I have a slight obsession with big red barns – actually, I’m a fan of any ol’ barn – but the red ones just sort of hit me right in the soft spot in my heart. I love the feeling you get walking into an old barn, the smell of the old wood, the beauty of the beams above you and the gorgeous light streaming in from all the cracks in the walls. Especially at Christmastime, they are just so pretty, all that red up against the white snow.
My in-laws know just how much I’m obsessed, so for my birthday this year, they gifted me a large amount of old red barn wood boards. One of my husband’s cousins had a red barn on his property that had blown over in a bad storm, and he had decided to sell off the remaining wood.
I immediately had lots of ideas for what projects I could turn these barn wood remnants into, but I started with making some simple boxes.
With my Grandpa’s help, we measured & cut down some of the boards, then used a nail gun on the ends to create the box. I’m still not exactly what you’d call proficient in my electric sawing abilities, so I really appreciated his craftsmanship & help with this project.
These boxes are the perfect size for a front porch step, filled with evergreens & some pretty twinkling lights.
Or down the middle of the dining room table with napkins, salt & pepper shakers and a candle.
You could even put one on your office desk with some mason jars lined up & filled with scissors, pencils, colored pencils, etc. The possibilities are endless!
But for me, I wanted one right in the heart of my family room for Christmas. I decided to make it the focal point on our fireplace mantel this year.
Inside the box I laid a festive plaid table runner that almost looks like it could double as a warm winter scarf.
I found some inexpensive faux pine branches & holly berries with leaves at Walmart, then cut them all apart to use as filler in the barn wood box. I also stuck in some white poinsettias to help offset all the red and green.
I found 2 really delicate white punched tin pails at the Target Dollar Spot and filled them with faux snow and some battery operated candles for a pretty soft glow.
The sweater ball garland I had also found at Target a few years back and it is one of my favorites.
The sign above the mantel is actually from Hobby Lobby this year. I love the golden lettering and the beautiful message of the true meaning of this Christmas season.
I have had the flocked red berry wreath for a few years too. It really ties everything together nicely.
Even St. Nick must know how much we love these red barns, because he brought us a Gingerbread barn kit! I can’t wait to decorate it with the kids this year.
In the case of the blown over red barn, it now gets to live on in the form of a new creation. If only the barn wood could talk, oh the stories from the farm it would tell!
If you’re in the market for a barn wood box of your own, just like this one, you’re in luck! I created a few more of them that are for sale right now at The Vintage Flip in Lake Mills, WI. In fact, this is where all of my shop items are now located. So, be sure to stop by this really cute vintage and re-purposed shop to see what other unique gifts you might be able to find this Christmas season!
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