Beaded Bonsai - Detailed Step by Step Master Classes with Photo Examples and Ideas

Today it is difficult to answer the question of who and when first started using plants to decorate the house. According to archaeological excavations, the first flower pots appeared in China about five thousand years ago. Apparently to this period belongs the first placement of plants in homes.

The second surge of interest in green apartment decoration refers to the end of the 16th century, the era of the colonial conquests. Along with spices, precious metals and stones, exotic fruits and flowers began to arrive in Europe.

Greenhouses began to appear at the courts of royalty and high aristocracy. At first, only fruit trees were placed there, but later decorative flowers and plants began to appear. Some plants, particularly liked by their owners, were given a "residence" in the bedrooms and dining rooms of nobles and kings.

Since then, indoor plants have become an integral part of interior design, not only homestead plots, but urban apartments.

Bonsai

East as we know is a delicate matter. According to legend, the Emperor of China ordered his subjects to create a miniature replica of his empire in the palace. Executing the will of the lord, were created mountains, rivers, lakes, meadows and dwarf living trees. The court gardeners achieved this effect by regulating the root system of the plants.

A few centuries later, together with Buddhist monks, dwarf trees came to Japan and the art of growing miniature plants received a new impetus. Today, trees grown by Japanese gardeners are considered to be more graceful than Chinese ones.

Since then, the art of growing miniature analogues of giant plants has become extremely popular around the world. Who wouldn't want to have an exact replica of an oak, pine, baobab or sequoia in their apartment? After all, the maximum height of a bonsai tree is one meter twenty centimeters, and the smallest barely grow to five!

Products with beads

To grow a real bonsai tree is a long time. You have to wait at least four years until the seed germinates and forms a strong trunk. Skilled craftsmen have found a simple way out - instead of waiting for years and laborious care - just make a beautiful miniature model of a bonsai tree with your own hands from beads, using improvised material.

Materials

Before starting work, it is necessary to prepare:

ordinary copper wire or a special base for decorative work;
beads in brown and green, preferably in different shades;
glue and thread;
scissors and wire cutters;
small containers and plaster;
paint and a brush;
Decorative details to the taste of the master.

Making a miniature consists of several stages. Consider each of them.

Leaf .

Depending on what kind of tree you are going to make, depends on the color of the beads for the inflorescences. So, for maple need to be red and yellow tones of material, for the birch earrings need brown and gold, well, for sakura - pinkish tones.

There are many ways of weaving, but for beginners it is better to use the simplest types of work, such as the looped version of making crafts. Simple does not mean primitive, this way you can decorate a luxurious tree crown.

Actions for making leaves will be as follows:

On one end of a half-meter wire string eight beads of green color;
The basis of scroll a couple of times and make a loop;
perform the same operation on the other end of the wire;
The final result should be eight loops;
Twist the ends of the wire;
Leave the ends - about ten centimeters, and cut off the excess.

We have formed a leaf, for the whole tree will need to make a hundred or fifty similar blanks.

Branch .

Continuing to consider the scheme of weaving a tree bonsai from beads. Three leaves are taken and twisted into one piece. In total, it will be necessary to make up to fifty leaf buds. The resulting bunches are wrapped with threads, getting the base of the sprigs.

Two branches are connected and again wrapped with threads. Attach all made branches to a larger.

Crown .

You wrap the made small twigs in a thick wire, up to fifteen centimeters long.

Connecting two or three "bundles" of leaves, we form a large branch. You will need to make a total of four or five branches, which are then attached to the trunk. It is necessary for the branches to have different shapes (this can easily be achieved by bending the wire to one side or another) and to have different numbers of leaves on them. This will give the maximum naturalness to the made tree.

The number of branches, their shape and location on the trunk depends on the taste of the master and how lush a tree crown he wants to get as a result.

Trunk

The formation of the tree should start with the top. The trunk should thicken downwards. This will make the entire structure stable. Thicker wire is woven into the thin wire, which gives a natural look to the tree. Covering the wire with floral tape also contributes to the thickening.

Even more in line with nature will give the trunk a coating of gypsum mortar. Do not forget about the design - add bends, knots, hollows.

The plaster should dry properly, and then it should be covered with paint and varnish.

Placing the tree

The beautiful workpiece is ready. Now you need to "plant" it in a pot. Instead of soil, a solution of gypsum should be prepared and then:

The container is covered with cellophane and the solution is poured into it;
"Plant" the tree and hold until the plaster "seizes";
As long as the plaster has not hardened completely, you can draw the roots that protrude above the ground, for this you will need a match or any wooden stick;
the hardened plaster is covered with paint;
The container in which the tree is placed should also be painted.

The miniature in the oriental style is almost ready, a few finishing touches are left.

Decorating

Look at the Internet master classes with step-by-step photos on decorating bonsai from beads.

You can see very original options. It is suggested to "sprinkle" on the "soil" colorful beads, thereby decorating the grass under the tree or "scatter" small stones.

No less effective looks placing under the miniature tree of flowers, mushrooms, shells or figures of cute animals.

Different types of trees

The scheme for creating a bonsai plant is the same for any kind of tree. Only the types of weaving leaves and buds differ.

The steps outlined above are suitable for making all types of plants. Keep in mind, the fact that all trees, sooner or later covered with flowers. If you wish to make a flowering tree, you must first choose a species, carefully examine the picture, so as not to make a mistake with the shape and color of the petals.

Having the general skill of decorating a bonsai tree, it will already not be very difficult to make the petals of a delicate pink sakura, ruby berries of cranberry or delicate birch earrings.