Related to my "Which is greener - real or artificial tree" question.   If you had an artificial tree that was to be "retired from active duty, " how would you recycle or repurpose it?

I would probably salvage the better branches and refashion them into napkin rings, candle rings, wreaths, swags or other decorations for walls, doors etc.  I sell Christmas crafts, so I would try to sell them at the various craft fairs I get involved in.

Any other suggestions?  A friend was telling me that she might have to discard her artificial tree, so I was trying to come up with ways to put it to good use. 

Well instead of a Christmas tree...make it a holiday tree. Valentines, St Patricks Day, Easter, Memorial Day Flag Day/4th of July, Labor day, Presidents day, Halloween Thanksgiving. Some people love to decorate for every holiday.

Thanks for the suggestion but I'm pretty sure my husband would have a stroke if I even suggested that!

 We used our old scruffy one for the yard. We decorated it with led's and plastic ornaments and put it in the corner of our yard. Because it's sets back in the yard you can't really tell that it's missing a few branches and it's "needles" are on the bare side.

cyn

Is it in good enough shape to give to someone just starting out?

Or could the top be turned into a mini-Christmas tree?

Thanks for the suggestions - I particularly liked the idea of salvaging the top for a mini-tree, which could actually come in handy for my table top displays at Christmas craft fairs.  

I gave one several years ago to a school and they were thrilled to have it. So I would suggest giving it to a school, community center, etc.

DL

Joyous:

Is it in good enough shape to give to someone just starting out?

 

My co worker & I went to Wal Mart a bit after Christmas & she found a new tree that was marked down to $20 from it's original price of $130.00. I'm excited because she's giving me her old one which is in decent shape. We couldn't afford a tree this past Christmas but this year will really count because my DD will be just over a year old.

If the branches are the twisted wire kind, they can be made into trees for Christmas villages.  Clip the branch or portion that you want to use, mount into a base -- base must have a hole drilled.  The tree can be shaped with scissors if it is a single branch with long needles.  Can be sprayed with artificial snow if an "outdoor" looking tree is desired, possibly adding a few tiny craft birds or decorated with mini ornaments and/or bows and strings of beads or pearls for an "indoor"  look.

Multi-brnached trees can also be made for Christmas villages and model railroads.

Don't forget one or more that are fashion doll sized. 

I have a tree that is just a foot tall, very branchy, decorated with tiny mauve-pink organdy bows, silver stars and tiny lace "fans".  It's perfect for my upstairs bathroom because of the color of the bows.

My younger sister had a tiny tree inside a small bamboo birdcage that she hung in her bathroom each holiday season.  She also has a small tree that she puts behind the kitchen sink, decorated with cookie cutters, cinnamon sticks and roping made of "popcorn" and "cranberries".