HOW TO MAKE AN ARWEN MOURNING CROWN
VERSION 1.2

First, figure out where you want to wear your crown. Arwen is wearing it with the White Tree emblem a little above the center of her forehead which is the best place; but depending on the shape of your face and your hairline, it might look better when you wear it a little higher or lower.

- Take your head measurements and add about 1-1,5 cm, depending on whether you want to wear it with a veil and/or a wig or not.

- Add 2 cm at the back of the crown where the ends are fixed together.

- Draw the shape on the cardboard and cut it out (or cut out free hand)

- Fix the ends together with adhesive tape or glue (tip: adhesive tape is removable in case something goes wrong, so you can still change the width of your crown's hoop afterwards).

- Print the image of the Tree of Gondor (adjust to the height of the front of your crown before) and glue it to the cardboard.

- With Liquid Pearls or whatever paint you use, now start to outline the tree and the stars. Just do the tree in the beginning! Let the paint have a raised edge, do not flatten it! Don't fill the tree itself with paint!
ALLOW TO DRY FOR AT LEAST 1 HOUR!!!

- Apply another layer on top of the first. It'll need about 6-8 layers of Liquid Pearls until the Tree is '3D' enough. Recommended time for L.P. is 24 hours but usually it's dry after an hour so that you can apply the next layer. It's going to be covered in metal, so it doesn't have to dry for *so* long.

- After you've completed the tree, start with the side ornamentations. I did mine free hand cause everything else would've been just unnecessary work, but if you feel safer with a pattern, draw one and apply it to the cardboard, or draw it on the cardboard directly.

- The ornaments will take 6-8 layers as well, depending on how raised you want them to be.

- Once every outline is dry (allow to try for said 24 hours after you finished the last layer), apply the special base glue with an old brush. Again, just do the tree first and do only small bits and pieces afterwards.

- The glue has to dry for 15 minutes, then it's perfect for the leaf metal to be applied.

- Take out one sheet of leaf metal. Be careful, the darn thing is so very thin and fragile!!! Cut it in half, and apply to the Tree of Gondor. Best thing to use is a soft sponge, a tissue or your fingers. Press it down gently with a tissue until the Tree design comes out. Don't worry when the material cracks in places, especially around the branches; this is normal and we'll cover this later.

- Allow the leaf metal to dry over night. NEVER apply more glue to 'fresh' leaf metal or it'll turn green!!!

- Cover the tree in a second layer of metal (again---apply glue and allow to dry slightly before you apply leaf metal)

- Next, it's best to place the crown upon the styropor head and fix it with pins (not through the crown itself but underneath so that the crown rests upon the pins).

- Proceed to cover the ornamentation on the circlet with glue. Always do small parts of about 5-10 cm. Allow to dry, then apply small stripes of leaf metal, just a little wider than your circlet. Always have a small box at hand in which you collect the pieces and flocks of metal that fall off or that have to be ripped off. We'll need these later on. Fold the leaf metal to the inner side of the circlet (apply glue before if necessary).

- After you've covered the crown completely, take your little box with flakes and rests and start to fill little holes and cracks that haven't been entirely covered. Apply a _small_ amount of glue every time before you place a flake.

- When done, allow the crown to dry for 24 hours, longer if necessary (if it still feels wet in spots).

- Seal completely with Shellack using the fan brush. Be gentle, or you'll brush off the metal. You can apply as many layers of Shellack as you like, it will make the metal shiny and preserve it. Just allow each layer to dry thouroughly before applying the next.

Shellack will also help to add stability to the crown. Still, it's a delicate thing and shouldn't be treated too rough. Rain (water in general) is a no-no, and you shouldn't flex it too much either, but if you are careful, it'll be a costume piece that you have for a very long time.

Have fun! :-)

Elavyan Shadowtree, 2003