Christmas Tree Stand

Want your Christmas tree to look taller and have more room for all the Santa gifts?  This tree stand will give your tree a new look!

Materials:

• Container (I have used a light weight plastic 14″ tall with 18″ opening)
• 1 1/2” round PVC pipe cut to 14” long
• 1 can of Great Stuff
• Gloves
• 1 small bag of fast setting cement
• 18″ wreath and or garland
• Optional: small rocks, extra tree lights and an extra pair of hands

Directions:

This tree stand is not at all hard to make, but you need to plan ahead because of drying time.  I found my container on sale at the end of summer for $15 (good deal).  I liked the color, but in the past I have spray painted my containers black or red.  If you want to spray paint to change to color do this first.  Home Depot sells PVC pile 24″ long and in varying sizes, you want to tree to fit snug, so double check the size for your tree (if you smile big for the Home Depot guy he will cut it for you for free) my container is 14″ tall so I cut my pipe 14″ (at Home Depot the pipe cost me about $2.80)

Follow the directions on the bag of cement, and mix enough to be at least 6″ thick (more if you want, just remember you will have to carry and store your stand).  This is when you might need an extra set of hands, pour in the cement; place and hold PVC pipe in center making sure it balanced straight, give the cement a few minutes and double check your pipe to make sure it is straight. If you have any cement dips on the out side of container, wipe them off before it dries.  Let cement dry.

If you feel you need more weight in your container add some small rocks.  Read and follow the directions on the can of Great Stuff. If you have never worked with Great Stuff before get ready…it really is great stuff.  Great stuff is made to expand, and it will expand as part of the drying.  Spray the Great Stuff around the pile and let dry.  A can of Great Stuff is about $3.00.

Take an 18″ wreath and place in container and wrap garland in center and up and around the pile and if you do not have a wreath, just use garland to hind everything.

I like adding an extra string of light in and around the wreath/garland area and even up into center of tree.

You are ready to put your tree in!  How tall is your tree now…I love this because my cheap 7 1/2′ tree is now 9 feet tall! And it cost me under $25, not so bad.

Here’s my extra cool idea…. during the summer I fill the container with rocks (river rocks medium size) just to cover up the Great Stuff and I use it as an umbrella stand for my large pool umbrella.