Friday, April 8, 2011

"Shabby" Easter Tree

It’s a cold, rainy, foggy day here which has motivated me to do little else but craft and since I’m in the “Easter” groove, I continued on with that theme and made this little Easter tree.  I already had these little tin containers (which were originally a shiny, silver finish) so I spray painted one to use for my base. 











To decorate it I went back to Google and found these cute, vintage Easter postcards, printed them out, tore the edges and distressed them.  Using Mod Podge I attached them to the container front and back.

 








After they were dry, I used a small paintbrush to add glue to parts of the images and then sprinkled on my favorite ultra-fine glitter.  Once this was dry, I used a small, dry brush to remove any excess glitter.

 









To hold  the branch in the container, I used hot glue to attach a spray paint can lid into the bottom, put the branch in the little center hole and surrounded it with sticky tack to secure it.  I added some sheet moss to cover all of that.

 
I had a hard time deciding what to put ON the tree so looking around I decided to take some pages from an old book and make flowers to attached to the branches.

First I crumpled up the pages and then un-crumpled them.  Taking a light brown ink pad, I rubbed the pad over the wrinkled pages, distressing them.

 
Then I used a circle scallop punch to punch out the petals.  If you don’t have a circle punch or scallop punch, just cut out circles free hand – the more uneven, the more vintage it will look anyway!  Laying 4 petals on top of each other, I inserted a jewel-brad. 















Next I crumpled up the petals and then fanned them back out giving the flowers a 3-dimensional look.  These were attached to the branches of the tree with hot glue.

 
You really could use any type of container-- even an empty aluminum can would be cute!  So this is a really inexpensive (and in my case . . . free!) project to use as a table centerpiece for your Easter dinner!













And I found a 'temporary' use for the little vase whose handle I replaced with beads!  Happy Easter everyone!!


28 comments:

  1. Hi Lauren,
    I found you over at Its a Hodgepode Life link party. I made a dictionary wreath a couple monts ago. I covered easter eggs with dictionary pages, and a candle holder. Now I have one more very cute way to use more paper. I'm your newest follower.

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  2. That should cheer everyone up on a gloomy day!

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  3. Thank you for that awesome tutorial! I have this punch and will for sure be using it for this! Come by and see my pringle cans. You'll love them! :)

    ~Liz

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  4. This is a wonderful project. I thought that container came that way when I first looked at it. What a great idea! Mod Podge makes everything better.

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  5. That is so cute! Good job! :)

    Sarah

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  6. It's darling- love the sweet little container! Well done! Thanks for sharing at FNF! :)

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  7. I love the way your sweet container came out! I'm going to have to learn to use Mod Podge! heehee! ♥

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  8. Oh this is so very cute! Love how you made the tree. Thanks for linking it up!
    Sherry

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  9. you're so talented, that is so cuteee, love the cute tree with a super cute container that you redo!!

    Susan @http://tea-diary.blogspot.com

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  10. Newest follower!
    I love the flowers on the branches. I was just looking at those punches the other day and knew there was something I could use them for.

    Hope to see you over at my blog.
    http://dragonfliezcreationz.blogspot.com

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  11. wow that it precious!! thanks! love your blog!

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  12. What a sweet tree! I looks precious in your Easter vignette. I hope you stop by the Tuesday To Do party and share it!

    http://blackberryvine.blogspot.com/2011/04/tuesday-to-do-5-and-4-list-makers.html

    Smiles!
    Jami

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  13. what a great idea!!! Those book page flowers are soooo fun and cute....great job!!!

    april

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  14. That is such a sweet idea. I love flowers made out of book pages. Lovely.

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  15. Those are so pretty!! I just bought a distressing ink pad and wasn't quite sure how to use it....I might try those flowers!
    Thanks for linking!! :)

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  16. WOW! Lauren, what a beautiful creation you have here. I love this idea. Thanks for sharing. I saw this entry at the Handmade Tuesday linking party.
    I'm a new follower to your fabulous blog :)
    Hugs, Rleen

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  17. Love this. I did an Easter Tree to, but I think I like yours better

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  18. Great job! I really love those sweet little flowers!

    Thanks so much for linking to "20 Below Thursday"! :)

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  19. Love this, thanks for showing how you did the flowers....

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  20. looks fantastic great job sometimes a rainy day turns out to be a good thing

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  21. Just darling! love the graphics and the little paper flowers. Thanks for sharing the fun at VIF! xo Debra

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  22. Cute tree, Lauren. I usually use pussy willow branches for an Easter tree here, but his year I want to change it up. I still need to find a branch or something else appropriate. Better hurry. I'm running out of time. ;-)
    Happy to find your blog. ~ Sarah

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  23. What a lovely Easter display! I love how you used the vintage Easter images to decorate your tin! Gorgeous! X

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  24. That is so pretty. Love what you did to the container, and your flowers turned out great. So glad you linked this to Favorite Things. laurie

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  25. Its really something great innovative idea. Thanks a lot for sharing this information.
    I will try out.
    Regards,
    Gift Basket Ideas

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