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Chatter

New Ear Ring Tree

by Little Round Chick on 10/01/11


About this design:

Here is the latest tree with pictures and instructions. There are a lot of little steps so I have included a lot of pictures. Hope all is explained so it is understandable. If you hit a snag let me know and I will help you out.

Components:

4 or 5 inch deep pot with broad bottom, plaster of Paris, 18ga floral wire, floral tape, pliers to help twist wires, rocks, larger size works better

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Step 1:
Here are the supplies you will need.
Step 2:
Take 6 of the wires and place them so 4 of the stems longer at one end and the other two stems longer at the other end.
Step 3:
Form a bundle by twisting the wires together. You may want to use a pair of pliers to help make the twists. Make a right angle bend on each of the 4 longer wires to make the anchors to keep the tree upright. These wires will fit across the inside bottom of the pot.
Step 4:
To make longer branches at the top add 1 or 2 more wires. Start 2 or 3 inches up from the bottom and wrap the wires around the bundle until you get to the point where you stopped twisting the first group of wires.
Step 5:
Twist groups of 2 or 3 wires together to make the side branches. Keep making other groups of branches moving up the tree.
Step 6:
Wrap small pieces of tape around the bottom ends of the wires where you added extra wire for more branches. Then start taping at the bottom just above the anchor wires. Wrap the tape on the diagonal stretching it as you wind it around the wires. Press down any bumps in the tape.
Step 7:
Wrap the trunk of the tree then move out on the branches. Continue taping until all of the branches are covered. Make sure the tape is pressed down along the entire length. Check for gaps and cover with additional tape.
Step 8:
Fit anchors to the bottom of the pot. Make sure they are spread out forming a cross shape. They don't have to be perfectly spaced.
Step 9:
Cover anchor wires with rocks that aren't too small. Make the rocks about 1 inch deep so the anchors are covered. This helps add weight to the bottom of the tree and also helps keep the anchor wires from pulling out to the plaster.
Step 10:
Mix plaster according to the manufacturers directions. You may need to make it a little thinner so it will pour more easily. Pour plaster into the pot to about 3/4 inch below the rim. Let the plaster cure for several hours or over night. Then shape the trunk and branches of the tree. After you finish shaping cover the top of the plaster with more rocks or moss or what ever you choose.


Read the comments (or add your own)

  1. Lynn Eileen Chicky LE

    On Oct 01, 2011 at 4:09 pm #

    Lynn Eileen Chicky LE says:

    Thanks, Nancy! Your instructions are very clear! This should be fun to do! :D

  2. No Photo

    On Oct 01, 2011 at 5:12 pm #

    Mary S - Sweet Chick says:

    :-D Yay!!! Thank you Nancy!

    I do have some questions; How long did you make the wires? And how tall is the finished product?

  3. Little Round Chick

    On Oct 01, 2011 at 7:38 pm #

    Little Round Chick says:

    Mary, if you buy pre-cut floral wire at JoAnn it comes in 18 inch lengths. I used the full length of the wire. As to height you can make it as tall as you like. Mine is 16 inches tall but the branches have all been bent into horizontal positions so the ear rings can hang from them.

    It is one of those projects with lots of wiggle room. :D

  4. Anna C WonderChick

    On Oct 01, 2011 at 9:25 pm #

    Anna C WonderChick says:

    Oh I think I might try this with some extra electrical wire I have around. I will strip off the plastic casing and have the copper showing. Great idea!

  5. CAS

    On Oct 02, 2011 at 8:02 am #

    CAS says:

    Thank you … thank you … thank you!! :D

  6. No Photo

    On Oct 02, 2011 at 8:53 am #

    Mary S - Sweet Chick says:

    Thanks again Nancy! :-D You rock!

    Anna, I might borrow your idea, if I may?
    I like the idea of a copper tree!!
    We have a local artist that creates very life-like wire sculpture. In her collection she has a copper tree that sells for $65! Now I can make my own! Woo Hoo!!

  7. Canadian chicky karen

    On Oct 02, 2011 at 10:50 am #

    Canadian chicky karen says:

    Great instructions Nancy, very clear and concise!!

  8. K H

    On Oct 02, 2011 at 11:10 am #

    K H says:

    Wery cool!!!! I have some black steel wire left from another project. BTW, about how tall and how wide is your tree?

  9. Little Round Chick

    On Oct 02, 2011 at 11:29 am #

    Little Round Chick says:

    KH, in its current configuration the tree is about 16 inches high and about 17 inches wide. I didn’t measure the total height before bending the branches into the horizontal positions.

  10. K H

    On Oct 02, 2011 at 5:12 pm #

    K H says:

    Cool, based on that I cut 7 pieces of black steel wire each 2.5 feet (give or take for a not so even look) and gnarled away. I need to find an appropriate container (guess I will be making a GW/SA run) and some PofP. It’s just about like making a tree of life pendant. :)

  11. Lynn Eileen Chicky LE

    On Oct 02, 2011 at 5:40 pm #

    Lynn Eileen Chicky LE says:

    Nancy, thanks for all the additional info. 8) Just curious — could heavier rocks on the very bottom and/or floral/Silly Putty be substituted for the PofP? I assume the reason for the PofP is stability.

    Another thought. LOL If you used a clear container, you could fill it with clear or colored glass marbles or pretty stones.

  12. Little Round Chick

    On Oct 02, 2011 at 5:43 pm #

    Little Round Chick says:

    Sounds good to me, KH. Be sure to post a picture of your results. It is always great to see the outcome when a group uses the same basic materials and the same basic techniques (more or less). Endless variety. I love it!

  13. K H

    On Oct 02, 2011 at 6:57 pm #

    K H says:

    When I worked at the florist shop we “built” faux ficus trees and palm trees by setting a real tree branch into a papermache pot filled with PofP and when it had set up we drilled holes in the branch and added the silk folliage. The paper pots were then set into baskets or ceramic pots and covered with moss and we fastened that down with greening pins. The PofP makes a nice solid base that won’t spill if the tree tips over. If these trees get up-rooted we’d all have earrings spillled from here to next Sunday!

  14. Lynn Eileen Chicky LE

    On Oct 02, 2011 at 11:06 pm #

    Lynn Eileen Chicky LE says:

    Nancy, you’ve started us all thinking of new ways to display our earring designs! Thanks! 8)

    Good point, Katherine, about the stability of using the PofP so nothing tips and spills! :D

  15. Little Round Chick

    On Oct 03, 2011 at 3:07 am #

    Little Round Chick says:

    Lynn, a clear container would be gorgeous but it might be more fragile than a ceramic pot. However, it would be gorgeous with colored marbles or glass but you would need something to stick it all together… Elmers glue? It drys more or less transparent. Hummmmm….?

  16. K H

    On Oct 03, 2011 at 9:39 am #

    K H says:

    How about that “faux water” clear resin? Set the tree in the clear containder and cover the “roots” with rocks, glass or marbles and then fill up the container with the resin. That stuff takes a while to dry so it’s best to leave it undisturbed for several days – up to a week depending on temp and humidity. There is no good way to fix it if the resin gets messed up during the drying process. KH

  17. Little Round Chick

    On Oct 03, 2011 at 12:22 pm #

    Little Round Chick says:

    I think I’ll just stick with opaque pots. Less thinking required. :D

  18. K H

    On Oct 03, 2011 at 12:27 pm #

    K H says:

    I just found a link for information on the faux water. It’s pretty expensive (compared to PofP), and it takes at least 3 days to set up. The would look really cool, but if you are making them to sell you would have to figure in the extra cost, and given the current state of the economy I am not sure that buyers would be willing to pay the extra cost. Sigh, Maybe next year.

  19. Lynn g

    On Oct 04, 2011 at 9:35 pm #

    Lynn g says:

    Thanks foe the instructions, they are so clear..and easy to understand.

  20. Little Round Chick

    On Oct 05, 2011 at 12:07 pm #

    Little Round Chick says:

    OK Ladies, get cracking. I expect to see at least a dozen ear ring trees in the next 10 days. Then we can get them all together and have a forest of ear ring trees. :D
    Have fun when you make it and remember if anything needs to be clarified just ask.

  21. Lynn Eileen Chicky LE

    On Oct 05, 2011 at 1:23 pm #

    Lynn Eileen Chicky LE says:

    Yes, ma’am! ;)

  22. Purple Chick aka Violet

    On Oct 05, 2011 at 3:40 pm #

    Purple Chick aka Violet says:

    Wonderful idea, Nancy !!!!!!
    So many possibilities !!!

  23. Sue Bead

    On Oct 11, 2011 at 8:28 pm #

    Sue Bead says:

    I think the water resin would work better if you did the pours in smaller amounts and build them up. They would look really cool. I would love to do a few for my display table at craft shows. You could use embroidery floss for the roots. Wow. I would love to see that. If I ever get the chance to try this, I will post a pic. Thanks for the idea.

  24. Sue Bead

    On Oct 11, 2011 at 8:29 pm #

    Sue Bead says:

    The water resin would remind me of a Paul Stankard paper weight.

  25. K H

    On Oct 12, 2011 at 8:47 am #

    K H says:

    I saw a really cool black metal dish, but alas, it was smaller than the “root ball”. So for now the tree is propped up on my desk waiting to get “planted”. :)

  26. K H

    On Oct 22, 2011 at 7:08 pm #

    K H says:

    I finally found the perfect pot and “planted” my tree. Once the P of P cures I will back fill with moss and get some pictures. Saw some cool wire at $Tree in different colors – before it’s over I may have a whole forest!!!!!!

  27. Little Round Chick

    On Oct 22, 2011 at 8:29 pm #

    Little Round Chick says:

    A forest is good! I have the start on one of my own. Right now it has 4 trees but I have more wire and more P of P. Gotta go find a suitable pot.

    It will be great to see your tree. It is always fun to see the interpretation of another person. Same materials, same blueprint but a different and original new tree. YAHOO! I love it!

  28. Willowcrown2012

    On Apr 04, 2012 at 2:53 pm #

    Willowcrown2012 says:

    if you found the right size flat rock, you could always wrap the roots around it, layer on some heavy duty glue and add little rocks/moss to it – sounds like I need to go rock hunting – what a cool idea!

  29. No Photo

    On Apr 27, 2012 at 10:23 am #

    Mitoyz says:

    Great idea, all of them, but I would love to see one wearing it’s earrings.

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