Shimmering Stacked Trees

Resources: Paper Dresden stars and clear glass glitter can be found at D. Blumchen and Company, Martha's source for vintage-inspired holiday decorations and crafting supplies. A receipt spike can be found at restaurant-supply stores. Knitting needles and clay can be purchased from most crafts stores.

What You'll Need

Materials

  • 4 ounces Sculpey clay
  • 10-inch, 6mm thick knitting needle
  • Felt
  • Craft glue
  • Clear glass glitter
  • Receipt spike (optional)
  • 2 pieces 6-by-6-inch card stock
  • Newspaper
  • Utility knife
  • Bone folder
  • Adhesive spray
  • Hot-glue gun and glue sticks
  • 2 paper Dresden stars

Instructions

  1. Roll and flatten 4 ounces sculpting clay to form dome shape. Poke knitting needle horizontally through flat area of clay dome. Remove knitting needle.

  2. Bake clay in oven at 275 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Reinsert needle into baked clay. Glue felt on bottom of base for surface protection.

  3. Apply glue, then glitter, to the base. A receipt spike can be used to create a smaller tree instead of building a base using the above instructions.

  4. To form tree, place 2 pieces of 6-by-6-inch card stock onto spike for stability.

  5. Cut newspaper into 50 sheets of each size:
    -6 by 6 inches
    -5 1/2 by 5 1/2 inches
    -5 by 5 inches
    -4 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches
    -4 by 4 inches
    -3 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches
    -3 by 3 inches
    -2 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches
    -2 by 2 inches
    -1 1/2 by 1/2 inch

  6. Cut 25 1-inch sheets of newspaper.

  7. Begin poking pieces of newspaper onto spike in descending order, folding and unfolding each piece of paper using a bone folder.

  8. Spray tree with adhesive and immediately sprinkle with diamond dust. Set aside and let dry for 10 minutes.

  9. Using a hot-glue gun, adhere 2 paper Dresden stars back-to-back to top of tree.

Originally appeared: THE MARTHA STEWART SHOW, DECEMBER 2007
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