Among the Trees...

Or... Tree Art for Kids Room Tutorial

But isn't "Among the trees" much more poetic?

I am writing this in the middle of the night because I want a fresh post up before I go on a weekend trip.  The other item I was going to post isn't done drying yet so you'll have to wait on that one.

Anyway, I hope what I'm saying makes sense... See I'm already rambling. Oh dear.

This is a tree I helped my sister make for her daughters room. I posted a bit about my niece here. 

My sister had a girl, and I didn't. Life is not fair, but I have been able to borrow my niece often so that makes it a little better... Well, not really. But at least I've gotten to go shopping in the "pink" isle once in awhile.

Back to the tree.

We got the idea from Pottery Barn Kids... but who needs to spend like $200 on kids art?



This is PB's version

Now onto our version.

We bought some blank canvas at Hobby Lobby. Just the cardboard ones that come in a 4 pack.

• We painted them with some left over antique white semi-gloss paint that I had used on my old kitchen cabinets. I recommend using semi-gloss because if you use regular craft paint it can be harder to antique it, because it is porous and absorbs more.

• Then I sketched out the tree with a pencil. 

• We painted in the brown tree over my pencil sketch. For that we just used craft paint.

• I had some nifty "Antiquing" medium that we brushed on over the paint. But watered down craft paint will have the same effect. 

• While the paint was drying my sis and I cut out a bunch of leaves from scrapbook paper.

• We arranged them on the tree how we liked them and mod-podge-ed them on.

• Then we put a coat of mod-podge over the whole thing to preserve our work, and also because it makes it look like this took more effort then it really did.

Here are a few close ups. This was an easy project. I might need to make one for my room... maybe ;-)

Here is an inspiring quote I'll leave you with in order to get your creative juices flowing.

I hear the wind among the trees
Playing the celestial symphonies;
I see the branches downward bent,
Like keys of some great instrument.
                                    -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Happy Crafting! - RM


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