Amazing Friends, today is the final day of my Posts of Christmas Past series, and I am so excited about this one…it is one of my favorite holiday upcycles!
I’m sharing how I turned skis that I found on my neighbor’s curb into awesome Christmas decor!
I couldn’t believe they were throwing away these perfectly good skis:
This was only a few months after we moved in and I saw that a POD was being delivered to the vacant house next door. I was excited that we would soon have new neighbors. The next day I saw a huge pile of stuff on the curb and thought it was weird that someone would wait to move to purge all that junk. I mean why would they pack stuff they didn’t want?
So I decided to be all neighborly and go introduce myself (and get a closer look at that pile of potential) when I noticed the pile included three pairs of perfectly good skis! (One set is missing from the photo above.)
Photo of said pile from my porch:
It turns out that the lady I met was the homeowner and she had been renting the house out. She had been using one of the bedrooms to store her own things and had decided that most of it just needed to go…like three perfectly good sets of skis!
I introduced myself and asked if she minded if I took the skis for a holiday project, and she was more than happy to let me have whatever I wanted. I did restrain myself though and just took the skis. So of course my neighbors saw me walking back with them…”They’re going to be fabulous Holiday décor!”, I told them.
My Hubby removed all of the bindings for me, and I gave them a couple of coats of Rustoleum spray paint in Colonial Red (satin finish):
And I think they did turn out pretty fabulous if I do say so myself:
Right??
It’s amazing what spray paint, some pretty greenery (Hobby Lobby), and a big fat checked bow (also Hobby Lobby) can do!
Here is one of the smaller pairs:
I made this set from a couple of greenery bunches I picked up at Pier One after Christmas a few years ago:
It’s a shame they closed theirs stores. They used to have the most realistic greenery. I bought several of these when they were marked down quite a bit after Christmas and use them throughout our home to decorate.
This project really could not have been any easier. After painting them (one coat on the backs, and two coats on the fronts), I drilled a small hole through the centers using a regular old drill bit. I criss-crossed them just how I wanted and then drilled right through both skis.
Then I added a small nut and bolt to hold them together:
I trimmed up the greenery stems a bit and then wired them right onto the skis using floral wire:
I added a little more wire to each stem where you can’t see as well to hold them securely in place.
Then I added another ready-made bow from Hobby Lobby to finish it off!
Such a pretty addition to our holiday porch!
The rain was moving in the day I took these so I didn’t get many photos out from under the porch, but here is one…
And one more…
Here is the third set I did:
I found that sign and that more sparkly greenery at Michaels.
And how about that adorable door swag? I found that at Michaels also:
I kept this tall set:
I loved the height of them.
You could add these to just about any corner of your home for a festive touch. Adding a little set of battery-operated lights would make them even prettier!
Of course I loved these as well…just something about that natural looking greenery!
You can see more of our front porch decorated for Christmas last year HERE. It looks pretty much the same this year except we added a porch swing on the side!
I have really enjoyed meeting y’all here each day this week, and I hope you enjoyed it too!
If you missed any of this weeks posts, you can see them all at the links below:
DIY CHRISTMAS CLOCHE FROM AN OLD LIGHT FIXTURE
HOW TO MAKE KNIT STOCKINGS FROM OLD SWEATERS
DIY FAUX ETCHED CHRISTMAS MIRROR FROM A $7 THRIFT STORE FIND
MASON JAR LIDS REPURPOSED AS ORNAMENTS
I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend and I’ll see y’all back here Tuesday with my Trash to Treasure friends sharing what I did with this old headboard and footboard:
Update: I am so excited about this one, Ya’ll! See what I did with these pieces HERE now!
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
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Michele M. says
Never EVER would I have thought of this. And I look at this amazing “after” and think “of course, brilliant!”
So, you are of course, brilliant.
Glad you kept a pair – it has to be so difficult to ever let your afters go – they’re all so awesome.
Christy says
Aww thanks, Michele! I am so glad I kept a set also! Have a great weekend! XOXO
Robin says
Hi Christy. The skis look great and reasonably straightforward to do – thanks for the inspiration. On a side note, I am wondering how you hung the window wreath and front door greenery on the glass. My home is similar and I don’t know how to hang a wreath on my glass door. Thanks.
Christy says
Thanks, Robin and you’re welcome! There really isn’t much to it! On the windows, I pulled down the window from the top and stuck a wreath hanger over the top of the window and then closed it back up. For the door, I used a command hook…they work fantastically! XOXO
Christina says
Crazy cool Christy!!! These skis look GREAT on your porch and so festive!! Your creativity really reflects your joy!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Christina! Have a fantastic weekend!! XOXO
Kim says
I live on a 4 season resort in Virginia and saw this the first time you posted it. It was easy to find old skis as I posted on our website my need and had several pairs offered in less than 10 minutes. Seemed everyone had old skis in their garage! :-)). It was a relatively easy makeover and has been brighting my holiday door decor for several years now. I absolutely LOVE them! Thank you!!!
Christy says
Oh perfect! What a great idea to post your need out there…I’m sure there are lots of people that are happy to unload skis they no longer need! XOXO
Carolyn Price says
LOVE-❤️-LOVE my skis from you, Christy! They go out today! I cannot wait.
Never be shy … anything saved from a landfill is a good deed for the planet and a great find for someone as handy and creative as you are.
Loved your Christmas beachy village yesterday. Too cute.
Blessings!
Christy says
Thank you, Carolyn! I am so thrilled that I was able to get a set to you…enjoy your decorating!! XOXO
Michelle says
Love the skis! Great job!
Christy says
Thank you, Michelle! XOXO
Vicki Lombardi says
Oh Christie! I am so excited! I have a pair of skis my son had when he first learned to ski (he was 12 – now 42!) that have been gathering dust in my basement and cannot wait to do this project! Hope you enjoyed “decking your halls” this week as I have enjoyed each and every one of your posts from Christmases Past!
Christy says
Oh awesome!! Have fun transforming them!! I have really enjoyed taking my time decorating this year, and I’m so happy you enjoyed looking back this week…it was fun to meet here every day!! XOXO
Monica Stewart says
Wow!!! I have loved alllll your projects…..and these skis are fabulous!!!! Too late this year for me, but will definitely be on the lookout for some discarded skis for next year!!!! Your porch looks beautiful! I did a sleigh with ice skates this year.
Merry Christmas to you and your family 🎄🎄
Christy says
Thank you so much, Monica! Yes, keep your eyes peeled! I bet your sleigh is gorgeous…I keep on the lookout for old skates, but we don’t get too cold here for very long, so there aren’t too many people getting rid of ice skates. I keep looking though! Merry Christmas! XOXO
Mary Kasier says
You have the most talent of any one I know! I remember this from when you did them, and I love them just as much seeing them again. It was my favorite re-do of the bunch that you showed this week! I love that you got them for free, you can’t beat free!! They are adorable on your porch. will certainly miss see your post every day, but will still look forward to Tuesdays and Thursdays as much as ever!
Christy says
Aww thank you, my friend! I appreciate that so much!! These might be my favorite also and probably because they were free ha ha! Enjoy your weekend and I’ll see ya Tuesday!! XOXO
Gail says
I am drooling! The shiny red really sets them off, too! I want to make this so bad (along with ice skates wreath) but living inland, there are no lakes or snow so you never find these items at thrift stores or yard sales.
Christy says
Thank you, Gail! We don’t get too harsh of a winter here, but we have a lot of military moving in and out, so I do find these at thrift stores quite often. They are usually overpriced though! XOXO
Sue says
I love those red skiis! You really have “vision” and the ability to see all sorts of possibilities in things many of us would barely look at or consider.
I do have a question, or something I need advice on. Do you ever worry about bringing home fleas, bedbugs or other pests on roadside finds as well as items from thrift stores, or even from friends and neighbors? I ask because recently I brought home a darling dresser and night stand set from a source I have used before with no problem. I don’t have a garage or workshop, so I had the items on my front porch and within a day I discovered dreaded bedbugs ! Of course I am now in full treatment mode, but I immediately let the source know- I am positive they had no idea. They offered a refund but since I am already spraying everything, and do want to use them, I declined. I know the signs to look for to detect bugs, and never saw any on these pieces. Do you ever treat your finds to a pre-emptive strike? I know anyone, especially the cleanest homes and stores, can have hidden bedbugs or fleas- those critters actually prefer clean spaces. Any suggestions?
Thanks so much, and now I am on the look out for discarded skiis.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Sue! As for your question on bed bugs, etc, I really just give things a quick once over and they stay in the garage once I get them home. I’m so sorry that happened to you! XOXO
Kathy W F says
I love these. So good of you to be “neighborly” and all. And now instead of trash they have a new home. LOL. As soon as it got dark, I think I would have taken a second look at her curbside trash😃. I was going to ask how you put them together. Glad you showed us that. They look so cute at the door and up top. I’ve so enjoyed the Christmas past posts this week. I’ve looked at all of them. Question…are those real skates on your glass door swag? I’m probably going to have withdrawal since I have to wait until Tuesday to read what you’re up to next. See you Tuesday.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Kathy!! Don’t worry, I definitely had another look lol, but there wasn’t anything else I could use. The skates are just mini replicas of skates. And ha ha…it has been so nice for me to get to meet ya’ll here every day too! Enjoy your weekend! XOXO
Rose Lefebvre says
Great idea!
Christy says
Thank you, Rose! XOXO
FREIDIA says
Thank you, Christy for all you do!
Merry Christmas!
Christy says
Aww you are so welcome, Freidia! Thank you, Merry Christmas to you too! XOXO
Shelly says
How do your pretty checked bows hold up in the weather? Are they just the readymade bows from hobby Lobby? Are the material? I have felt bows that hold up well, but I’d like to replace them with something prettier, but we get lots of snow.
Christy says
Hi Shelly! The bows are pre-made bows made from wired ribbon that I found at Hobby Lobby. This is my third year using them and they have held up fantastically so far. Of course, we don’t get much in the way of snow. XOXO
Caye Cooper says
LOVE what you did! Makes me want to get a pair at the thrift store and go to work!
Question on the lovely swag: How is it adhered to the door? Skates can be pretty heavy even if the rest of the sway isn’t.
Christy says
Thank you, Caye! The swag is hung with a heavy duty command hook, but the skates are not real, just good mini replicas! XOXO
Sue H Mellette says
enjoyed seeing the red skis again! What a great way to repurpose old skis! The greenery and festive bow make a statement. I love the sign you added. I bet you painted that one as well! Thanks for sharing all your projects this week. It was fun to open your email and see what wonders lie within!! Have a great weekend.
Christy says
I’m glad you enjoyed seeing this one again, Sue! The sign actually came from Michael’s, and it was the perfect addition to the skis LOL! I hope you are enjoying your weekend so far, my friend! XOXO
Jaye Panza says
You are an inspiration to all of us. I don’t think there is anything you’ve done that I haven’t admired! I only wish we had thrift/second hand stores around here.
Happy Christmas, Christy and family.
Christy says
I am so thrilled to hear that, Jaye! Thank you! It’s a shame you don’t have thrift stores near you…maybe a road trip?? Merry Christmas! XOXO
MADELINE NEWTON says
wow these look so great and beautiful….wow …i also like the skates on the door …you can really make them all look like brand new and beautiful…thank you for the great ideas…
Christy says
Thank you, Madeline! I’m glad you enjoyed these! XOXO
Jane Fitzpatrick says
Absolutely beautiful! Of course everything you do is something I want.
Thanks for sharing your ideas, especially every day this week.
Looking forward to Tuesday!
Merry Christmas!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Jane! I really enjoyed getting to hang out with y’all every day this week! Merry Christmas to you too! XOXO
Sharon H says
I get such immense pleasure browsing your wonderful makeovers! Love these skis! Thanks
Christy says
Oh I love that so much, Sharon! Thank you! XOXO
Marty says
You crack me up, scavenging around the neighborhood. I do the same thing! I love what you did with the skis. I am super excited to see what you do with that bed because I have an identical one in my garage!
Love your blog!
Christy says
Thank you, Marty!! I haven’t met a curbside pile that I haven’t slammed the breaks on for yet ha ha! People throw away some good stuff. I think you’ll be surprised by the bed makeover! XOXO
Karen says
Red skis, greenery, and buffalo check bows! So festive! They look great!
Christy says
Thank you, Karen!! XOXO
KJ says
I like your creativity. You exhaust me with all your ideas but in a GOOD WAY!! Maybe someday you will demo how you made the bow you put on the skis???? Please??
Christy says
Ha ha thank you, KJ! The bows were super easy…I bought them ready-made at Hobby Lobby ha ha! XOXO
Sandi Allen says
Love how your skiis turned out. That red just makes them pop. Beautiful
Christy says
Thank you, Sandi! XOXO
gloria miller says
Adorable! Just a suggestion: For a sign pointing indoors, you might consider changing “Ski Lift” to “Apres Ski.”
Christy says
Thanks! I bought this sign, but good point ha ha! XOXO
Sheila DelCharco says
I remember when you first posted this! I had mentioned to my family that I was going to look for old skis. My son called me one day and said he found some and did I want them? Of course I did! They sat at the side of my house for a while and my husband had the AUDACITY to throw them out! I’m still mad at him! Haha
Christy says
Oh NOOOOOO! It’s always the husband ha ha…mine might have done the very same thing lol! XOXO