If you’re advent calendar crazy in your house, here’s a great option that allows you to put small toys, candies, ornaments or other treats out for each day leading up to Christmas. This tree is also a great alternative to a real tree for the space challenged. Swap out the buckets for ornaments and put a star on top and you’ve got a sweet, rustic tree!

Difficulty level: Moderate
Time required: About an hour

Things you’ll need:
5 pieces Scrap wood between 2-4 feet long
Screws
Saw
Drill with screwdriver bits
Clothespins
Wood Glue
Rustic buckets

Things to do:
1. Set aside one of your longer pieces for the trunk of the tree and cut your remaining four pieces of scrap wood into progressively smaller lengths. Here we cut each piece about 4 inches shorter than the last.

2. Starting near the bottom with the longest branch”, screw the boards to the trunk of the trees, spaces about four inches apart and centered on the trunk”.

3. Evenly space out your clothespins (for an advent calendar you’ll need 24, if you just want a tree, use as many as you would like) and, using your wood glue, attach the clips to the branches”. Allow the glue to dry completely.

4. Open each clothespin and hang the handle of the bucket from them. Fill the buckets with treats and hang to display.