Dollar Store Decor: Antiquing Trees Adds Class

I went to the dollar store today and they have a ton of awesome decorations for Christmas there right now. Truly, the quality of decorations at the dollar store has improved drastically over the past few years. They have some super-cute mirrored and beaded conical trees this year. I’ve been tempted to buy them and use them as they are (similar cone trees cost at least $10 at craft stores, and more at department stores!), but with this great idea found at Let It Shine, I’m going to run right back out to the store and pick up a bunch of them so I can alter them like this! She antiqued the trees to take some of the old dollar store chintz away and to make them look like cherished antiques. A stroke of genius, I say! Also, check out the dollar store birdies under a glass cloche. So sweet! When I grow up, I’m going to decorate like this (right now, my living room is decorated with the Alien Abduction Lamp and very well-loved toddler books!). [click here to find out how to antique these dollar store goodies]

Project Estimate:

Mirrored tree, $1
Antiquing glaze, $1

Total: $2

Tags: antique, bird, christmas, christmas tree, technique, tree

Heather

Heather Mann is chief editor of Dollar Store Crafts, and specializes in transforming inexpensive materials into stylish and simple craft projects. She has appeared on the Martha Stewart Show, in Reader’s Digest and the New York Times. DSC has been recognized as named one of Babble.com’s Top 10 Best Overall Craft Blogs (2011 & 2012) and Apartment Therapy’s 10 Crafty Blogs We Love (2010). Her work has been viewed by millions on the cover of FamilyFun magazine and on top websites such as RealSimple, Huffington Post, ABCNews.com, and others.

7 Comments

One Cheap B*tch

November 20, 2009 at 8:15 am

So pretty! And I love the crown in the frame!
Lori R

November 20, 2009 at 9:58 am

Okay, these are cool alterations, but I have to say your alien abduction lamp is AWESOME!!
pam

November 20, 2009 at 12:29 pm

Ok now I really am humbled! I saw these at the dollar store the other night and did I think of anything so clever to do with them – of course not!

But you can bet I am headed over there too to grab one or two of these to antique and add to my little tree collection!
Vone

November 20, 2009 at 3:15 pm

You have much cooler things are your dollar stores.
erin

November 23, 2009 at 1:37 pm

I love your blog, but I usually don’t drop everything and run to Dollar Tree. That is until today! Bought three of them. I didn’t have any antiquing glaze, so I used a mixture of brown and black acrylic paint. Worked wonderfully! Then I looked at the plastic ball ornaments I bought and they looked a little too shiny as well, so I attacked those next. I’d better be careful. Antiquing might be my new mod podge.
Jackie

December 11, 2009 at 8:13 am

I ran to the dollar store last night and bought two of these trees because I loved the look then I got them home and wondered where do you get antiquing glaze from?
Liz

June 23, 2011 at 9:18 pm

One problem…. the only problem with the $ store is that almost everything (if not everything) they carry is made in China.