Tracy Nix

I grew up in sunny California, where Christmas mornings meant palm trees instead of pine trees and sand instead of snow. While others bundled up for frosty mornings, my holidays were filled with sunshine and ocean breezes.  Perhaps that’s why, year after year, I find myself drawn to creating the enchantment of a white Christmas through my decor— a touch of nostalgia woven into every branch and bauble. I’m endlessly drawn to the charm of old-fashioned tree lots, with weathered advertising signs and hot cocoa stands, and the kind of vintage holiday magic that feels like stepping into a timeless postcard. This season’s DIY captures just that — a little bit of Christmas tree farm charm, heavy on nostalgia.

For this project you will need:

  • Three 16” pieces of 1×4 wood
  • White paint (I used chalk paint)
  • Red paint
  • Two packages of 3” letter stickers (I found mine at Lowe’s)
  • Paint brush if not using spray paint
  • Eye hooks
  • Chain
  • Ribbon of your choice
  • Sanding block
  • Needle nose pliers

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Paint all three pieces with red paint, let dry
  • Use stickers to spell out words
  • Paint over stickers thoroughly with white paint, 2-3 coats
  • Let dry completely
  • Peel stickers
  • Screw eye hooks 3” from each end into the top two boards, two hooks on top and two on bottom
  • Only screw eye hooks into top of the last board
  • Use pliers to undo 4 pieces of chain, 5 links each
  • Distress to “age” your sign
  • Add ribbon to create a hanger, stand back and admire your “vintage” sign!

(Remember this is not the time for perfection, let the drips and imperfect letter spacing shine!
The goal is to replicate the time worn, hand made signs of tree lots past!)

 

As the paint dries and the lettering takes on that perfectly timeworn patina, I’m reminded why I love projects like this. They feel like little echoes from another era — when Christmas tree lots lined small-town streets and hand-painted signs pointed the way to hot cocoa and twinkling lights. And the best part? This is a DIY anyone can do. You don’t even need to cut your own wood — most home improvement stores will happily do it for you. Creating a vintage-inspired sign is more than just a craft; it’s a way to capture that nostalgia and bring a touch of storybook
Christmas charm into our homes. And while there may never be snow outside my window, the magic of a white Christmas lives right here — in every faded letter, ribbon, and twinkling light. I hope this project inspires you to craft a bit of your own Christmas magic-no snow required.