Instructions

1. Watch the video. Follow along with the video tutorial for a walkthrough on how to make your own red pickup truck Christmas craft.
2. Paint the Red Truck. Start by painting the body of your wood truck cutout red using Waverly chalk paint in Lacquer. Use a fine-point brush so you can neatly paint around the smaller details. Next, paint the tires black — but leave the centers unpainted for now. Set the piece aside to dry.
3. Paint the Tree. Once the red paint is dry, grab a dark green paint and fill in the Christmas tree that’s popping out of the truck bed. Later, you’ll layer on a bit of Waverly Moss chalk paint for added dimension.
4. Add Silver Tire Centers. Using Rub ’n Buff in Pewter (or silver paint), make small silver circles in the center of each tire. A fingertip dauber helps make a clean shape, but a small brush works too. If it looks too shiny, lightly dab some black paint over top to give it a distressed, vintage look.
5. Distress the Truck. To give your red truck that classic farmhouse charm, dip a sponge piece lightly in black chalk paint and dab most of it off on scrap paper. Then gently rub the sponge across edges and flat areas of the truck to create an aged, worn effect. Add a small painted black door handle for a finishing touch.
6. Build the Crate Stand. Glue together two stacks of three Dollar Tree tumbling tower pieces using a mix of wood glue or E6000 (for permanent hold) and hot glue (for instant grip). Attach each stack to the bottom corners of your small wood crate — these will act as “legs” so your truck can stand upright behind it. Paint the crate red to match your truck.
7. Add Dimension to the Tree. Mix dark green and moss chalk paint to add texture to your painted tree. Use fine, angled brush strokes to mimic pine needles and give the tree a more realistic look.
8. Assemble the Truck and Crate. Attach the truck to the back of the crate using both wood glue and hot glue. Make sure the crate legs elevate it just enough for the display to stand on its own without the crate peeking out behind the truck.
9. Fill with Greenery. Glue a small piece of floral foam inside the crate. Then cut apart faux berry stems or greenery picks and insert them into the foam. Adjust and fluff until you like the arrangement. Mix in any leftover greenery or clearance finds from last year’s holiday sales — it’s a great way to stretch your budget and create a fuller look.