This is the first post of my now completed paper mache tree project :) This post contains affiliate links (see bottom of post for explanation). Hope you had a merry christmas and didn't eat as much food as I did! The day after a big one, I always absolutely crave to get creative. My mind spins with possibilities for some reason, and choosing one project is almost too hard. But I have been working on a project in my girls' room, with hopes of painting a mural in there too. We have only been living in our house for three years, and there is sooooo much I want to do with it. I have decided to tackle one room at a time so it doesn't seem so overwhelming. Who knows if I'll stick to the plan! Usually I'll hang out in a space and ideas will conjure up and slowly I plan and plan and dream until they become reality. I know exactly what I want to do in each room, to the exact details of fabric colours and finishes, shelf sizes etc etc.. it's almost for me there is no thinking about 'what to do', the ideas just flow to me easily. If I wasn't an artist I think my next line of work would be interior design; although I would die if people just wanted neutral.. colour and quirk would be my specialty! After all, I have painted my whole house in a mustard yellow colour... looks a bit full on at the moment, but I swear I DO have plans! Anyway, I digress, a big paper mache tree is one of my works in progress at the moment. Ever since I borrowed the book Bedtime Without Arthur from the library it inspired me to start this project, as I would really love to paint a mural around the tree sort of in this style. I love all the flowing lines, contrast and colours in Jessica Meserve's illustrations. Bedtime Without Arthur This is the illustration in the book that inspired me to make a forest theme in my girls' bedroom. Isn't it just so lovely? And so, the chicken wire frame is complete and we are now busy paper macheing paper to it using the most simple to make kid safe glue.. plain flour and water! No cooking required! It's great to get the kids involved as flour and water wipe up easily so I don't get too stressed out about the mess. Washes out of clothes easily too. Fun. So, once it's all covered in paper I will paint it and add painted branches to the walls, and a bunch of other stuff too. Of course, it's already all planned out in my head... Update: This project is now finished. You can view the progress blog posts using the links below: Progress shots: http://julesmadden.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/happy-tree-project.html The completed tree: http://julesmadden.blogspot.com.au/2016/03/the-happy-forest-paper-mache-tree.html And then, the tree moved to a different room! https://julesmadden.blogspot.com/2018/11/home-decorating-for-kids-my-daughters.html Jules :) *Affiliate Information: Affliliate links help me earn small commissions on products (at no extra cost to you), which helps support my love of blogging and sharing creative things. I only ever recommend or link to products that I'm genuinely into.