It is that time of the year again, where Christmas trees are being sold on the side of the roads, cookie swaps and endless amounts of eggnog are ruining our girlish figures and Christmas décor has become so expensive and mundane. Well I’ve got an idea to help spruce up your Christmas tree this year. And the cost: less than $12.

I love the rustic look of old wood. The idea of using old or reclaimed wood to make new and interesting pieces, upcycling or repurposing, is exciting. And with my growing interests in woodworking, I couldn’t imagine anything other than handmade ornaments made from salvaged wood products.

Materials:

Scrap pieces of wood

Chalkboard paint

Burlap String

Chalk

Ok, Let’s Get Dirty!

Step 1:

1st Stop, my local 2nd hand retailer. I got some really cool looking hardwood flooring for under $2

Step 2:

Measure out the pieces. Each ornament will be 10inches long. Feel free to go with shorter pieces. These things can be heavy so base it upon the size of your tree and preference.

Step 3:

I am cutting with a miter saw. However, this can be easily accomplished with a Miter saw box set.

Step 4:

Once you have your pieces cut drill holes in either sides (the right and left) of the wood pieces.
(Note: I maintained the original texture and look of the wood flooring. I wanted to maintain that rustic feel and texture of the uneven edges. Besides I'm painting this with black paint.)

Step 5:

Spray paint time!
Lay the pieces out on a plastic covering to protect whatever is under it. In my case, my garage floor. Krylon Chalkboard Spray Paint makes a great Chalkboard spray paint. It dries faster and eliminates the need for a brush. Make sure the room has good ventilation. I also used gloves to prevent a sticky situation.

Step 6:

Once dry, it’s time to add the string to the ornaments.
Double and triple tie a knot at the openings.

Step 7:

Any chalk will work fine. However, I like chalk markers. The lines are clean and crisp. Also it reduces the likelihood of chalk residue falling on the floor and getting all over your clothes.