Monday, September 28, 2009

Ghost Tree


I live on top of a mountain that is covered in a tree that we call Scrub Oak.
I wiki'd that term and found that it's kind of a blanket name given to several varieties of 'shrubby oak' - not some special tree that is only found here in Utah. Damn.

Anyway, these tree's are twisty and knotty and have very thin trunks. They don't get tall - instead they spread wide. Clumps of them cover everything.
Personally, I'd love to have them in my yard, they are so natural feeling! but they were bulldozed when my house was built. Which makes me feel sort of awful.
Anyway, some of my neighbors have them in their yard, and many of them have removed them. Didn't work with the landscaping, I suppose.
A house around the corner from me had 4 of them laying on their curb, dead and twisty and absolutely perfect for a Halloween Tree.

I mentioned it to the husband.
"I really want to take one of those tree's and make a Halloween thing with it..." I wheedled, nonchalantly.
Must have been too nonchalant. It didn't work. He ignored me. A week passed, then two.
Finally, I stopped on my way home from dropping the girl off at school, lowered my tailgate and threw the dead tree in.

At home I sprayed it off with the "jet" setting on my hose and let it lay on the lawn to dry. Then I sprayed it down with black spray paint.
After it was painted i used a hacksaw to cut the roots at the bottom off.
Oh, and next time I will cut the roots off BEFORE I paint - because I was covered in black spray paint afterwards.

I took all the dead flowers out of one of the large pots on my front steps, and jammed the tree in as far as it would go.

Then I made 4 cute little ghosties out of wooden craft balls and white quilters cotton.


(easiest thing ever - I just put little white hair elastics around their necks.)

I drew faces on with a sharpie.
One is happy, one is sad, two are surprised, or confused or...something.

Lastly, I took the piece of 1x4 I had left from the coat hook mirror and cut it in two - giving them both angled cuts to help them look more Halloween-y and spray painted them with Rustoleum Paprika. Then I made them say "Boo" and "Eek" and added some cutesy to them.

I love the way it turned out!

17 comments:

gail@My Repurposed Life said...

cute! everyone is getting ready for fall! I'm so behind.

gail

Rachelle said...

Cute! I love the size of it. I've seen so many ghost trees and spooky trees and this ones by far the largest. I like that! :) Way to go! I sound like a parent on the sidelines. Geesh.

:) Thanks for sharing!
Rachelle

Shannon said...

Love it! I did a bat project, and I think I may use the left over bat cut-outs to make something like this. Great job! If you get a chance stop by tomorrow, I am hosting a Halloween Blog party, and details are coming tomorrow!

Astrid in Bristling Acres said...

Oooooo! I love your Halloween tree! Hmmm..I'm going to find a tree branch...and I think spray painting it is a great idea! I usually make a Halloween tree (but with lots of branches & not painted) but I think perhaps it's time to try something new.

Jennifer Juniper said...

I fill my front porch with trees like this but perch creepy black crows in the branches and some cobwebs...creepy!

Ashlee said...

These are so cute. I made them once but with colored bandanas. Thanks for stopping by my blog and for the sweet comment.

I signed up as a follower and would love if you did the same!

~Ashlee @ Workman Witticisms

Roeshel said...

So cute! I love it! It's really windy here and I picked up a branch out of the yard yesterday...it'd be perfect for something like this! Thanks for the inspiration!

Thanks for joining in on the fun at the Fall Festival too! ;)

Roeshel

Enchantresses Three said...

Adorible!! I will be copying you!
Thanks for the inspiration! P.S.~ Love you blog!
Hugs,
Sariah

Miss Mustard Seed said...

Very cute and easy. Thanks for sharing.

Kate Kubler said...

please add my party button so others will know where to join the fun! Thanks girl!

Beth@The Stories of A to Z said...

I love this! So cute.

Laurel @ Ducks in a Row said...

I love this. I really love that it is in a pot - so different than just hanging them on a tree in your yard!

michelle@somedaycrafts said...

fun. fun. fun.

Gina said...

What a cute idea-and how fun to take someone's cast off and reuse it!

2sisters said...

Darling! It was fun to read your comment on our blog then pop over to see we are from the same place. My husband and I just moved to St. George from West Jordan last year. Micki and I (the 2sisters) are both Aries as well :)

Lacie @ Creative Attempts said...

You totally inspired me I made a spooky tree of my own and posted it on my blog!! Thanks a ton

Kimberly said...

So, I'm totally stealing this idea today....
Mine has less branches and is smaller..but I think it'll still be cute..it's drying right now.

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