I found this tutorial several years ago - I can't remember who originally did this, unfortunately, so I can't credit the source. This tutorial is my take on the original one that I found online.
Supplies needed:
* 1/8 or 3/8" round dowel or skewers (If you do not have round skewers, there are other options. You can use a square dowel. On starting this project, I couldn't find my skewers. So I simply cut 2 strips of a popsicle stick at 3/8" wide and stuck them together. No glue necessary, as it'll be wrapped with the pipe cleaners.)
*Package of pipe cleaners - the style and color is up to you! How many is also up to the size and fullness of the tree you choose to make. For my project, I used around 10 or so, so make sure you have plenty on hand in case of mistakes.
*Scissors to cut the pipe cleaner and dowel, or if needed, a small saw to saw the dowel/skewer (scissors have always worked for me.)
*A base for your tree - you can use those small wooden unpainted pots or you can cut up popsicle sticks and make your own square base
Step One:
Measure the space you intend to put your tree. This is important as the first tree I ever made was actually too tall and wide for the intended space. It bummed me out as that is still the best tree I have ever made! Write down the height you will need for your completed tree, keeping in mind both the base and a potential tree topper. Also write down the width you will need - you can make the tree as narrow or as full as you want to!
My Project measurements: Height 4 1/2" Width 2 1/2"
Step Two: Cut your dowel about 1 1/2" shorter than your full intended height. This will include the end that will be glued down into your base.
My Project measurement of dowel: 3" (tree will be 4 1/2")
Step Three:
This is where the fun begins! You will start at the end of your dowel - this will be the bottom edge of your tree. Take a pipe cleaner and neatly wrap the dowel all the way up - don't overlap the pipe cleaner and make sure the wraps are closely together, without any gaps. Leave any length left over from wrapping hanging lose. You will need that later. With mine, the remaining bit of pipe cleaner ended up being the exact length that I needed - 4 1/2" tall.
Step Four:
Now comes the branches! Calculate how much space you will need at the bottom for the pipe cleaner wrapped dowel to go into your base. You don't want to start the branches too soon and not have enough space for the dowel to go into the base. I intended to start adding the branches 1" from the bottom, but I ended up leaving only about 3/4" length to go into the base. I'll make it work.
Remember, you are starting at the bottom and going up!
Now, keeping in mind the width you have measured out for the fullness you want for your tree, you will take a pipe cleaner and cut it 3/4" wider than your intended fullness. My tree will be 2 1/2" wide, therefor I cut 3 pieces of pipe cleaner 3 1/4" long.
Once you cut your pipe cleaner (from here on out, this will be called PC) wrap it around the dowel centering the piece in order to form 2 branches on either side. Only wrap the PC once - it isn't necessary to wrap it more than once and you don't want it bulky. Add the 2 and 3rd piece in the same manner, putting each one directly above the previous one. Don't stack them.
Step Five:
Creating the detail on the branches. This is where is gets really fun! First cut 6 1 1/2" pieces of PC. Twist each one about 1/2" from the end of each of the branches you just made. This gives your tree a look of realism.
Step 6: This is your second row of branches. Do this exactly how you did your first row. 3 pieces of PC 3 1/4" long. Twist these around your dowel, about 1/4 - 1/3" above your last row.
Once you have created 6 more branches, add the branch detailing in the same way. 6 pieces of 1 1/2" pieces of PC twisted 1/2" from the end of your branches.
Step Seven: Now you are adding your 3rd row of branches. These need to be 1/4" narrower than the bottom 2 rows. Cut 3 pieces of PC 3" long. Add them the same way, and then put the detailing on with 6 pieces of PC cut at 1 1/2", one on each of your branches.
Step Eight: Row 4 is exactly the same. 3 pieces cut to 3." Again, cut 6 pieces at 1 1/2" to add the detailing. This is LAST row to have 3 pieces of PC making 6 branches.
Step Nine: Before we add any more rows of branches, we need to address the top section of the tree. Remember how you left the remaining bit of PC hanging after wrapping your dowel? We need to reinforce this with an additional piece of PC in order to make it strong enough to hold the branches.
Take your additional PC and twist it into place at the very end of the dowel, right before the remaining piece hangs off. Twist it around all the way to the end of the dangling piece of PC, and then cut off the extra. Now it's strong enough to hold the branches that you will be adding!
With my above example, the height of the dangling piece of PC that I just reinforced gave me the full intended 4 1/2." You might need to add more height, and if you need to, you will do so when you are reinforcing the dangling PC. My example here will be if you need to add another half an inch. Go through the steps exactly as I outlined above, but do NOT cut the additional piece of PC that you are reinforcing the dangling PC with once you reach the end of it (the dangling piece.) You need to go a half an inch BEYOND where it ends. Once you do that, bend your PC at that half inch point and then begin twisting it, going all the way back down to dowel, twisting this piece all the way back down and securing it back onto the dowel. Cut off any extra.
Step 10: This will be your 5th row of branches. Cut 2 pieces of PC at 2 3/4." You will only be twisting these pieces around your dowel to make 4 branches. Then cut the 4 pieces of branch detailing at 1."
Step 11: This is your final row. Cut 2 pieces at 2" and twist them around to make your final 4 branches. Add the 4 pieces of branch detailing cut at 1."
And you are done!
Once you are done, you will most likely need to "straighten up" your branches. You might need to pull a branch here and there a little to the side to make them lie more uniform. I also like to curl my branches up just a little bit, just like I would do setting up my real life fake Christmas tree. :)
As you follow along the instructions, keep a watch to make sure the spacing works well for the tree height you are making. If you make your tree any taller, you might need to add more rows of branches. If you make your's shorter than 4 1/2" tall, you won't need as many rows.
This is a simple and quite fun project that you can modify for whatever tree project you might have in mind! You can make Christmas trees, you can make Halloween trees, Easter trees....Whatever you can imagine!
