Fir-tree (about 22cm) out of the kneading-cement

Craftideas
Fir-tree (about 22cm) out of the kneading-cement

Difficulty

Duration

120 min

Download Idea as PDF

Share Idea

Instructions in 9 steps Stir the kneading-cement and apply it to the styrofoam cone. Shape the scale-like branches out of kneading-cement as well.

Besides the articles listed below, you also need: Container for kneading of the kneading-cement (e.g. bowl with lid), Disposable gloves, Brush, Small container with water, Stable support e.g. the lid of a plastic bucket, Modelling tool (item 34 026 00), PET spray bottle (item 38 798 000)

And this is how it works:

Step 1

Thus the kneading-cement is not too dry, we recommend you to work it out at a room temperature in 3 sections. Always wear plastic gloves while working!

Step 2

Mix about a third of the cement (1.13 kg) with water in the ratio 9:1 (9 parts of cement : 1 part of water). This corresponds to about 125 ml. Stir the water slowly, gradually add it while constantly kneading. Knead the crumbly mixture with damp disposable gloves (if necessary, moisten several times) until the desired consistency is achieved.

Hint: You can mix also, quickly and easily, the kneading-cement in a sealable container. Here also add the water gradually by stirring it constantly, then close the container and shake it well. That way there is less dust and the parts intermix perfectly. Knead more afterwards the crumbly mixture with wet disposable gloves (if necessary, moisten several times) until the mixture is malleable.

Step 3

Take some cement between the palms, press it flat and coat thinly step by step the styrofoam-cone.

Step 4

Now start with moulding the branches with the remaining kneaded cement. Therefor, roll a small amount of the kneading-cement between the palms and tap it until flat. The shaped fir branch should run on one side slightly narrower and at the other side a little bit wider.

Step 5

The twigs gonna be placed on the coated styrofoam-cone by being added to the short side from the bottom up and in each row. You can still rework the branches with a slightly moistened brush and then mould them.

Hint: The cement mixture should be smooth and easily malleable. If the cement is cracky during kneading, just sprinkle it with some water. The joints should be always damp, work out possibly with a slightly moistened brush.

Step 6

Once the cement is used up, mix the other third and then the rest.

Step 7

For a natural Christmas tree shape, the branches should be slightly loose at the bottom and the treetops further smaller.

Step 8

The entire drying period lasts for several days. After about 21 days the object is weatherproof.

Step 9

To obtain a sophisticated look, you can optionally paint the tree or decorate the treetops with the sticky fake snow (item 39 344 000).

Craft Idea Fir-tree (about 22cm) out of the kneading-cement