Miniature Faux Bonsai

A tiny bonsai tree that can be used to decorate a diorama, or be "potted" for a unique knickknack for your office desk!

aluminum foil

florist wire (or any thin wire)

hot glue

PVA glue (Elmer's glue, or Aileen's craft glue)

various acrylic paints

memory foam (less than a handful, can steal from couch if needed :D )

*optional : tiny beads to serve as fruit

Thin out the acrylic paint (with water) and dye the handful of memory foam with the color you would like your final result to be. Let dry for 8+ hours.

Unless you're doing pure white, try to make two or 3 different shades. It will add a lot to your final result.

Tear into tiny, tiny bits. Great project for little kids, or when you're watching TV.

(I tore some of mine into plump, cloudlike shapes, AND glue on the tiny, tiny bits to make lush, flowering boughs. Depending on the look you're going for, this step is not always necessary)

Roll up aluminum foil into a tube, and twist into into a tree shape. Squish the aluminum tightly, or your tree will be floppy and not hold up well.

(Larger trees might need additional support with wires, but one this size shouldn't need it)

Cut florist or thin wires into 1.5 or 2 inch pieces. Double them up and pierce through the aluminum tree. Arrange the limbs and branches to your liking.

Cover the entire tree with hot glue, including the branches. Try to make an uneven, bumpy surface.

If you want to be extra, use hot glue to make bumpy roots. It will look great as a bonsai, but not necessary.

Use a dark brown color to cover entire tree. Make sure to get into all the crevices.

If there are spots that are missing hot glue, fix it now, and continue.

Brush on a a lighter brown onto the bumpy parts, to give it a 3 dimension look.

(Also called dry brushing, if you want to YouTube it)

Using hot glue and/or PVA glue, glue the bits of memory foam onto branches to create a canopy or leafy bough..

Lightly drip watered-down PVA glue onto the foliage and let dry, 8+ hours.

Once dry, it should keep the memory foam together.

If you want, now's the time to sprinkle with beads or seeds to make fruit.

(The pic for this step shows Spanish moss for foliage, but is treated exactly the same.

All done!

Your tree is now ready to be used for dioramas, dollhouses, or desks. Hope you give it a try, and show me your work!

Oh and check out my Instagram. Let me know if there's something you would like me to make an Instructable for.

https://www.instagram.com/beamercraft/

**Bonus points if you recognize this scenery**