How to make crafts from driftwood. Exquisite decor from branches - a step-by-step master class for making beautiful crafts
It will forever remain a mystery who was the first to decide to collect oddly shaped sticks, driftwood and stumps and create picturesque compositions. Driftwood can be used to decorate your garden and cottage. This art received the interesting and euphonious name “rutarium”.
And you can use them in the interior of an apartment, house, or office, creating a unique style for the room. Snags, gnarled branches and stumps amazingly transform the home, bringing comfort and naturalness into it. Crafts made from driftwood are an exciting and exciting activity that Lately Both professional designers and amateur craftsmen are engaged in this work.
Designer things
Decorative elements made from branches and driftwood are an environmentally friendly material, as well as the design of an apartment, house or cottage in a single and unique copy. used in home decoration different styles. It can be country, Scandinavian, environmental style. Farmhouse or beach style also gravitates toward design additions made from oddly shaped branches or driftwood.
Using the material that lies underfoot, designers and stylists create a huge number of household items, all kinds of jewelry and crafts from driftwood. The flight of imagination is simply unlimited!
Craftsmen can do anything
An ordinary branch or snag that comes under your feet while walking can inspire a craftsman to create a whole masterpiece. And in terms of beauty and functionality, such designs are not inferior to expensive models. From this material you can make a table or bedside table, lamp or hanger, candlestick or shelf.
To create such things, branches after pruning the garden or sticks and stumps of interesting shapes, which can be found on the street, in parks or forest plantations, are suitable. Driftwood caught from a river or sea will also be used. You just need to dry them well first.
Driftwood and branches in the garden
By using natural material, which is literally lying under your feet, transform your dacha or garden plot beyond recognition. Rutarium is the name of this craft. Derived from the English root, which means root.
Various branches, roots, stumps and snags collected together are picturesquely placed in a garden or house area. This is the center of the composition of the rutaria. It is complemented by flowers, all kinds of plants, and dwarf trees. A good addition There will be clay products, even slightly pounded or broken, stones, as well as household items.
Creating compositions from branches and driftwood fascinates not only adults, but also little designers. After all, this is a huge field of activity and scope for children's imagination. Kids have great fun imagining and creating unique crafts from driftwood.
These can be various little men, gnomes, elves. Funny bunnies come out of small stumps cut diagonally. Using round timber small size, cut from a medium-thick branch, you can decorate a tin can under a vase or a glass for pencils.
There are many options, especially since wood is a malleable material. Children's crafts from driftwood - This is the creativity and flight of imagination of a child. And how much joy and positivity the baby receives when he sees the final result. Such crafts are stored for a long time, reminding a grown child of a wonderful time, which, unfortunately, cannot be returned.
Snags are partially rotten fragments of trees that have been lying on the ground for a long time.
Despite the peculiar and sometimes unpresentable appearance, driftwood is a good material for making various crafts and products.
The material combines quite high mechanical strength and unusual shape, and also has a wood texture.
In this article we will talk about what can be made from driftwood, and also teach you how to process this unique material.
The basis for the appearance of snags is a living and dead tree, as well as its parts.
When a plant becomes weak or old, it the immune system can no longer effectively resist various pathogens and pests.
Therefore, damage appears in some areas, changing the properties of the wood.
Over time, damage leads first to death and then to disintegration, resulting in part of the plant loses strength and collapses under the influence of wind, rain or other factors. Since there is no clear boundary between normal and damaged wood, the damaged areas take on the most bizarre shapes.
If destructive processes occur on a tree, then over time the damaged fragment breaks off from the trunk or roots and turns into a snag, that is, a severely damaged piece of any part of the tree.
If a branch or trunk breaks off from the tree even before the damage, then it is a snag. will become only after various microorganisms have sufficiently damaged them, and these defects will be noticeable even with a cursory examination.
If the damage affects the roots, then they turn into snags after the trunk breaks off from them, and root system will come out of the ground under the influence of various factors.
Where can I find it and can I collect it?
Since driftwood comes from maintenance-free trees, it's easier to find them in:
- forests;
- forest parks;
- forest belts;
- groves.
Although allows you to collect snags and other fragments of trees separated from the plant in a natural way, local authorities often introduce various restrictions.
Therefore, before you go into the forest for a snag, check with your local administration, are there any prohibitions at the local level?
The brush removes dirt well and cleans even cracks and depressions, but it damages the surface of the wood, so it will have to be sanded. Most effective, however, the treatment of driftwood that almost completely removes the bark high pressure washer. This device removes any dirt, but does not damage the wood.
Cleaning the bark
Clearing bark can be either a separate operation or one of the actions carried out when removing loose wood or sanding.
In the first case use dull chisels, with the help of which from wood. It is undesirable to use sharp chisels, because they can damage the wood and deprive it of its natural texture.
In the second and third cases, standard tools are used for removal or grinding, that is, attachments for a drill/grinder or sandblaster.
Drying
Forest snags have very high humidity(25–55%), which makes it difficult to stop the destruction processes in them, because high humidity is the main condition for the active life of microorganisms that feed on wood.
In addition, washing the material with a sponge or pressure washer further increases this parameter, making the material even more vulnerable. Therefore, the driftwood after cleaning it is advisable to dry it. This can be done by two methods - forced and natural.
For forced drying, the wood is placed in a dryer or oven and the heat is turned on.
The liquid inside begins to evaporate and seek a way out, which leads to cracking of the material. Depending on humidity and temperature, such drying takes 10–50 hours.
For natural drying The driftwood is placed in a well-ventilated, shaded room without drafts; it is advisable that the temperature in it be within 15–25 degrees above zero. Drying time is 10–30 months, due to the slow release of moisture, new cracks do not appear on the surface of the wood.
Removing the loose part
Before removing loose or rotten wood, you must mark its boundaries with a simple pencil.
It is not advisable to use a marker for this purpose., because its paint is absorbed into the wood and can only be removed with top layer driftwood surface.
Then the middle of the rotten area removed in various ways, For example:
- broken out by hand;
- knocked out with a hammer or ax;
- cut with a jigsaw;
- grind off with a brush attachment with hard steel hairs.
During this stage, it is advisable not to get close to the edges of the hardwood, as you may accidentally damage them and then have to sand the area heavily. Rot on the border with hardwood removed using a large rasp or brush attachments with soft metal hairs.
Changing shape
Despite the fact that the unusual shape of the driftwood is its main advantage, sometimes you have to change the form.
For this:
- it is cut with a hacksaw, jigsaw or chainsaw, depending on the size and thickness of the snag;
- the surface of the material is leveled using manual/electric planes and jointers;
- Cutouts are made in the walls using manual and electric jigsaws.
All these operations are performed in the same way as when processing any other wood, for example, boards. Therefore, those who know at least a little how to work with wood will be able to independently change the shape of the driftwood, giving it the desired shape.
Putty
For sealing cracks use both ready-made wood putties and a mixture of wood dust and PVA glue. You can get the dust of the desired color using a sander. In addition, you can use wood dust of any color and suitable water-soluble colors.
Before puttingty it is necessary clean the surface as much as possible wood and, if possible, sandblast it.
After filling the defect with putty, it is necessary to remove all excess, so that the putty area does not protrude relative to the surface wood. If the dimensions of the defective area of the driftwood exceed the values recommended for putty, then it is advisable to fill the defect several times, this will prevent the putty from cracking.
Grinding
Grinding removes minor imperfections, and also make the wood texture clearer.
Coarse sanding can be done using a sander and coarse sandpaper or a brush attachment with soft metal hairs inserted into a drill.
Medium sanding of hard rocks, as well as medium and final sanding of soft rocks, is carried out only by hand using sandpaper with numbers from 20 to 6 n, gradually reducing the grit. For finishing hardwood sanding, use 5-grit or 4-grit sandpaper.
If during rough or medium sanding it is not possible to remove the lint, which constantly rises after the sandpaper passes, then the surface of the wood needs to be wetted. For any grinding method, it is necessary periodically change the direction of movement of the sandpaper to avoid leaving deep marks.
Burning
This operation is used for surface color changes sanded driftwood, because during heat treatment the wood darkens, and the stronger the heating, the darker it becomes. You can burn the entire surface of the driftwood, or only individual areas.
For firing use blowtorch or gas burner. Before firing, all flammable substances must be removed.
If, by firing, the surface is made a little darker than necessary, and then sanded again, you will get a very unusual pattern of wood texture, which will retain its shape, but will greatly change the color.
Impregnation with various reagents
This impregnation is carried out if ready product will be located in places with high humidity or high temperature.
For such processing use:
- antiseptics (protect against pathogenic bacteria);
- insecticides (protect against insect pests);
- hydrophobic or water-repellent (to protect against high humidity);
- flame retardants (to protect against high temperatures and open fire).
For such processing, it is advisable to use only high-quality ready-made compounds, and also act in accordance with the instructions that are pasted on the containers with the reagent.
In addition, driftwood often boiled in soda or table salt, however, both methods are applicable only for those products that will then be constantly in water, because soda and salt are very hygroscopic, so they draw moisture even from the air.
Painting and varnishing
For painting it is used as paint from aerosol cans, as well as any water-soluble, for example, acrylic dyes.
Before painting with materials water based, it is necessary to “wet” sand the surface to completely remove the lint, otherwise, after contact with water, it will rise, and the surface will have to be sanded first to remove the dye, then painted again.
Also you can use paints and enamels on any polymer bases , however, before this, the driftwood product must be thoroughly dried, otherwise excess moisture will not be able to escape through the vapor-proof polymer layer, and the wood will begin to deteriorate.
Also, the color of the wood surface can be changed using stains. Their main advantage is that they penetrate 0.1–1 mm deep into the wood, so by carefully sanding individual areas you can change the color saturation.
In addition, the color saturation in individual areas can be adjusted by the amount of stain or by applying it in several layers.
Any varnish can be used for varnishing compatible with dyes. Varnishes based on acrylic and wood resin allow water vapor to pass through, so the workpiece can not be dried too much. Varnishes based on others polymer materials They form a vapor-proof film, so they can only be used to cover well-dried driftwood.
Polishing and joining with other parts
Lacquered surfaces can be Polish using the same mastics that are used to polish parquet or wooden floors. In addition, you can use any polish for lacquered furniture.
Eat two conditions for high-quality polishing:
- use mastic or polish that is compatible with varnish;
- strictly follow the procedure described in the instructions for the polishing material.
Often, driftwood is the main element, but only an element of the whole composition, so it has to be combined with other details.
For this they use:
- glue;
- dowels;
- nails;
- locks;
- threaded elements;
- furniture corners.
Any of the connection methods is no different from the same action applied to any wooden parts, so you will find more detailed information on this issue.
What products can be made?
Due to their unique appearance and fairly high strength, driftwood is a good basis for making a wide variety of crafts.
Here short list what can be done from them:
- decorations for an aquarium or terrarium;
- lamps and chandeliers;
- candlesticks;
- decorative figures from driftwood for the garden and interior;
- furniture;
- wall and table decorations;
- watches and watch stands;
- gazebos.
Decorations for aquarium and terrarium
Driftwood in aquariums and terrariums not only play the role of decoration, but also create a more familiar habitat for fish and other living creatures.
For a terrarium, you can choose wood of any species, but when making driftwood for an aquarium It is better to use the hardest hardwoods of all that are available.
Despite the fact that you can use driftwood from branches for terrariums and aquariums would be better suited material from roots. Moreover It is advisable to take a driftwood for this purpose, that is, wood, for a long time lying in the sea or running water.
The selected material must be cleaned of dirt, then sandblast thoroughly or soft wire brush. This will help you find any rotten or moldy areas that need to be removed, including some of the healthy wood.
Since the use of purchased antiseptics is unacceptable, because they can be harmful to the inhabitants of terrariums and aquariums, during preparation the wood boil in a solution of table salt for 3–10 hours.
After this, it is boiled for another 5–15 hours in clean water, changing the liquid every half hour.
This preparation completely cleans the wood from harmful substances and dangerous microorganisms, and also saturates it with water, so that it will not float.
If the snag still floats, then you can attach a rubber suction cup and use it to fix it at the bottom. If the driftwood is prepared for a terrarium, then after boiling it is dried in a ventilated room for 3–5 months.
Lamps and chandeliers
Due to their unusual shape, driftwood is well suited for making lamps and chandeliers. It is best to use driftwood from the butt (the lower part of the trunk) or roots that contain recess with jagged edges.
You can install a lamp in the recess, and uneven edges, especially with roots coming out of them, will give bizarre shadows.
Making a lamp from driftwood is usually includes several stages:
- cleaning from dirt and bark;
- removal of loose areas;
- drilling holes for hanging on a wall, ceiling or other surface;
- drilling holes for installing the lamp and socket;
- coarse and medium sanding with lint removal;
- impregnation with stains or firing;
- fine grinding;
- varnishing;
- polishing;
- installation of the lamp and socket;
- laying wires;
- wall mounting.
Candlesticks
To make a candlestick, driftwood of any shape is suitable, and the type of wood does not matter.
If the candlestick will stand on the table, then it is necessary provide it with maximum stability, which may require changing its shape.
If the candlestick is installed on a wall or ceiling, then it is necessary to install the mount on the most durable part of the material.
The most important stages processing are:
- cleaning from dirt;
- removal of loose areas;
- grinding;
- impregnation with fire retardants.
In addition, very it is important to choose the right place and method of installing candles. Candles can be placed directly into wood, for which you need to drill a hole 1 cm deep in the driftwood, the diameter of which is slightly less or equal to diameter candles, and in metal glasses of any shape, which are attached to wood using self-tapping screws.
Decorative items
In the vast majority of cases, when making decorative figures, all processing operations have to be performed, some of which need to be done several times.
Some driftwood similar in shape to people, animals or mythical creatures, so you can make beautiful decorative figures from them and use them in garden design.
Often you have to make a composition either from several driftwood, or from driftwood and various additional elements , which can be anything.
For example, a figurine of a mythical gnome can be decorated with a wide-brimmed hat and old boots. And a horse figurine - with tufts of natural or artificial hair imitating a mane and tail. In addition, you can make other garden crafts from driftwood, for example, flower stands
Beds, tables, cabinets and other furniture
To make furniture you must use the most durable and largest driftwood from roots and branches, because the finished product will experience significant stress.
From this material you can make:
- tables and coffee tables;
- chairs or stools;
- beds;
- bedside tables and cabinets.
When making tables, only the legs or body are made from driftwood, but they have to be made from another material.
The choice of finishing method depends on the shape and color of the driftwood, so in each case it is selected individually.
However, in any case, mandatory steps will be:
- cleaning from dirt;
- bark removal;
- sanding with lint removal;
- drying.
During production chairs or stools Both individual legs and the entire structure are made from driftwood.
To make such a chair or stool more comfortable, for him make soft bedding, which can either be attached to the surface of the seat, making it part of the structure, or made in the form of a removable pillow.
The minimum set of operations is the same as for tables. When making beds, driftwood is used as a decorative element or supporting structure.
In the first case, these can be relatively small parts of any thickness; in the second case, it is necessary to use only material from roots or thick trunks, and most of it should retain its mechanical properties.
The frame and lattice for the mattress are made of planed boards or metal, connected to driftwood in various ways to ensure the required strength and beautiful appearance.
In addition to the minimal processing used in the manufacture of other furniture, interior parts made from knots, branches, roots and snags must be thoroughly soak with antiseptics and insecticides so that various diseases do not appear in them and bugs do not settle.
All parts made of natural material must be varnished in order to prevent the raising of pile and the appearance of splinters.
For bedside tables and cabinets made from driftwood body only, as can be seen in the photo, and the drawers and top cover or tabletop of the piece of furniture (if provided for by the design) are made of other materials.
This approach allows you to make a bedside table that can not only be used to store things inside, but can also be used as a stand.
In addition to the minimum set of operations will have to change the shape driftwood, because without this it will not be possible to cut a box into it or attach a beautiful lid/tabletop on top.
Wall and table decor
Thanks to their unusual shape, driftwood makes stylish wall and table decorations. These can be flat, partially or completely three-dimensional figures. To make a flat decoration, you can use either a driftwood curved in two changes, or a cut from a large piece of driftwood of any shape.
The cut can be made with a chainsaw, circular saw or band saw, then level the surface with an electric plane or jointer. The same trimming can be done for a partially voluminous product; this will preserve the voluminous appearance, but will greatly reduce the overall thickness of the product.
On such decorations, remnants of bark can harmoniously fit into the overall design, so it is very important to remove as much as possible all damaged fragments and thoroughly saturate the workpiece with antiseptics and insecticides.
If such treatment is not done or done carelessly, then there is a high probability that in a few years, due to the destruction of cellulose, the bark will peel off from the wood, and it will have to be glued in place. In addition, various bugs can settle in poorly treated bark, which will ruin its appearance.
Watches and stands for them
Driftwood makes beautiful and stylish watch cases and stands.
To make the case, select driftwood, the size of which is noticeably larger than the size of the watch, then either insert them into a natural recess wood, or first cut or gouge out a hole for the clock with a chisel, then insert it there.
The first method is preferable for those who are not very good at working with a chisel, but the second method allows you to make a complete imitation of the fact that the watch is part of a piece of driftwood.
In addition, driftwood can be used to make not only the case, but also the dial, into which the clock mechanism will then be embedded. To do this, you will need not only to create a flat plane, but to partially disassemble the watch, after which inside attach the mechanism to the structure, and install arrows and numbers on the outside.
If a stand is made from driftwood, then it is necessary select material that has a flat area at the top, not inferior in size to a watch.
In cases where there is no such platform, it can be made by cutting down top part material, and by hollowing out a recess of the required shape in it using a chisel.
Gazebos
Thanks to their unusual shape, driftwood can be used to create decorative gazebos, including antique ones. The thickest and most durable driftwood works well for the role of supporting pillars, medium and small sized parts can be used for wall cladding.
Such a gazebo will look most stylish if its roof is made from the straw of various plants, while it is better to make the roof frame from boards small thickness.
Chairs or benches, as well as tables in such a gazebo should also be made from driftwood, in which case the entire structure will be made in the same style.
To ensure that the wood does not lose its color over time, it it is advisable not only to clean, sand and stain, but also varnish.
Links to thematic forums
Homemade items made from driftwood are in great demand, so authors often discuss their works on thematic forums and share their experience there, what and how can be done.
- Aquaforum;
Any piece of driftwood, regardless of its shape and condition, can be used. However, in order for a product made from it to serve long years, the material must be processed correctly.
Now you know:
- what can be made from driftwood;
- how to prepare and process them;
- what kind of driftwood can be put in an aquarium, and where to look for other ideas and tips on the use of this material.
In contact with
Nature presents many surprises. Twisted tree branches, parts of roots, turn into snags. There is a whole movement in art.
Creating such masterpieces requires spatial thinking, rich imagination and a non-standard approach. Not everyone is given the opportunity to see the future creation in individual sticks.
It’s difficult to comment on all this; you need to enjoy the result of your work.
The entrance frame resembles a time portal.
It is very comfortable to sit on such a bench.
Leshy's bench.
The table seems unstable, but this is an illusion.
Framing the railings for the hut.
You should sleep sweetly on such a bed.
This is a work of art. You can look at it for hours.
Framing the stairs leading to the second floor of the tower.
Comfortable sofa with lots of soft pillows.
Chest of drawers made of driftwood and wood.
The tree hanging from the ceiling is a chandelier.
This is how you can decorate a wall.
These are magnificent and unique sculptures.
A garden made of driftwood is called a rutarium.
DIY stump table: 10 stunning photos
Table - important attribute any home. The most important action takes place at the table - the meal. Scientists advise using wooden tables– they do not release toxins like plastic ones. Glass tables- more dangerous and can be fragile. Nice tables Made from wood cost quite a bit of money, and many decide to make a table with their own hands. The cheapest and easiest way is to make a table from hemp.
It looks very beautiful and beautiful, but this is an ordinary stump.
They simply nailed the tabletop to the stump, and it turned out to be a good table.
This type of work will require significant time and carpentry experience, but it will be worth it.
A table can be made from small stumps and varnished.
It's not particularly easy to find such a big stump, but coffee table came out great.
To create such small table They took a small stump and an ordinary round timber from a tree.
You can also put a glass top on top, which will add even more attractiveness to your table.
You can also screw wheels to the stumps and the table will be movable.
A table with lighting can also be made from hemp.
The coffee table in the shape of a month is a beautiful piece of work.
Read in full (link)
They say that sitting on a stump is even beneficial. Previously, hemp was often used as a chair and people didn’t bother too much, even now many people do this in villages. But you can make a beautiful chair from a stump for your apartment or house with your own hands; all you need is properly growing hands and imagination. In this article you can consider the best works.
Very simple and soft - soft stump.
You can turn an original chair using a chainsaw and a turbine.
And here is a stump chair with legs.
You can also make the back in hemp if you wish.
Beautiful stool made of dark wood.
Screw on the wheels and you have an office chair made from a stump.
Almost any stumps can be used.
From small stumps you can glue together a table and a stool like this.
Hemp chairs for the whole family.
And in these ones they even made a real thing.
The royal stumps look beautiful.
You can cut the stump into pieces and make a stool.
Read in full (link)
DIY stump crafts for the garden: 10 photos
garden plot can be decorated with a variety of materials that have already served their time, as well as materials of natural origin. These include cut down trees, or rather what remains of them are real stumps. From stumps you can build a variety of strange things that can please the eye. Let's present 10 photos of handmade garden stump crafts.
A stump with a cute frog perched on it.
An original and extraordinary fly agaric was built from a stump.
Baba Yaga from a stump will delight anyone, make them laugh, and even cheer them up.
Forest brethren from birch stumps.
A tree stump house for a variety of inhabitants.
The house is a fly agaric, a great idea.
A house made of a stump with a roof, windows and flower beds - balconies.
The two stump brothers created an interesting composition.
A house for an Elf made of a stump with a powerful door.
House with a chimney and a porch for gnomes.
Read in full (link)
Top 13 DIY stump products - only the best ideas
Unnecessary tree stumps are an excellent material for creativity and earning money. And imagination, as you know, has no limits or boundaries. With certain treatment, objects made from a stump will last a very long time. We have prepared a selection of the top 13 DIY stump products. Enjoy watching! These will be only the best ideas.
You can make glowing seats from a tree stump. Having painted them with luminescent paint, they are good to use in the garden.
Candlesticks from a stump – creative idea for home.
If you carefully work with the tools, the stump can turn into a stand and a shelf for books: two in one.
A lamp made from a stump is an ordinary accessory made of an unusual material.
From a stump you can make a bar counter for several bottles of wine.
A coffee table made of stump and glass will fit well into the interior of the living room.
You can make a bird feeder from a small stump.
Mini - waterfall from a stump. But the stump is made from healthy dried wood, carefully treated with impregnations.
Crafts from a stump in garden design are a great idea.
A garden table made from a stump will decorate a terrace or winter garden.
Flower stands and flowerpots are made from stumps of different sizes.
The stump of an old tree will make a beautiful flower garden.
Stump figures can be placed in a garden, park, or playground.
Read in full (link)
DIY stump stool. 10 amazing ideas + photos
Designer items are made from waste scraps. From an unnecessary stump you can make: benches, tables, stools. The stump does not need to be processed with tools. Such furniture special style and design. Furniture in Russian traditions will look great in a garden, a bathhouse, summer kitchen. We invite you to evaluate the stump stools with your own hands. 10 amazing ideas + photos.
Economical furniture: the stool is made from two cuts of one tree stump.
For this stool you will need a high stump so that you can cut down the backrest.
This model is sustainable. But you need to make an effort to cut a curly leg from a stump.
The most regular model stump stool. But in order for the furniture to last longer, you need to properly fasten the legs.
The stump is upholstered soft cloth. This stool is comfortable to sit on.
A stool made from a stump is a convenient and simple model: cut out the legs and the seat is ready.
Stable, low-rise stools made from a stump. True, they weigh quite a bit.
To make such stools from a stump, you will need a lot of effort and time, large stumps. And the price will be high.
This tall stump stool is perfect for a bar counter.
Read in full (link)
The importance of homemade handicrafts is difficult to overestimate. If you look around, everything that surrounds a person was invented by someone and was originally made in a single copy. Manufacturing of various small products manually can be practiced at any age. For work, various available materials are used: paper, cardboard, fabric, plasticine, cotton wool. Separately, we can highlight structures made from natural raw materials, because making crafts from tree branches with your own hands will not require any costs at all.
This type of creativity is taught in kindergartens and schools. This process serves to develop the child’s thinking and imagination, teaches him to work and persevere. For adults, this is a hobby that allows you to escape from everyday life, relax and calm down. As they gain experience, some turn their passion into a business, considering the product of their activity a work of art.
Features and requirements for natural material
Any work begins with planning and preparation of materials. Before leaving your home, taking a walk to a park, planting, or forest, you should make a plan for yourself, think about what needs to be collected, what will come out of it, where the raw materials will be dried, and decide on a place to store the twigs. The required volume is calculated from the number of intended crafts.
Raw materials should be collected in early spring or at the end of autumn in good sunny weather. This is due to several points. Firstly, during this period the bark and core are not damaged or eaten by various insects. Secondly, on a clear day the quality of the material will be visible. Thirdly, after the rains the branches will have to dry longer.
You can use any type of wood for work. Birch, willow, vine, spruce, pine, deciduous, walnut branches. The material must be free of leaves, flexible, and free from chips, cracks, damage, and other defects. It is desirable that the fibers are located in the same direction. If necessary, take bifurcated, branched options.
Beginners should not use pine and spruce branches. They are difficult to work with and are heavily impregnated with tree resin. It is better to master this type of raw material as you gain experience.
How to properly prepare materials for crafts
The preparation of raw materials can be carried out different ways, it all depends on its type. Ordinary branches are dried naturally. To do this, newspaper is laid out on the windowsill in several layers, and shoots and vines are placed on top of it. During the drying process, insects and spiders will crawl out of them. To avoid these unpleasant consequences, they can be disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate.
In good weather, the material dries within a week. If you put it in the oven for a couple of hours, the process will speed up, but this is not advisable. After this, the surface of the branches is covered with paint or wood varnish, which protects it from interaction with the external environment.
Preparing the driftwood is a little different. After they are collected, they must be placed in hot water and add soda at the rate of 100 g of product per 1 liter of liquid. After two days, the snag is removed and placed in another solution of water and bleach (ratio 1:15) for 48 hours. Afterwards the workpiece is dried under the sun for 3-7 days.
Designer wooden candlesticks have a high price. At home, you can easily create a craft that will be unique and serve as a functional and decorative element. The design can be completed in several ways:
From thick branches. Making such a product will require a little time and effort. The process is as follows:
- Thick branches are selected. They are cut from both end sides at an even angle, checked for stability, dried, and, if necessary, varnished.
- A nail is driven in halfway in the middle of one of the cuts. The cap is bitten off with the help of pliers.
- A candle is directly placed on the remaining protruding pins.
From thin branches. In this case, the glass container is pasted over:
- Select a glass for work.
- Its length is measured. Using a knife or pruning shears wooden blanks segments of approximately the same length corresponding to the measurements are cut out.
- Each element is lubricated with a special transparent glue, which is held on the glass, is glued in a circle to the glass close to each other.
- A candle is placed in the middle of the product.
Decorative design of a vase
Using branches you can create something like independent design, and decorate the finished item. For clarity, let's consider several methods:
Pots for storing flowers.
- We choose a suitable vessel in which to place the flower. We measure its height and circumference.
- Cut a piece out of burlap and glue it to the glass surface.
- We take the prepared branches and cut them to the appropriate length for the workpiece.
- We tie the twigs together with twine at the top and bottom. The knots must be strong.
- We tie the resulting ribbon around the piece covered with burlap.
Fruit bowl. Only wood is used
- We take 40 even sticks of the same length, 15-20 cm.
- We make marks on them indented from one edge by 1 cm and 7-10 cm.
- Using a drill and a thin drill bit, we drill holes in the designated places.
- We connect all the elements with copper wire, threading it into the lower holes.
- From the same material we cut 40 pieces of 1 cm each.
- We drill holes in them, passing in the middle through the two ends.
- In the prepared tape from long blanks, we insert copper wire into the first 15-20 cm branch in the middle, then stretch it through a short 1 cm stick, and move on to the next element.
- By stretching the wire in a circle, connecting the extreme parts, we get a beautiful flowerpot for fruit.
- Place a prepared wooden flat circle on the bottom of the product.
Creating a decorative tree
Using branches you can build an ikebana. To do this you will need the following materials:
- dry twigs;
- sea pebbles;
- decorative moss;
- Styrofoam;
- wooden, glass container;
- glue.
Step by step process:
- The prepared vessel is filled halfway with sea stones.
- The polystyrene foam is cut to fit the internal dimensions of the pot, and holes are made in it for attaching the main element.
- The prepared branched branch is installed in foam plastic.
- The resulting structure is lowered into a container, sprinkled to the top with sea pebbles, which are covered with moss.
- Dried leaves, flowers, and their imitation from various lightweight materials are glued to the branches.
Decoration of photo frames and mirrors
The process of decorating frames for photographs, paintings and mirror elements is similar. To work, you need to use twigs of two sizes: thin, thick. They must be completely dry. It is better not to take willow or willow twigs with slippery bark. Let's look at a step-by-step master class on creating such products.
- If the photo does not have a photo frame, it can be cut out of thick cardboard or plywood.
- The frame should be painted a dark brown color.
- Dry branches are cleared of bark and cut to fit the frame.
- The first layer, consisting of larger parts, is laid and glued along the perimeter.
- Then the next layers are fixed. Elements located perpendicular to each other are intertwined at the ends.
- To increase strength, you can additionally tie the structure with wire. To hide it, the surface is covered with spray paint.
- Moss, pine, fir cones, paper flowers, and beads are used as decoration.
- At the final stage, the craft is coated with non-toxic varnish.
Christmas wreath made of branches
Making a wreath begins with creating the base. Suitable for this different materials. We will use birch twigs in our work, so the wreath must be made on the same day that they are collected. The step-by-step process looks like this:
- We sort the birch branches, putting the thick ones in one direction, the thin ones in the other. There should be no knots or lateral shoots left on them.
- We take several large branches and arrange them in the shape of a circle.
- We tie them together using twine.
- We begin to weave thin rods into the resulting workpiece, tying the edges with rope.
- When the base becomes dense, we weave the branches without tying.
- We paint the finished workpiece with spray paint.
- We put the product under the press for a day to give it the correct shape.
- At the final stage, we decorate the craft with pine branches, ribbons, cones, balls, bells, and tinsel.
Christmas tree made from dried branches
A decorative Christmas tree will decorate doors, walls, window sills, tables, and other surfaces and interior items. It is used on new year holidays or as a decorative element. The structure can be made in different ways. Let's look at a few simple options.
Flat spruce.
- The work will require branches of different lengths and thicknesses.
- Lay out the tree on a flat surface from thick to thin.
- Using a hacksaw, we saw off the ends so that each subsequent stick is shorter than the previous one.
- Forming the silhouette of a spruce tree.
- We connect the elements into a single structure with a harness.
- We paint the workpiece with spray paint.
- After drying, decorate the item.
Volumetric tree.
- We carefully form a cone of the required height from polystyrene foam.
- We cover the workpiece with cardboard or thick paper.
- Using a glue gun, we glue the prepared dry raw materials and thin willow twigs to the surface of the workpiece.
- For reliability, we tie the product in a circle with twine, not reaching the base by one third.
- Glue painted ones on top green color thin branches.
- We apply decor in the form of bows, ribbons, balls, and other decorations.
- With a finished craft, you can decorate the interior of any room or give it to your friends for the New Year.
Original stand for pencils and pens
You can cover any glass with branches, as in the example with a vase, and use it for different purposes. There are options interesting coasters for stationery made from driftwood, as well as from hemp. Let's look at the simplest way to create a convenient element for placing pencils from a saw cut:
- Select a stump of suitable diameter.
- We cut at the ends so that the height of the workpiece is 10 - 12 cm.
- We clear it of bark, you can leave the knot.
- Using a drill, drill holes spaced 1 cm from the edge and between each other.
- Cleaning the surface sandpaper.
- We insert pencils into the finished product.
The product does not have to be round in shape. It can be cut in half, cut out into a square, made into a crescent, or given any shape.
Eco-friendly clothes hanger in the hallway
By using natural materials, you can save on buying things you need in everyday life. Homemade hanger, made from branches, will become a functional decoration and will suit any style. Let's consider the options for manufacturing products:
Standard hallway hanger.
- Let's prepare wooden base. An ordinary varnished board with dimensions of 80x20 cm.
- We choose branches with a knot; there can be two, three or more.
- We cut the sticks to size 15-20 cm,
- Having retreated a few centimeters from each edge, we fasten the branches to the wooden blank with self-tapping screws.
- The finished product can be hung on the wall.
A piece of driftwood suspended from the ceiling.
- Select a suitable branched driftwood.
- We clean it, dry it, sand it with sandpaper, paint it, varnish it.
- We tie ropes from two edges, fasten them to the ceiling, selecting the desired height.
Branches framed by a frame.
- From boards with a cross section of 2.5x10 cm, cut out 2 pieces of 40 cm, 2 pieces of 70 cm.
- From them we knock down a rectangular frame.
- We select branched branches, clean them, and leave 2-3 knots on them on one side.
- We attach them to the rectangular structure, make marks with a pencil, and cut them to the desired size.
- In the frame where each branch will be installed and in the stick itself, holes are drilled on both sides.
- We connect the elements using screws.
- The surface of the frame is puttied and painted.
- The craft is hung on the wall.
Partitions and screens
Using branches, you can create original partitions and screens, and create unique zoning of the room. They can become the accent of any room and decorate it. The structures can be built in different ways. Let's take a closer look at one of the simplest options:
- We measure the distance from floor to ceiling, the length of the future partition.
- From a 3.5x10 cm board we cut out two segments corresponding to the measured length.
- Next, we select long thick branches that reach the ceiling, cut them at the ends, taking into account the height of the board.
- We carefully assemble the structure on the floor, fixing tree branches on both sides to the guides.
- We lift the finished structure and securely fix it to floor covering and to the ceiling.
Decorative design of lamps and fixtures
Thanks to their unique contours and sizes, the branches look very impressive in the rays of artificial light from lamps and floor lamps. They acquire fancy patterns, creating the illusion of a fairy tale and magic. You can make both complex ceiling accessories for the living room and small lamps for hallways and bedrooms.
For a chandelier you will need to select durable driftwood, process it, and paint it taking into account the main color of the interior. Using metal hooks, we attach it to the ceiling and lower the electrical wiring, intertwining the wires along the branches. We install sockets and light bulbs.
A floor lamp decorated with branches looks stylish. To do this, you need to select sticks of the same length, remove the dust and bark, and rub both ends with sandpaper. We lean them against the base of the lamp and secure them with twine. You can organize the fastening in the center of the rack, or in several places. Use small branches to cover the lampshade.
From an ordinary branch you can get a real work of art - the author's Wall Light. The more intricate and tortuous the wood configuration, the brighter and more spectacular it will look. We attach the branch to the wall and wrap it with wire with a simple lampshade.
A unique panel in the interior made from branches
From driftwood, dry branches, and small wood scraps you can make any interior item in eco, shabby chic, or Provence style. An original addition would be a wall panel. You can choose a very different theme - an autumn forest with fallen leaves, a marvelous garden, a view of the street from behind a fence, a house and others. Each option can be adjusted and supplemented at any time.
To make panels, it is better to select flexible willow branches that lend themselves well to modeling. The basis will be any figured, straight board or section of the wall. We fasten the parts according to the planned plan using staples, screws, and glue. Metal elements we rub it in the color of the wood with putty, cover it with clay.
Ideas for crafts made from roots and driftwood
You can use any wood material for crafts. Roots and driftwood remaining after cutting down trees are suitable for this purpose. The natural material can already be considered a sculpture, thanks to its spreading shape. It just needs to be properly processed, dried, and coated with special compounds that improve its characteristics. Simple operation Even a child can do it.
There are a lot original ideas on creation unique design accessories. Just take a good look and your associative memory will tell you suitable option. Perhaps the branched shape will resemble an animal, a fairy-tale character, or any household item. Roots and driftwood can also be used to complement the composition. The area of application will depend on the strength, size, shape. Large elements will create unique flower beds, bridges, and benches for the garden.
Branches for decorating gifts and bouquets
Original handmade gifts always cause admiration. A floral bouquet complemented with branches looks stylish and natural. To make it you will need a willow vine and thin sticks. First of all, prepare the vase. We compare the length of the sticks, twist them with wire into a long path. We place flowers on it, the rods at a short distance from each other and twist them. We decorate the bouquet with a satin ribbon.
Natural materials are increasingly being used to decorate gifts. Various branches are especially relevant in winter time. From the crushed parts you can lay out beautiful composition and glue it to the lid, decorate with pine needles and rowan branches.
Conclusion
Using natural materials you can create a lot of useful and very beautiful things. This activity will arouse interest among all family members. As you gain experience, you can move on to more complex structures. For creating original crafts no large investments will be required, and the result of the work will delight not only the master, but also everyone around him.