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BenBun was helping me order edible ornaments from the online rabbit catalogs when he sighed and said, "Why don't they make a whole tree that bunnies can eat?" What a clever boy he is! So we got to work to build a SantaBunTree that you might have fun recreating for your rabbits.
 BenBun with his Sled
(Photo courtesy of his Mom, Sharon.)
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Materials we worked with:
- Large sheets of clean, double-thick corrugated cardboard
- Cookie cutter-style simple Christmas tree shape for a pattern
- Exacto-knife or safety blade to cut thick cardboard
- Drill with 1/4-inch bit (optional)
- Natural raffia, hemp, cotton, and linen twines and ropes
- Paper lace doilies
- Food colors (optional)
- Selection of *small* edible ornaments and rabbit-safe bells from your
favorite rabbit and bird toy suppliers
- Fresh grasses and herbs, raw O/G cranberries, dried O/G apple rings,
processed (cleaned, heated) pine cones
The tree:
On clean, double-thick cardboard, draw a basic
"cookie cutter"-style Christmas tree outline about 18-24 inches high. This
height makes a nice tree for the five-to-six-pound rabbit set; adjust size
for your rabbits. Our favorite design is a simple, chunky tree with a wide
base for upright stability and just three branch levels. Omit the trunk so
that the tree sits on its wide lowest branches. Cut out two tree-shape
panels. (Note: if you have only single-thick cardboard, cut four panels and
layer two together; hold them in place as they are assembled, or use a dab
of non-toxic glue). Measure carefully from top to bottom and mark the
halfway point on each panel.
To prepare attachment sites for ornaments and garlands
(it is easier do this before assembling the cut tree panels):
1. Drill 1/4-inch holes at the tree branch points
and numerous others at random; and/or
2. Slice Xs and straight slits (about 1/2 inch)
to poke ornament ties through.
To assemble tree, cut vertically from the top to the
center halfway mark on one tree panel, cut up halfway from the base on the
other, and intersect the two so that they stand up as a 3-D tree. (If you
have single-thick cardboard, double these layers for stability). Cut the
midline slices no wider than the thickness of the cardboard so that you have
a close, snug fit. If your tree wobbles, secure at the top with twine.
To make your brown tree green, drill additional holes at
random over the body of the tree panels (or cut additional Xs or slits) and
insert sprigs of fresh herbs, tufts of sprouted wheatgrass or crabgrass
blades. Use your rabbits' favorite edible herbs, and add these at the last
minute because they wilt quickly.
Snow: Cut free-form drippy-snow scallop shapes
from round paper lace doilies, poke corners into slits on branches or use
judiciously tiny dabs of non-toxic craft glue.
Garland ideas: "Shredders" from online rabbit
catalogs (braided palm strips) can be strung around the tree. Secure
garland into slits or holes at the branch ends. Garlands can be made from
natural and tinted twines, twisted together if you like. Thick rope
products can be unbraided to yield thinner, squiggly lengths. If you dip
these materials in diluted food colors, allow time for them to dry
thoroughly before assembling. Della Robbia garland: On lightweight twine
alternate clusters of raw cranberries, small dried apple rings, chunks of
cholla, carrot curls, tiny pinecones, sprigs of rosemary, bunny "toasts" in
the familiar bunny shape or homemade toasts cut by hand or with canape or
aspic cutters, small dyed hardwood holiday shape ornaments from
Bunny Bytes (XM003b Wooden ornament assortment). Use treats that
your rabbits' teeth enjoy and that their tummies tolerate (go easy on the
fruit and toast!) Sprigs of fresh herbs add fragrant greenery and most
bunnies love them.
I made a Moravian star from palm fronds for the top of
our tree and tiny paper ones for ornaments. Here is a tutorial for the
traditional wovenMoravian
stars:
Here are instructions for "origami" folded stars. And if you think that you have no
basket-weaving or paper-folding talents whatsoever, simple cut-out paper
snowflakes to the rescue (remember ... no two are alike!)
If you don't like the idea of your rabbits eating craft
glue, try this substitute: Place 2 tablespoons flour in a bowl and stir in
about 1 tablespoon water. Blend with a spatula or spoon until smooth. This
works fairly well for mounting paper to paper, but requires additional time
to dry and set, and do not expect it to anchor significant weight.
Our first prototype tree was inspired by the twisted
grapevine ornaments available at rabbit catalog sites. I drew a vertical
half tree form on a sheet of 3/4 inch plywood, hammered a weaving frame of
tall nails at the "connect-the-dots" places (top, bottom, branch tips,
branch bases, etc.) soaked wild grapevines and slender willow lengths and
wound them over, around and through the nails to form an open mesh. Six of
these tree halves were tied together at the center "trunk." This model is
pretty, completely edible, and offers endless places to attach ornaments and
garlands, but the cardboard version is more practical, faster and much
easier.
BenBun and I hope that our project will encourage your
imagination to run like a rabbit, and that you, too, will be inspired by
anticipating the joy of the Christmas morning SantaBunTree demolition derby
at your house. Hoppy Holidays!
Additional resources:
- Sharon Lloyd and BenBun
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