[SpookyMuFu]

I dont know if this is the right place to ask this but........

I need help from the more crafty and imaginative people here.

I need 5-6 trees about 18"-2ft diameter and about 8ft tall, I just need the trunks, I dont need branches but for the life of me I cant find a cheap way to make these tree trunks. If I can get the form I can handle the detailing but the whole creation of the form has me stumped.

I have looked into cardboard but cannot get any cardboard boxes large enough for this. I thought about chicken wire but a roll long enough for this is around $50 and the wood supports for it would be another $1-$2 each.

I'm stumped.

I dont want 2D trees either, so no Spirit Halloween trees.

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[SpookyMuFu]

no ideas huh?

 

[MsMeeple]

Not sure if its what you are looking for but ghostess has a monster mud tree trunk how to on her site. You might be able to adapt it for your needs.

http://www.theghostess.com/

 

[brombones]

If durability or weight aren't a problem, paper mache might be you're best bet. You could also have pvc run up the center to plant them in the ground and to act as a frame.

 

[SpookyMuFu]

the only problem with the paper mache is the chicken wire required makes it cost prohibitive.

 

[SpookyMuFu]

MsMeeple, I'll check that out and see if it's possible to adapt to my garage haunt plans, thanks

 

[Anji4062]

Hmm.,..they wouldn't be as wide as you're asking for. But you might think about using the round concrete molds from a hardware store. They're only like 4 ft tall, but if you put 2 together it would give you the right height. But, by the time you get all 5-6 trees done you'd be back up there in the price. They're like $6 each. So you'd be paying out close to $80. The only good thing is that you wouldn't have to us a crapload of paper mache in order to build up your trees. lol

 

[SpookyMuFu]

hey Anji4062, I looked at those at Home depot first, the largest I saw was 12". That would actually be okay but like you said I would need 2 per tree and here they sell for $12 and change ea.......so yeah, it would be huge expensive.

I did have another thought today, I could get a few sheets of plywood and cut 8 2ft circles per sheet and then use 1x2 stringers as a frame and the circles as the base and top then wrap them in something and make "great stuff" bark and paint........still working out the economics of this option tho.

 

[Winklesun]

carpet tubes taped together to get required circumference then paper mache.
cheap.

 

[SpookyMuFu]

Winklesun, thats a good idea, I'll call a few carpet stores around here, thanks!

 

[Winklesun]

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.

 

[alucard]

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

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

 

[sbell2547]

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.

 

[13ghosts]

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.

 

[sbell2547]

Cheap trees

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.

 

[Brimstonewitch]

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.

 

[HallowSusieBoo]

Tree idea. . .

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....

 

[Si-cotik]

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.

 

[drewah]

I dont know if this is the right place to ask this but........

I need help from the more crafty and imaginative people here.

I need 5-6 trees about 18"-2ft diameter and about 8ft tall, I just need the trunks, I dont need branches but for the life of me I cant find a cheap way to make these tree trunks. If I can get the form I can handle the detailing but the whole creation of the form has me stumped.

I have looked into cardboard but cannot get any cardboard boxes large enough for this. I thought about chicken wire but a roll long enough for this is around $50 and the wood supports for it would be another $1-$2 each.

I'm stumped.

I dont want 2D trees either, so no Spirit Halloween trees.

Any ideas?

Thanks

try carpet roll inners and cutout the branches with the boxes

 

[katyr58]

I dont know if this is the right place to ask this but........

I need help from the more crafty and imaginative people here.

I need 5-6 trees about 18"-2ft diameter and about 8ft tall, I just need the trunks, I dont need branches but for the life of me I cant find a cheap way to make these tree trunks. If I can get the form I can handle the detailing but the whole creation of the form has me stumped.

I have looked into cardboard but cannot get any cardboard boxes large enough for this. I thought about chicken wire but a roll long enough for this is around $50 and the wood supports for it would be another $1-$2 each.

I'm stumped.

I dont want 2D trees either, so no Spirit Halloween trees.

Any ideas?

Thanks

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.