How many sheets of paper can make one tree?

How to make a miniature paper tree?

• I a making a dollhouse and I was wondering how to make a small tree to go outside next to the barbie house I'm making. can I make one out of tissue paper or construction paper? I was also thinking of putting a swing attached to it but I'm not sure how to make the swing. Any ideas would help.

• Answer:

  If it were me, building a miniature tree. I'd start by taking a shopping bag and going for a walk in a local park. Gather up a few dead branches/twigs. You won't want green ones because they will shrink as they dry out. With wire we'd rap the twigs into a bumble at one end to form the trunk; the other end would be the branches of the tree. At this point you're going to need some kind of base to hold the tree upright. Plaster of Paris would be my choice. Not only would it weight the tree down, but you could form a few gnarly looking roots with it too. Papier-mâché after your plaster is set around the trunk up to the branches. At this point, you can add a canopy of leaves. You can buy fake leaves or moss at the craft store if you have deep pockets. Loofah sponge is a good choice, cut into smaller pieces and wired to your branches. Paint the whole thing with browns and greens or whatever you please. For your swing used chain from costume jewelry which can be wired onto one of your branches. The swing seat can be made out of a small plank of wood, or a couple pieces of cardboard papier-mâché together, or a credit card cut in half (wrapped in papier-mâché)... Here's a link on papier-mâché trees. The combination of what I've said above, and the link below is your best bet. The model railroad hobbyist have a lot to say on miniature tree building. A search on miniature trees would yield a wealth of information on Google.