Materials:

two sheets newsprint, kraft paper or newspaper
1/4-inch-thick foam board*
craft knife
pencil
ruler
scissors
green acrylic paint
gold acrylic paint
optional :
- sea sponge - one piece approximately one inch in diameter
- boat sponge - one piece approximately 1-1/2" x 2"
- gold furniture tacks

*You will need a piece of the foam board large enough to cut two trees.

1. Cut a piece of kraft paper, newsprint or a newspaper as high and as wide as you would like your tree to be. Fold paper in half lengthwise and draw a line from the fold at the top to the lower corner at the outside edge (figure A). Cut out along this line. This triangle is your tree pattern.

2. Place the open pattern on the foam board and trace around. Turn the pattern upside down (figure B) and trace again. Cut out along these lines using a sharp knife blade. Note: When cutting the foam make three cuts. Cut the first time to score through the top layer of card stock. Cut the second time to cut through the foam and cut the third time to cut through the back layer of card stock.

3. In order to fit the two trees together you will need to cut a slit in the center of each tree . . . one going from the top down and the other going from the bottom up. To determine the length, width and placement, use your paper pattern again. Fold the pattern in half lengthwise as you drew it then fold the top down to the bottom edge. Crease along the horizontal fold. This will be the halfway mark. Unfold.

4. With the pattern still folded in half lengthwise (figure C) and, using a ruler, draw a line from the horizontal crease straight down to the bottom of the tree and 1/8 inch away from the fold (figure D). Using a craft knife and ruler, cut out along this line. When the pattern is opened you should have a 1/4-inch opening down the center (figure E).

5. Place pattern on one of the foam trees, trace around the center opening slit, remove pattern then cut out the slit using a ruler and sharp craft knife. Before you cut the entire slit, check to be certain that it is wide enough to fit over another piece of foam.

6. You will now need to cut a similar slit in the other tree but this one will need to go from the center crease to the top of the tree. You can use the original pattern and simply place it upside down or, if this is too tricky, cut another paper pattern and cut the center slit from the center crease up to the top.

7. When both trees are cut, put them together to make certain that they fit perfectly and that the tree sits flat on the table. If it is necessary to make any adjustments in the center slit, now is the time to do it.

8. To make the side slits to hold the cards, determine how far apart you want them and mark the foam accordingly. Our tree has the slits two inches apart and comfortably holds 26 cards, although it could easily have had the slits closer so it would hold twice as many. Or make the tree taller. To cut the slits, place a long ruler along one side of the tree and, starting two inches from the bottom, mark 3/4-inch lines two inches apart up the full length of the tree (figure F). Make the lines so they are perpendicular to the ruler. When the tree is standing, the lines should be at an angle. Check this before you start to cut. Repeat the marking down both sides of the tree.

9. On the second tree, make the marks in the same manner, but this time start by marking the first slit one inch up from the bottom rather than two inches (figure G). Continue to mark the slits two inches apart the full length of the tree. Repeat on the other side. When the tree is put together, the slits will alternate.

10. Paint and decorate the tree pieces as desired. Our tree was sponge-painted with green paint and, when dry, a sea sponge was used to add gold paint "ornaments" (figure H). Paint down the sides of the tree to eliminate the stark white of the exposed foam (figure I). Before assembling the tree, check all of the side slits to make certain none were painted over. If necessary, open them with your craft knife.

11. Add a row of furniture tacks down the sides of the tree for added decoration and to give it a more finished look. We also added a star cut from gold craft mesh (figure J). It is held in place with one of the furniture tacks, which goes through it (figure K).