craft blog
pattern shop
orang utans
photography
recipes
journaleasy-care bonsai
And now for something completely different…
Inspired by a segment on artificial bonsai on the TV show How It’s Made that I saw on Discovery channel last week, and Mumblepeg’s lovely crocheted sakura (the “Best Wildcard” winner in the Softie Awards, I was inspired to create my own bonsai sakura (that’s a cherry blossom tree, in case you were wondering).
Click picture for full-size version
I’m not going to show you a full tutorial, but here’s a brief rundown of my methods, in case you feel inspired to try something similar.
The moss and soil is made from foam, cut to shape and painted with green and brown acrylic paints. The branches are formed from 18 and 22 gauge wire, fleshed out with strips of paper towel and then wrapped in brown floral tape.
The flowers are hand-sculpted from FIMO Soft polymer clay. I poked a length of fine bead wire through the back of each flower before baking, and then used the ends of these wires to attach the flowers to the branches. I used more floral tape to cover the exposed wires.
I planted my sakura in the bonsai pot that had once housed my attempt at a real bonsai: I tended, wired and pruned the little sapling for a couple of years, but it eventually withered and went to bonsai heaven. I’ve kept the pot for five years, waiting for the courage to try growing another bonsai.
I’m hopeful that, with favourable lighting conditions, this sakura will be so happy and content that it will bloom year-round…
Deborah J Said,
April 11, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
Love the tree. I have also attempted to grow bonsai with them also going to bonsai heaven.
Craftybits @ PlanetJune.com » faux granite stones Said,
April 18, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
[...] clay faux granite rocks last week. They were originally intended to be stones for the base of my artificial bonsai, but I decided they weren’t quite right for that project. I just sanded them quickly with my [...]
Betty Jose-Brannam Said,
August 19, 2007 @ 3:02 am
Thank you very much this is very help to me I really appreciate this. I have been looking for help to make these of course the easy way and this is it. Again thank you.
Else T. Said,
August 29, 2007 @ 9:21 am
This is brilliant. I’ll have to try this! Thanks for the detailed explanation and photos!
Robert Ford Said,
April 8, 2008 @ 1:23 pm
Please send me the detailed instructions for making this artificial bonsai tree.
Thanks
Robert
JON OBERHOLTZER Said,
April 19, 2008 @ 2:43 pm
HI,
I’M LOOKING FOR FAKE PINE TREE LIMBS TO MAKE A FAKE BONSAI
THAT I SEEN ON HOW ITS MADE, I’VE HAD NO LUCK ON THE INTERNET
AT ALL, DO YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN LOOK AT.
THANK YOU
JON OBERHOLTZER
BARB Said,
July 6, 2008 @ 1:57 pm
HI, PLEASE EMAIL ME THE INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO MAKE AS ARTIFICIAL BONSAI TREE. MY HUSBAND IS DISABLED AND WANTS TO TRY TO MAKE ONE OF THESE TREES. HE HAS BEEN WORKING ON WIRE TREES BUT THINKS THIS TREE WOULD BE NICER TO MAKE. THANKS, BARB
June Said,
July 7, 2008 @ 10:25 am