Make a Twig Tree | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bringing Mother Nature Inside
We priced these charming table decorations and found they cost upwards of $20 for just the smallest trees. To make one yourself, the cost is minimal because the materials are provided by Mother Nature herself. The tree is a year-round decoration which can be decorated with miniature homemade paper ornaments hung from a string. For Easter, make colorful paper eggs to hang from its branches or for Halloween make tiny pumpkins and ghosts. At Christmas time, use mini-ornaments and candy, and add miniature lights. The tree is built using a straight tree branch as the trunk with branches and smaller diameter twigs nailed into the trunk to form its branches. This is a good do-it-together project for a team because while one person is nailing the branches to the tree trunk, the other worker can be holding the trunk steady and cutting twigs to size. This is also the type of project where you get to express your creativity. There is a cutting list but we encourage you to use it only as a guide. Make your tree out of any branches that are readily available. The base is made from pine lattice which is available at lumberyards and home centers. Cut the base A to length and then apply a bit of glue to the center of one base, then place the other part perpendicular to the first on the glue spot. Cut the feet B to size and apply glue to one side and install them under the top base leg. These feet hold the base level. Then check that here base parts cross at a 90 degree angle and place something heavy on the joint until the glue is dry. The tree trunk D is made from a branch about 3/4" diameter. The brace C are made form slightly smaller branches. Our tree is about 14" tall so we used a trunk about 10" tall and braces about 5" long. Cut the ends of the braces to a 45 degree angle so they will fit nicely against the base and trunk. Use a miter box if possible otherwise you can eyeball these cuts. The trunk is held to the base with glue and a 4d box nail driven through the center of the base into the bottom of the trunk. Apply a little glue to the end of the trunk before you nail it in place. The braces are installed with glue and 1" wire brads. It is easier to nail into the trunk if you place it on a firm work surface. As you install the braces and especially the branches, do the nailing with the trunk resting on the table and the base end supported by the helper. Nail through the braces into the trunk and into the base. If the brads come out the underside of the base bend over their points with your hammer. The branches are added from the base working towards the top. Start with the larger branches, trim then to rough size then start gluing and nailing them to the trunk. Once you get your system going, the branches will go on quickly. First, predrive a brad through the end of the branch, then add a few drops of glue to the point of the nail. Place the branch on the trunk, hold it in place and then drive the nail into the trunk. Turn the trunk a few degrees and start again. Work your way around the tree spiraling upwards towards the top. Stop occasionally and assess your work. You can trim the tree to a pleasing shape after it is all together, just check that you have not left any large bare spots. When you get within a couple of inches of the top glue and nail the small branches vertically to the trunk. Put the taller ones on first, then work outward. You can angle some of the outer branches away from the trunk to fill in any gaps between the last row of horizontal branches and the vertical top set. After all the branches are in place set the tree on its base and trim it with a pair of pruning sheers.
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