Rusty Industrial Mini Christmas Tree

I recently picked up 6 mini artificial trees at Goodwill. They are 9” tall and what I loved about them is their coloring. They have a wonderful Spruce blue shade, which is my favorite for a real tree too. I feel at peace in the middle of the forest, so being surrounded by these petite trees is a good substitute.

I always like to decorate each tree differently, and with the small ones the sky's the limit, because you can use objects that would be too small for a regular-sized tree. And for me, that usually involves junky stray metal objects. I have a thing for metal. Always have. 

So metal object No.1.......

Cast iron shoe form.

When I bought this piece, I knew immediately it would house a mini tree. All I added was some insulation putty into the hole, removed the tree's wooden base, then just stuck it into the form.

The gorgeous rusty metal pretty much dictated what I did to this tree. I didn't want to overdo it, or it would take away from the iron form. I had this brass ball chain that I darkened with bleach, and it gels perfectly with iron. 

Just for fun, I tucked in the lichen to the top of the iron form, and it sort of reminds me of a frilly sock cuff. It's a whimsical juxtaposition. My favorite kind.....

Finally, I made a star out of thin-fluted corrugated wrap. Since my recent endeavor creating Putz houses, I look at materials with new eyes. The flutes can mimic corrugated metal sheeting, and I thought that would be the right touch for this tree. So I painted it black and rust to finish off the industrial look.

I love the look of this tree, and wouldn't add another thing. Beware, if you have kitties....they're liable to see this tree as a really great Christmas toy, and will dismantle it in a fast minute......:)

Next post, trees No. 2 & 3.......

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