A Very Vintage Upcycled Christmas: From Farm Animal Muzzles to Christmas Trees

Repurposed vintage Christmas decorations, unexpected tree bases, and proof that almost anything deserves a second look.

I've spent the past couple of weeks turning ordinary vintage objects into Christmas decorations. And when I say ordinary, I mean things like old coffee cans, chipped enamelware, forgotten toys, and miscellaneous rusty metal objects whose original purposes have absolutely nothing to do with Christmas. Pretty much everything can be Christmas decor if I try hard enough.

Remember that box lot I bought at an auction a couple of weeks ago? The one with the strange metal wire muzzle-looking contraption and a couple of old cast iron oil lamp sconces? Well, I had plans for those things. Because while other people were probably wondering why anyone would want a rusty farm animal muzzle, I was already mentally decorating it for Christmas. As one does.

From Farm Animal Muzzle to Upcycled Vintage Christmas Cloche

Let's start with the reason I bought that box lot in the first place. The rusty wire thing. I'm fairly certain it was originally some sort of muzzle for a farm animal. It had a domed wire construction with metal bands running vertically and two flanges around the bottom that I suspect once held a leather strap. Practical farm equipment. Not exactly festive. But I saw potential.

I thought the shape resembled an old-fashioned garden cloche, and I figured with a little work, it could become something pretty special. First, I spent some time carefully reshaping the wire until the whole thing looked more like a dome. Then I gave it a thorough cleaning and sprayed it with a coat of matte polyurethane to seal the rusty metal. I wanted to preserve that wonderful old patina without having rust transfer onto everything it touched.

The Base That Was Meant to Be

There was one little problem. Those two metal flanges along the bottom prevented the newly transformed cloche from sitting flat. It wobbled. And while I appreciate a little character in my vintage finds, I generally prefer my Christmas decorations to remain upright. I knew I wanted some sort of wooden base, so I started digging through my stash. The stash always comes through.

I found a round wooden piece with a groove running around the edge. My first thought was that the flanges might fit into the groove and help stabilize the cloche. They didn't. Instead, the flanges slipped right over the outside edge of the wooden disc. It was the perfect diameter. I couldn't have planned it better if I'd actually measured something. Which, for the record, I had not.

I applied a coat of wood wax to the wooden base, and the finish came back beautifully. The warm wood was the perfect contrast to the rusty metal. Now I had a cloche. I had a base. All I needed was something to put inside.

Keeping the Christmas Decorations Simple

I decided this project didn't need much. I had a small greenery wreath, or candle ring, tucked away in my supplies. It fit perfectly beneath the cloche. Then I added a woodland-style candle I'd recently purchased at a local big-box store. And that was it. No elaborate arrangement. No mountains of ribbon. No seventeen additional embellishments because I couldn't figure out when to stop. I know. Restraint. Who am i???

But sometimes the simplest arrangements are the most striking. The rusty wire, the warm wooden base, the greenery, and the birch-inspired candle work beautifully together. I can picture this as a Christmas centerpiece, on a sideboard, or incorporated into a rustic holiday tablescape. And to think, it started life as something that may have been strapped to a farm animal's face. What a career change.

Antique Oil Lamp Sconces Get a Christmas Makeover

The same auction box lot also contained a couple of ornate old cast iron wall sconces that once held oil lamps. These required considerably less effort. I cleaned them up, gathered a little greenery from my stash, and fashioned small rings of greenery to tuck into the holders. Then I added the same woodland-style candles I'd used in the cloche. Done. Seriously. Minutes.

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I love the contrast between the ornate antique metalwork and the natural-looking greenery. The sconces already had so much character that they didn't need much decorating. And that's one of my favorite things about repurposing vintage objects. Sometimes you don't need to change the object at all. You just need to change how you see it.

Note: These arrangements are for decorative use. I use flameless candles in greenery-filled or enclosed displays rather than lighting real candles.

Apparently, Everything Can Be a Christmas Tree Base

While I was busy transforming old farm equipment and oil lamp holders, I also made several small Christmas trees using vintage containers and other things I've collected. Because apparently I cannot walk past a little artificial Christmas tree without wondering what unusual object I can stick it into.

And I've discovered something. Almost anything can become a Christmas tree base for a very upcycled vintage Christmas.

You just have to think a little outside the box. Or the flowerpot. Or the traditional Christmas tree stand. Here are a few of my recent experiments.

A Vintage Pleasure Chest Cooler Becomes a Woodland Christmas Display

I had an old red Pleasure Chest cooler that was practically begging for a new purpose. Instead of filling it with ice and beverages, I used it as the base for two woodland-style Christmas trees. I tucked a red-and-black plaid blanket around the trees to fill the opening and added a few camping-themed ornaments.

The combination of the vintage cooler, rustic trees, and plaid fabric gives the whole thing a wonderful old-fashioned camping feel. It's the sort of Christmas decoration that makes me think of family road trips, cabins, and holidays spent outdoors. And it certainly beats having another empty cooler sitting around waiting for a picnic.

A Chippy Blue Enamel Cup

Sometimes the smallest projects are the sweetest. I tucked a little Christmas tree into an old blue enamel cup with plenty of chips and wear. That's it. The blue enamel and rusty spots give the arrangement so much personality that it really doesn't need anything else.

I especially love using imperfect vintage pieces for projects like this. A chipped cup might not be everyone's first choice for the kitchen, but as a Christmas tree container? Absolutely perfect.

A Hills Brothers Coffee Can

Old advertising tins are some of my favorite things to decorate with. The graphics, the colors, the typography. They already bring so much visual interest to a display. So when I had a little tree that needed a home, an old Hills Brothers coffee can seemed like a perfectly reasonable solution. I added a rustic garland and a little star. Instant vintage Christmas.

And the best part is that the advertising tin remains the star of the arrangement. Well, technically the star is on top of the tree. But you know what I mean.

A Silverplate Urn and a Little Burlap

I love old silverplate, especially when it has lost some of its original shine. There's something about that soft, aged finish that works beautifully with primitive and rustic decorations. For this project, I wrapped the base of a small Christmas tree in burlap and tucked it into an old silverplate urn.

The combination of rough burlap, evergreen branches, and tarnished silverplate is exactly the sort of contrast I love. A little elegant. A little rustic. And just the right amount of imperfect.

A Mint Green Sugar Bowl

This little mint green sugar bowl was missing its matching creamer. And while I thought it was adorable, I knew it probably wasn't going to be an easy piece to sell all by itself. So I gave it a Christmas makeover. I tucked a tiny tree inside and added a few simple ivory ribbon bows. Suddenly, that lonely little sugar bowl had a whole new purpose. And instead of becoming one more piece of unwanted housewares headed for the landfill, it became a charming little Christmas decoration.

The Vintage Wooden Lacing Shoe Christmas Tree

And finally, probably my favorite of this year's little tree projects. An old wooden toy lacing shoe.

If you've been following along for any length of time, you know I have a soft spot for vintage toys and games. I love the graphics, the memories, and the fact that so many of these old toys were made to last.

So when I found myself looking at this little wooden lacing shoe, I started thinking about how I could give it another life. Naturally, the answer was Christmas.

I glued a small artificial tree into the shoe and made a colorful garland using little wooden beads.

The bright beads remind me of vintage children's toys, and the entire arrangement has a playful, nostalgic feel. It's cheerful. It's a little unexpected. And it makes me smile every time I look at it.

A Christmas tree in a shoe. Apparently we have reached that point in the decorating season. And I'm not even sorry.

An Old Wooden Clock Gets a Christmas Makeover

And just to prove that I don't turn EVERYTHING into a Christmas tree... I had an old wooden clock that had seen better days. But I loved its shape and the decorative details in the woodwork. It just needed a little imagination. So I gave it a coat of green paint and distressed the finish to create that wonderfully chippy, timeworn look I love. Then I tucked a little greenery and red berries into the opening where the clock face once belonged. And right in the middle? A cheerful little snowman. It's snowman o'clock.

I love how the green paint makes the greenery and red berries pop. And that little snowman looks like he's been waiting his whole life to move into an old clock. No complicated construction. No elaborate supplies. Just a forgotten wooden clock, some paint, a little Christmas greenery, and a snowman with a new address. From telling time to spreading Christmas cheer. I'd call that a successful retirement.

The Best Christmas Decorations Aren't Always Christmas Decorations

I think that's what I enjoy most about creating holiday décor from vintage finds. You don't necessarily need a cart full of brand-new Christmas decorations. Sometimes you need an old cooler. Or a chipped enamel cup. Or a sugar bowl missing its creamer. Or a rusty piece of farm equipment that nobody else quite knows what to do with.

The fun is in seeing something beyond its original purpose. It's about giving forgotten objects another chance to be useful, beautiful, or simply fun. And there's something especially satisfying about using things that already have a history. That little wooden toy once helped a child practice tying shoes. The old coffee can probably sat on somebody's kitchen shelf. The cast iron sconces once illuminated a room. And that rusty muzzle? Well, I'm guessing it never imagined a future as a Christmas centerpiece. But here we are.

So the next time you're wandering through an antique shop, garage sale, estate sale, or auction, look at the ordinary things a little differently. A vintage container doesn't have to hold what it was originally designed to hold. A Christmas tree doesn't necessarily need a traditional stand. And sometimes the strangest thing in an auction box lot turns out to be the best find of the day. That's the magic of repurposing vintage.

TAKE THE BACK ROAD. FIND THE GOOD JUNK.

And decorate it for Christmas.

This post is part of A Very Vintage Christmas, my collection of vintage-inspired holiday projects, creative repurposing ideas, and Christmas decorations made from old treasures. Explore more projects on Junk Is My Life for inspiration to give forgotten finds a second life.