In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, the Christmas tree trucks roll into the city. Flatbeds filled with fresh cut trees. Often times pulling a small camper trailer behind.
And in empty lots and corners of parking lots throughout Chicago, they set up their fresh cut Christmas tree shops. Settling in for the season. Camping out in the big city in their little camper trailers at the back of the lot.
It’s a festive sight to see.
At first.
But as the weeks pass and we near Christmas Day, those tree lots start to look a little sad.
And on Christmas Day when we head out to the suburbs to enjoy a feast with our extended family, we inevitably pass a tree lot or two. Still overflowing with cut Christmas trees …
trees that will not be celebrating Christmas this year.
Or any year.
And it makes me sad.
I mean, just think about it. Those poor homeless trees don’t get a chance to fulfill their life’s purpose. They were raised solely to be Christmas trees, after all. Planted and watered and nurtured for years upon years at a Christmas tree farm in Michigan. Or Wisconsin. And once they grew to their full height and width, they were cut and wrapped up and carted off to Chicago, with their branches filled with hopes and dreams of twinkle lights and family heirloom ornaments and star toppers. All building up to the big day. Their big day. Christmas Day. With presents laid out under their trunk, children would rush to them in their feety pajamas and squeal with delight at the sight before them.
Sigh.
Maybe next year I should mobilize my family to go to the trees. Instead of them coming to us. And we can cut our own. And those that aren’t ready can continue to grow and wait their turn for their Christmas tree family …
instead of ending up in the Christmas tree chipper. 🙁
The idea of cutting our own Christmas tree had me thinking of those cute vintage fresh cut Christmas tree signs. So when Ace Hardware challenged me to create a holiday themed project using their paint color match technology, I thought I’d make my own vintage sign in red and white. And color match the red to one of my favorite Christmas pillow cover fabrics in Valspar Optimus Paint & Primer in a flat finish …
How To Make A Christmas Tree Sign
Go to Ace Hardware with your favorite Christmas fabric. Or sweater. Or picture. A few tips from Ace: Make sure it’s at least the size of a quarter • and the color needs to be opaque • and there needs to be at least a portion of the item that can be relatively flattened in order to fit within the color matching instrument.
I stared by painting my board (measuring 8″ x 1″ x 30″) with my amazing red color-matched Valspar Optimus Paint & Primer paint in a flat finish.
For the stencil* prep, I gave it a light coat of spray adhesive on the back side.
Then I positioning it in place.
For the stencil*, I used Valspar base white in a flat finish. Just load up your stencil brush with paint, and then unload on a piece of cardboard to help prevent bleeding of paint behind the stencil.
When stenciling, I used an up and down motion. Not side to side. And definitely no swirling. I didn’t want any paint to bleed underneath the stencil.
Once you’re finished painting, carefully pull up the stencil.
And breathe.
Followed by a sigh. And a smile as you marvel at how well Ace Hardware color-matched the pillow.
And since this Christmas Tree sign hangs in the window pass through between the kitchen and family room, I did a reverse color treatment on the opposite side.
And now Ace Hardware wants to share a little holiday joy with you with a $100 Ace Hardware gift card …
Good luck! 🙂
*** You can find the Christmas Tree Farm Stencil at Funky Junk’s Old Sign Stencil Shop. Just click here … ***
Today’s post was written as part of my role as an Ace Hardware Blogger. I was compensated by Ace for this post and for the products used, but all opinions about the Valspar paint, Ace color-matching technology, fresh cut Christmas trees, and Ace Hardware are my own.
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I would use it to by a few tools for my husband for Christmas.
I LOVE IT! So cute, so festive! Great project Linda.
xoxo, Michelle
We are slowly redoing a lot of our condo. We have need to rehab the bathrooms and the kitchens. So paint and other supplies are definitely in order.
I would buy black mulch for my flower beds this Spring.
I’m not sure what I would spend the gift card on, Ace Hardware stores are so much fun.
Adorable sign! We’re getting ready to redo our bathroom and it’s in dire need of a new paint job!
I love my neighborhood Ace Hardware store….if they don’t have it they will get it for you ASAP. I love the ambience of the old place….old hardwood floors that haven’t had a lick of finish on them in decades and decades.. I just feel at home there..
Love you signs….and I also had a peek at your Advent Calendar…..I love it too.
I think I will get my great grandchildren to ‘help’ make one. Thanks so much for the idea.
Really good sign! Front and Back! Ace could come in handy for my glass-less white picture frame for the mantel. Some elements of the mantel project need to be spray painted a metallic copper or bronze. Good luck to everyone!!
Love the sign! What a wonderful color and design!
I would use the gift card to buy tools for my sons!
sooo pretty! I could use the gift card to buy xmas lights and decorations!!! I need new ones!!!
Nice and simple…Just like me!
We are always doing small projects around our home…I’m sure I would find a terrific use for the gift card! Love that sign BTW! 😉
I would use the Ace giftcard to buy some tools for my daughter. She is recently divorced and needs basic tools like hammer, screwdriver, etc. This would help out alot for Christmas this year. Ace also carries toys around Christmas time so I can probably pick up a truck or something for my grandson.
Ace has great tools, all of them potential holiday gifts.
I would buy paint for some projects that are cluttering up my basement.
I LOVE Ace color-matching!!!! Who new there were so many different shades of each color!!! I also love the ease with which you made your darling sign! It gives me confidence to try it!
I would use it towards tools!
I’m not sure what I would specifically use it for but we’ve slowly been fixing up our house so I know it would come in handy. I love Ace Hardware. I live in a rural area so it’s closer than any of the big stores and they always seem to have what we need.
An Ace store opened up recently near me, walking distance, and I’ve been checking out soo many nice things. I’d love to get some refinishing materials and refinish bedroom furniture!
I would buy some lawn and garden bags, a trash can, and a new rake.
I would buy some paint or tools or something else I found wandering around the aisles.
I have no idea how I would use it. It is just fun to poke around the store and look at all the awesome things they have!
I recently won a Cricut Explore so will not enter your contest and won an Ace card last year. Think it’s only fair to spread the luck. Hope somebody really needing card wins. Good luck all.
Did you make your stencil with your Cricut? If so gives me something to look forward to later to play and experiment with my new favorite toy. Think I bored you to death telling you about my surgery next week so won’t bore you again. Went to pre-surgery appt. today and was surprised to be told will only be in hospital 2 nights. Shucks, wanted to eat all that good hospital food and our hospital has good food. Wouldn’t mind being taken care of little bit either. Surgeon said will be moving my arm and shoulder as quickly as possible, no being lazy, doggone it. Will be nice to be able to move arm and do things with it again.
Enjoy that card whomever wins it. Happy season Linda and family. .
Look at you on a winning streak! I actually purchased my stencil but I imagine you could create your own with that Cricut. I was going to say glad to hear the surgery went well and fast – but obviously you wanted to hang in the hospital longer to be taken care of and fed! Ha! Hope you have a wonderful holiday season too! 🙂 Linda
I would use my Ace gift card to buy tools and supplies to make all those wonderful crafts and home improvements I see on your website.
I could use a new garbage disposal, and some seeds for spring.
Hey, I think I recognize that stencil… Donna from Funky Junk? Love her new stencils! Should I be so lucky as to win, I’d use it towards a paint sprayer. Course, easier said than done – seems my utmost intentions go out the window when I enter our local Ace – so much to see/buy!
Thanks for the opportunity – my fingers are crossed!
I would put it towards shelving for my garage.
the sign is darling….hang in there about the trees. mulch is not such a bad way to spend your life.
Just so you know….. I’ve swirled before, and I’d use a gift certificate for paint to swirl again.
I would buy some paint
I would have to say to purchase paint
Really nice sign. Love the color. reversible, now that’s unique. Can you let me know where you purchased the pouncer or brush (?)for your paint on the signs. Looks like it does a great job.
Hi Linda – I hope everything is going well
Where did you purchase your stencil? The sign would be great over my kitchen window as well. You home is lovely!
Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season.
Mary Lou
Hi Mary Lou! How fun to see you pop up here on my blog! Here’s the link to the online shop where I purchased the stencil (she has a ton of great stencils to choose from for the holidays and year round too): http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/shop
And best holiday wishes to you too!
🙂 Linda
Thanks for sharing the link, Linda! 🙂
I would use it for new paint for my home.
The sign looks so great! I’d use the gift card for holiday lights and some new tools.
We are redoing our kitchen and would use it towards tools and any supplies that we would need
I would love to use the giftcard to buy paint and paint our kitchen! We have some family coming for the holidays and would love to freshen up the kitchen!
Love the signs, Linda! And the color match is spot on, perfection. Can’t wait to see your home all decked out for the holidays!
I would use it to buy hubby a gift!