Make The Prettiest Christmas Tree Box

MAKE THE BOX

No matter what your skill level, materials, or tools, make a simple box larger than the base of your tree. We made ours 24" by 24" by 15" tall. Steve used old, 1/2" thick ac exterior recycled plywood, and he cut up an old shelf for the trim at the top. He did not even miter the corners, but you can if you wish. Just use whatever you have and get creative.

GATHER YOUR PAINTING SUPPLIES

We used leftover materials, so this project had no cost. See how many items you have around the house to do this project for almost nothing.

• Golden Paintworks Cashmere metallic paint
• General Finishes Antique Oak water-based stain
• I used an old L A Stencilworks stencil that I can't find online at this writing. You can substitute the Royal Design Studio Acanthus Damask
• Black water-based paint
• Paint brush
• Large stencil brush ( I used a giant one from Royal Design Studio)
• 100-grit sandpaper or a sander
• rags
• paper towels
• paper plates
• painter's tape
• hairdryer
• felt pads optional

PAINT

Brush on one light coat of black paint. Let dry.

SAND

Use a small sander or 100-grit sandpaper to sand heavily and make the wood show through. Wipe clean.

STENCIL

Position the stencil and tape it as best you can.

Use a large stencil brush to brush on a light coat of paint through the stencil. Dip just the tips of the brush into a small pool of paint on a paper plate. Offload onto paper towels. Pull the brush in a vertical motion over the stencil.

DRY

Let dry, or use a hairdryer to dry quickly.

STAIN

Paint on the stain.

Wipe off excess stain with a dry cloth. Let dry. Sand lightly. Wipe clean.

Add some large sticky felt dots if you like.

THAT'S IT!

Just add your tree, decorate, and add presents. Enjoy.

Merry Christmas!

Join me on my website and blog for more projects, home styling tips, and more at http://debbiedionhayescreative.com