Current Projects
You will find all of the information for my current projects here. I will include links to the Twitch stream for the live crafting sessions and updates on things learned during the process.
Halloween Tree
My Halloween tree is a themed paper mache tree. Fog effects, UV paint and resin, black lights will be used to enhance the tree. We are building this tree to last so the form will be filled with expanding foam and the entire tree will be sealed in resin. This is not meant to be a terrifying decoration but a haunted beauty.
The theme is the Birth of Monsters. Creatures and parts will be rising out of the bark of the tree and be poking through in a few points. UV elements will be used to enhance these effects. Fake UV flowers, mushrooms, and plant life will come alive under the UV. Fog will be routed to flow around some of the creatures and out of the tree.
I created one of these about 10 years ago for a friend. That tree had a similar theme but less realized.
Lessons Learned for Future Projects
Magnet leafs are proofing to be a challenge. In the future place magnets on the outside of the chicken wire and paper mache over. Resin the back to secure. The added distance of the chicken wire greatly lowers their strength.
Silk flowers need sealed before UV resin added. I am still looking for something to seal them properly. I used an outdoor sealant that did not help with the bleeding issue. When UV resin is added to silk flowers the resin bleeding into the surrounding area rather than staying where placed.
Add external anchors to the tree to flip and finished the frame before adding expanding foam. These will be removed once done.
Leafs are likely going to hang because of weight. We need to place the magnet on one side of the steam and sand it down to a thin layer on both sides.
Foam and funnels are bad. Need to ensure I have disposal mixing containers and acetone on hand for cleaning after.
Use the large tree outside to hang this tree upside down for foaming.
We could have done a heart beat effect on the tree. Since I plan to seal the tree with resin before painting we could have back lite the resin and had it do a heart beat affect.
Paper mache is an excellent sealant for foaming or future fiber glass projects.
Metalic paint did not work for this project.
Vine need more glue and time to make them look like vines.
