The Charlie Brown Christmas Tree
This year my wife told me that she has always wanted to have a Charlie Brown Christmas tree in the house as decoration. Not just any Charlie Brown Christmas tree though, a large one..... I thought to myself, what a better time to surprise my wife and write an Instructable at the same time.
ITEMS NEEDED:
- 1x 1" Dowel, cut to 6 Feet in length
- 1x 20" piece of 2x4
- 2x 5" pieces of 2x4
- 1x 20" piece of 1x4
- green wire garland (the thicker & stiffer the wire the better)
- Drill with appropriate bits
- Screws
- BROWN Duct Tape and or Hockey Tape. Hockey Tape works best as it is not glossy, and looks grittier, almost like tree bark.
Let's get started!
ITEMS NEEDED:
- 1x 1" Dowel, cut to 6 Feet in length
- 1x 20" piece of 2x4
- 2x 5" pieces of 2x4
- 1x 20" piece of 1x4
- green wire garland (the thicker & stiffer the wire the better)
- Drill with appropriate bits
- Screws
- BROWN Duct Tape and or Hockey Tape. Hockey Tape works best as it is not glossy, and looks grittier, almost like tree bark.
Let's get started!
Step 1
- Ensure you have your pieces cut as described.
- In the center of both the 1x4 and the 2x4 drill down a 1" hole sot hat the dowel will slide in snug.
- In the center of both the 1x4 and the 2x4 drill down a 1" hole sot hat the dowel will slide in snug.
Step 2
- I drilled a couple of pilot holes for the screws that will attach the 5" 2x4 pieces to the bottom of the 1x4. These items will keep the stand level. I also drilled some pilot holes around the 1" hole of the 1x4, which will be for attaching the 2x4 underneath.
- Attach the 5" 2x4 pieces to the bottom edges of the 1x4
- lay the 1x4 on top of the 2x4, creating an X shape. Line up the holes and screw the pieces together.
- Attach the 5" 2x4 pieces to the bottom edges of the 1x4
- lay the 1x4 on top of the 2x4, creating an X shape. Line up the holes and screw the pieces together.
Step 3
- Take the dowel and wrap a thin layer of duct and or hockey tape around it. It does not have to be smooth or perfect, trees aren't.
- Using a picture for reference, such as the Charlie Brown picture attached, take a small drill bit and drill some holes, diagonally down where the branches will hang from.
- Using a picture for reference, such as the Charlie Brown picture attached, take a small drill bit and drill some holes, diagonally down where the branches will hang from.
Step 4
- Cut lengths of the wire garland for your branches
- wrap the extensions around the garland into itself creating a tighter package, leaving the very end pieces open for effect.
- Wrap a thin layer of duct tape around the tightened down pieces of garland, providing a "girdle" of sorts to keep them in place.
- attach the open wire end into the holes you drilled and smooth them into place with Duct Tape as well.
- wrap the extensions around the garland into itself creating a tighter package, leaving the very end pieces open for effect.
- Wrap a thin layer of duct tape around the tightened down pieces of garland, providing a "girdle" of sorts to keep them in place.
- attach the open wire end into the holes you drilled and smooth them into place with Duct Tape as well.
Completion
- Once you have completed the first run through of the duct tape and garland, take another run over it to fill in any openings, tighten any loose/unstable pieces and to simply give it another layer for effect.
- Assemble the tree to the stand and add a large red Christmas tree ball for obvious effect.
- If the top branch is too flimsy add a wire hanger into the mix, this will provide better support for the ball you are hanging.
- Assemble the tree to the stand and add a large red Christmas tree ball for obvious effect.
- If the top branch is too flimsy add a wire hanger into the mix, this will provide better support for the ball you are hanging.
Awww.......
And there we have it, all complete. My wife's only complaint, the ball wasn't big enough... Guess what I'm buying next..... That being said, I will end off here with a picture of my helper wearing her festive hat.