The Halloween Tree

Well this piece made into our local paper this year, and it certainly is a group effort and a beauty, eh?
Based on the Ray Bradbury's 'The Halloween Tree'

Step 1:
Framing.
I don't have pictures of the chicken wire frame, but that's all that it took. So basically you just have to learn to shape, which I did this past year on something else. Just get an image in front of you and start working that thing. It's something everyone can do, I had my whole resistant team working on those pumpkins, so I know you can do it too. Underneath the wire was a kickboxing bag which had a water filled based, which made it extremely heavy, thus the tree will never fall over. I'm sure a simple wood beam running up the middle would do this the same effect, with cross pieces for support of the branches.
We used PVC pipe for ours and just crunched the chicken wire around it and had em long enough, so one pipe would serve as two branches, follow?
Also, if your going for this exact same model, and if you are, remember who showed you the way, add the chicken wire pumpkins during this point and attach them firmly via wire, it will give it a more natural look. We somehow overlooked this part at the time, and added them via yarn later.

Step 2:
Mache.
This could take you a day, or maybe two weeks depending on your time.
Noone wanted to do this in my camp, so it got put off constantly. Thank the maker I have a determined gf, who got it done.
Now mache doesn't like staying on basic framing, so you either need to foil the entire tree, or roughly tape newspaper all over it with masking tape.
Or good luck with with paper and gaping wire holes.
Do all this mindful of your detailed knots of the tree, so that you don't lose your work.



Step 3:
Painting.
Well this is simple.

Step4:
Pumpkins.
The tree is sturdy to a point, but you don't want to use real pumpkins. So What we elected, since we had tons of chicken wire on hand, to make em out of that. Make a bowl shape, duct tape it all around. Then draw your face on with marker, use scissors to cut the tape only, and then wire cutter for the second round, I recommend doing the two steps, because of details, you might cut too long, if your cutting both materials and your faces won't wind up as you desired.
Then mache over the tape and paint.



Since I'm sure you don't want to burn your tree down, I highly recommend battery operated candles(Big Lots, 4 for $3).
If you didn't attach the pumpkins at the earlier stages, then poke holes on either side of the top, and guide the yarn through and tie em tight to the branch, maybe glue the yarn too for extra measure.
Also, for more pumpkins if 10 handmade don't do it for you, I went to the 99 cent store and found little pumpkin 'candy holders' 6 for $1, and glued those all over.

And well,..there it is.