Materials:1" x 3" poplar lumber
miter saw
tack cloth or rag
measuring tape
finish nails
hammer
drill
wood glue
220-grit sandpaper
spackling compound
latex primer
gold craft paint
paintbrushes
serrated knife
hot glue gun
floral foam
48" wooden dowels in various widths (5/16" to 3/8")
gold spray paint
various glass ornaments
gold craft ribbon
gold craft jewelry wire
hand saw
pencil sharpener
needle-nose pliers
copper refrigeration wire
Steps:
1. Cut five pieces of poplar lumber using a miter saw to the necessary dimensions to make a box without a top. Nail and glue the pieces together after drilling pilot holes where the corners meet. Sand the entire box and remove the dust with a tack cloth or damp rag.
2. Fill the nail holes with spackle and prime the box once it's dry. Apply several coats of gold paint, allowing it to dry between layers.
3. Cut floral foam pieces with a knife that extend no more than one inch above the top of the box to line the inside (the foam will hold the ornaments plus garland and evergreens in place to decorate the base of the tree). Secure each piece with hot glue.
4. Push the dowels into a scrap piece of foam and spray them gold in a well-ventilated area.