Need help coming up with ideas!
 

Hi there stampers! I have been asked to make some centerpieces for a retiring teacher at my temple. I have old photo's of all the classmates. I was thinking that I could make a tree, and have the photo's be the leaves. Since our temple is called Etz Chaim (Tree of life) and the tree also symbolizes a "family tree".

Here's where I'm stuck. I can't for the life of me find a chipboard tree big enough or even a wooden tree (the pre-cut shapes at Michael's)...Should I just buy chipboard and cut it myself?? (Ugh..)

Any ideas would be helpful! TIA!!!

Anne

I would think about using florist wire and florist tape that way you can bend the branches and make them as thick or thin as you need to make them.

Use a terra cotta pot and plaster of paris for the base.

As this is a centerpiece it will also make it more 3D.

HTH.

ETA - here is something similar in idea from Martha Stewart's show today http://www.marthastewart.com/article...a-stewart-show - go down to where they describe how to make the branch.

Perhaps you could get some really nice branches off trees--it's trimming season now anyway--and put them in pots with some plaster to keep them in place. Cover the plaster with spanish moss or something when the plaster dries, then hang the pictures from the "branches" of your branch, which will then look like a tree. Maybe you could make flowers to go on them, too.
Sorry I don't have a good answer for the chipboard, though!

I've seen this done with a branch and then small photo "ornaments" hanging from it. It didn't even need leaves to look fabulous. The "ornaments" i've seen were the photos cut in small circles as the center of die-cut flowers. FAB!