| MATERIALS: |
Flower pot base
Small box that just fits in flower pot
15' of 3/16" diameter armiture wire
Pair of needle-nose pliers
12 2" metal mini-pails
Red, yellow, green acrylic paints
assorted paint brushes
Hot glue gun & glue
1/2 yard bark-colored material (Joann's Silky Brown 743006596503)
1/2 yard vibrant green camouflage material (Joann's Lime Blizzard 400045130081))
1/2 yard vibrant green felt
Several paper towels or a piece of sponge (for painting)
1 16oz bag jelly beans
3 sheets of parchment paper
Chateau GRRR Gift Slips template
Several yards green or red ribbon
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| DIRECTIONS: |
1. Cut bark-colored fabric into ten 2" wide strips that are 18" long and four strips that are 2" wide and 12" long.
Fold fabric in half along the length and glue the two edges together on the outer edge to form a long tube of fabric. |  |
| 2. Cut armature wire from Kit Kraft into ten 18" pieces and four 12" pieces. Insert wire into the fabric tubes and glue one open end. |  |
3. Fill small cardboard box with rocks, sand, or other heavy objects. This will be the weight holding the tree in place, so ensure it is heavy enough to support at least 3 pounds.
When full, glue the box closed. |  |
| 4. Taking three fabric-covered wire strips, twist them around each other leaving about 6" to affix to small cardboard box. This is the trunk of the tree. |  |
| 5. Add the remaining 18" fabric-covered wire strips, wrapping them around the trunk and ensuring they extend down over the box and are glued in place onto the box. |  |
| 6. Add the 12" fabric-covered wire strips as random braches, wrapping them around the trunk. |  |
| 7. Using a pair of needle-nose pliers, bend a small hook into the end of each branch. The pails will hang from these hooks. |  |
8. Cut several strips of bark-colored fabric into 2" strips approximately 12" long.
Once all strips of wire have been wrapped onto the trunk and the branches are satisfactory, wrap the base of the trunk with the 2" strips, gluing the end down. |  |
| 9. Place the box and trunk into the flower pot. Drizzle hot glue around the box to help hold it into place. |  |
10. Cut four strips of bright green felt 6" wide and 18" long.
Tuck these strips around the base of the box to conceal it. Glue these into place.
Leaving part of the bark-covered wire visible along the top of the box looks like roots of a tree and is a nice touch. |  |
| 11. Paint each 2” pail (get the white ones from Pricewise Favors) with yellow paint on the outside and on the bottom. Allow to dry. |  |
12. Using paper towels or a sponge, dab red paint on the top edge of each pail. Do this as far down as desired for effect of a red/yellow apple.
Dab green paint from the bottom of the pail up if an unripe or green apple effect is desired. |  |
13. Using this star pattern, cut 12 shapes out of the bright green felt and the bright green camouflage material.
Cut a slit in all 24 star shapes. These will be stretched over the pail handles and cover the pails. |  |
| 14. Using this leaf pattern, cut as many leaves as desired (at least 24 are suggested). Each leaf is made of a felt and camouflage piece glued together. | |
15. Glue leaves onto the branches as desired.
Gluing some leaves at the tips of the branches and some on the length of the branchces is suggested. |  |
16. Fill each mini-lunchpail with jellybeans, a small gift, or for the truly ambitious, a clue to a scavenger hunt.
This template may be used to make gift certificates or scavenger clues. Add text and print onto parchement paper.
Cut the certificates into strips, roll, and tie with ribbon. |  |
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