Making a Vintage Looking Bottle Brush Tree Tutorial

As you all know, if you like the old bottle brush trees, it is harder to find them. these days.  I love to use the “not so perfect but still pretty” ones in my work.  I don’t have the heart to destroy a good one, so I make the new ones look old and this is how I do it.

Supplies

~Mini bottle brush trees.  You can find these at a craft store.  I bought these at Joanne Fabrics
~Bleach
~Cinnamon
~Instant coffee or some type of stain.  I use black walnut dye.

Directions

Fill a ceramic type bowl halfway with warm water and a little bleach.  I used about 1/4 cup. Add your trees to the bowl and fill rest of the way with water. The color will start to fade almost immediately.  Let them soak for a few hours until you like the way they look.  I always do this at night and let them soak overnight in our utility sink.

This is how they look from beginning to end.

  

When the color (or lack of) is what you want, rinsed them and set them on a layer of paper towels.

Next dip them in your stain and sprinkle with cinnamon.

I like to stain some and leave the others natural.  All do get a little cinnamon

Let air dry on an old cookie sheet or place in a warm oven.  I usually preheat my oven and then turn it off and place the cookie sheet in until dry.

Look how pretty they are!

And the grand finale is using them!