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 Post subject: loofah Trees
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 11:11 am 
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Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 6:51 pm
Posts: 706
So I'm venturing down the path to make my own loofah trees.

Does anyone have some tips on making them.
Such as:

Size to cut the loofah sponge down to.
How many trees do you get from a sponge.
The color of green paint to use.
Where to buy the raw loofah sponges.

Seems it is spelled a bunch of ways and a google search will bring up different sites depending on spelling.

Thanks,

Steve


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 Post subject: Re: loofah Trees
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 2:06 pm 
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Posts: 231
HI Steve,

I bought a big bag of loofah sponges on ebay... it has been years but I t-h-i-n-k it was from a pharmaceutical wholesale place. Much cheaper to buy in bulk. They arrived flat and then you soak them in water to get them back into shape. I get about 4-5 trees (depending on height of course) from each sponge "interior". You can save the outside cuttings for hedges and such. I usually mix a holly green or christmas tree green with a bit of black paint to dull it down a bit, and then stroke a brush with white paint on it down the edges to suggest snow tipped branches and then shake fine mica flakes or sometimes clear glass glitter in extra fine. When you soak the sponge and it opens up, you'll see a sort of star shaped interior. I cut away the outer edges where they don't attach to the "star", and then trim up the resulting piece, rounding the top until I have a tree shape. Sometimes I snip into the tree sides with cuticle scissors to lighten the branches a bit. Hope this helps, have fun! If I can find a link to a source I'll let you know.
Barb


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 Post subject: Re: loofah Trees
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 2:24 pm 
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Thanks..


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 Post subject: Re: loofah Trees
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 10:17 pm 
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Posts: 373
I just googled 'buy loofah' and found several sources. I bought mine from China - very inexpensive and free shipping. 3 loofah were under $5.00. Mine came whole and then I cut them up like mentioned above. I shaped the trees and soaked them, before putting them in a ziploc with dark green paint and a little water. I massaged the paint into the trees, stuck a toothpick up the center of the tree and dried it by sticking it in a piece of styrofoam. There are directions for making the trees, I believe, on Ted's old site. There is a link on this forum but I just google it. PS : rubber gloves are a big help.


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 Post subject: Re: loofah Trees
PostPosted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 12:13 pm 
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Here's the link to the original article our friend Tom Hull wrote...

http://www.cardboardchristmas.com/papateds/fixtree.html

Here's my method...it's almost identical to all the others...

Luffa...trim to size and shape...I use pinking shears for random edges...

Trunk...bamboo skewer,  bamboo floral stake or natural twig...sharpen tip and glue in luffa...let dry...

Note...I usually paint bamboo skewers and floral stakes with several shades of brown paint to look like tree bark...

I immerse luffa area into soupy green paint and swirl around for total coverage...shake off excess and blot...let dry...kinda messy...i wear dollar store disposable gloves...I keep the trunk longer than needed...makes a good handle while working on the tree...

Brush on the white paint snow area and add glitter or mica...glue in red berry...let dry...

Trim trunk to length and glue in place on base...

Here's where I got my luffa...it's been at least 18 months since I ordered...so I can't be sure if vendor is still selling them...This is all the contact info I have...

Chris Blumenstock

chris@luffa.info

http://www.luffa.info

Howard...

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 Post subject: Re: loofah Trees
PostPosted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 5:27 pm 
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You can still buy from Chris. I purchased a really BIG Egyptian luffa from him last Fall for only $8.95. Free s&h! You can pay right online through his PayPal link. Great guy. He keeps in good touch through email. He's the best priced that I could find as well. :) When you go to his site, press the link that says "where to buy loofah and seeds", that's his buy now button page. I got some seeds from him too and I'm planting some this year and see what happens. Good luck Steve! Hope to see some of your loofah creations soon sir.

Will

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 Post subject: Re: loofah Trees
PostPosted: Thu Apr 21, 2016 3:02 pm 
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so I stopped by a local drug store, and they had 6" loofahs for $1.75.

I bought a couple to try my had at making some trees.

I read tom's instructions on Ted's archive.

I'm still confused as how to trim them down right.

My understanding is you don't use the outside, as it's too dense.

I'm trying to duplicate a smallish tree on a house I'm doing a repro of.

I don't see how the tree was cut out of a loofah.

The trees on the old house are only maybe an inch or inch and a half tall.

Any good tips to cut one of these things down?

Steve


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Note: All content on this forum is Copyright (c) 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 by Paul D. Race
and by the posters who have contributed specific content. All material is for your personal use only. No content
or plans may be republished or sold, nor may any plans be used to make products to sell without prior written
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