I’m a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas decorating. I like real trees (I have three), old-fashion Christmas lights (the big bulbs) and red. That doesn’t mean I don’t try something new or different every year. One year one tree was all white and gold. I put a 60’s silver tinsel tree in the bathroom, and hung a small tree upside down in my kitchen window. I try to come up with an unusual DIY Christmas decoration every year. So when I saw a stack of lamp shades at Goodwill, I knew they would make, wait for it, a great tree!

Bell-shaped lamp shades flare at the bottom and are narrow at the top. I bought five different sizes for 99₵ - $2.99 each.

After removing the fabric covers, I spray painted the frames in a copper color. I wanted them all to look the same. I had left-over hammered texture paint, so I used that. When the paint was dry, I stacked them up and held them together with fine gauge wire.

I also found a white, wood candlestick-style lamp base to use as my tree trunk. Since the white was too harsh, I spray painted it the same color as the frames. Then I wired the trunk to the branches.

I shop at Goodwill stores in Milwaukee and Chicago all the time. You just never know what you’ll find. My latest big score was ten (10) packages of 9-foot beaded garland for 49₵! Had I bought them new, they would have been at least $5.00 each. What a bargain. I wound the red and gold beads around my tree and tied them in place with more wire.

To fill in the space between the wood beads, I added a glittery gold trim I picked up at a craft store.

Finally, every tree needs lights. I grabbed some gold tree lights from my collection and loosely strung them in the middle. Here’s a big DIY tip: add the lights BEFORE you attach the garland. It’s easier to wire the lights to the frame without obstructions.

It’s unconventional, but the perfect table top tree for an apartment or the bedroom or the bathroom, entry, dining room…