How to Make a Palm Tree From a Cinnamon Stick

Whether for display in a diorama, miniature railroad or other scale model, palm trees lend a distinctive point of interest. You can create your own miniature palms using cinnamon sticks, which are the ideal size, shape and color for palm tree trunks. Creating your miniature palms requires little more than cinnamon sticks and a few additional supplies from your local craft shop, and the entire project can be completed in as little as a half-hour.

Instructions

1. Select artificial leaves, available at most craft stores, to use as the foliage for your tree. Choose leaves that are long, tear-shaped and dark green. Leaves manufactured with wire "spines" down the center are the easiest to work with.

2. Cut the stems from the leaves with scissors.

3. Cut a series of narrow wedges out of the sides of each leaf, creating palm-like flaps. The wedges should be shallow at the tip of the leaf and gradually deepen to the widest part of the leaf.

4. Sand the cinnamon stick with a heavy-grit sandpaper, creating a rough appearance.

5. Use a hot glue gun to apply a small amount of temperature-melt glue to the end of the cinnamon stick.

6. Press the base of each leaf into the hot glue, attaching the leaves to the cinnamon stick trunk. Allow the glue to dry thoroughly, for at least 10 minutes.

7. Style the leaves by gently pulling them downward and away from the trunk.

References

• Diorama Man: How to make Miniature Trees for Dioramas and Model Railroads