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Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Bleaching Bottle Brush Trees

Little forest of bleached bottle brush trees....



I planned to try this last year but never had the time.
I found out it is so easy and fast!


I used an old plastic dish tub with about 1 cup of bleach and enough warm water to cover the trees. (more trees...use more bleach) Wear rubber gloves to save your hands from the bleach.

You can see the bleached trees which only took about 1 hour or less to lose their green color. I was happy with the results so I tossed in a few more trees.

When they lost all the green color I rinsed them under the faucet and then I filled a container with fresh water and about 1/2 cup of vinegar (the vinegar will neutralize the bleach). Swished them around in that and rinsed again. Let stand overnight to air dry.

If after about 2 hours there is still a little green left in the trees, pour out the water and start with fresh warm water and bleach.


As you can see the little trees pull out of the white plastic stand, very easily.
I like the 'snow' that is already on them but it does flake off easily after the bleaching process so I handled them carefully.


I used a dab of poster putty to secure inside the spools which were wrapped with a strip of vintage music paper or...


...an old door knob as a base.

I love how they turned out so I'm on my way to pick up another bag of trees (any craft store and I bet dollar stores have them).  And I'll keep my eyes open for anything else vintage that may make a good base.


Two days later....I can't stop!!!! Here are a few more that have bleached and dried. I keep finding little things around the house to use as holders. A tarnished silver cup, glass door knob, an old coffee cup with wheat, a spool of crochet thread, an old bean pot and I wrapped a couple more spools with old tatting and lace.

My info on dying the trees here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Linking to;
Faded Charm for White Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday
From My front Porch To Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday
2805 for Potpourri Friday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home
French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

39 comments:

  1. I've been wanting to try this! Thanks for the DIY recipe.
    xxx Liz

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  2. I love the little bottlebrush trees. The white ones are popular this year!Stopping by from Wow us Wednesday.

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  3. Great minds think alike:-) I usually put some of mine in different bases asa well, but hadn't gotten that far yet. I finally found some that have white wooden bases, so they look alright on their own too.

    xoxo
    Kathleen

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  4. they look great.. thanks for shring how to do this..

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  5. Thanks for the tutorial. I bought a whole huge bag of them at Home Depot on clearance last year, now just have to get to work bleaching them!

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  6. THANKYOU! wonderful information! I am going to try this for sure!

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  7. I haven't seen this before, but this is my first Christmas in blogland. Thanks for sharing!
    -Revi

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  8. Oh WOW!!! These are gREAT! Thanks for sharing how to do this!! XO, Pinky

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  9. I have always wondered about how to do this and now you have shown me!!

    Thanks so much!!

    Hugs,
    Debbie

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  10. Never would have dreamed you could do this! I LOVE this and have pinned it to my Christmas idea board! Thanks so much!

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  11. I love bottle brush trees, and I've been dying to try this. Thanks for the inspiration. I love the things you used for your new bases, very creative. Coming over from WOW. Take Care, Carrie

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  12. I've seen these and love the way they look, but I thought you bought them like this....I would have been looking everywhere for something that didn't exist if it weren't for your helpful post! Thank you so much!

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  13. Wow... I love blogland more each day..seeing wonderful ideas like your cute Christmas Trees..

    Veronica
    Tassels Twigs and Tastebuds

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  14. Thanks for sharing...I didn't know you can bleach these trees. This is good to find out.

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  15. This is a great idea, and I love how you used different things as the stands.

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  16. I just bought about a dozen larger bottle brush trees at an estate sale. They're all different shades of green--some pretty, some not so much. Your how-to is fantastic and timely. I'm going to try it out! Your tree "stands" are charming. Thanks for sharing.

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  17. Woohoo! I'm going to do this! I have some larger trees that are green, and I've been wanting to make them white, but didn't dare. If you hadn't showed me how, they would have stayed green!! Thanks Faye!!!

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  18. Hey Faye,

    Didn't even think about doing a vinegar rinse after bleaching them, but it sure makes sense. Thanks for the tip!

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  19. Thanks for the how to I love it! Have been wanting to try this. Laura

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  20. Just found your blog on Feathered Nest Friday. I'm so happy I did! I have three green bottle brush trees sitting in my kitchen right now waiting for a redo. Now I know just what to do! Thank you for sharing. I'm your newest follower!

    xoxo
    Kathleen

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  21. Love your little forest it is adorable. Can't wait to try this. It will look great in a little snow scene vignette!
    Blessings,
    Debbie

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  22. Great idea and thx for sharing your method. Can't wait to try it. I'm a follower and would love for you to follow back. Heather

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  23. Love love love love love!

    Jenny
    www.simcoestreet.blogspot.com

    PS i have a really fun throw pillow giveaway going on. Come on over and enter if you'd like! xo

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  24. Hi Faye...

    I love, love, LOVE all of your beautiful vintage bottle brush trees! You decorated them soooo beautifully too! Thanks so much for doing the tutorial for bleaching these little vintage beauties!

    Warmest wishes,
    Chari

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  25. Darling!!! I love bottle brush trees too~ sharing this on FB- thanks for sharing at Feathered Nest Friday!

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  26. No wonder you can't stop - these came out terrific! Thanks for sharing the technique.

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  27. These are adorable! No wonder you can't stop making them. The look wonderful in a natural state and I like the way you have each of them displayed. I'm wondering how many you will have by Christmas!

    Thanks for sharing your lovely idea at Potpourri Friday!

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  28. These look fabulous--just like the vintage ones we covet! Can't wait to try this little project myself.

    Take care,
    Erin @ Carolina Country Living
    (visiting from Feathered Nest Friday - link #34 - stop by, I'm holding a giveaway through Sunday!)

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  29. Faye--I commented earlier, but wanted you to know that I linked to this fantastic how-to on my blog tonight.
    http://onceuponafirefly.blogspot.com/2011/11/nothing-clear-about-this-glass.html

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  30. Great idea. Guess I know what I'm doing this weekend. Thanks so much.

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  31. anyone out there know if this technique will work on wreaths and garlands? drop me a note if you know. Thanks, Dorsmom@gmail.com

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  32. These are just adorable! How clever of you to figure this out.
    CAS

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  33. Thank you so much for this idea! Following along!
    Amber @ junkaholicsunanimous

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  34. What fun! I love your stands and displays.
    Kathy

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  35. I love doing this, Faye! Just went out and bought trees and new bleach last week! I haven't tried dyeing them yet, so I'm looking forward to your tutorial!

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  36. I have never seen these trees in a bag before. But I will have to keep my eyes open for them now. The white snow like stuff on the trees, are they already on the tree before you bleach them?

    I'm am really loving the vintage colors and look. How clever to use old door knobs. I will have to start going to garage sales now, slow down and really look around.

    Love your work,
    Laura

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