DIY Flocked Christmas Tree

Flocking is all the rage right now and I have a feeling it isn’t going away anytime soon…

Tree flocking became popular in the late 1950s and 1960s, along with aluminum trees and other glitzy, non natural-looking decor of the post-war boom. General Mills marketed Sno-Flok home kits, which were applied using a gun that attached to a vacuum cleaner. Umm…Can I still get one of those? Now, those flocked trees are coming back with a vengeance and you don’t have to just buy them in the stores, you can make them yourselves.

I have been flocking my Christmas tree for the last 4 or 5 years and I absolutely love it every time. This year I am going to flock ten little trees, one large Christmas tree and a few strands of garland. I got all my little trees for $5 each at Five Below, you can’t beat that!!  It’s going to be a White Christmas at least inside my house it will be! 😉

So, lets get FLOCKING…

Flocking a tree on your own is an easy, but messy process. Be sure to prepare your work area before starting the flocking process…You can work outside or in a garage where you don’t mind a little mess or cover your floor with a drop cloth if you do decide to work inside.

Lots of things can be flocked; real trees, fake trees, pre-lit trees, wreaths, ornaments and garlands. There are so many options, that is what makes it so great!!

DIY Flocked Christmas Tree

Supplies

• Flocking Powder
• Spray Bottle with Water & Glue
• Strainer or Sifter
• Face Mask
• Eye Protection
• Gloves

Lets get ready…Make sure to use a mask, glove and eye protection. Using a tarp is also helpful. This stuff is messy! 😉 The application procedure works best in areas of little or no wind.

First get your Misting Water ready in a spray bottle, I add Elmer’s glue to help the powder stick better. Shake your bottle well before getting started. Using your spray bottle filled with water and glue lightly wet a section of your tree with the water. Scoop a small amount of the flocking powder into your strainer and sift onto the damp section of your tree. Holding the strainer 6-10″ away from the tree and shake the sifter to let out a bit of the powder, spray some water as the flocking falls and settles. It is very important to spray as the flocking is falling, do not apply dry flock to a wet tree. The water activates the adhesive in the flocking and sort of fluffs it up then seals it. Be sure to be careful with the water spray to not get it into the strainer/sifter full of the flocking. It will fluff the flocking before you want it to.

Continue this process section by section until the tree is finished. If you are doing a large artificial tree, it is easier to take it apart and do section by section starting at the bottom. After the entire tree is completed go back and look to see if any sections need to be filled in or if you would like the flocking to be any thicker. It is always better to go lighter in the beginning and add to it later if you would like it more full. When your tree is flocked to the coverage you desire, I always go back and add glitter crystals to add an extra element to the tree. This is very optional! Make sure to give your item one last misting to seal all the flocking.

Before you get decorating or move your flocked item, let everything dry…this can take up to 72 hours or as little as 6 depending on how much flocking you used and how thick it is.

Note: Over time and depending on how much the tree is moved the flocking will come off and it can get messy. Keep this in mind for storage. Also, the tree can be reused the next year, just add more flocking where the tree is missing it. You can match as necessary.

Have fun and as always we would LOVE to see your work!!

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