Ceramic Christmas Tree - Updated!
If you've been following me for a while, you'll recall this 'lovely' ceramic tree I found last summer:
Ceramic trees are very popular right now. I've even seen reproductions of the originals. Since I was never a big fan of the green ones with multi-colored lights, I decided this one would be white. Off to the paint stash I went where I found a can of matte white spray paint - with primer!
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It had a pink pearl finish.
It was dirty.
It had fabulous blue lights - not!
But it was only a $1.50.
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Did I mention it was dirty??
The first order of business was getting those blue lights out. Some of them were loose and came right out, but most of them were glued-in. I was a little concerned about breaking them, but, I got out the vice grips and started twisting.
I'm happy to report that all of them came out with a little encouragement. A few broke, but the small pieces popped right out.
The tree went into the sink for a good scrubbing and came out looking like this:
Clean, but very pink!
Ceramic trees are very popular right now. I've even seen reproductions of the originals. Since I was never a big fan of the green ones with multi-colored lights, I decided this one would be white. Off to the paint stash I went where I found a can of matte white spray paint - with primer!
Outside it went for paint on a piece of cardboard, but my favorite part was hanging it upside-down to get all the nooks and crannies:
Two coats later, I had a white tree (and base...I forgot to take pictures of that!)
Originally I was going to give it a satin finish, but I discovered I really liked the matte finish. I also thought I wanted to sponge some gold paint on the edges of the branches, but when I did, I really didn't like it. This was a case of 'less is more'.
I needed clear lights for the tree. After searching online, I found them and they were here in a couple of days. In they went...
I grabbed some batting that I had, some pinecones, and clipped a few branches from one of the shrubs:
Then I plugged it in:
There had to be one more shot once it got a little darker:
Not bad for a $1.50!
I hope you'll pin, share, comment, and follow. If you click on those 3 little lines at the top left of the blog, you'll see where to find me...or click on the icon below to share.
Featured at:
Snickerdoodle Create Bake Make
Anything Goes Pink Saturday
Little Cottage Link Party
Wonderful Wednesday
Wow! I remember my Grandmother and Mom made the green multi- colored trees in ceramic class. I recently saw them again in stores and wasn't sure I'd ever buy one, however this one is beautiful! Such a great find!
ReplyDeleteI've never been a fan of the old green ones, but the thought of making it all white was in my head. At a $1.50, I figured I couldn't go wrong! Thanks for hosting this month, Tammy!
DeleteAnn, I would have passed the pink and blue ceramic tree right by. So glad that you didn’t. Painting it white and replacing the lights with white ones gave the trees an instant update. Of, course cleaning it was a smart first step. Just a cute idea.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carol. I love the challenge of finding the ugly, inexpensive pieces and seeing what I can do to breathe new life into them!
DeleteWhat a great way to "update" this tree. I love the white lights!
ReplyDeleteI have a large one my Mom made in the 60's and it just might need an update!
Thank you, Patti. I'm a firm believer in updating those old green ones!
DeleteAnn I love what you did with your older Christmas tree. I love revamping what we have on hand than going out and buying new. Love the white lights in the tree. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Terrie. I love a challenge and I'm really pleased with how this one turned out!
DeleteWhat a great upgrade! It looks so classy and modern now.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Julie,,,,so much better than the pink and blue!
DeleteThis is fabulous and oh so pretty. I like the matte white and happy you left it plain. Such a great makeover. One of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteCindy
Thank you, Cindy. I'm really pleased with it!
DeleteHi Ann - I've always thought those green trees were ugly but pink and blue may have passed that one onto another level of UGLY. As inclined as I am to paint anything that doesn't move out of the way white I wouldn't have thought it for that tree - brilliant idea with a lovely outcome.
ReplyDeleteSheila
You are SO right, Sheila. The pink and blue really rang the bell! Thank you for visiting the Cottage.
DeleteThat i beautiful! If I ever find one while out thrifting I will buy it and refurb it just like that!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear I inspired you, Gina. I hope you find one soon!
DeleteThat looks beautiful! I wish I had known that the lights could be repaired/fixed. I had an old tree of my grandmothers that I ended up getting rid of because I could not get the lights to work anymore.
ReplyDeleteThe actual light source for this tree is one bulb. I have heard of trees where each individual 'bulb' is actually a light.
DeleteWhat a great project this was! It looks fantastic!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Beth!
DeleteThat is such a great idea for reusing an old ceramic Christmas tree. I think it looks so up to date now.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary. At least it's better than the pink!
DeleteWOW!!!
ReplyDeleteAnn, I am totally in love with this transformation and I will now be on the lookout for a white Tree that I can do this too! It came out amazing....I think I will have to wait until the Summer to hunt for one because they are so popular now!!Thanks so much for stopping by!!
Hugs,
Debbie
I'm so glad you like it, Debbie. I agree, yard sale season will be the time to find one. Good luck!
DeleteIt's really pretty, what an improvement!
ReplyDeletewww.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Thank you!
DeleteVery cute, I have never seen one before. Looks great.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Anita.
DeleteThis was a blast from the past. When I was a child my mother and much older sisters took a ceramics class. They all had one of these trees. Fond memories, thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI think every family had one at some point in time. I'm so glad I triggered fond memories for you!
DeleteThank you for stopping by the Cottage. Come back again soon, won't you?
We used to have a woman that made ceramic items every year for our church fair. I still have several of the items we purchased and they are beautiful. What a great rehab on the tree.
ReplyDeleteCeramics used to be very popular. I thought this was a quick and easy way to give this one a new life.
DeleteThank you so much for stopping by!
Great job and you're right, these are very popular now. I am on the look out for one myself. Question, did you sue regular Christmas tree light bulbs as replacements or some other kind. Inquiring minds want to know. :) Very nicely done and thanks for sharing with #omhgww.
ReplyDeleteI used clear plastic lights. They look just like the ones I took out, but clear. The actual light source is a single bulb in the base. If you take a look at the first picture, you'll see what I mean.
DeleteHappy Pink Saturday, Ann. Thanks for joining us to make Pink Saturdays special. I love your idea, and the results. It looks fantastic.
ReplyDeleteThis post is being featured in my Pink Saturday post this week as "the one with the most clicks".♥
Thank you, Beverly. I'm thrilled to be featured!
DeleteI inherited an original green one from my mom that she had made in ceramic class. I like yours in white a lot better! Thanks for sharing with us at The Blogger's Pit Stop! This will be one of my features tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the feature, Roseann. I was never a big fan of the green ones either.
DeleteAn awesome upcycle! The pink was pretty, but it didn’t really say Christmas to me. Your ceramic tree came out very nicely. Thanks for linking up with Creative Compulsions!
ReplyDeleteMichelle
https://bijoubeadboutique.com
Thank you, Michelle. I'm not sure what it was saying with that pink color!
DeleteVery nice--I like the matte finish and the clear lights!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteThank you so much, Marilyn. Happy to share and I will be linking!
ReplyDeleteHow pretty! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteI've got a white tree that has Cardinal lights all around it with a red star on top. I got it when my husband died.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about your husband; I'm sure the white tree is beautiful with the cardinals. Thank you for stopping by.....
DeleteI have one that I bought at an antique store. Now I will be painting it white! It does have multi colored lights but I do like the white. Can't wait to see what it looks like with my white feather trees!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like I've inspired you. I'll bet it looks beautiful with feather trees!
DeleteThis is fantastic!! I needed this post! I have my grandma's ceramic tree that is also in need of some help - it even has orange lights! Lol. Now I know how to spruce it up!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad I can help! Orange lights? That must be something!
DeleteAs a kid I rolled my eyes when my grandmother made one so I’m amused they’re once again popular. But yours certainly looks elevated. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sandra. I was never a fan of them back in the day, but I love them in an all-white version!
DeleteWhat an amazing transformation! This is beautiful! Thanks for sharing this post at the Will Blog for Comments #18 linkup. Hope to see you next time, too.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Jennifer!
DeleteWhat a find - and an amazing makeover! I'm impressed with your patience in changing the lights. I'm sure I would have given up halfway through! Have a Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteShelley
Actually, removing the lights was easier than I thought. Glad you like it, Shelley, Merry Christmas!
DeleteI love this redo!! You have inspired me to find for myself!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your search and have fun re-doing it!
DeleteWhat an incredible transformation - so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting and sharing your links with us at SSPS #291. See you again on Monday, January 8th, 2024.
Thank you so much!
DeleteCrisp clean white, brilliant lights, and beautiful! Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Allyson. I think it's a big improvement!
DeleteLOVE the simplicity and elegance of this and featuring when my link party opens!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Carol!
DeleteDid you glue the lights in? I have one that half are glued and the others are loose. I’m debating glueing the rest in.
ReplyDeleteNo, I didn't glue them in. If one ever breaks, I don't want to fight with the glue to remove the rest of it. Also, if I ever want to change to colored lights, I can do that easily if they're not glued in.
DeleteThis little tree was given such a great makeover! To think that you paid $1.50 for it! You definitely saw the potential in it. Thank you for linking up with the Home Imagined Link Party.
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely a find at $1.50 and I love what it became...one of my favorites!
DeleteYou make me want to be crafty again. I would never have thought to update that in this way. Love it.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I hope I've inspired you!
DeleteYou have. I just don't have the room for getting crafty right now (2 bedroom apartment, 4 occupants). I like the minimalist look it has.
DeleteI completely understand. Here's hoping you can find a little corner to be creative!
Delete