Mirrored DIY Christmas Tree Stand

Have you ever dreamed up an idea and you just knew you were going to love it….if you could pull it off?  You could see it in your head.  Envisioned exactly what it would look like.   You might have even wondered why no one else had thought of this idea yet, and you smiled to yourself knowing you had come up with a brilliant idea.

Then reality set in when you realized that for this marvelous, original idea to come to fruition, you would have to create it yourself. From scratch!  The doubt begins to creep in a little and you wonder if your idea…. was just a dream after all.

You decide, right there and then you will not let self-doubt stand in your way! You march yourself (okay drive yourself) over to Lowe’s and proceed to have them cut some plywood for you and some mirrors, cause Lowe’s is just plain cool like that! And you get to work.  Only to realize, that while you are a creative force to be reckoned with, you are not a carpenter nor a mathematician.   So you head back to Lowe’s, undaunted and determined, to get two more pieces of mirror cut…except this time the correct size. 

And slowly but surly your vision, your dream, your brilliant idea of a….Mirrored DIY Christmas Tree Stand comes to life right before your eyes! And it’s every bit as glorious as you had hoped it would be!

~MIRRORED DIY CHRISTMAS TREE STAND~

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

Four mirrors cut to size two will need to be square, two with one side one inch longer (Lowe’s will do this as a courtesy..yea Lowes!) Mine are 18 X 18 and 18 X 19
Large piece of plywood at least 1/2 inch thick, cut into four equal sizes (Lowe’s will also do this as a courtesy) Mine are 18 X 18
Nail Gun with brad nails or small finishing nails and hammer
Measuring Tape
Painters Tape and/or clamps
Wood Glue
Mirror Mastic
Caulking Gun
Pandora with Christmas Music Playing 😉

INSTRUCTIONS

Measure your tree stand and allow a few more inches so that the legs will fit into your stand. Cut your plywood, or have Lowe’s cut your plywood, into four equal, square pieces, the size you need for your tree. Mine is 18 inches by 18 inches.
Have Lowe’s cut mirrors into 2 square pieces, 18 inches by 18 inches, and two pieces 18 X 19 inches. This will accommodate the 1/2 thickness of the plywood, on two sides, when glued and nailed together.
Create a box out of your plywood by gluing the edges and then nailing in several places along the edges of the plywood.  Make sure that the sides overlap correctly, creating 2 that are 18 X 18 inches and two that are 18 X 19 inches.
Lay your box on it’s side with an 18 X 18 inch side facing up and using a caulking gun, apply mirror mastic to the back of the mirror.  Place carefully on plywood and make sure it is set evenly.  Use clamps and/or painters tape to hold down your mirror while adhesive sets.  Repeat on opposite side.
Place larger mirrors last so that they overlap the edges of the smaller mirrors.  Allow adhesive to set, taping or clamping edges together, overnight before using.
Place tree inside of stand, making sure legs of tree are firmly on the floor inside of the box.

For now, I’m sharing just a sneak peek of my tree, but stay tuned for our full holiday house reveals when we join up with 30 bloggers for the 2013 Holiday Housewalk, the first week of December! This year we will each be sharing our homes on separate days which means more pictures, so we are busy little elves getting them  ready for your visit!

I’ll see you back here Friday for another Take Five: Five Minute Craft…and as always, thanks for joining me at the picket fence!

Sharing this project over at Tidy Mom’s I’m Lovin’ It Party!