Christmas is coming

WOODEN TREE

You need:
• Clay flowerpot, 15 cm (6-in) diameter
• 7/8-in dowelling, 32 in long
• 3/8-in dowelling, 7-1/2 ft long
• 6 wooden beads, 20 mm diameter with 3/4-in hole
• Screw-eye
• Plaster of paris
• Green and red acrylic paint
• Paintbrush
• White craft glue
• Natural raffia or twine
• Wood excelsior
• Drill with 3/8-in drill bit

To make:
1. Paint flowerpot red.

2. From 3/8-in dowelling, cut 3 pieces measuring 54.5 cm (21-1/2 in), 75 cm (29-1/2 in) and 95.5 cm (37-1/2 in) long for branches.

3. Secure screw-eye in top of 7/8-in dowel (tree trunk). Mark points 18 cm (7 in), 33 cm (13 in) and 48 cm (19 in) down from top. Drill a 3/8-in hole through dowel at marked points.

4. Insert branch dowels through drilled holes with the shortest at the top and longest at bottom of tree trunk. Centre branches and glue in place in holes. Glue beads to ends of each branch dowel.

5. Paint tree green. Let dry. Bind raffia crisscross fashion around intersection of dowels. Knot ends securely.

6. Cover hole in bottom of flowerpot with a scrap of cork. Mix plaster according to package directions and pour into pot. When almost set, press tree trunk into centre of pot. Wrap crumpled newspaper around base of trunk so it is held in an upright position until plaster hardens. Remove newspaper.

7. Stuff top of pot with wood excelsior to hide plaster. Hang ornaments on tree branches.