Trim-Spirational
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Three DIY ways to spruce up your spruce for Christmas.
Share photos and stories of your best holiday tree-trimming!
Yule Tools
All that stuff left over from years of projects around the house? Pick out the shiniest, coolest-looking items stashed in the basement, and let's talk home improvement, Christmas style. If you're not a save-it-in-case-you-need-it-someday type, just run over to your local hardware store. This arboreal fixer-upper sits in a 15-gallon galvanized washtub 5 ($26, bucket-outlet.com) that hides the entire tree stand. After the holiday, think inside the box:Store your new decorations in the tub after you take your tree down.
Nuts & Bolts
Okay, let's take it from the top. That shiny, silvery thing Mom is affixing to the tree is a 3-inch vent cap ($7, doityourself.com), used on top of a gas or sewage pipe to keep the rain out. Those icicles dangling down, the wire brushes that look like pipe cleaners on steroids, are micro and trachea tube brushes ($2, justman brush.com). We also hung several of the ever-festive drain covers, a.k.a. strainer replacements ($1 to $2, depending on the size, lowes.com). Try to refrain from stealing these out of your bathroom, lest you have to rush back to that hardware store for a plunger. We think the sparkly garland strung on our tree is particularly inspired. It's 3/4-inch pipe strapping ($5 per 10-foot roll, plumbing.hardware store.com) — doesn't every home have a supply tucked away for just such an occasion as this?
