Looking to create something different to the traditional Christmas tree this year? Or maybe you’re wanting to be more sustainable and avoid a plastic tree?

Festive DIY influencer Geneva Vanderzeil and Bunnings have the ideal solution – get creative and make yourself the cutest homemade, bamboo garden screen Christmas tree!

You’ll need:

• Bamboo garden screen
• Painting tape
• Scissors
• Large paint brush
• Paint (at least three colours for the tree, star, and baubles)
• Fairy lights
• Strong cardboard
• A sheet to paint on
• Blu-tac or wire
• Butter knife
• Ruler

Step 1: Using painting tape, create a triangle on the garden screen and cut out the shape of the tree.

Step 2: Pull together the wires at the top of the garden screen to create a hook for the tree to hang from.

Step 3: Use the large brush to paint the front of the tree your chosen colour and let dry.

Step 4: Cut out circles from the cardboard for the baubles and a star for the top of the tree.

Step 5: Paint the baubles and star with your chosen colours.

Step 6: On the back of the star, use a ruler and butter knife to score an indent from each point straight down. Fold along the scorings to create dimension in the star.

Step 7: Once everything is dry, use wire to hang baubles and blu-tac to stick the star onto the tree.

Step 7: Zigzag the fairy lights onto the tree.

Do-it-yourself and upcycling queen, Geneva Vanderzeil, is an artistic genius when it comes to home projects and crafty decorations. After collaborating with Bunnings to create her own take on the traditional Christmas tree, Geneva shares with Canberra Daily how she gets inspired for her DIY projects and what she’s looking forward to these holidays.

“To find my DIY ideas, I love looking online, in magazines and in old craft books,” Geneva says.

With Christmas just around the corner, it’s that time of year to dust off the decorations and make your home as festive as you like – and her top tip for this is to just get creative!

“I’m all about getting creative in my space. I love to make, update and refresh things I have around me, it’s such a great time to get creative!” she says. 

The Bunnings Christmas tree is one of Geneva’s creations and she’s delighted with how the finished product turned out.

“I’m so into the idea of creative Christmas trees, so every year I try to come up with a new idea. I found the perfect garden screen at Bunnings that was crying out for an update, and I love how it turned out!” she says.

When it comes to Christmas Day traditions, Geneva says it’s all about getting together with her family.

“I came from an environmentally minded family, so we were into making our own natural decorations and hand making gifts. I carry that sentiment to this day!” she smiles.

“I can’t wait to get together with my extended family, and then have some downtime with our new little family of four – we have a six-month-old baby. Seeing Christmas through my kids’ eyes is such a joy!”

If you’re wanting to be more sustainable this Christmas, Geneva has some top tips to help you get into the DIY and upcycling groove.

“This time of year is so great for taking some time out to make something, and there are so many things, big and small you can do. Little gifts are a great place to start, along with decorations and wrapping paper. DIYing things for your tablesape is also very fun and effective,” she says.

“I definitely try to make presents where I can, I find that it’s so easy to personalise little items – an updated notebook or personalised bottle of olive oil is such a personal and memorable gift.”

For more directions and video instructions, visit @genevavanderzeil on Instagram.

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