The Old Linden Tree

This is one of those crafts that is less of an afternoon project and more of a little building adventure. The finished tree is big, sturdy, and full of little spaces to discover, but getting there takes some time. There is cutting, taping, sculpting, paper mâché, painting, decorating, and quite a bit of waiting in between.

We built our tree around the homes of Alva, Bram, and Nori in Linden Land. But you absolutely do not have to recreate our version. Think of this tutorial as the basic building method. You can make your tree taller or wider, add more rooms, leave some spaces open, make a huge root system, or turn the whole thing into a completely different tree house. Let the shape of your boxes and your own imagination decide where it goes.

And one important thing before you begin: this craft needs patience. The paper mâché needs several days to dry, and depending on how wet your tree gets, it can take around a week. Do not be tempted to rush that part. A properly dry tree is much more satisfying than a beautifully painted tree that starts smelling suspiciously like a damp basement.