Welcome!!
Hope it works out. Most carpet stores are happy to give the tubes away. They are just as durable as sonotubes, but free!
Too bad you are so far away since we happen to have about 60 in our possession!!
Good luck with your search.

You could do something similar to this tree I'm building.



Maybe you could modify it and make it to your budget.

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We got the tools... we got the talent, "It's Miller Time!"

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I am in the process of creating several trees in my apartment. They are 7' tall. I took 16 oz cup boxes (restaurant/cafeteria throw-aways) and opened them out. When fully extended they can be taped with masking tape to make them tall enough. I then take brown bags, tear them and glue to the joints to give it more stability. Bend the "tree" length-wise ( 2 or 3 sections); splice with another section, etc. to get them round enough using tape. The box folds will hold since they are now supported by the lengthwise folds. I use 4 sets bended in half (trapezoid shaped). They stand very secure but I am going to further secure them to footing boards on bottom. Just cover with torn up paper bags and paint!

I have done my limbs the same way and fitted them inside holes, taped the joint, etc. Takes a couple of days per tree but I have very little $$ invested and wouldn't be crushed if they became trash in November.

What about using pink or blue foam like we use for headstones?

It's pretty cheap, should be tall enough, and you can carve it to resemble bark. You could glue strips together to make your trunks round, then paint them.

Never thought about building foam for trees, just tombstones. I need to give that some thought. I was thinking about using the chicken wire/insulating foam route but haven't enough space in my apartment; it's too hot to build outside right now. Lots of good ideas out there.

Alucard.....that is awesome! Gave me great ideas for next year. I sat for HOURS looking for some black trees online few months back and everything I found that fit the need was sold out or way too expensive.

This one is definitely on the next "to do" list.

You can turn a 30 gallon plastic trash can upside down and drape burlap or a sheet over the top to make folds the resemble the tree surface. Then cover with PM or MMud. If it's a brown or black sheet - you may not even need the coating of MMud if you tape some poly fill stuffing to the can before draping. You would have a tall-ish base for a low creepy tree. Easy to stick branches in and creep it up with leaves and dollar store bags of moss and webs. It looks a bit goofy in the daylight - but at night - uplit - it's a cheap but fun stumpy tree.
I'll try and take a few pics of mine if the rain would stop....

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Let's Boo It Again in 2010! "In the Library - with the Candlestick. . ."

Hope you were able to come up with some ideas. The only thing I could think of was PVC and chicken wire, or maybe even make cardboard...you know like two tree pieces and slots to make it 3D when put together. But i think the others have come up with better ideas.

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"We accommodate the living, but who shall accommodate the dead?" ~ Blackbeard's Ghost

try carpet roll inners and cutout the branches with the boxes

Go by your local carpet store and ask if they have any carpet tubes. These are very sturdy cardboard and come in 12 ft on up lenghths.We cut them with a trim saw or circle saw to the lenghth we want. These are about 6-8 inches diameter tubes...Hope this helps.