I grew a chocolate tree!

Doesn't that sound yummy! Actually it's one of Stampin' Up!'s Décor Elements- The Thoughts & Prayers Tree and I "grew it" in our stairwell leading downstairs. This is the first time I used one of these on the wall. I took photos as I went so I could share any tips I learned along the way. I used the large tree. It comes on two sheets and is shipped rolled inside a cardboard tube.After you decide where you want your image to go, gather up your tools. I used these tools to complete my project:

• Décor Elements Applicator Tool


• Scissors


• Painters Tape


• Pencil


• Level


• Kneaded Eraser

First, you must cut out the 6 sections of the tree. Don't worry, they are numbered and there is a diagram included to refer to for easy placement. After I cut out each section I rubbed over the image well using the Décor Elements Applicator Tool to transfer the image from the backing sheet to the transfer sheet. Before removing the backing sheet I tacked them up on my wall using the painters tape to get my placement just where I wanted it.
After I was happy with the placement of my tree I removed the backing from section 1 - the trunk, and adhered it to the wall by rubbing the transfer sheet with the DE applicator tool. Carefully peal away the backing and the first part of the design is in place. My photo below shows the completed trunk with branch 2 adhered into place. I found it to be very helpful when placing the branches to the trunk to cut as close to the image as possible, so that you can see exactly where the two pieces line up.
Since I was doing this on my own, without a helper, it really helped me to remove only a small portion of the backing sheet that was close to the end of the branch. This enabled me to easily line up the branch and the trunk. After I got the placement right, I removed the rest of the backing. With only two hands, it was much easier to manage just a small portion of the image being sticky vs a large sticky sheet while lining up the branches. Below is a photo to hopefully help you visualize what I was trying to describe. The small section on the left has the backing removed, while the rest of the image does not.
After I was finished with the tree it was time to add the quote I chose. I am using the small Life Milestones quote. This is where you will want to have a level to make sure it is straight on the wall.
Using a pencil I added registration marks on each corner after I had my design in place and was sure it was level. Each mark started on the corner of the sheet and went right onto my wall. I used a kneaded eraser to remove the pencil marks later. If you are worried about writing on your wall, then put a piece of painters tape at each corner and make your marks on that. Here's what my registration marks looked like. These marks allowed me to get perfect placement of my design after I took it down to remove the backing sheet.
I found that I had to really rub well to get the little letters to transfer from the backing to the sticky sheet. I would pull back the corner every so often to see if they were transferring. Sometimes it helped to gently peel back the opposite corner and just coming from another angle they transferred easier. After only a couple hours from start to finish...here's how it turned out: Now I just need to pick up a few frames that will look good with my chocolate tree and pop some more photos in them, arrange them nicely and I'll be done! I couldn't wait to share my first Décor Elements experience so I didn't want to hold off until I get my pictures done...because who knows when that will be?!

Have a great weekend!