12 Days of Christmas Ideas, Day One, Yardstick Tree

Welcome to my annual 12 Days of Christmas Ideas! This is my 12th year of sharing easy, DIY Christmas ideas with my readers, WOW!!

This year I feel ON TOP OF IT (famous last words?). I am starting on November 1st, I know what all of the projects are going to be, and I have some of them made already. What? Shocked? No, I do not usually have much of a plan and usually make it up as I go. Some years I have created all of the projects with similar items or really stick to a theme, but this year I am creating simple items that I love and will use in my own Christmas decor (I may sell a few of them).

This year's first project starts with some vintage yardsticks. I always buy these at thrift stores IF they are $2 or less. I made a Christmas wall hanging that is a little different from the graduating horizontal stick or wood trees we have seen over the past five years. I love those still, but wanted to create a little something different.

I used the yardsticks that had some red advertising on them for Christmas. I left the paint splatters that were on them. You can use new rulers or yardsticks (stain them for a little darker color), paint sticks, lath.

I started with the bottom piece, cutting it 16" long. The middle horizontal piece is about 11.5" long, and the top horizontal piece is just under 8". The sides are 9" long on the bottom piece, 8" for the middle piece, and 7" for the top triangle. I added a 3" trunk.

I used wood glue to secure the pieces to each other. I would like to add some smalls screws before I put the tree in storage because glue by itself doesn't always hold well long term, but I didn't have any short enough at home.

This simple tree "wall hanging" works as is on a wall or door.

It is also cute propped on a shelf.

You could add it to a wreath or make a longer trunk stake to put it in a plant or in the yard. The tree could be decorated with small ornaments hanging in it or added yarn garland.

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Linking up at Funky Junk Interiors