Where to begin with this project?! It definitely involves punching LOTS of paper with the Tree Punch (page 24 in the HC). How many trees? What is the best way to apply the trees to the tree form? Start at the top or the bottom? Where to overlap and how many rows? So many factors to consider.
Applying Tree Punch Images to the Tree Cone
I purchased a 14″ (height) paper mache cone from a nearby craft store. Its diameter at the bottom is 5″. The image cut by the tree punch is 2-1/2″ x 1-1/2″. Using a piece of 12″ x 12″ designer series paper, you can punch 32 total trees per designer sheet.
Next experiment with adhesive and placement of the trees at the bottom of the cone. Glue dots work ok. The glue gun gives a tight hold to the form but be careful to not stray fingers from the upside down tree trunk. Tombow glue would probably be too time consuming waiting for the glue to take hold. Try several patterns for tree placement in order to obtain sufficient coverage. Here's what actually worked for her.
*Sixteen trees per row for the first six rows (remember we are starting at the bottom!). The seventh and eighth rows contained 8 trees each. After that place trees as needed to fill the top surface of the cone.
*A total of 155 tree images were punched. Using cardstock for this tree, it will take 5 sheets. Each piece was cut lengthwise at 3″ and 6″. You can punch 12 trees from each 3″ piece by alternating the punched images. (Note: earlier in this post I mentioned that you can obtain 32 punched trees from a sheet of 12″ x 12″ paper. If you use the alternating punch pattern shown on the left, you can actually obtain more than 32 trees per sheet.) The remaining 2-1/2″ piece yielded 7 punched trees.
*Sticky strip was used as a placement guide for the initial six rows. Since the punched trees overlap as you work left to right around the tree form, only the top right side adheres to the sticky strip. Glue dots held the top left side in place. Remaining rows had Sticky strip applied to each punched tree image.
FIRST ROW: Measure up 2″ on the cone, draw your line, and apply sticky strip so the top of the tape rests at the 2″ mark.
Place trees so that the left point reaches the right edge of the tree trunk. Press right point onto sticky strip and apply a glue dot to the opposite side to adhere each tree image onto the previously placed tree image.
The following 3 rows (Rows 2,3 & 4) are measured 1″ above the last row. When working on these rows, be sure the punched tree point is aligned with the point left by the row underneath in addition to lining up the top right side with your pencil markings.
Row 5 is measured 7/8″ up from the preceding penciled line. Row 6 is measured 3/4″ up from the preceding penciled line.
Can you see the pattern so far? After six rows it takes fewer trees per row needed to be applied. So starting with row 7, each succeeding row penciled at 3/4″ above the proceeding row and the number of trees went from 16 to 8 trees.
On row 7, a tree is applied every OTHER intersection. Don’t worry about the “holes” peeking through… they will be covered on the next row.
Can you see the trees applied to every other point?
Only on row 7 were the trees added on every other point. Row 8 continues the initial pattern only with 8 trees instead of 16. Remaining rows have trees added as necessary for coverage until the top point of the cone is covered by 3 tree trunks. Now the real fun begins…
Decorating the Tree
Depending on what DSP you want to use, of course just coordinate with similar cardstock color.... example using Pear Pizzazz card stock for the tree punch images, stay with the All is Calm DSP and accessories.
- Burlap ribbon was added to the bottom of the tree to hide the paper mache cone.
- 5/8″ circles were cut from the All is Calm designer series paper and sewn together to make one long garland.
- All is Calm Snowflake Embellishments were added using glue dots.
- Frosted Sequins were added randomly as were Rhinestone Jewels.
- Lost Lagoon and Silver Trim ribbons were added to the top and allowed to dangle from the top. (Hint: adhere thin wire between these two ribbons to form a single ribbon that can be formed however you wish!)
- Cut 2 pieces of All is Calm DSP with the 3rd largest star framelit, adhere back to front with glue dots at each point and form an opening in the bottom to insert over the tree top. The Snowflake on top of the star is part of the Snowflake Card Thinlits Dies and was cut from Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper.
Once you make the first one,
it will be a piece of cake to do more…
right!?
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