How to Flock an Artifical Christmas Tree

You just bought an artificial Christmas tree and you heard to give the tree a more life-like feel to it, you should flock or frost the tree; however, you never heard of such a thing and you would like to know what it is, so you can create it. Let me first tell you what flocking or frosting a tree means. To flock a tree is to add a soft, white-like raised texture to the tree. The texture is a compound either store bought or home-made that is made to resemble the look of snow. A flocked tree will imitate the natural trees in the forest, mountains or where ever snow falls. Now that you know what flocking a tree means, let's move on to learn how to make that Christmas tree of you stand out and give you that natural look.

Items You Will Need:
Can of fake snow or home-made snow (flocking)
Small paint brush
Safety goggles and face mask
Old clothing
Gloves
Tree
Damp rag

Direction On How To Make Flocking (fake snow):
If you are not planning on buying your own flocking, here is the ingredient list you will need to make your own flocking at home.
1. 2/3 cup of starch
2. 2 cups of white soap flakes
3. Water
4. Blue food coloring

Directions On How To Flock A Tree:
Step One
If you have previously bought your artificial flocking in the aerosol can at the store, go ahead and skip to step two. In this step we will learn how to create home-made flocking. First, combine the starch and the snowflakes into a medium mixing bowl. Next, stir in 4 tablespoons of water, one tablespoon at a time. Third, mix until the flocking mixture has a thick, stiff like texture. Finally, add a drop of the blue food coloring one drop at a time until your mixture is glistening white.

Step Two
With the tree outside, and set securely either in a tree stand or the cleats of the tree, make sure it is on a flat, level surface. Make sure the day you are doing this is a non-windy day and no humidity. Add proper clothing, the old clothing won't get ruined if you get anything on it. Safety goggles and mask are in place too.

Step Three
First start with the top of the tree and spray with the aerosol flocking (fake snow) or or gently brush down and across the tops of the branches. Use a small coat first and then go back and more if needed. It is better to add then to have to remove any access flocking.

Step Four
Brush or spray your way down the rest of the tree. Remember, only put the flocking on the sides and the tops of the branches. If snow were to fall, it would never fall underneath a branch.

Step Five
Allow the tree to dry completely before moving it back into the house. If you have a garage, then it would be best to leave it out there over-night. If you do not have an outside shed to place the freshly flocked tree in, then make sure you do this procedure in the morning so the flocking dries before the night comes.

Step Six
Once the tree is completely dried, then carefully add your ornaments and tree trimmings to the tree. If placing an ornament on a flocked branch, make sure the ornament is not to heavy, because it will remove the flocking you worked so hard to put on.

Step Seven
If you want a more glistening affect, then add some glitter softly to the wet flocking before it dries. Softly sprinkle a clear or white glitter onto the branches.