12 Bottle Brush Tree Decorating Ideas
Lover’s of vintage (or new) bottle brush trees, lend me your ear! There are so many ways to decorate with them besides simply placing them on a shelf. Let’s take a look at 12 bottle brush tree decorating ideas. Whether you add them to various craft projects or insert them to interesting containers, they’re bound to add vintage charm to your home (or craft booth).
1. Tie on Toy Cars
Tie some trees onto the top of vintage matchbox cars using bakers twine. Add a hook and you have a darling Christmas ornament. I sell these at the annual Shaker Craft Fair for $6.00 each.
Pro Tip: Start with a dab of hot glue on the bottom of the car and wrap the twine into the glue. This will ensure that it stays in place and doesn’t get caught up in the wheels, or worse, slide off entirely.
2. Add to a Christmas Diorama
Create a diorama using the trees and other vintage Christmas pieces, like Santa, deer, and bottle brush wreaths. I sell them at the craft fair for $15-25.00.
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3. Collect Them in a Terrarium
Insert a bevy of trees inside a terrarium for a real statement at Christmastime. Makes a great centerpiece or decoration for a fireplace mantel
4. Use Trees in Vignettes
When you own an example like the large one you see here (sold for $42.00), it can certainly stand alone or be used to compliment a vignette. Coralling your pieces on a tray makes your display look cohesive rather than piecemeal.
5. Display Your Trees Under a Cloche
Use your bottle brush trees, along with some vintage Putz houses, to create a sweet Christmas village. Increase the dramatic effect by enclosing it in a cloche.
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6. Present Them in an Antique Ironstone Dish
Assemble an entire bottle brush forest and “plant” it in an ironstone tureen for real farmhouse Christmas style. This creates a lavish looking decoration suitable for your dining or coffee table.
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7. Throw Trees in the Back of a Toy Pick-up Truck
For a more fun-loving look, tuck trees into a vintage truck of any color, but especially red or turquoise for an on-trend look.
8. Place Your Trees Inside Interesting Small Bases
Display them individually in charming bases that you pick up at garage sales and thrift sales. Discover even more ideas in Part II! The options for selecting bases are almost limitless–just put your creative thinking hat on!
9. Insert Bottle Brush Trees in Jars with Faux Snow
Fill vintage jars with faux snow and a bottle brush tree and you have a sweet Christmas decoration. Add baker’s twine and some jingle bells to complete the look. They sell for $6 each.
10. Glue Trees on Top of Vintage Thread
One of the most popular items at the Holiday Market I participate in annually: BB trees on spools of thread. These tiny show-stoppers sell for $5 each.
11. Trees on Blocks
These cute trees-on-blocks decorations look even cuter when sprayed lightly with white paint to mimic snow. And sometimes I glue on little Santas or snowmen beside the trees. They sell for $6 each.
12. Embellished Putz Houses
I give new life to messed up and run down Putz houses by adding little embellishments, like new or replacement bottle brush trees, among other things like pipe cleaners and figurines. They sell for $15 each.
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed considering some different ways that you can display your vintage bottle brush trees during the holiday season. Charming in every way, bottle brush trees make a truly splendid addition to any Christmas decor.
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What lovely inspirations! I love those little trees, and the ideas here are great. I am thinking of ways to display these little beauties year 'round, too…
Thanks Mary Ann!
I LOVE bottle brush trees and these inspirations … especially the display with the maps. Thanks for sharing …
Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures
Thanks for stopping by Audrey!
This was so inspirational. I need to find some more to decorate and use for crafts. I think the display with the maps is really great!
Thanks Diann. Yes, I love the map idea too 🙂
Wonderful round up Diana, thr display in vintage silver is my fav!
Thanks Brenda!
Oh I love the one on the mirror at the end! Thank you for joining the History & Home link party at We Call It Junkin! ~ Dawn
Thanks Dawn!
I love all those ideas, especially as someone who has a Christmas blog and loves all things Christmas! Glad I found your blog at Kathy's link up!
Best wishes,
Natasha in Oz
Thanks for the compliment, Natasha!
How did I miss this one!!! I love bottle brush trees and all of your inspiration up there is just fantastic!!! I hope that you are having a good week friend! Nicole xoxo
🙂 Thanks so much Nicole–hope you're having a great week-end!
All of these ideas are fun…thanks for sharing on the Thursday Blog Hop!
Thanks Pam!
I have bleached and dyed thousands of trees over the years and use them all year long. Pastels for the spring. patriotic for the summer, and fall tones for autumn. One note: NEVER do this to vintage trees. Expensive ones usually will not bleach. I do have tutorials on my blog for bleaching them safely. Love the photos you have gathered.
I'm going to check out your tutorials and mention them in the post, if that's okay, Donna–
Keep up the vintage Christmas posts – loving them! Thanks for linking up to TTF @ Melissa's Antiques!
Beautiful ideas – love the one with the truck! I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
Kathy
I love bottle brush trees. Trying to round up all I have to give them a good bleaching. I've done some of these ideas, but you will certainly see some in one of my picnic tins this year. Thanks for the inspiration!
hugs,
Jann
I love all BBTs. My newest favorites were 3 BLACK (yech!) ones that I got at HL after Christmas last year. I decorated them for Halloween, cutting out motifs (skulls, candy corn, etc.) from ribbon, confetti, beads, etc. Glued H ribbon around the wooden base. Couldn’t find any this year.
Black sounds perfect for Halloween Kathy! And I love your decorating ideas. I’ll have to keep my eye out for some 🙂