or coping saw)
- hammer
- measuring tape
- staple gun with 5/8″ staples
- Lights
- pencil
- Step 1. Make the Star. Sketch an outline of the star on the piece of 1/8″ plywood. I just freehand draw the tree topper.
- Step 2. Cut the star. Cut the star out with the power tools. Lightly sand the rough cut edges.
Spray paint the front and set aside to dry. If you don’t have the tools to cut out a star, they do have some cute wooden stars on Amazon. - Step 3. Measure and cut the picket. On one of the fence pickets, measure out 5 feet and cut. This will be the body of your Christmas tree. On the second picket, measure out (2) 9-inch sections and (2) 7-inch sections and cut.
This will be the feet for the tree stand. I like to cut the end of each foot at a 45 degree angle to make a cleaner look. This is completely optional for the DIY Tree.
- Step 4. Glue the picket body. Apply wood glue to the bottom 3-inches of one side of the fence picket body. Set one of the 9-inch feet on the glue and nail to the body with 3 finishing nails. Flip the picket body over and repeat, making sure your feet are facing opposite directions.
- Step 5. Glue and nail the sections. The 7-inch feet sections will be glued and nailed to the side of the picket body. with wood screws For this step, you may need an extra set of hands to help you hold the picket body steady.
- Step 6. Add the finishing touches. Before you attach your garland and lights, ensure the paint is dry on your star. If so, add a second coat of paint.
Add Garland and Lights
- Step 7. Attach the garland. Starting at the top of your fence picket body, attach the garland with your staple gun. Using one stem of the garland like a twist tie, secure the top of your strand of lights.
- Step 8. Secure the lights. Weave your lights back and forth on the garland, securing every now and then. Staple the garland center stem every 8-9 inches, being careful not to staple through the string lights.
Leave a couple of feet of the light strand loose at the bottom. You need enough length to reach the wall socket. - Step 9. Add the star. Using glue and 2 finishing nails, secure the star to the top of your wooden trees. Now you know how to make a rustic wooden Christmas tree.
Fence Post Christmas Tree Decorations
You can also add extra decorations to the DIY Christmas tree. Some ideas include small ornaments, pine cones, pieces of ribbon, yarn, berries or small bows to add to the pallet Christmas tree.
Another idea is to add a Christmas tree skirt for extra charm. Let the kids help decorate their own tree and add gifts around it.
More DIY Christmas crafts:
- DIY Bottle cap Snowman Ornament
- How to Use Tulle to Decorate your Presents
- Christmas Yard Decoration Ideas
Print the instructions for Wooden Christmas Tree:
How to Make a Christmas Tree
Yield: 1
Equipment
- (2) 3-1/2″ x 6′ dog ear fence pickets
- 10″ wide green garland (about 4′ in length)
- mini light strand (35 count)
- 1/8″ thick plywood (8″ x 10″ section)
- wood glue
- yellow spray paint (for star)
- 3/4″ finishing nails (about 12)
- (1) sheet 150 grit sandpaper
- Tools:
- hand saw (or coping saw)
- hammer
- measuring tape
- staple gun with 5/8″ staples
- Lights
- Pencil
Instructions
- Step 1. Make the Star. Sketch an outline of the star on the piece of 1/8″ plywood. I just freehand draw the tree topper.
- Step 2. Cut the star. Cut the star out with the power tools. Lightly sand the rough cut edges.
- Spray paint the front and set aside to dry. If you don’t have the tools to cut out a star, they do have some cute wooden stars on Amazon.
- Step 3. Measure and cut the picket. On one of the fence pickets, measure out 5 feet and cut. This will be the body of your Christmas tree. On the second picket, measure out (2) 9-inch sections and (2) 7-inch sections and cut.
- This will be the feet for the tree stand. I like to cut the end of each foot at a 45 degree angle to make a cleaner look. This is completely optional for the DIY Tree.
- Step 4. Glue the picket body. Apply wood glue to the bottom 3-inches of one side of the fence picket body. Set one of the 9-inch feet on the glue and nail to the body with 3 finishing nails. Flip the picket body over and repeat, making sure your feet are facing opposite directions.
- Step 5. Glue and nail the sections. The 7-inch feet sections will be glued and nailed to the side of the picket body. with wood screws For this step, you may need an extra set of hands to help you hold the picket body steady.
- Step 6. Add the finishing touches. Before you attach your garland and lights, ensure the paint is dry on your star. If so, add a second coat of paint.
- Add Garland and Lights
- Step 7. Attach the garland. Starting at the top of your fence picket body, attach the garland with your staple gun. Using one stem of the garland like a twist tie, secure the top of your strand of lights.
- Step 8. Secure the lights. Weave your lights back and forth on the garland, securing every now and then. Staple the garland center stem every 8-9 inches, being careful not to staple through the string lights.
- Leave a couple of feet of the light strand loose at the bottom. You need enough length to reach the wall socket.
- Step 9. Add the star. Using glue and 2 finishing nails, secure the star to the top of your wooden trees. Now you know how to make a rustic wooden Christmas tree.
