cardboard Bonsai Tree

Searching for a nice looking gift ?
Never managed to keep your Bonsai trees alive?
I will show you how to make your very own corrugated cardboard Bonsai Tree.
All you need is a big cardboard box, a paper cutting knife and the strength to wield it, some dried flowers and finally some paper glue.

Step 1: Getting started

Once you have gathered all the stuff you need to craft your tree you should try to think of a shape you might like
and make a sketch of it.
If you are having a hard time thinking of a nice shape , try to google images of Bonsai trees for inspiration ;) .

Comments

[jawasan]

Got my vote! Love this...my father manages to kill bonsai....this will be perfect with the sand garden! Thanks for putting this up.

[Muhaiminah Faiz]

This is brilliant. :) Voted, favorited and following!

[HelenaTroy]

I love the idea of this, thank you!

I've never been fond of real bonsai - doesn't feel right to me to force something to be other than what it's meant to be by nature. I can admire what it looks like, but now how it was made to look that way.

This is a perfect "kind" way to get the same effect, which I'll be trying as soon as I've gathered materials and worked out a design or six!

[Alaskan Bev]

What a beautiful idea for a one-of-a-kind project! Thanks for sharing this. My husband is a biologist and I thought he would love a (real) bonsai tree, but even the award-winners at the State Fair did not excite him a bit. However, I'm going to have my students make them, and will post pictures in a month or two. Happy New Year!

[s4loking]

nice , i am exited to see these pictures

[afnunez]

Thank you for this amazing project!
I'm trying to made my own. I'm doing two styles. One of them based on your model. They aren't done yet, just have the body. But i'll do a Zen Garden. It will be perfect with my japanese fish aquarium.
I'll post the photos when I finish it.

Gratz for the project! ;]

[afnunez]

The thickness of my cardboard is different, so I need more layers. It makes harder to do but the final visual effect is a softer bonsai trunk.
Here's another tip. ;)

[s4loking]

nice!! what are you going to attach for the leaves?

[s4loking]

actually the one you took for inpiration is made out of thick and thin layers ;)

[sheryle]

did the person who was going to add the paper mache post so I know if it works? My cardboard tree looks like a cardboard tree, I don't know what I am doing wrong, But I think would look better covered with mache to look like an actual tree. I think the problem is that I am having problems with the shapes. Great idea!!!!

[sheryle]

Great tutorial. I was wondering if you paper mache around the cardboard to look more like actual tree bark if it would talk away from your idea. Great Idea Love it.

[sabu.dawdy]

beautiful

[linrodann]

Oh, I love it!

[Thrasym]

Cool project. I think I'll try it with paper leaves or vertical pieces for the trunk...hrm...the ideas are flowing.

[rshadoan]

very nice!

[Eriko11MG]

this is so cool but do you have any ideas on how you could cover up the extra holes

[s4loking]

take a look at ClayOgre´s comment

[Miscelinious]

I managed to forget my plants in my dorm over winter break. I'm expecting them to be very dead when i get back to them (a month later.) I'm going to make this instead of maintaining live plants now. xD Thanks~

[Klappstuhl]

So going to do that, but I'll use wood instead of cardboard. Finally a decorative plant my cat can't destroy!

[s4loking]

let me see your results!

[ORP66]

Awesome !!!!

[ClayOgre]

Hmmm, I wonder if one could combine the technique from your instructable, with that of this one  to perhaps make the trees look more realistic.

[s4loking]

Should work,
are you going to try it?

[ClayOgre]

It's a thought, but I have something like 600+ other instructables that I'm interested in.

[HelenaTroy]

lol you and me both! I keep a folder in my "favourites" for Instructables that I want to follow up - already got several hundred in. But got to make space for this one, too

[chris2259]

My daughter makes tree designs on walls. I think she will love this tree so I make it for her.

[banzaikiziah]

Dang this is absolutely awesome!!! I'll definitely be making one in the New Year. Thanks for the sweet idea man!

[Carlos Marmo]

I loved it!
Obtained Very, with very little!

[bajablue]

This is fabulous! Alternative: scrap wood and a jig saw would produce waterproof results.

[salabim]

This wonderful present (from the creators of this idea and model) has already got a place for to be seen and admired every day. Many, many thanks!

[dsoul]

Great!

[gingersnapxtz]

Very nice, creative way to reuse or re purpose items that you may have around the house.

[emilyvanleemput]

looks great!

[ChrysN]

That looks amazing. great job!

[raiderdk]

Nice, definitelly i'll try it, i'll use software to trace slices, but idea is brilliant.

[Penolopy Bulnick]

That is really neat! I can't believe you free handed it!

[marcellahella]

this is too cool!