Comments on: A Gun Nut Merry Christmas

By: A Little More ATF Christmas | Snowflakes in Hell

A Little More ATF Christmas | Snowflakes in Hell — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:30:12 +0000

[...] that people seemed to like our Gun Nut Merry Christmas tree, I figured I’d post a few more photos snapped of it before the ornaments came off. [...]

By: And I thought my tree was weird. at A Dixie Carpetbagger

And I thought my tree was weird. at A Dixie Carpetbagger — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:04:38 +0000

[...] the ATF (BATFE) tree. All that’s missing is a GI Joe at the base with a big rifle. Like a silenced 20mm [...]

By: Ride Fast

Ride Fast — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:15:31 +0000

[...] Gun Nut Christmas Tree [...]

That’s great, I love it.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:58:01 +0000

Love it!

By: georgeh

georgeh — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:20:55 +0000

Where are the little Jack Boots?

By: Bitter

Bitter — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:57:17 +0000

Yes, we decided to include the “E” through the tree topper. I debated getting an “E” for the banner when I was at the craft store, but it was decided that more people would get the reference of simply “ATF.” So Sebastian suggested that I pull out my paints and create a stick of dynamite for the tree topper since we otherwise didn’t have one that really kept with the theme. I added the the silver beading “TNT” just to give it that holiday sparkle, and we had a tree topper.

As for the cigarette ornaments, those are the biggest reason we didn’t have the tree done last year as planned. We were running short on shotgun shell lights last year, and since I didn’t have any “T” ornaments in mind, I just threw in the decorating towel. But this year, I realized I could make my own. I bought wood at craft stores, picked up a few colors of paint, got some letters in different sticker fonts, and went searching the internet for inspiration from vintage cigarette cartons.

For example, I know the brand is really Lucky Strike and they don’t have any references to bowling on the package. But as is, their older packages were a little too plain and too `70′s. So I found a bowling pin & ball decorative piece, repainted them to match the colors of the package, and had some fun. Same with the Regent Slims. Their package was more subtly ornate, but when I found the little crown inspiration in the scrapbook aisle, it was just perfect. Searching for all the little things to make the cartons perfect for a Christmas tree was the biggest delay to getting the tree up this year.

Most of the alcohol ornaments are just little bottles filled with either the original beverage, a substitute (because we already drank the original), a mix of vinegar & food coloring, or just empty if they look prettier as a plain bottle. I have a couple of handmade ones that don’t show up in these pictures, and there a surprising number of mass market alcohol-themed Christmas ornaments for sale.

By: Weer'd Beard

Weer'd Beard — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:37:06 +0000

Where did you get those nifty cigarette orniments?

The wife probably wouldn’t be too impressed, but I wouldn’t mind one of those lucky strike ornaments!

By: B Woodman

B Woodman — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:12:10 +0000

Is that a stick of TNT at the top of the tree (with fuse)? For “E”xplosives?

By: Carl from Chicago

Carl from Chicago — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:24:06 +0000

Decided to leave the “Explosives” out of the festivities?!

;-)

Looks great. Quite unique!

By: Granny

Granny — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:44:58 +0000

Looks good. Can’t wait to see it.