How to Make a Miniature Tree and Decorations

It is never too early to think how your miniature families will celebrate the holidays.

Finding A Nature Made Tree

Last September I'd found this lovely miniature tree sapling. I had gently picked it, transported it the four hour drive home, and let it sit for months to assure it was not going to turn brown on me. The good news was that it had dried nicely and had remained green. The bad news was that when I took it out, it broke and no longer resembled a tree.

You can seek out a little sapling yourself, but I'd recommend that you store it upside down so that the branches will hopefully lay the way you'd want them to dry. Check on it periodically and gently attempt to reshape it if needed. When the tree has dried and remained green for at least three months you can be assured it's set and ready to use.

Making A Tree Stand

Once you have your dried tree, the next order of business is to make a stand for it. There are two methods for doing this. The first is a bit more complex, but would by far resemble an actual stand better than the second method.

What You Will Need:

Popsicle (or craft) sticks
Glue
Small amount of tubing or a bugle bead with a wide opening

How To Make It:

1. Take your craft sticks and cut a small length (about an inch long should be sufficient unless you are working in a very small scale.) Cut another piece the same size as the first.

2. Lay the first piece of cut craft stick down on a flat, hard surface. Lay the second piece over the first forming an X shape. You can either cut the second craft stick so that it lies flat at either end of the first stick. Alternately, you can cut two smaller pieces to fit under the raised 'arm' of the X so that it can now lay flat.

3. Take your tubing or bead and check for a correct fit with your tree's 'trunk.' To do this, slide the tree 'trunk' through the tubing or the bead. You will want it to be snug with little to no slack. Once you've assured that the trunk fits through you may glue it to the center of the X shape. The tubing or bead should be tall enough to properly support and hold the tree in an upright position. The size of this will vary dependent on the size of your tree.

The second method isn't as official looking, but it's much easier and does the trick. You simply can forgo the entire stand construction and instead opt to use Model Magic (or any other air-dry clay.) Take a small amount of Model Magic and make a ball shape. Take your tree and stick the trunk into the clay. Add more clay as needed to keep your tree upright. This method might not look too pretty, but it can easily be obscured with miniature a decorative tree skirt.

Hints, Tips, and Ideas:

If you wish to, you may carefully drill a hole into the middle of the X for additional support. Glue the bead or tubing over the center of the drilled hole and insert your tree.

Decorating The Tree:

Garlands:

There are several options available to use or make as garlands to decorate both your tree and your doll house or room box.

Ball Chains:

Ball chains (like those used on dog tag necklaces) come in a variety of lengths, colors and shapes. All you need to do is to remove the connector at the end and cut to the desired length. Stores now carry ball chains in a variety of pastel shades as well as the traditional silver for making jewelry with.

Beaded Strings:

These are lengths of pre-strung beads in the bulk ribbon department of craft shops. The balls are about the perfect scale for miniature trees and you can have it cut in one continuous length for your tree.

Seed Beads:

Seed beads come in a variety of colors and are made of either glass or plastic. Simply choose your color and type and string them yourself. Tie off the ends with a small knot and place the ends at the back of the tree. Some stores might sell seed beads already pre strung. This simply eliminates the need to do it yourself.

Fimo and other Modeling Clays:

If you are rather handy with Fimo and modeling clays you can make popcorn and cranberry shaped beads and string them together for a classic garland. See this link for a tutorial on how to make miniature Fimo popcorn.

Thread:

Some threads come in thicker varieties and in shiny golds and silvers. You can also find embroidery threads in metallic greens and reds and more. These can be used alone as a garland or used to string a beaded garland or as a hanger for an ornament.

Ribbons:

Ribbons come in a variety of colors, textures and types. Some, like a narrow silky ribbon would make a lovely garland.

Cording:

Corded or braided ribbons are a great garland material. Many are thicker and stiffer with metallic tones. Some are even braided or twisted for a more authentic look.

Paper Chains:

Jane Harrop's book Finishing Touches shows us how to make adorable mini paper chains out of quilling papers.

Ornaments:

Jane Harrop's book Finishing Touches also includes tutorials for making a couple ornaments as well as an angel topper.

However, for those who are not interested in tracking down or buying books, I have created a few of my own tutorials as well as adding links to sites with some of their own ideas.

Felt Ornaments:

Felt might not be the fanciest fabric to use, but it's nice and easy to work with - especially in mini scales. It does not fray or unravel when cut. It also comes in prints, textures and glittered varieties.

What You Will Need:

Felt scraps
Glue (or thread if you will be sewing)
Ribbon, thread or bread ties
Stuffing (optional)

How To Make Them:

1. Take your felt scraps and cut out a holiday design or shape.
2. Glue or sew accents on them. If desired you can use fabric paints or sequins to decorate.

3. Take your thread, ribbon or bread tie (use the wire middle of the bread tie only) and make a loop or a hanger shape and attach to the top of the ornament.

If You Would Like To Make Them Stuffed:

Instead of cutting and decorating one design, cut and decorate two. It would be easiest to add any paint and sequins for the last step.

You can either sew them so that the seams don't show by sewing the wrong sides together and leaving a small opening to reverse the ornament. Once you have reversed the ornament right side out, stuff and sew the opening up. Alternately, you can sew them with the seams showing and trim around the seams with pinking scissors.

If you will be stuffing the ornaments, you will want to stuff lightly to avoid puckering and stress on your seams.

Use thin ribbon or embroidery thread to hang. Alternately you can make a wire hanger out of the inside of a bread tie. A portion of a paper clip could work as well. Just cut to size and bend into shape.

Star Tree Topper:

Confetti:

Confetti, like that found in the party and greeting card department of most stores can make a wonderful tree topper. Simply glue two star shaped confetti pieces together and nestle on the top of the tree. You could also glue it directly to the top of the tree, if you'd like.

Scrapbook Accents:

Some scrapbook paper accents make great tree toppers. Like the glittery stars shown in the photo. Glue two of those together and place on the top of the tree.

Tinsel:

If your family was anything like mine, you'll want some icicles or tinsel on the tree. Take a small amount of metallic nylon in the color that you want your tinsel to be. This fabric is really messy and frays easily. This is exactly what you will want, since the messy frayed pieces will be your tinsel. Simply pull off the ends and watch them unravel - instant tinsel! You may find that you will have to cut the pieces so that they are in scale with your tree.

Other Sites With Christmas Decorations:

A site with a tutorial for making wrapped gifts to place under the Christmas tree.

Christmas Paper plates and Cups printables

Cross stitch pattern for a miniature tree skirt

Cross stitch pattern for a miniature wreath

My Own Miniature Wreath Tutorial