“It sets a bad example,” They outrageously cry. “Shape up, chubby!”

Obviously the Big Guy in Red is in the fight of a lifetime after years of obligatory eating of plates full of cookies and brimming glasses of milk. There’s no way Santa would turn up his nose at such hospitality. The only extended hand of thanks, mind you, he receives for delivering toys to every good little boy and girl around the world.

What else would these Scrooges and Grinches have us do? Lay out a platter of rice cakes and a glass topped with tap water?

Bah-humbug, I say!

I’ll make haste on Christmas Eve by putting out my best home baked holiday cookies and will pour long from the gallon of milk in the fridge; Santa deserves every sugary morsel and calorie-thick drop. And as an extra way of thumbing my nose at those who demand Santa get a six pack I’ve made a miniature Christmas tree full of cupcakes and cakes!

If you would like to dismay the naysayers over Santa’s jolly physique you will need the following from your local arts and crafts supply store:

• Miniature Christmas tree (While a miniature tree size may vary, I’ve gone with a tree that measures top to stand bottom of total of 9 inches.)
• Polymer clay of various colors
• Polymer liquid clay
• Pasta machine
• Small round cookie cutter
• Exacto knife
• Dental excavator (“Instrument of torture.” So says my husband.)
• Paint brush
• 32 gauge wire
• Assortment of decorative garland
• Scrap fabric
• Clay oven
• Glass beads
• Steel jump rings

The first step is making cupcakes. Clay cupcakes are great for beginners; they’re easy and very friendly. Who could possibly get into a quarrel or mischief with a cupcake, right?

I’ve chosen flesh color Fimo soft modeling clay for the bottom of my cupcake. Feel free to use whatever clay you feel comfortable with, I go back and forth between Fimo, Premo and Sculpey III clays.

Some notable differences between the three are:

• Fimo has a slightly firmer texture than the other two which means it is not that great for making detailed features but super for something like a teacup or plate, etc.
• Premo, after baking, has a bit of flexibility to it, which makes it perfect for jewelry making.
• Sculpey is for “everything” else.

Roll the Fimo into a fat, short snake then squish it between thumb and forefinger while using the dental excavator to make indentions. Indention pressure should roll from the strongest at the bottom, to the least towards the tip. Work your way around the Fimo making as many indentions as you desire.

Use Sculpey to make the cupcake top by first making a “snake” before coiling as shown. Place the coil onto a cupcake bottom, pressing down just enough to make the two stick together.

For the “cherry” I used Fimo glitter red. Warning! This color will stain your hands so make all the “cherries” and push a jump ring into each then Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.

Place a drop of liquid clay with a paint brush at the top of the coil before placing the “cherry” with the jump ring, again pushing down only enough to make the two stick together.

Bake the cupcakes according to instructions and when completely cool glaze as desired.

Now for the cake slices!

Clay cakes can be as Plain Jane or as extraordinary as you desire. Do a little ChaCha search and you will find dozens of sites with various clay cake instructions. I went Plain Jane, choosing brown and white Sculpey.

First make a round ball of brown, the diameter of a quarter, and then slightly smash it on a protected surface with the palm of your hand. A small round cookie cutter will assist in getting the perfect cake shape. Next, white clay will need to be flattened in a pasta machine on a number 5 setting and then cut with the same cookie cutter.

Place the flattened white clay over the round brown “cake” and mold as desired to replicate icing. Cut into slices. (Tip: place cake in the refrigerator for ten to twenty minutes before cutting for perfect slices)

Once you have your slices secure a jump ring in each. I decorated the tops with glass beads of pink and gold with a thin coat of liquid clay overtop.

Bake according to instructions.

When cool, glaze the cake slices as desired.

Now to decorate!

I strung silver garland about the tree then, using 32 gauge wire, I hung the cupcakes and cakes, followed with strips of fabric tied to branch tips.

Your Treat Tree is the perfect holiday decoration for a fireplace mantel, a table setting or the corner of a work desk.