Haunted Forrest (Single Trees) 2010

The following was not a single project but rather many smaller projects during the course of several years.

(I haven’t many photographs to share as my last computer crashed and so with it, the majority of the photographs that I had saved. I apologize.)

Annually, I have, as part of my display, a “Haunted Forrest” of sorts where I generally place the graveyard. Each year I make new trees for it. It consists of about a half dozen to a dozen trees, depending on the space that I have to work with.

I prefer to use real tree branches because not only does it look more natural and “believable” but because they hold up better throughout the month, especially during inclement weather. A real tree won’t crumble apart if the heavens open up with a little wind and rain … or snow.

These trees are quite popular and out of all of the props that I make for Halloween, (for myself and for holiday parties) these are among the most requested.

However, due to the fact that I use actual tree branches, (and they are not easy to store in terms of space) most people don’t keep them after the conclusion of their Halloween parties. I truly believe that somewhere there is a sanitation worker with an entire collection of my work that s/he found out on the curb on the first trash day after Halloween! Lol.

These trees are fairly easy to make and depending on how much detail one prefers (in addition to quantity), they can be made in a relatively short period of time – a few hours or a few days, depending on time constraint or restrictions due to other obligations.

These are among my favourite props to create because no two trees are ever alike, as following the pattern of nature.

I begin by gathering the tree branches that I will be using. I select them carefully. I generally spend about a few hours’ time during a nice, warm day and take a walk into the woods to find the perfect trees.

On this particular branch I will be creating a spider web.

I have taken a spool of twine and tied it around the base of one of the branches. While I will use a variety of “strings” such as, sewing thread, fishing wire, guitar strings, twine, and rope, et cetera, I like the thicker twine for outdoor use because it’s a tad easier to work with and it holds up well in the elements. It is also relatively inexpensive.

Depending on the branch structure and stem (spacing) I will either use one long piece of twine or cut the twine into little pieces to tie and twist onto different stems. On this particular tree I did both.

Here I am tying the string again to the base after having wrapped an initial thread to different branches to create the innermost and outermost rings of my web.

A slightly easier method is to create the spider web first and then attach it to the tree. I have webbed a few trees utilizing both methods: creating the web first, and tying it to the tree, and creating the web as I go along.

The web is halfway to complete.

After I secure the outer and inner layers of the web I affix the strings permanently into place with hot glue. This will ensure that the web does not come loose while additional work on it is being completed.

After I glue the outer strings into place, I use spider webbing (often found in retail stores in their seasonal departments among the Halloween decorations, between August and October) and stretch it out over the web, obverse and reverse.

This too can be glued into place if so desired.

With the web entirely complete and glued into place, I spray paint parts of it (for colour).

I used a basic indoor/outdoor spray enamel for the base coat: Color Décor® Indoor/Outdoor Spray Enamel in a “Gloss White”, and a “Gloss Black”. Then I added highlights using Krylon® Shortcuts® Hobby & Craft Paint in “Gloss White”, “Iris”, “Flat Black”, “Hunter Green”, "Sun Yellow", “Gold Leaf” and “Chrome.” I added a few additional highlights with Rust-oleum® Painter’s Touch (Primer and Paint) in “Gloss Deep Blue” and sprayed a very thin coat of Krylon® Glowz® (Glow In The Dark) over the web and the outer edges of the tree.

I then add some finishing touches of a spider (which I glue into place) and paint the strings with Americana®. “Glow In The Dark” craft paint.

These spiders can be found in almost any retail outlet in the months close to Halloween, just like the webbing. I purchased this one at Dollar Tree®.

This is the finished product (the spider web tree) complete with ravens and a bat.

This tree was one of they that I made this year previous (2014).

A semi-close-up of the spider web tree.

Unfortunately I forgot to take any close-ups of the trees when photographing my Halloween display this past year (2014). This photograph was the best that I could find to demonstrate how it (spider web tree) appears under the lighting. It is in the back, against the siding, behind the other handmade props.

These were trees that I made a few years prior (2012).

These trees had leaves on them whereas others that I have made did not. I love the beauty of the dried leaves on the trees because it appears more natural (and under proper lighting provides an eerie effect) but such branches are difficult to work with due to the fragility of the leaves.

I used the same method (as shown previously) however I used different colours of spray paint for these particular trees than I did for the others. For these trees I used mainly Krylon® Shortcuts® Hobby & Craft Paint in “Gloss White” “Flat Black”, “Hunter Green”, “Gold Leaf” and “Chrome.” Although I did add a few slight accents of “Iris” and “Ocean Blue” as well but only in sporadic places.

Because these were to travel (for a Halloween party) I did not affix any accents (spiders or bats et cetera) until on location.

A close-up of the spider web on this tree. (2012)

Another photogrpah of a few of the Haunted Forrest trees from a few years prior (2012).

The crown and the glory … The Tree (2012).

This tree was to be the centre attraction of sorts for the entire haunted forrest that year.

This one was complete with lights and additional branches – purple and black glittered willow branches (décor for indoor use that I decided would look great as part of this fixture, that I purchased at Michael’s®.) – and even a spider spinning above an apple. She was a beauty.

This particular tree visited three different residences that year and it held up very well during the traveling despite its slightly awkward nature (it was not easy to transport). I still have this tree albeit it has not been used it since 2012. I may use it this year after I complete a few minor repairs needed due to storage.