DIY Truffula Trees! (Dr. Seuss's The Lorax)

Appropriately enough, my last post was about New Year's resolutions of which I am realizing I never actually made (for myself).  Here's my Spring time resolution: remember to take photos and post more often. Here's the first step to accomplishing that goal!

I recently helped host a Dr Seuss themed party.  As center pieces for the party I had this idea to make Truffula trees and place them in bottle 'vases.'  Personally, I think it turned out pretty cute.  Here's what I did (sort of step by step... that whole taking photos as I go thing is a work in progress).

Ok, so I will be honest about the fluffy top material- it's about $5 for 6 feet. When you are doing just a few and you want multiple colors you're going to end up with some left overs.  If you are a cost-aware teacher (I love my bargins) you might want to make a whole bunch of trees, or at least go to the store with one of those 40% off coupons AC Moore and Michael's always has out.



Materials:

• Dowels (I used 1/2" thick, 3ft dowels)
• White paint (small bottle of 'craft' paint)
• 1 inch foam brush
• Glue gun and glue sticks 
• Something to cut your dowels (I used a little saw and cutting box made for dowels)
• Marabou Boa medium weight 
• Black marker (Sad to say, my trusty Sharpies failed on this one.  Mr. Sketch worked perfectly though!)
• Some sort of working surface you can dispose of (I used a large poster board), the feathers will get messy!

Step 1: Cut the dowels to 18".
Step 2: Paint the dowels with two coats of white paint.  The stems need to be bright white.
Step 3: (When the paint is dry) Use a black marker and make zig-zag esk rings randomly around the stem.
Step 4: Cut the Marabou boa into 8 inch sections.  Glue one end of the piece to the top of the stem.  Twist and wrap the piece around the stem and attach with dots of hot glue to make it stick but remain 'fluffy.'

 Step 5: Repeat with other colors until you're work space looks a little like Big Bird and friends may have exploded and you have something like this:

I used my Truffula trees for a party so they were added to these vases and Seuss-esk ribbon was added around. To finish off the tables, Seuss books were added next to each vase.  My trees are currently sitting in a tall, shiny metal 'vase' (bucket) in my classroom, appropriately being 'recycled.'

And just think, this is pretty close to planting that last Truffula seed!

I am Ms. C and I speak for the crafters of these trees! (Hopefully you're picking up on the Lorax spin-off quote).