set crafting...

much of my personal crafting (and pretty much all other hobbies) took a back seat for about a week as I worked to create the set for our school’s One Book, One School production, which this year was “The great Kapok tree” by Lynn Cherry. The drama teacher and I work together on the project, and since I’m not a bit skilled in directing or choreographing plays, but am relatively crafty, I’m in charge of costumes and the set.

After brainstorming (and the suggestions of a few very creative parents), the 18’ high tree started to take shape. I spent lots of hours using felt, fabric, floral wire and hot glue (lots and lots of hot glue), to make oversized leaves that would stand upright. Got everything assembled, and a trunk made and covered with brown craft paper, with the help of the students and Harry (those branches required power tools to attach!). The Kindergarten classes made a variety of animals, including lots of butterflies, which I placed all over the tree, and added some vines and tissue paper flowers as well.













Also rolled up green craft paper to create oversized grass, and hot glued some oversized flowers (made from 2 liter soda bottles and painted) to sticks from around my yard. This part of the display has already been moved into the library as part of the backdrop for our spring book display (as seen in the photo).










All I need now is to take some of the branches off so I can relocate the tree to the library. I’ve already scoped out a spot, and have had many people tell me we should make sure to keep the tree. After all that work, it’s definitely staying! I’d been wanting some type of tree in the library for some time, and it also goes along really well with the décor, which is student artwork (since we’re a visual and performing arts school).