I used ordinary corrugated card board then put paper from shoe packing on with acrylic gel. For the tree I just used more paper. Finally I covered everything with white gesso before drawing various different media.
It’s quite small about A5 barely bigger than a postcard. Actually I was hoping to use it as my tree even though it’s still quite small. But it has the advantage of being in the garden.
Great fun lifting things off the page, isn't it? Your tree makes me wonder if wool would be good to use. I've never used gesso. What do you like best about it, Jane? Do you recommend it?