How to make a Paper Mâché Tree

This is a step by step video showing how to make a tree using paper mâché and cardboard. I made this giving tree for a direct donation campaign at my son's elementary school, each family that donates money to the school gets a leaf attached to the tree. But this tree can also be great as spooky decoration for Halloween!

[@suzannebodger2009]

This is exactly what I need for a Halloween decoration this year. I am so excited to get started on this project. Thank you for the excellent step-by-step instructions.

[@dolcex2]

Thank you so much. I need this for this year’s Christmas play.

[@stevespringsted3295]

Thank you for the excellent example. It is not only helpful but enjoyable listening to cool piano vibe.

[@danielleh8003]

The music is a nice touch, Thank u for sharing this with us!

[@snuzzlly]

Brilliant! I'm going to do this for my son's camping themed room.

[@greenarts6677]

+Sarah Tapia (Busy Mom, Happy Mom) That'll be great! Would love to see a picture when you're done!!

[@rockyourgirlpower]

Omggggg this is so helpful! Thank you.

[@averyspillane9721]

I am going to make this for a safari/jungle themed bedroom...thanks for the How to Do video.

[@greenarts6677]

That sound like a wonderful Idea! To bad we can't post pics here. If you Instagram or pinster, post link here, I'd love to see it when it's done!

[@angelicblessings2807]

BEAUTIFUL, I LOVE IT! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE IDEA; I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF DOING A JUNGLE THEME FOR MY LITTLE GUY IN HIS ROOM. I WILL DEFINITELY FOLLOW YOUR TREE PATTERN (LOVE IT!) HIS TREE WILL BE ALOT BIGGER, BRANCHES WILL CONTINUE UP CEILING & HIS WILL HAVE JUNGLE LEAVES DROPPING FROM CEILING BRANCHES & VINES BUT I LOVE YOUR TREE PATTERN / OWL; CAME OUT BEAUTIFULLY! THANKS AGAIN

[@greenarts6677]

Jahnid, wow that sound awesome!! I want a jungle bedroom too. LOL

[@lynnettepaolucci6688]

Hi there, this is exactly what I am doing. Do u have any advice on adding the branches on the ceiling??

[@RafaelNogueras-e6j]

FABULOUS

[@Yaoiloverel]

Really cool tree. Gave me an ideal of making one as a family tree.

[@greenarts6677]

That's a wonderful idea!

[@Beachlife2003]

Just finished mine for my daughter's 8th grade dance. The theme is Enchanted Forest! Your tutorial is fantastic and it came out really great! Thank you so much for sharing! It is going against a metal door. I assume duck tape will hold it!

[@Mayasoflya]

Wow, that's awesome! Yes as long as it's not too big or heavy, duct (duck) tape should work fine. Good luck! Cheers Maya

[@pamhanson03]

Thank you so much for this tutorial as it was EXACTLY what I was looking for. Ran a bit short of time but made the tree the day of my friend's Mat Hatter's Party. I am using an owl but also will have the cheshire cat on one of my branches as well as two signs "SNUD" and "QUEAST" (no idea what they mean but they were the directions in the Alice In Wonderland movie.) I hadn't used paper mache since grade school so was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to work with and it did indeed look like bark!

[@greenarts6677]

Pam, that's awesome! Thank you for sharing, I love the Cheshire cat addition!! I wish there was some way you could posts a photo. Cheers, Maya

[@davidholman48]

Really beautiful! Great ideas! Thanks for posting.

[@Mayasoflya]

Thanks!

[@sarbarilahiri2197]

Amazing piece of work. Being inspired Even at this age.

[@inka3949]

Absolutely FANTASTIC!!!! Thank you so much!

[@greenarts6677]

Thank you for watching!

[@808hlvn]

Excellent!

[@mariabalmont662]

Wow, thank you for sharing, I'm going to make this as part of my uni project.

[@barryparks4689]

Looks great

[@esthergarza4990]

Incredible! Love it!!

[@MercedesGoVroom]

What did you use to put it up on the wall?

[@leannethormahlen4252]

Great video! I learned a lot from it, thank you. Loved the music too. May I ask who the artist is of this piano jazz song?

[@Mayasoflya]

Leanne Thormahlen thanks. The music was a freebie from apple’s iMovie library.

[@DeAnnLucero]

How do I get recipe for mache? I subscribed

[@seancostello4693]

what paint colors did you use?

[@Mayasoflya]

The tree is the color of the butcher paper I used.

[@bostonbeauty10]

Made this today...your tree looks shiner than mine. Did you spray something on it?

[@Mayasoflya]

Hi Shelly, no I didn't spray it, but that doesn't mean you can't. Actually that would be a good way to seal it. Cheers Maya

[@olgamendoza9604]

hello, thanks for sharing, nice tree, In the video say if I subscribe I can get the recipe for the white glue?

[@Mayasoflya]

Olga, thank you, the recipe and video for the paper mâché paste is on my KZbin page. So go to my youtube page and scroll through the videos until you find the “how to make paper mâché” video. The written recipe is also in the Description below that video. I hope this helped.

[@4eversteena]

Tyfs! Great job

[@prataprabha8517]

Thnk u vry much mam....i was looking fr this kind of video 2 decorate my room....

[@niccolejimenez]

This is fantastic, thanks for the great tutorial!

[@tumbleweed1014]

what are the dimensions of the tree?

[@tessfurnari]

Hi, this looks wonderful! Just wondering how long (altogether) it takes to make? I need a tree in one week, do you think this would be enough time? Thanks.

[@greenarts6677]

Yes, totally doable. 👍 I made the tree in one day, it took an additional day to dry.

[@tessfurnari]

+Green Arts Oh fantastic! Thanks so much for your reply :)

[@shruthimahendrakar]

this is so good and creative

[@greenarts6677]

shruti thank you!

[@thecc1174]

If you are a frequent Amazon shopper, you can save all the brown paper packing that comes with a lot of boxes. That paper seems less stiff and easier to work with than the rolls of paper. Plus they are already cut and crumpled for you! :)

[@greenarts6677]

TheC C great point!! Excellent use of that packing paper.

[@haydenquinn8080]

Hello, thank you for this wonderful video. I was wondering is there away to adhere the tree to a classroom door/wall?

[@greenarts6677]

Latarsha Everett good question. There are a couple ways you could attach to wall or a door. 1) use small finish nails with a head, the hole will be small like a push pin but the nail will be longer to go through the cardboard tree. Or 2) you could use double side foam tape, but if you do that make sure you put that blue painters tape on the wall first. That will help when you want to take the tree down the double sick tape is so strong sometimes it’ll take the paint with it.

[@cathepar]

Excellent how you made the glue ?

[@greenarts6677]

Cathyk Par kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGGZiJV6a5udr6c

[@carmenroupp653]

ok I am sold , wow you make it look so easy to make -so I will try it and see how I do at it . great video

[@shondarutland4575]

If you were going to add leaves, how would you go about doing it?

[@greenarts6677]

Hi Shonda, good question. A Quick way to add leaves to a tree like this is, once the tree is completed and dried you can crumble up green tissue (or color of your choice) brush some Elmers glue onto the branches where you want the leaves and press it on. For a more detailed tree you can cut out individual leaves from green paper (or color of your choice) and tack them on with hot glue, putting a dab of hot glue and pressing the tip of the leaf on to the glue. Build up the leaves on the tree by repeating this until the tree looks like you want. Good luck! Maya

[@cyndiquach9200]

What's the density of the paper that you used? Would it be a 30# or 40#?

[@greenarts6677]

+Cyndi Quach I used butcher paper off a large roll, I'm not sure what weight it is, but it's thinner then 24lb. printer paper, and when I hold it up to the light, it shines through. I'm sure a heavier weight paper would work as well, you would just need to put more paper mâché on it to make it as malleable as the thinner paper, and it will take a bit longer to dry. I hoped that helps a bit.

[@901memphisdiva]

how long did it take to dry and how did you mount it

[@greenarts6677]

Drying time really just depends on the environment. If it's a rainy day it might take longer. I live in California so it's pretty dry here in general. I let this dry a day or so. As far as mounting it, if you are mounting it to a wall, I'd use long finishing nails with a flat head on it, long enough to go through the tree and have an inch or more left to go into the wall. Hammer nails in at an angle for a better hold. I hope this was helpful. Cheers Maya

[@chamie2900]

how can i get the recipe of paper mache?

[@Mayasoflya]

Bichamie Sanglay subscribe to my channel, it’s there.

[@numailabapidi4269]

Wow really fantastic😘😘😘

[@Sonumalik9]

GREAT TREE.Thank you.26.4.18

[@vilvetramsey7348]

Thanks for the 💡 idea

[@greenarts6677]

Your welcome! 👍 Maya

[@greenarts6677]

Thanks!

[@dristiramkisson3909]

This is so cool. It's amazing

[@jackiclark5262]

Fabulous!!

[@stevanyyvone]

How do you attach it on the wall?

[@greenarts6677]

You can attach it to the wall with some finish nails , make sure to nail them in at an angle for a better hold.

[@stevanyyvone]

Thank you.

[@rosairene7494]

what is the recipe for paper mache ? Thank you !!

[@greenarts6677]

Hi Rosa, if you subscribe to my KZbin page you will find a video on "how to make papier-mâché" and I have the full recipe written in the notes below the video. Thanks for watching! Maya

[@greenarts6677]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGGZiJV6a5udr6c

[@brittiniwall8628]

what editor do you use?

[@greenarts6677]

+Britt bug I edited it on iMovie.

[@brittiniwall8628]

Ok thank you very much

[@morganaldrete280]

Where did you get the big piece of cardboard

[@greenarts6677]

Morgan Taylor we happen to have a large box, but you can always buy one at a moving box store. Good luck, Maya

[@Ari-qo6qo]

how did you do the owl?need tuto lol

[@greenarts6677]

Lol, I get you. Cute isn't he? I'll be posting a video soon. Thanks for watching. Meanwhile if there is a specific question you have maybe I could answer it. Cheers Maya

[@Ari-qo6qo]

it is! am trying to do something similar for my class but its a bird that talks a lot the Magpie,she would like have the bec wild open instead of the owl but thought could follow your sheme on your bird to get to it am not good at artcraft at all lol

[@greenarts6677]

I just looked up the bird and had a few ideas how you could make it. When do you need it by?

[@Ari-qo6qo]

o really?? your help will be awesome! would need it in about 2 weeks

[@greenarts6677]

Okay, stand by. I'll let you know what I come up with in a day or two. 👍

[@patriciamallari2090]

Looks gorgeous- thank you for the tutorial. What is the paper Mache recipe? (I am subscribed). TIA :)

[@greenarts6677]

Hi Patricia, the recipe is on my channel, here is the link. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGGZiJV6a5udr6c

[@stardaddyo9]

Gonna do this Halloween 2019

[@mozhganhabibvand7717]

Excellent

[@anayoduru5147]

amazing

[@bhumikalakra3755]

very useful

[@samuri22]

awesome! Could you please message me with the recipie so that I can try to make this tree for my classroom

[@greenarts6677]

Here is my video on how to make papier-mâché. I believe I have the recipe written out in the notes below the video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGGZiJV6a5udr6c Good luck! Maya

[@lorarussell5643]

Green Arts

[@sarahhall1304]

How to create a halloween figur e base

[@racopaolo2]

Great video. But when you think about it, a real tree was cut down to make a fake one. Very helpful though =)

[@greenarts6677]

Rafael, you are so right. 🙁

[@SouthernGypsyFire]

But a great way to recycle

[@crystaljackson2454]

amazing I hope my art tree turns out has good has yours

[@greenarts6677]

+Crystal Jackson Thanks! you'd be surprise how easy it is. Good luck!

[@manhajan5008]

nice

[@nytekorelegacy7200]

I'm gunna make a large scale one the size of my wall I already have the vase of it

[@nytekorelegacy7200]

base*

[@greenarts6677]

+NyteKore Legacy THAT'S AWESOME. Would love to see a pic when you are finished.

[@nytekorelegacy7200]

+Green Arts I'll probably post a video I'll use it for storing my art supplies, hanging my shelves, hiding important objects, posting pictures or art work, and I'll hang oil lamps made of light bulbs all over the branches. I could also carve small holes which I'll slip flower pots in and grow my herbs.

[@nytekorelegacy7200]

+Green Arts I'll fill the hollow stump with gravel or stones so the whole thing won't fall over. the smaller branches holding up the oil lamps will be made out of old wire clothes hangers so there's no chance the tree with catch on fire

[@nytekorelegacy7200]

+Green Arts it's great cuz when a holiday is coming around, I don't have to spend a fortune on Halloween decor or a Christmas tree

[@elbamendozarosas1022]

Que es lo que le impregana

[@elbamendozarosas1022]

Engrudo

[@greenarts6677]

Elbamendoza Rosas, i'm not sure what you were saying but if you want to know how to make a papier-mâché paste here's the recipe. Thank you for watching. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGGZiJV6a5udr6c

[@tauceti8341]

waow

[@valerieescobedo9049]

can you make a great horned owl

[@greenarts6677]

Hi Valerie, maybe this will help. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hV7ZgGOwntmpg9E Maya

[@allandocater6296]

Just go to woodprix website if you want to know how to make it yourself.

[@claudiar8656]

Thank you so much for this! This was exactly what I needed for my haunted tree! Here is a link if you want to take a look at my tree www.halloweenforum.com/halloween-props/200837-haunted-tree-reveal.html