How to Make Model Pine Trees

There are approximately 35 pine tree species native to North America. All pine trees share some characteristics. Their leaves are shaped like needles, they produce pine cones and they stay green throughout the year. Different pine species do have different shapes and come in sizes from small to very large. Determine what species of pine tree you want to create before beginning the model.

Things You'll Need

• Jewelry wire or craft wire
• Wire cutters
• Pliers
• Brown paint
• Green kitchen scouring pad
• Scissors
• Plastic bag
• Hob-e-tac glue

Instructions

1. Review the structure of the pine tree you're copying. Determine how many branches you want for the tree, but do not use more than 12 as this will make the tree trunk too thick. Determine how tall the tree should stand. For a 4-inch-tall tree, cut the first piece of wire 4 inches long. Cut the second piece of wire 5 inches long—the wires for the branches will be wound around the central wire so they must be cut longer than 4 inches.

2. Hold the 4-inch and 5-inch pieces of wire together in the same pair of pliers. Use another pair of pliers to grasp the 5-inch wire and twist it tightly around the 4-inch wire four times. This will begin to form the trunk and the first branch. Once the branch has been wound around, bend it at an angle away from the trunk. Repeat this process of twisting and bending with all the other branches for the tree. Use the wire cutters to trim the branches to the desired length as needed. Form the branches into the general shape of the tree. Paint the wires brown and set aside to dry.

3. Cut up the green kitchen-scouring pad into tiny bits. Purchase commercial tree foliage at a craft or hobby shop if preferred. Put the small green bits into a plastic bag. Coat the branches of the tree with the hob-e-tac glue. Set aside for 15 minutes to allow the glue to get tacky so more foliage will stick to the branches.

4. Dip the tree trunk into the bag with the foliage. Move the trunk around to get a lot of foliage to stick to the branches. Remove the tree from the bag and set aside to dry completely. Once the glue has dried completely, apply additional hob-e-tac in spots and add more foliage if needed. Trim any extra foliage that is not needed so the tree has the correct evergreen shape.

Tips & Warnings

• Once the tree is dry, add small spots of brown paint for pine cones if desired.

References

• Tree Help: Pine Tree Examples
• Storm the Castle: Model Tree Instructions

Resources

• Miniature Tree: Model Tree Kits