Well I think I've officially run myself dry on the paper roll obsession. I've also run out of paper rolls, so that helps.
This time, I put together something a little less whimsical -- an old twisted oak tree for the wall. This is actually version number one (aka my trial version) as I intend to make another one about 3 feet tall. This one is only about 18", but the process will be basically the same.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyGN9foItNLwegdvI1iUjxFmiDXJPDOpwmaoR3_1q4Lb8mUNiqH2CjZV1TmYR7YGviV9bsUSBBHV2VCa6DzjeqzL_US_PZxUq6LCbEr1b-JLKcNEeQ-uWanmtsJP2ih9rrbo49bqk0kI/s400/paper_roll_tree_6.jpg)
Obviously, the paper rolls were used for the leaves, and I also used paper grocery bags for the trunk. Follow along and I'll show you how...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrr5cfyVUlcyRszWZyHAxCFAKa_956xor3Qr4ZidpdFSyFGFEkXjd0d2XjY0BwTLqA91BrVTjmKmRTr5lwK2u8exy_PazxSOhqKabRO1tYcHnSPxgG8QqIFWz6uo4XoM7vtnYuZMNTUWM/s400/paper_roll_tree_1.jpg)
Begin by cutting a grocery bag into strips about 6" wide. Dip the strips in water and let them soak for a few minutes. Remove them from the water and let them drip. Then, starting from one corner, begin twisting the strips tightly.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyB_2A2rHb4oXVcWbK4mb4BcdHblK6n27miQzUJFE0vxJH-LltAGtpPdv8_MDsoF4SR9Ft8fCHwKxloKPHAMguSoafAvuML7nQFHqW4b12xSVCIG9ryONgYYo9Ao-sRLdTI8rZ7JRlxI/s400/paper_roll_tree_2.jpg)
Align the strips into a bundle, then begin arranging the roots and branches. I placed mine on an old bulletin board and pinned the branches and roots in place until they dried. Drying took a good 24 hours (which was tough for me because I'm just not a very patient person!)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglX8n5FT1Cc8kKvWE1Q9ZOjjJlWx0Nt9toRkTJ20nY2VA-HoTzBD6RnisunSQWfkMHlQeygbi8eonL3weOSQLLhW8LP2VJtupru6WRds1OWO7Nc7izglSCvYpRw5IwdxGlyWRtNVxcgJY/s400/paper_roll_tree_3.jpg)
Once dry, the branches and roots are very stiff. However, if you decide to make a particularly large version, you can incorporate some additional support by including a piece of wire while twisting the strips. After they dried, I just glued them together.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUW_FZ9-oLuLxl0yt8KgKP8IY5RaqQVpJMtNMoz3Vuz7iqoqbzGPi22e9BU7-d1ykdm0q-RGK1X0oEINE9FHVRTN8b9QJglVsm0QPS8nGDaWQJ9JS9JsDpaqoqwDnZc2rGk4i_BIYrk_s/s400/paper_roll_tree_4.jpg)
The branches and roots can still be shaped a bit. I have a few protruding from the front to create a 3-dimensional effect.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvk38IOrPb79Pr4Zjz2sgXiObu_D6grhdYZHF7rB1WNjmrqzdr6b0-YBeZQf9MbNYin9DwDkHBk-7hTeu2_yyXk-Y84_JiiJ8X6qtIIiHXGQON74DnE3Tmsgdvl433Ur4ZMwpCQCOWKec/s400/paper_roll_tree_5.jpg)
Since this was my trial version, I wasn't being particularly careful about the printing on the grocery bags, and I ended up with some of the print showing. I also discovered that different bags ended up having a different color when dry. So I decided to coat the trunk with a layer of stain to make it all blend better.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-RjgyYn_w8Q6Mhe2YxDODsWXrwMJXAP5razn6j6RQ8Yv1vRg-IMO6rNOmUg3tyevzu6LF_BaZu0wJEjTtckagaICqt7ltVxCSV7XmmlSeu2W_weewNDOMOoJ7rmIrItwwG4fbjkTjII/s400/paper_roll_tree_6b.jpg)
When the stain dried, it was time to start applying the leaves. I lightly flattened my paper rolls and cut them into 1/2" strips. I thought about painting the leaves green, or a mixed of fall colors, but decided to leave that for version two. I applied the leaves to the branches in a random pattern, making sure to continue the 3-dimensional design.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyGN9foItNLwegdvI1iUjxFmiDXJPDOpwmaoR3_1q4Lb8mUNiqH2CjZV1TmYR7YGviV9bsUSBBHV2VCa6DzjeqzL_US_PZxUq6LCbEr1b-JLKcNEeQ-uWanmtsJP2ih9rrbo49bqk0kI/s400/paper_roll_tree_6.jpg)
There you have it! Not bad for a trial, I think.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL55Nk3nZmE-VhsdGeJoj7eZCT6X4yT-scEn_UPNnzjkPSlrQJJYXgizMvQdBPO5hRI1l3PtUfm9l3rqAffwRWbYMb0w0D7bF60Y72ZKeHXWd1aOoAHr7RYmeDtRtvRgy31YNhjjRf160/s400/paper_roll_tree_7.jpg)
For my larger version, I think I'll proportion the branches a little bigger than the roots. Plus, it would probably be good to add the wire inserts, just in case the limbs start to droop after a little time. And I'd love to experiment with different leaf colors. I suspect coloring the roll before cutting them is the way to go for that.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdUlJTz8PnZxVJii_tAavNxCzG6OQe-fKOKpMzach3fLIBujI_HqEbS9DiXTCVt7KhlAjjPpwn8mZwF2K7EUFt-03ljaEMwMH8XNx3W71Apgr9pF6JnUHJ2d6ajwylh53pKsD2jt7xOs/s400/paper_roll_tree_8.jpg)
This is really quite easy to do, and super inexpensive! The hardest part for me was waiting for the wet paper to dry.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxlEP0vvt273SXh8gSlWYCM4QUgZI6RqD86XE3QoAM4DtiHI27yM3UpFdG-YEjoqAAD_7n7VgWFXocFnLVTP65CeW9mhhrKm1gGXEhm657pUZDNwj5Y3WLT8FQf2mdCvrZLDIb1NCIEQ/s400/paper_roll_tree_9.jpg)
What do you think? Let me know if you give this a try!
And be sure to check out the endless list of inspirational ideas at my home page
childmade.com.![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_ssM9Af8_1IHVwdOauSJmDaSM72nmv-ZkAdqIrzei_y8i3HeNqFyrGoO8OW_ghRJt8XOdmETUY8wzZOMnW3ottW4QV8Qd5sbA8XwgA9R359IC1SKnGguzB4skusIg=s0-d)
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