This Plaster of Paris Christmas tree is a nice craft to do on those snowy cold days when the kids are forced to be inside. Christmas is a time for fun and a time of giving, and some of the best gifts I have given were of the homemade variety. This particular craft was introduced to me by my fourth grade teacher. There are many variations on the end result and many ways to decorate this little tree, so it is easy to tailor it to the person who is receiving it.
What You Will Need:
White construction paper. (The best size would be 12 or 14 inches x 18 inches)
Scissors. Blunt children's scissors are fine.
Newspapers. Enough to cover your work area and a few extra.
Plaster of Paris. This is easily found in most crafts stores. Follow directions for use, and remember it dries quickly.
Small ornaments for your tree. Preferable the kind that have a stem on them for easy application.
Glitter, fabric, or any other decorations that you like.
Step One
First make a cone with the construction paper. This will be the shape of the Christmas tree, so you can play with the height and width that is most appealing to you; a good starting point is either a 12 -14 inch base (the widest part of the tree) and 16 - 18 inches tall.
To make the cone shape, draw a wide triangle, then change the bottom from a straight line to a curved shape. You may want to experiment using newspaper to get the shape right
Step Two
Put a line of white glue ( I use the quick drying kind) down one side of the paper triangle. Roll it into a cone shape and use a paper clip on the top and bottom to hold it together until the glue dries. Once that the glue has dried, make sure you lay out the newspaper or better yet, I do this outside just to make sure no plaster lands on anything that it should not be on.
Place your cone on the newspaper and have your ornaments and decorations laid out in close reach.
Step Three
Now make the plaster according to the directions. Once it is mixed well, begin to slowly pour the plaster over the cone. This will form the shape of your tree. I have also used a dull knife or plastic knife to add designs in the plaster or make little curls up out of the tree to add a different look. Just make sure you work fast.
Step Four
After you have the general shape of your tree and the plaster is starting to set up, start adding the decorations. You can press them into the plaster. This works well with those small balls you can buy, or small figures that you would hang in a tiny tree.
Final Step
After you have decorated your tree put it in a cool,dry place. Let it dry completely for 24-48 hours.
I have made these as gifts, for decor around my house, and let my kids make their own to put in their rooms. Be careful about how it is packed up after the holidays, these plaster Christmas trees are fragile. A good way to store the tree is to stuff the interior with news paper to help support it.
After you do your first one and get an idea of how it works you can get really creative and put tinsel or garland on your tree, maybe some fabric bows, etc. You can also tint the plaster with some food coloring, though I like the clean look of the white is very nice when the ornaments are colorful.
I place my tree on a bit of angel hair on a table in my living room and get loads of compliments on it. I sold them for a while to friends, as well. These little trees are a nice homemade touch to add to the joyous time of Christmas.