Vintage Christmas Tree Centerpieces Using Old Tins

It’s almost time to start decorating for Christmas, right? Seems like most people start decorating shortly after Thanksgiving, so I wanted to share an idea today that I think you’ll enjoy: vintage Christmas tree centerpieces using vintage tins.

I’ve found that vintage tins like the ones you’ll see in the post–coffee, ricotta, salmon, etc.–have not been selling well for me lately. After giving it some thought, I wondered, “Wouldn’t they make perfect little Christmas tree bases??” And yes, they do!

Materials to Make Farmhouse Christmas Tree Centerpieces

Materials:

• Faux mini Christmas trees
• Flat white spray paint (see photo below)
• Vintage and/or antique food tins (these are new, but super cute and double sided)
• Floral Styrofoam (round)
• Hot glue
• Cardboard or tin (for stars–I used a cereal box)
• Sizzix Big Shot die cut machine (for making stars–optional)
• Star die (optional)
• Spanish moss (or excelsior) (optional)

Step 1: Spray Paint “Snow” onto the Tree

Most of the little trees that I picked up over the past couple of months for this project were a dark, uninteresting green. I decided to add some snow and tried two products.

Ultimately, it was the flat white spray paint (picked up at my local ACE franchise) that worked the best.

I gave the trees a few light coats spraying from the side, the bottom, and the top to get good coverage. In the end, it took quite a bit more paint than I expected to get the farmhouse look I wanted.

The first product that I tried, this snow-in-a-can, went on rather pale and it looked and felt like chalk. It took quite a while to dry and then when I touched a branch, the “snow” kind of crumbled and fell off the tree. I don’t recommend it for this project!

I wanted my trees to last for several holiday seasons, and I planned to sell some as well. I didn’t want potential buyers touching the trees only to have them “shed” their snow all over the place, LOL.

Step 2: Insert Floral Styrofoam Into the Bottom of the Vintage Tin

 

In order to give your tree stability once you place it in the tin, you’ll want something for them to connect with. I found that placing some floral styrofoam in the bottom of the tin was the way to go. I used oblong foam from the Dollar Tree.

Place your tin upside down over the foam and push down, slicing the foam into the shape of the tin. Turn the tin right-side-up and push the foam down to its bottom. Depending on the height of your tin, you may need another layer (or half a layer).

Step 3: Glue Tree into the Tin

If the base of your tree doesn’t fit into your tin (as was the case with one of mine) then you can remove the base.

This process wasn’t too difficult for me, but if any of yours give you trouble, grab the metal “trunk” with a pair of pliers and give it a good yank.

Apply hot glue to the bottom of your tree, whether it’s the original base or just the wire “trunk.”

 

Tuck the base/trunk into the center of your crumpled paper and hold it there until the glue hardens.

Step 4: Fill in Gaps with Spanish Moss (optional)

If there’s a gap between the lower tree branches and the edge of the tin (or you simply like the look), you can fill in the gap with some Spanish moss (as shown). Shredded paper or shredded cellophane in silver or gold would also work.

Step 5: Top the Tree with a Cardboard Star

While I wanted the trees to have a simple, farmhouse look, I felt they needed some sort of star to finish them off.

I made mine using a Sizzix Big Kick die cut machine (which I LOVE), using cardboard from a cereal box. Of course you can simply draw and cut your own stars from whatever material you have on hand, yellow cardstock or the tin lid of a disposable pan, for example.

Glue the star on with a good dab of hot glue; I glued one onto each the front and back of the tree.

As I mentioned, I’ve been collecting these tins for a while now in anticipation of this project.

I love the deep red of the Folgers can, but I’m enamored with the almost coral-colored salmon tin, too. Those are the two that I took to the annual craft show I participate in at the nearby Shaker site.

I priced them at $18, but depending upon your location and the type of shop/sale you sell at, I could see them priced at $25-30 each.

The three remaining trees are nestled in a basket waiting to find their home on my dining table once Thanksgiving is over and all the Christmas decorations come out.

The Final Result

At the moment they grace my country cupboard located in my kitchen, later some will serve as a table centerpiece, but I could see them just as easily providing a vintage accent in other rooms of the house, whether singly or in a group.

UPDATE

I sell these beauties at the annual Holiday Market that I participate in every year at the Shaker Heritage Society (mid-October to mid-December). Below are examples of som that I’ve sold over the past few years:

This tree in a 1/2 lb Hills Bros. coffee can sold for $18. I added a “Merry Christmas” tag as a little accent. You can find a printable set of these tags in the Member Library (under Vintage Printables). You get access to it by subscribing to my weekly newsletter.

This larger, 3 lb Breakfast Cheer coffee tin with a tree sold for $28. This tree warranted a more substantial, metal star.

These two, on the smaller side, sold for $15 each. The tin on the left is an antique spice tin with a partial label and the one on the right featuring Santa just begged for some embellishment. Added a swirl of red berry trim–just because.

Since antique flour sifters are no longer sought after, I decided to give this one a try as a tree holder. It sold for $25.

This tree-in-a-tin is one of my favorites. I liked the subtler antique red along with the black band, which gives it a Santa Claus suit effect, am I right?

Final Thoughts

When I first wrote about this project back in 2021, I hadn’t given much thought to selling them, but I’m so glad I did! They not only look great in my booth, but people love them. I sell out almost every year. I’ve even sold a few from my antique booth.

I buy the trees and tins all year long at various sales and thrift stores and then put them together toward the end of summer in preparation for the Holiday Market, which starts this year on October 8th.

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