20 GAUGE WIRE BRANCHES WIRED TOGETHER
Use Weldwood contact cement to glue a small diameter wire to under side of twig. Use tube to spread cement along twig. Hold wire with spring clothespin and run full length of wire into tube. Let cement dry for about 15 minutes, then press wire to under side of twig. Bend wire and stem into desired position. Use fine wire to fasten several twigs together into branches.
Using a wooden dowel at least ¼″ in diameter (get at hardware store up to 3′ long), drill small holes through from different angles. Then, by whittling or sanding, taper the dowel. Poke wire-wrapped branch ends into holes. Anchor with Pliobond. Let dry, then trim excess branch lengths from opposite side of trunk. Use paper mache mix to cover wooden dowel, shape and thicken branches and trunk, and model branch joints. Paint the paper mache with water colors, poster colors, or latex white with casein temperas.
USE PAPER MACHE TO MODEL ROOTS
SMOKE ...
is made by spraying a wisp of cotton with clear Krylon. This clear plastic in a spray can is obtained from nearly any art supply house and at most hardware stores. Draw out the cotton into a smoke-shaped wisp. Spray gently with the Krylon to set shape, then spray again to strengthen. The cotton may be drawn out even more after the Krylon has set.
SNOW ...
can be indicated by using styrofoam and not coating it with the paper mache mix. A finer textured snow is made by spraying the Christmas spray-can “snow” over the modelled paper mache base, and adding sparkle by glueing specks of salt in place. The spray-can snow is a good material to use in putting snow on tree branches.
One last minute tip ... when you use a brush with the Tri-Tix rubber cement, soap the bristles thoroughly before using. Get the brush wet, then scrub up a good lather with Ivory or similar bar soap; squeeze most of the lather out of the brush, but do not wash it out. Then, in its lathered state, use the brush with the Tri-Tix. Wash it out immediately after use. The soap remaining in the brush during the glueing process will make the brush easy to clean.