Hello Craftberry Bush friends, it’s Annie from Zevy Joy this week and I am so happy to be here with you sharing how to make a faux olive tree. I love displaying greenery throughout our home whatever season it may be. I typically use fake plants and flowers as I do not have the greenest (indoor) thumb and occasionally I will buy pretty market flowers.
Whether fake or real, plants can get pricey. Even pricier are the larger plants or trees and as it may be, I have had an olive tree on my wish list for a while now.
Growing up, we had a large beautiful olive tree in our backyard with a garden full of sweet smelling roses. It sure is funny how projects can stir up such fond memories! I never realized how fortunate we were to have had this beauty right there in our backyard and how much I would enjoy the chance to walk through that magical garden one more time…
It keeps me yearning for those lovely reminders of childhood and a tree of our own; yet it just continues to be outside of our means. So I thought a bit about it and decided if I couldn’t buy one, I would make one.
Better yet, I would make one that would last as long as I needed it to!
Here is how you can too…
- You will need faux olive branches (I used 5), masking tape, brown floral tape, floral foam (I used a half sphered shape), wooden dowels (sized similarly to the branch stems), a bucket or pot and dark stone granules (I was able to find this at the craft store).
- First, you will use your masking tape to bunch and hold all the stems together. I varied the positions, placing some branches higher than others.
- As you continue to tape the stems together you will add the wooden dowels to the end lengths of the stems. This will lengthen/support the branches so that you can make them into a tree trunk. Finish taping around both the stems and the dowels all the way to the end.
- Trim off the ends of the dowels so that they are pointed and can easily pierce the floral foam. I was able to do this with scissors and it does not need to be perfectly even. I think this helps keep the dowels planted into the foam a bit better.
- Take your brown floral tape and tightly wrap it around the masking tape (covering it all). This tape is sticky as you handle it and it grasped the masking tape perfectly.
- Position your half sphered floral foam and carefully push it into your bucket or pot. I was able to use a bucket I already had that fit the shape perfectly. You should be able to cut it down though if you didn’t have a perfect fit.
- Pierce the foam with your newly formed trunk (using the pointed dowels). Push it in far enough so that it holds secure.
- Lastly, you will cover the foam with the dark stone granules so as to create the illusion of dirt. As a reminder, you will want to be careful as this is messy and something you would not want pets or children getting into if it is sitting on the floor.
There you have it! This was simple, cost half the price or more and I am really enjoying the finished result. I hope you will too!
As always, there are many ways to vary this project. I think it would be wonderful to use faux cherry blossom branches or at Christmas time, make a simplified version of a Christmas tree…
A tree or topiary of this nature fills a space without needing much more. Paired next to a chair and some old books it makes the perfect combination.
Please let me know if you try it out and thank you again for having me Lucy!
Great craft, I love this!
Thank you so much Christine! I am glad you enjoyed it!
Looks so realistic Great job
http://soldenochedecocrochet.blogspot.com.ar/
Cintia thank you very much!
The tree looms awesome, and it looks real, great job.
Have a blessed day!
Pamela I am glad you think so – thanks so much! And same to you!
This is so pretty. I usually do not like fake trees, but you made this one believable. It gives me inspiration.
Tonia thank you. I completely understand and am glad to hear that this one looks real. I was hoping to achieve that look. I appreciate it!
What a wonderful idea and thanks for sharing! Where would I be able to buy the olive branches? Thanks
Hi Susan, great question! I was able to find these braches at my local Michaels Craft Store. I believe there are versions online too. I love being able to use coupons or sales at the craft stores as this sure does help with the cost too! Thank you so much.
Thank you for the reply! Now off to purchase them. So wonderful to see diy’s that make such a impact within our homes!
This is gorgeous; what a clever idea. Cheers, Ardith
Ardith thank you very much – I appreciate you stopping by and commenting too!
Cute! Thank you for sharing:) I noticed you have olive tree branches in a vase on your mantle. Did you make those as well?
Hi Karrie, thank you very much! I was actually able to buy these branches that I have in the vase and used for the tree at my local Michael’s Craft Store. I am pretty sure there may be versions online too.
Hi Lucy. I just discovered your blog last week and can’t wait to read it from the beginning. Today I bought seven olive branches at Pier One for 98 cents each (regularly $13 each) and plan to make the tree. Thanks for the great idea and I know I am going to enjoy your blog very much.
What an excellent idea! I’ve been looking at these on Ballard forever, but as you said, they were way too expensive. I can’t wait to try this Annie!
Hello!!
Love your olive tree tutorial and currently working on making me one now!!
Can you tell me the overall height of yours?? Struggling to determine height to make it look as realistic as yours.
Thanks!!
Sarah
Hi! I love this tree and would
Love to make it. Can you tell me how long the rods were you bought for the stem???