Astar's Craft: Tree Table Toppers
With Astar
Tree Table Toppers or Vintage Inspired Miniature Trees from Recycled Materials
These trees are fantastic if you are not into the ladder trees I did last week or traditional trees, and you just want a token piece of Christmas to decorate a table.
Materials - all available from Spotlight
Decofoam cone (Code SCO7769)- 250mm high x 3
Decofoam cube (SCU 7790) x 3
1 x piece of doweling in a width to suit
+ hand-saw to cut into lengths of about 10 or 12 cm
Acrylic water colour - white to paint above dowelling
Craft glue to fixing cone to foam cube base
Selection of wool/cotton balls& I used: Moda Vera flurry + jazz
+ wisp + cotton knit all in white
White and pearl mini glass Christmas ornaments or
buttons/beads
Optional - silver leaf braid
Pretty patterned paper or fabric to cover base cube.
Pearl headed pin for fixing wool and fabric to foam cone tree.
Method
I have this little design rule which goes along these
lines
"One on its own is lonely, two is interesting but three is visually
stimulating to the eye..." - especially when working with smaller
projects/objects. A cluster or group of these trees in the
centre of a table would look stunning along with a few various
sized white candles.
Or make them as gifts and give them away before Christmas.
Or for those living in small spaces - they don't take up much
room.
Once you have cut doweling to desired length, paint and allow to
completely dry.
You could either paint the base cube or cover it in a paper or
fabric of your choice.
Glue wool/fabric into manageable lengths, then starting at the
base, wind wool to cover cone.
Use the heavier textured wool/fabric on the base and work towards
lighter and finer texture as your top layers.
Don't be fussy with you coverage, just ensure it is firm.
Finish off with a layer of silver leaf braid, then fix into place
if desired, small glass Christmas ornaments or dress with buttons
glued into place along with beads of your choice.
If you have a small sparkly star, fix to top of tree.
To assemble (which I would do before fixing
ornaments)
Push a hole into the base cube, then insert painted or
covered doweling. Glue into place, then repeat into base of
covered cone.
(Broadcast 20 November 2012)
