Here’s a project I’ve been thinking over for a few weeks…How I Repurposed a Toy Red Ladder in my Christmas Decor.
Just a bit of background~
I found it in a hazardous basement in an old house estate sale. Now why was it hazardous? It was a glorified crawl space really. And you know what a crawl space is like, right? Uneven floor, dirty, nowhere to hold onto. Husband hovering with his hands held out…don’t fall, don’t fall! For someone like me who CAREFULLY watches every step, I learned the hard way I can’t be careless. Because I fell 3 times last year, breaking 3 bones, and basically spent 8 months in a chair. So I’ve learned to be careful.
But the basement was a treasure trove! A treasure trove of grimy, dusty sacks piled one on top of the other, thrown to the furthest corners of the crawl space…a place you go if you’ve got good knees, are willing to crawl, and get very dirty. Someone who’s young….Ha! Not me! I had to “settle” for stepping blindly in the closer part of the dirty basement. And this is where I found the red ladder among many other interesting items which you can see in this post.
I really wasn’t sure what to do with it. I started to leave it there. I have to tell you my mind doesn’t revolve around DIY projects much. My mind revolves around whether I’m likely to sell it in my Etsy shop or not. I have no idea what it goes with…surely not a game? It’s definitely not meant to bear any weight, so what was it for?
If you know, please leave a comment.
How to Repurpose a Toy Red Ladder for Christmas
But as Christmas rolled around, I thought perhaps I could make an arrangement with it. But craftiness never oozes out of me…LOL. I thought about a front door arrangement, but it’s too long to hang any other way but vertically, so this is what I came up with, and I kinda like it.
Hung in our entry, it’s visible as you come through the front door. Using several finds from the grimy estate sale, and an old faux garland…Our “Wes” is checking out the softer garland I didn’t use.
Here is my original DIY creation for the “C’mon Get Crafty Blog Hop.” Keep reading to see how I made it. And be sure to check out the projects of the other crafty bloggers!
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Starting off with these supplies, my inspiration came from the objects at the end of the arrows.
Red arrow: old plastic prisms came in a box of lamp parts I acquired back in the summer, and they hadn’t sold. I tried Mod Podge with white glitter on 3 of them, but the Mod Podge left a cloudiness I didn’t like.
Blue Arrow: I found 2 sacks of colorful pinwheel beads at the grimy estate sale and have already used them in 2 projects.
Not everything in the photo was used.
The Process of Decorating the Ladder~
- I wound the faux garland in and out some of the rungs and around the back. It was much too long for the ladder, but I didn’t want to cut it in case I could use it for something else next year.
- Next the battery-operated string of LED lights
- Using fishing line, I strung it through the little holes in the vintage prisms,
- followed by 8 pinwheel beads,
- then either a clear acrylic icicle ornament or a gold icicle ornament.
- Eight beads separated each ornament. How did I come up with 8? I don’t know…a lucky guess because the icicle garland was exactly the right length for the ladder.
- When I was ready to put the icicle garland onto the faux greenery, I used ordinary wire ornament hangers to fix the icicles and prisms on the branches while arranging the beaded garland where it would stay.
- I added a few colorful ornaments for extra pizzazz, and there you have it!
I would love it if you’d pin! Thank you!
Now all we need is a Christmas tree! I’ll have to tell you that story soon!
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Florence
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Cute! You keep saying you’re not crafty, but you’re doing yourself a disservice. You’re much more creative than you realize. I would never have thought of that!
I could be mistaken, but I believe it was originally sold to lean against a Christmas tree. Maybe with some elves climbing it? I’ve seen those, but I’m not sure they were that tall.
Hmm, well that’s an idea for the ladder…I believe I’ve seen those!
OK, maybe I should stop saying I’m not crafty LOL. I just FEEL so not crafty. Ha!
You know, now that I think about it, I believe I had one of those ladders once that I bought at a yard sale. I sold it at one of my yard sales because I could never think of anything to do with it. So, yes. You are pretty darn creative.
Thanks Wanda! I appreciate your encouragement. Luckily, it came to me what to do with it.
Florence that is such a great use for your pretty ladder. I love the way you have added all those icicles and ornaments. It really is a show stopper now! Will you be able to use it after the holidays and maybe hang throws on it?
Oh thanks Mary! I don’t think it’s nearly big or wide enough for throws and things. This is really narrow. They would swallow it whole. Wish it was!
Haha! I would have been right there with you in that crawl space!! The ladder is SO cute — I love that you turned it sideways! Just arrange your gifts under it for a “tree” haha!
Now that’s an idea I hadn’t thought of Lauren! Use it for a tree…haha! Yes, you & me in that basement! You should have seen it…wish I’d had my cell phone to take a picture!
I didn’t know you aren’t crafty. You make really cool things from your thrifting finds. This ladder is adorable and I think it will be a Christmas item you bring out each year.
Thanks Debra! I appreciate it!
I have one of those little red ladders and as Wanda said it leans against the Christmas tree or mantel and has wooden elves that stand on the rungs in different positions as if passing the presents up. Wish I knew how to add a picture, mine is against my tree right now (I have had it for 20+ years).
I can just picture it Robin. So glad you told me how it was used. I would love to see yours in use!
This is such a great idea, i love the ladder, my brother had one very similar to it when I was growing up.
Happy Holidays
Maria
Thanks Maria! I’ve found out what it was used for.
I love how you used the ladder! It’s perfect with the garland running through it and so festive.
Thank you Erlene!
I’m so glad you had the courage to brave a spooky basement and escaped without injury! What a CUTE ladder! The garland you created is very pretty ! I wonder if you could use the ladder to display linens and doilies to take photos for your shop? -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
Thank you Marci! You know, that’s a good idea about displaying linens & doilies! It probably would hold those. Bigger linens like blankets and throws would be too big for it. Smaller ones would probably work. Great idea Marci!
Hi Florence,
You find the best things on your estate hunts. My girlfriends and I go away in Feb/Mar for a long weekend and we usual antique/thrift shop. I always like to have a list and keep open to new finds but currently on my list is an old ladder. I hope I’m lucky enough to find one. Love the way you decorated too.
Merry Christmas! ♥
Thanks Patti! Hope you find one! I saw several ladders at an antique shop yesterday, so good chance you will.
I think you scored a great find! I love how you decorated the ladder!
Thanks Megan!
What a wonderful creative way to decorate for Christmas Florence! I love this latter very much. Also I love exploring old houses and a treasure hunt. But you got me really scared, when I read about you falling so often last year and even breaking bones. Please take care!!
Thank you Habiba! Appreciate you coming by and thanks for the kind words! Oh estate sales are so much fun! I love each one, even if I don’t find anything.
Cute!!! I love this ladder repurpose idea, Florence! You always come up with really imaginative ways to recycle things into new and fun decor. Happily pinning, of course, and G+.
Have a great Christmas with your family,
xoxo Barb 🙂
Thanks so much Barb! A very happy Christmas to you & yours!
What a lucky find…and you know I love the color!!
Aww, thanks Kim! Yes it would fit right in with your decor!
Florence, what a clever repurpose! I love what you did with the red ladder, it’s the perfect repurpose for Christmas!
Thanks Keri! Still loving the ladder. Hate to take all these decorations down.