shelfie with tree cutout art

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This unproblematic tree art uses positive and "negative" space thanks to a cutout in the background to create unique holiday decor.

Today, I have two projects for you based on the same identical frame. Beginning, I'thou sharing this DIY tree art, and later, I'll share another version that'southward more than functional. It was kind of a "make cuts, come across how it comes together" type of fleck woods project, and you know how I love those!

small frame can have multiple uses as art or gifts

I enjoyed making these two projects because information technology shows that with the same cuts of forest and the same plywood groundwork, you can go in completely different directions with your creative project. I started past making iv identical cuts from scrap woods that lined upwardly with the throat plate on my miter saw (the colorful surface area on the saw where the blade comes down). My logic: shits n' giggles, because it required no measuring. And and so I realized it would make for an easy frame!

Grab the video:

side angle of small scroll saw art of a tree cutout

How to Make This Tree Cutout Art

Fourth dimension needed:1 day.

This tree art was fun to make! All it took was a fiddling scrap woods.

  1. Cut frame pieces

    I didn't actually measure the frame width; I lined up the edge of the wood with the grooves in my miter saw to create the cuts and it made 4 identical widths.line up wood along miter saw

  2. Cut the inside pieces of the frame

    I did a similar "measuring" with the pieces that brand the inside of the frame, only I used the small width between the blade and the edge of the cutting area. I then trimmed them down and then the pieces could fit inside of the eventual exterior frame (tip: using some scrap as a jig helped stabilize these smaller cuts and makes me feel much safer when cutting them).cut narrow width pieces

  3. Glue and nail the frame

    In a screw fashion, I glued and nailed each piece together to make a square box (there was a trivial warping due to this being scrap woods, and then clamps helped). I then glued the small sparse cuts inside the frame, offsetting it so that the plywood would sit deep inside the frame (which makes a shadow box effect to include the thickness of the MDF tree when it's glued in place). After the frame was dry out, I filled holes with wood filler and sanded everything smooth to prep for stain.glue and nail the frame in a spiral

  4. Cut sparse plywood to size

    I had some scrap walnut plywood left over from my jewelry organizer project, so I cut this down to fit within the frame. Using painter'due south record forth the cutting line helped minimize splintering (it is less of an effect when cutting in the same management as the grain, but I practice this for all cantankerous-cuts).cut plywood to size using painter's tape

  5. Cut out tree shape from plywood bankroll

    I grabbed a tree image from a stock photo site and duplicated it to make a overlap in Photoshop. I knew I wouldn't exist able to get every tiny detail (I don't accept the patience for that), so I used these every bit a general template and did some freehand cutting in one case the bones shape was done.cut out tree shape from plywood backing

  6. Oil/apply finish

    I and so sanded both sides of the plywood and added Maker Brand Simple Finish to bring out the color in the walnut. It'southward i of my favorite things about working with walnut! I also practical some white wash stain to the outer frame.

  7. Cut out tree from MDF

    I had some scrap MDF (from the same supply from where I made this leaf wall art) and cut out another tree, so sanded and spray painted it black.cut out larger tree from thin MDF

  8. Gather

    I glued everything together and done! Since the scrap wood was a little warped, I had to make a few trim cuts in the plywood to get it nice and snug, but it worked!slide backing into frame

There you have it! Exist sure to come up back in a few hours to see the next projection I made with this same frame (you lot'll see some duplication in instructions for the kickoff few steps).

shelfie with tree cutout art

Even if you lot don't replicate these projects exactly, I hope you'll come across that you tin can utilise this as a starting point for your own artistic DIYs using this simple base. Later on making the tree cutouts, I think a set up of stars or ornaments or other holiday symbols could look squeamish at other times of yr, also. Or possibly a larger piece with multiple cutouts, with the glued-on pieces in a pattern of some kind. There are tons of options to make this your own!

25 DIYs of Christmas

This project is part of a serial of DIY gifts, decor, and other fun inspiration that I'm calling my "25 DIYs of Christmas"! Check out the listing beneath to see each post (step past pace tutorials, recipes, videos, costless patterns, and woodworking plans bachelor for each (where applicable). Lots of these ideas accept multiple versions to testify you the possibilities of each DIY. Even better, you can subscribe to make sure you lot don't miss a single post!

Hey there! I'chiliad Sarah. My favorite things: one) tearing my house apart and 2) putting it back together again. I occasionally talk well-nigh other things, like life and food and travel, merely it'due south more often than not my obsession with DIY and power tools that you'll find here!

Got a DIY question? Tag me on Instagram @uglyducklingDIY or apply the hashtag #uglyducklinghouse to show off your projects!