The holiday season is just around the corner and first up is Halloween.  Halloween is second only to Christmas in popularity for decorating.   A decorating idea that has caught on in the last 5 years is the Halloween Tree.  For those of you who are interested in learning how to prepare and decorate a Halloween tree keep reading and I will tell you the step-by-step process I use to create one.

Materials Needed for the Project:

          -    1 Tree Branch

-    1 Bucket (preferably painted in a Halloween theme) 6” Ht. X  6” Dia.

-         About 10 Rocks ½” to ¾” in size

-         Plaster of Paris

-         A light weight floral wire for tying decorative lights on

-         String of fifty (50) mini tree lights (orange, purple)

-         Assortment of Halloween ornaments

-         Decorative Spider Webbing

-         Anything else you can think of to decorate the tree

The first thing you need is a dry tree branch that is ½” to 1” in diameter near the base.  It should have several side branches.

Once you have selected a branch to use you need to find a container to hold it upright.  I use small buckets I have purchased at the local craft store.  These are available in a Halloween theme (see Photo).  Put a few ½” to ¾” rocks in the bottom of the bucket to weight it down. 

Mix up the Plaster of Paris as directed on the package.  The Plaster of Paris will be used to anchor the tree branch in the bucket.

Place the base of the tree branch in the bottom of the bucket wedging it down between the rocks keeping it centered in the bucket.  Next pour the mixed Plaster of Paris into the bucket to secure the tree branch.  You can use duct tape placed across the top of the bucket to hold the tree branch in place while the Plaster of Paris dries.  I do this by running a piece of duct tape passed each side of the branch and then do the same thing again at a right angle to the first pieces of tape.

Once the Plaster of Paris has dried (which takes about 2 hours) you can start decorating the tree branch.

Add the lights first.  Try to line each side branch and the main branch with the lights.  Use light weight floral wire to attached the lights to the branches.  Wire the lights to the branches about every 3 inches.  Plug in the lights to see how well you have done.  If you are satisfied with where the lights are move on to the next step.

I put the ornaments and garland on first then the spider webbing.  The reason I do it in this sequence is because once the webbing is pulled and stretched out it makes it harder to arrange the ornaments and garland on the tree. 

The last step is to put an abundance of spider webbing around the base of the tree to cover up the Plaster of Paris.  Throw a couple of spiders in the web and the tree is complete.

Now that your tree is complete plug in the lights and enjoy it with your favorite ghost and goblins, Happy Halloween. . . . . .