Beautiful Winter DIY Crafts With Contractor Shims

Have you ever made anything out of contractor shims? While their main, intended use isn’t crafting, the rough, low-quality wood is perfect for a rustic look. Not to mention, they’re incredibly budget-friendly.

I’ll be including TWO videos from YouTube with the how-tos for the following projects: a rustic Christmas TREE and STAR in Video One, and a rustic winter SNOWMAN and SNOWFLAKE in Video Two. These little pieces of wood might be trash to some, but they add such character to handmade décor. They are easy to customize with paint, stain, and a few cozy embellishments. If you love charming, vintage-inspired Christmas crafts, you’ll love these projects!

This post may contain referral links to products used. This means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. I only refer products I use & love

Basic Supplies / Tools:

Here are a few supplies and tools you might need for these first two projects

Video 1, Project 1: Shim Christmas Tree

A simple rustic “tree” shape made from 12 shims

This tree is one of those crafts that makes you think, “Wait… that’s shims?!” It’s quick, has that imperfect rustic charm, and it looks adorable as a single tree or as a whole little set (especially if you mix shim sizes).

Step 1: Choose your shims

Shims come in different lengths — 8″, 12″, and 15″ are common. For the tree shape in this tutorial, I used 12, 12in shims total (but you can absolutely make a set with 8″ and 15″ too)

Each shim has a thick end and a thin end, and that natural taper is what creates the tree silhouette.

Step 2: Arrange them into a tree

Lay your shims side-by-side so all the thin ends are aligned at the top (tree tip) and all the thick ends are aligned at the bottom (tree base)

As you line them up, keep checking that the bottom stays level. That’s the most important part so your tree will stand nicely (especially if you plan to add a base).

Step 3: Glue the tree together

You can use wood glue or hot glue.

Helpful tip: if you notice the bottom edge getting a little uneven while gluing, start gluing on the opposite side to help “balance” the shape as you go.

Also, shims are rustic wood, so knots and rough spots are normal. Just be mindful of which pieces you place on the outer edges if you care about what shows.

Step 4: Paint for a rustic look

For this finish, I used:

FolkArt acrylic paint in Olive Green
FolkArt Brown Antique Wax as a glaze

Paint the tree with olive green, but don’t worry about full, perfect coverage. Leaving some exposed wood helps the wax step look more dimensional and vintage. Dry it fully (a blow dryer speeds it up).

Step 5: Optional sanding (for dimension)

Once dry, lightly sand to “soften” the new paint. This creates natural variation in the green and gives the final finish more depth.

Step 6: Glaze with antique wax

Brush the antique wax over the painted surface (especially into the grooves), then wipe it back with a baby wipe. This leaves the darker tone in the texture and exposed wood—so pretty on rough shim grain.

Optional: lightly sand the edges again for even more character.

Step 7: Add a base + embellishments

For the base, glue a small wood slice centered at the bottom (a birch slice works perfectly). This helps the tree stand and adds rustic charm. Then decorate! For mine, I used:

a small piece of greenery
a mini fabric rag bow made from scraps (a tiny “hummingbird” style bow)
a button in the center of the bow
a small printable tag, distressed to look vintage (crumpled, edges roughed, inked with distress ink)
my tag came from my Printable Nest design library

If you want a simpler look, you can skip the bow/tag and keep it minimal—these trees are adorable either way.

Fun variations to try

Paint a whole set in different colors (or do a wintry white set)
Make a “village” using 8″, 12″, and 15″ shims
Skip the base and display the triangle shape as-is
Swap embellishments: bells, stars, pinecones, twine, beads, etc.

I created this set inside my Creative Nest crafting club. Used a different green paint & embellishments too!

I hope you’ll be inspired to create them in your own special way!

Video 1, Project 2: Shim Star

This rustic wood star made from five 15-inch shims

crafts with wood shims - winter star and tree

This star has so much charm because shims aren’t perfect wood—so the finished star has natural texture, uneven edges, and that cozy rustic look built in.

Step 1: Choose shims + lay out your star

For this star, I used five 15-inch shims. When arranging, remember each shim has a thick end and thin end and for nicer contact points, try to connect a thick end to a thin end where pieces meet. You’ll be weaving them into a classic star shape (like drawing a star, but with wood).

Step 2: Glue at the touch points

Hot glue works great here. The key is to glue wherever the pieces actually touch, not only the ends. Start with the inside contact points first, then move outward to the ends. Because the wood is uneven, you’ll want to press and hold each spot for a moment so it sets without shifting the star shape.

Step 3: Stain with an easy paint-wash technique

Instead of regular stain, the tutorial uses a simple “DIY stain” method:

pour a little chalk or acrylic paint onto a plate (example: Frayed Knot AFK chalk paint in “Fudgesicle”)
mist it with water using a spray bottle
brush it onto the wood like a wash
wipe back with a baby wipe if you want the woodgrain to show more

This gives you that warm chestnut tone without needing traditional stain. Do the back too if you want it finished on both sides. (another option is to stain or paint shims before glueing)

Step 4: Embellish (or keep it simple)

This star is beautiful plain—especially if you like a more minimal rustic look. To decorate like the tutorial:

glue greenery down off-centered to the left
add a fabric scrap bow (the “Wren” style works great)
add a small rusty star in the center of the bow

You can also make these stars for other seasons!

TAP HERE to see how this patriotic star came together!

And now for Video Two with Snowman and Snowflake tutorials!

Supplies You’ll Use (for both projects)

You may not use every single item listed, but these are the supplies shown in the video:

Hot glue gun + glue sticks (or wood glue + clamps)
Miter shears (optional but SO handy for cutting shims)
Dollar Tree wood base (approx. 5½” x 7½” for the snowman background)
Joint compound (for texture)
Embossed scrapbook paper (used as a “stamp” from Hobby Lobby)
Paint brushes + baby wipes
Spray mister bottle (for paint-wash stain)
Sanding block/sander (optional but adds great distressing)
Paints/waxes (examples used):
- Dixie Belle Briar Patch (green)
- FolkArt Vintage White
- FolkArt White Wax
- FolkArt Antique Wax (Brown)
- FolkArt Wrought Iron (soft black for hat/face)
- AFK chalk paint Fudgesicle (for stain/wash)
Scrap cardboard (for nose + for the snowflake riser)
Yarn (for scarf)
Buttons, tag/printable, greenery, and a center embellishment (rusty snowflake)

Video 2, Project 1: Shim Snowman

A layered wood shim snowman with a textured embossed background

This one is such a satisfying build because it’s a mix of simple cutting + fun paint techniques + cute little details. It ends up as more of a “leaner” shelf sitter (perfect for a tiered tray or tucked into a winter vignette). Although, it would also make a perfect jumbo sized ornament too!

Step 1: Cut your snowman pieces

You’ll be working with 8-inch shims, but the length doesn’t matter much because you’ll be cutting them down. The snowman pieces shown in the video are cut to:

4½” (bottom body)
3½” (middle body)
2½” (top body)
2″ (neck/upper transition piece)
Hat piece: 1½” (turned sideways)
Hat brim: about 4″, made from half of a shim split lengthwise

Tool note: Miter shears make this feel like cutting with a giant pair of powerful scissors. They’re sharp, so keep them locked when not in use.

Hat brim tip: To get that fun split-wood look, cut the piece to length first, then start slicing down the center — it may naturally split. If it doesn’t, you can cut partway and gently break it for character.

Step 2: Create the embossed winter background

This technique is SO pretty and adds instant charm. You’ll need:

A wood base (Dollar Tree piece works great — about 5½” x 7½”)
Embossed scrapbook paper (Hobby Lobby)
Joint compound
Green paint (Briar Patch in the video)

How it works:

Mix joint compound with a little paint (it’ll lighten slightly because the compound is white).
Brush a “healthy coat” onto the wood surface.
Then press the embossed paper over the mixture like a stamp.
Rub & press firmly (don’t let it slide).
Peel back to reveal the textured pattern.
Repeat to continue the pattern across the board.
Let it dry fully before glueing the snowman pieces.

Once you are happy with the texture, paint the edges of the board as well (and you can leave the back unfinished if you want or paint it the same color for a truly finished look).

Step 3: Paint the snowman pieces

Paint the hat pieces with Wrought Iron (a softer black). Paint the body pieces with Vintage White (creamy white). Let everything dry (air dry, heat tool, or fan).

Step 4: Add “winter haze” + aged edges

This is where it starts looking extra cozy.

Apply White Wax lightly over the embossed background for a soft, wintry haze.
Sand the edges to expose a little wood.
Apply Antique Wax (Brown) around the edges to frame it and make it weathered.
Blend with a baby wipe so it’s smooth and not harsh.

Optional: add a little dry brushing in spots for extra dimension.

Step 5: Assemble your snowman

Glue the body pieces stacked from largest to smallest, then add the hat at a slight angle. It’s totally fine if it sticks a little above the top — it adds charm.

Step 6: Add the face (simple + cute!)

For the nose, use scrap corrugated cardboard (yes — like Amazon box cardboard). Cut a small triangle and lightly round the end so it isn’t too sharp. For the eyes and mouth, use Wrought Iron paint, dot the eyes using the end of a paintbrush. Make a simple dotted smile Then glue the nose in place.

Step 7: Scarf + buttons + tag + finishing touches

This is the fun “personality” part.

Create a scarf using yarn (you can even mix two colors)
Glue the knot so it looks tied at the neck
Add buttons (matching or mismatched — mismatched is adorable and quirky)
Add a printable tag (“Snow Day” in the video is from my Printable Nest design library), crinkle it, and antique it using the same brown wax
Add a little natural detail at the top of the hat (greenery/twig-like accent)

And then… you’ve got a snowman with real character. I hope you’ll create one of your own! He’s just too cute!

Video 2, Project 2: Rustic Shim Snowflake

A layered snowflake made from 15″ shims with a paint-wash stain + dry brushing

crafts with wood shims - rustic shim snowflake

If you love rustic winter décor, this snowflake is going to make you happy. It’s imperfect in the best way — rough wood, uneven edges, cozy finish.

Step 1: Build the snowflake base

Use several 15-inch shims. Create 3 main pieces that form the base shape (like an “X” plus one more layer), aiming for fairly even gaps so it reads as a snowflake.

Why build before painting: Bare-wood-to-bare-wood contact holds better than gluing over paint. But of course you can try it any way that you would like.

Step 2: Cut the small end pieces

You’ll need little “feature” pieces for the ends:

Cut pieces around 2¾ inches long
You need two pieces per end, stacked into a “V” shape
Avoid the super thin ends of shims if possible (they split easier)

Step 3: Glue the end pieces on

Hot glue makes this fast. Place each “V” about 1–1½ inches down from the end, leaving a small gap at the tip for that snowflake look. It doesn’t have to be perfect — the rustic charm is part of it.

Step 4: Stain using a paint-wash technique

This is the same cozy method used on the shim star in Part 1:

Pour Fudgesicle chalk paint onto a plate
Mist with water
Mix into a wash
Brush it over the snowflake
Wipe back lightly if you want more wood showing

Paint the back too if you want it fully finished.

Step 5: Dry brush with white

Once dry, dry brush using Vintage White. Tip: Start light. You can always add more, but it’s hard to undo heavy dry brushing.

Step 6: Sand the edges for a weathered look

Light sanding dulls the “fresh paint” feel and makes it look authentically worn and vintage.

Step 7: Add the center embellishment (with a riser hack)

If your center embellishment is curved or doesn’t sit flat, here’s the trick:

Fold a small piece of cardboard into a thicker “riser”
Dry brush it white so it blends in
Glue it in the center
Glue greenery on top
Then attach your rusty snowflake embellishment

Those little finishing touches make the whole piece feel complete.

Which one would you make first?

Aren’t these the most fun projects ever? I love how a simple pack of wood shims can turn into something that looks so cozy, rustic, and honestly kind of impressive when it’s finished. If you try any of these projects, I’d love to hear which project you made first (and what paint colors or little embellishments you used to make it your own).

The tree is perfect for making “sets,” and the star is one of those statement pieces that looks good almost anywhere. The snowman is such a fun “trust the process” craft with layers and texture… and the snowflake is the kind of rustic winter piece that looks good almost anywhere.

YouTube PlayList

You can see both of these videos AND the other two videos in this Shims Series HERE

And you can read the DIY Rustic Valentine’s Sign and Arrow post and the DIY Rustic Everyday Crafts with Shims post.

Creative Nest

Two of these projects were first made within my Creative Nest membership group this last year, and you can see what we did together here:

christmas trees made from shims — Variations on the Shim Christmas Trees

patriotic star made from shims — A Patriotic Star, instead of a Christmas Star!

Every MONTH, my Creative Nest members get exclusive weekly project ideas & technique tutorials, zoom craft alongs, guest masterclasses and MORE. They often get projects up to a whole YEAR before I share online for the general public, so if you like to get the first look, and are looking to connect with some friendly crafty women, consider joining my Creative Nest!