5 Cool Ways to Reuse Your Christmas Tree

If you're wondering what to do with your Christmas tree this year, you might want to think outside the recycling bin (assuming your town has that giant tree corpse gathering every January).

Fabien Capello, an artist in London, has started creating furniture out of your old Christmas trees, and is now taking orders for custom stools for only 400 pounds, or around $607 USD. That's a lot of money to spend on being green, but for your one of a kind piece of functional art, not so much.

Capello has inspired me to find other people who will make one-of-a-kind things out of trees. Especially since I don't have my own woodworking studio, nor a load of talent in this arena. Naturally I headed over to Etsy, and found some options I might actually be able to whip up with a sander and a saw. Alternately, these fun recycled wood house decorations are a heck of a lot more affordable and I can just hit the PayPal button instead of shipping my tree to the UK.

Tea Light Holder

This Etsy seller makes these tea light holders from fallen trees. At an inch-and-a-half tall, you could make a ton of these from your 8 foot pine. Or, buy one from her for $7. Your choice.

Ornaments

How very meta! Put last year's Christmas tree on next year's with these recycled wood ornaments. Bonus points for using the sap as your ink.

Tree Stump Wall Clock

If you also grew up in the 70s and 80s, you may remember the bulky beauty of the tree stump clock. DIY, or pick this one up for only $35.

Coasters

These wooden coasters are only $7.99 a set on Etsy, and perfectly formed. However, how easy would this be to do yourself? Grab that tree and start sanding!

Belt Buckle

This wooden belt buckle is lovely, but if you're doing it yourself may I suggest adding a little flair? Block letters spelling out your name, a marijuana leaf . . . whatever screams YOU.

What are you doing with your Christmas tree?

Image via sdminor81/Flickr