Hello Friends,

Around here, Christmas starts on November 1.  

I know!  It’s totally crazy!

Despite high temps and green leaves on the trees, the Christmas workshop is now open and in full swing.

Today, I’m sharing two little crafts.  Both are quick, easy, and inexpensive, but easily adjusted to fit your space.

And this is actually what I love most about both of them —they truly fit MY space. 

And they will fit yours, too.

DIY Decorative Christmas Ladder

Disclosure: Paint product was provided by Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company, but all projects and opinions are 100% my own.

Before we go any further, let me just say, this has to be the world’s easiest little building craft. 🙂

Let’s Get Started

All you do is measure your space to determine the height and width of the ladder.  

• Measure one vertical side (and multiply times 2).

• Measure one wrung (and multiply times the number of wrungs).

• The ladder in this photo is 36 inches high and contains 5 wrungs.

• This means I used 72 inches (36 times 2) of wood for the sides.

• And 35 inches of wood for the wrungs (7 inches wide times 5 wrungs).

• All total 72 inches + 35 inches = 107 inches  (8.92 feet).

What You’ll Need

FURRING STRIPS   

• An 8-foot strip only costs about $1.00. Just make sure the entire length of the strip is straight.

• Have the furring strips cut into pieces at the home improvement center.

• I had to buy one furring strip and used scrap furring strip pieces to complete the wrungs.

WOOD SCREWS

• Two screws per slat. 

• I used 10 wood screws to secure 5 wrungs.

• Ask the expert at the home improvement center for the cheapest screws that will do the job.

SAND PAPER

• Sand paper (about 80 to 150-grit) is needed to smooth the furring strip and the cut edges.

PAINT 

• Any paint will do, but I used Old Fashioned Milk Paint in Salem Red.

• I feel like this color has a very authentic country – farmhousey look for Christmas and is super easy to use.

• For more information about how to use milk paint, please check out two of my earlier posts:

How to get a Perfectly Worn Finish (Click here)

How I mixed Milk Paint to get a custom color (Click here)

PAINT BRUSH

• An 89-cent brush is fine for this project.  When finished, either rinse it or toss it away.

PAINT SEALER

• Sealing the paint is totally optional. Since I used milk paint on raw wood, I will not add a sealer. This is because the milk paint sinks into the raw wood and acts like a stain. For normal decorative use, there should be no worries of scarring or staining.

What You’ll Do

• Assemble the wrungs to the sides.

• Paint the wood with your favorite paint.

• And…when dry… stage your ladder with your favorite accessories.

That’s all there is to it.

Fun, whimsical…..and totally made to fit your space.  🙂

Pin for later…

To make holiday lanterns sized to fit your space (click here)…

 

To make a Christmas tree sized to fit your space

(click here)...