Concertina Paper Christmas Trees....

Hi folks.... Back to a Christmas themed project for this week’s Creative Expressions Design Team post..
As I've stated in my previous September posts, this Month’s Design Team goodies were anything but Christmas! But, I'm so in that zone at the moment as I want to get as much done before December as I can! and not leave everything to the last minute as per!!!

So, although the Papers I was sent were Phill Martins Butterflies and Dragonflies I put them to good use to make these Concertina Christmas Trees.. This is a great little project to make use of oddments of paper that we all have laying around, or those pages from paper stacks that you have every intention of putting to good use, one day!!
So, if you fancy giving these a go here's a little step by step guide for you...
I'm sure these can be made in various sizes, the ones I have made have 9 layers.. Personally I don't think I can make the top layer any smaller as it’s quite fiddly for my chunky hands to manipulate into shape! However, I probably would be quite happy to make the bases bigger, given the time!!

I started off with the largest Rosette. Cutting three strips from my 8" paper pad at 2 1/2". (3 @ 8" x 2 1/2") If you were using a 12" piece of paper then you would need 2 strips at 2 1/2". Basically, whatever you are using the ultimate goal seems to be to make the length of the paper 24". 2 x 12", 3 x 8", 4 x 6" etc., etc...

Using a score board and a ball tool,

score each strip at 1/2"

and concertina folds into each piece. In hindsight, I might score these increments first and then cut the paper to size as I found it a little difficult to keep the paper strips straight as you score 15 times, especially when you come onto the smaller strips to make the top layers of the tree.. Just an observation!!!

Once you've scored each piece, join them together. I used a Hot Glue Gun for speed.

And then join each end together.. And Yes, you have a Cup Cake wrapper!!!!

Whilst the Hot Glue is setting, go ahead and punch yourself some Circles. These will be used to hold the Rosette in shape, doesn't have to be Circles, an oddment of card which coordinates with your project will be just as useful!
The next stage can be a little tricky,

basically you're going to take the shape from this

to this by simply folding the Rosette flat.. It will probably pop itself back up to the original shape (which can be a nightmare when you're trying to take a picture of the process!!!!)
But persevere and it will do as it's told eventually..

Squeeze the Rosette together so that there is just a small hole in the centre,

add Hot Glue to the Circle you previously punched out and stick it to the centre of the Rosette, first on one side,

and then t'other... Adding the punched Circle will give the Rosette strength and also prevent it from popping open.. And yes, an extra pair of hand would be great at this stage!!

So, that's the first layer done. All you have to do is repeat the process with your other pieces of paper.. All I have done is go down in 1/4" increments for each layer.. I.E, Layer 2 will be 3 x 8" strips which are 2 1/4" wide, layer 3 is 3 x 8" strips which are 2" wide, and so on and so on..
When it comes to the top layer (layer 9) I think from now on I would only make it 16" in length as opposed to 24" I.E 2 x 8" cut at 1/2". For me, it was just too tricky to get all of that paper to work easily together (although I obviously did!)

The Green Tree is the one that has been made with only 2 strips and in fact I think it looks moderately better?!)

Once you have made the Rosettes you can then stack them on top of each other trying to keep them straight otherwise you end up with a wonky tree! Which, I know mine is but it's not bad for my first attempt!

I mounted the base of the tree onto a loose lid box, which I could put a little gift in or a few Christmas Sweets,

decorating the top of the tree with a Stick Pin and Beads from Creative Expressions...

And there you go, a veritable forest!!
Thanks for checking us out, see you soon.
Andy.