Urn Artificial Tree Stand

Soooo I have wanted to DIY an urn artificial tree stand for 15 years. Because of our kiddos we always selected a fresh tree together every year as part of their childhood traditions. Now that they are grown and we can do our own thing last year in March I purchased a 7-1/2 Foot Artificial Tree from Ballards online that way discounted down to $200.00 plus free shipping!

My husband is ALWAYS very busy (self-employed), and his schedule is so crazy that I will get him spur of the moment on a project and I have to run with it. Catch him while I can! So my hand were very full (literally), and I did not get great in action pics and most of the pics I did get just won't load...technical errors...God bless 'em! So I will explain what we did as best as I can, it was fairly simple. ;D

You will need:

• Urn-Large one with wide base
• Quickcrete mortar mix
• Cheap plastic shower curtain (to cover grass outside when mixing concrete outside)
• Sawzall
• Artificial tree & stand it came with
• bucket
• Shovel to mix concrete with or a drill with long paddle attachment for mixing concrete (we used the drill)
• Level
• Safety glasses
• Furniture pads for bottom of urn (if will be placed on wood floor)
• Cardboard

Here's what we did:

1. Purchased our urn on Amazon make sure you buy a similar one. It will need to be a resin/stone mix like the one we purchased, with a wide base.
2. Paint urn whatever color you like. I painted mine black and then used rub-n-buff pewter dry brushed over the black. Lately, yes, I am rub-n-buff silver & pewter obsessed! See my Rub-N-Buff Projects Post for details.
3. Use a sawzall or hacksaw to cut the stand (that your artificial tree came with) down to fit into urn. 
4. Remove plug from urn.
5. If your urn will be placed on wood flooring now is the time to add furniture pads to the bottom to protect your floor.
6. Purchase a bag of ready to mix quickcrete mortar mix.
7.  Add desired amount of quickcrete powder to bucket and  SLOWLY add water from hose (do this outside on a surface that is covered so you don't get it all over like we did). Mix it to a very very thick peanut butter paste consistency and scoop into your urn. We used approx 7 gallons of mixed cement for our large urn.
8. Measure to get center of urn and push your cut down stand into place.
9. Bring in house place cardboard down where tree will be & set on cardboard.
10. Use a level (very important) to adjust and make sure that the stand with pole is in the concrete LEVEL immediately as it will begin to set up quickly.
11. Let set up for 24 hours before placing tree in stand.
12. Add pine cones to cover the cement. 

Please note this stand will be likely 80 lbs when it's done. We decided after Christmas we will put a plant in it instead of moving it because it is so heavy! Make sure you get help moving this stand or use a dolly. We love ours! Merry Christmas & a Blessed New Years to you!

This is the tree stand that ours came wit that we cut down to fit in urn.

This is what we used

This is the way we mixed our mortar

Added pine cones to hide cement

Finished stand with tree in place

Made our 7-1/2 ft tree into a 10 ft tree! An unintended "good thing!"

I purchased the urn for $80.00 on Amazon with free shipping. The same exact tree stand urn on amazon was $300.00...it pays to do a little research, roll up your sleeves & DIY!