The Holiday Tradition Tree is a custom I started when my son was very little. I made several trees for work but they were never published so they floated around our home for awhile until I settled on one and it slowly became the Holiday Tree.

Make this simple, elegant Holiday tradition tree for all the holidays of the year. You can add bats at Halloween, hearts at Valentines, thankful note leaves for Thanksgiving, origami birds, twinkle lights- the list is endless.

Step 1: Materials and Drill Bits

Branch(es) about 24" tall with lots of little twigs coming off of them
A saw (I won mine in an Instructables contest)
Wood glue
A wood base: a wood plaque from the craft store works really well; they even have natural wood slice bases
Drill and bits (size depends on branch bottom diameter)
Scrap wood surface to drill into (just in case)
Wax paper
Optional: Paint (spray or acrylic and a brush)

Determine the depth of the wood base - you will not need to drill through the bottom.

Gauge the diameter of the branch(es) being added to the base and select the corresponding sized drill bit.

Put a piece of painters tape around the drill bit to show how deep to drill (i.e. not all the way through the base).

Step 2: Drill the Hole

In some cases, the wood bases already have a hole drilled into them for lamps but in general, it will not be the size needed to fit the bottom of your branch.

Hold the branch where it will sit and be aware that you might need to have the things balance later (i.e. put a second branch in).

On a protected surface, such as a piece of scrap wood, drill all the holes.