Monday, June 6, 2011

Gourd and Paperclay Apple Tree!

I really hope that all you folks really like the "Apple Tree" that I've made! I've had this idea for awhile but haven't taken the time to make it until now. Well for starters, I have several spindles cause I purchased a whole box of them at a Habitat for Humanity thrift store about three years ago. So.... I attached the spindle to a wooden base that I had purchased at Hobby Lobby. ( You don't have to use a spindle, you can use a piece of broom handle or big dowel rod). Then the spindle was attached to a very large apple gourd which I had picked out and been hanging on to for just this purpose:


Pretty neat huh? I used glue to attach them and let it set overnight. Once all that was started I used dye to color the gourd ( I used red and cordovan) and sealed the dye. I then used aluminum foil to make a base trunk for the tree. I also used a candy mold to put paperclay into for the leaves and let them set overnight to dry. This is the beginning:

Doesn't that color on the apple look real? Looked like a red delicious to me. Once the ground work was done I got to have the real fun! "Creative Paperclay" to the ready.... I then covered the base, trunk, and made the limbs of my "Apple Tree". To me it looked pretty neat even without the paint. I then glued my leaves on after sanding the edges of them to make them look good and also made a little gnome door on the front and left my project overnight to dry.

I was just so excited after I got the project this far. Now that everything was dry I painted my "Apple Tree" and then sealed it well so that it would last a very long time.


So tell me, what do you think? I love it and don't think the picture really does it justice. I can certainly tell you that working with Creative Paperclay is fun, fun, fun!!! You can purchase Creative Paperclay at a lot of hobby and craft stores like, Michaels and Hobby Lobby to name a few or from the creator of Creative Paperclay, Amaco. I hope you purchase some and try a project or two yourself, I know you'll like it.

Barbara





9 comments:

Cindy Adkins said...

Oh my gosh, Barbara, this is adorable!!! And I'm thinking how perfect it is for the 4th of July too..."Mom and apple pie," know what I mean? You are so talented!
XO
Cindy

Kim said...

Barbara- it is adorable!!! I love it- what a clever idea! The colors are fantastic too- I'm kinda hungry for an apple now :)

Theresa said...

Barbara, I LOVE your apple tree! I can tell you put lots of work in it but it sounds like you enjoyed it!

Thanks for sharing this beauty with me and the shots along the way!

Have a blessed evening, HUGS!

Anonymous said...

This is really cute!

Ceekay - thinkinofhome.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Barbara,

What a cool idea and you did such a great job on making the apple, tree and leaves. It looks so real. I can only imagine what it looks like in real life.

Love and Hugs,
Tamara

Eileen The Artful Crafter said...

I love it, Barbara. Boy, you really nailed that delicious red!

What a clever idea - an apple tree of just a single apple.

Lynn Stevens said...

thats so creative, Love your apple tree!
hugs Lynn

Cindy Adkins said...

Hi Barbara,
I hope you're having a wonderful weekend!!!
XO
Cindy

Ladydy5 aka: Diane Yates said...

I have done some gourding (sp?) and it is a great craft. You do such lovely techniques I would never have thought of until joining your blog. Thanks for the sharing.