Materials
For this project, you will need to gather a few materials. First, you will need some green and brown construction paper, card stock, or card board. A pair of scissors, a ruler and a pencil will come in handy. Optional equipment consists of a cutting mat, an X-Acto knife and some tape.
Cutting Out the Pieces
To begin, draw the outline of your palm tree. You can draw it freehand or use some online templates for reference. Cut out the tree from the green construction paper. Make sure the edges are smooth and neat. For the trunk of the tree, cut a rectangle from the brown card stock. The dimensions depend on the size of the tree you wish to make.
Putting Everything Together
Using a ruler, mark out the sections of the tree. These sections will later be folded to create a 3D effect. For the trunk, using an X-Acto knife make vertical lines to give the trunk the look of tree bark. Once all the pieces are ready, start putting it all together. Stick the trunk to the base of the tree and fold the sections of the tree slightly outward. You can use a bit of tape to secure the sections in place.
Adding the Leaves
You can use green paper cut into small leaves shapes or you can also use green art supplies like foliage or cut out leaf patterns from felt or foam sheets. Attach the leaves to the sections of the tree with tape to create a realistic effect.
Finishing Touches
You can add some extra details to your palm tree like glueing some pom poms or adding some string for the leaves. Alternatively, you can use some art supplies to enhance the look. Add some glitter for a magical glow or paint in light and dark shades of green for different shades of leaves.
Creating a Bird’s Nest
Once you have completed your paper palm tree, why not create a bird’s nest inside the tree? For this, you will need some pipe cleaners and a bowl. Create the shape of a nest using the pipe cleaners, and place it in the bowl. Place the bowl carefully atop the tree using tape. This may take several attempts so be patient! Add some feathers or other materials to give your nest some realism.
Decorating the Tree
You can use your 3D paper palm tree as a decoration. To make it look even more beautiful, you can add some decorations to the tree in the form of ribbons, butterflies or flowers. You can also play around with different colours, or even glitter and sequins. Or, use some rocks, flowers and leaves to create a fun theme.
Arranging Pieces to Accentuate the Display
To highlight your paper palm tree, arrange pieces like small figurines or the items you used to decorate the tree around it. Place the items in a way so that they draw the viewer’s attention to the tree. If you placed the bird’s nest in the tree, you can arrange some plastic birds or plastic eggs around it.
Adding a Stand
If you do not wish to hang the 3D tree on the wall, you can use a plastic stand for the tree. These plastic stands are available online or at most craft stores and can make all the difference to your display. Be sure to choose a stand that is strong enough to hold the tree in its place.
Making Sunflowers
Sunflowers on a paper palm tree look great and bring a touch of colour to the scene. To make them, cut out yellow circles of paper and draw a spiral on each one. Attach them to the tree in two or three rows and a few inches apart. This can add some cheer and vibrant visual appeal to the display.
Making a Beach Hut Display
If you want to add more realism to your paper palm tree, you can make a beach hut around it. For this, use a few card stock sheets and some glue. Draw a beach hut design on the paper and cut it out. Stick the pieces together and attach it around the paper palm tree. To finish it off, add some sand and seashells around it.
