I was starting to put together the cat tree post when I realized that it was going to be really long. Birch tree branches can add a festive touch to a decorative winter display or serve as year-round décor when placed in a colorful vase. I also absolutely love these tree branch drawer pulls by Kelly over at Design Asylum. Ones that are already laying on the ground are best because they have already started to dry out. Apr 4, 2016 - Learn how to treat tree branches for indoor use, specificially how to clean, treat, and finish the branches for decoration and crafts. After about 2 months, I started scraping the bark off. When choosing tree species for crafting furniture from tree limbs, there is no limitation on species or variety. Remove all the bark from the branch using a paint, Sand the branch to remove any rough spots using 100 grit. After cleaning off my work space and wiping down the branch with a dry paper towel, I used a chip brush to apply a generous coat of stain. Step 2.Place tacky glue on the branches and smooth it out along the branch. It was my dad’s idea, and it worked really well! When I started researching how to treat tree branches for indoor use, I was overwhelmed with the many different approaches. Im really struggling with hat aspect of picking one. Then I gave the entire piece a good, thorough sand with 150-grit sandpaper. I had just pulled some branches from off the ground in the woods. I do not want to cut down trees if I do not have to. You can see that the pieces have just the right amount of sheen for what I wanted. This is probably my favorite project of all time. x. Hi, Have you ever soaked your wood first in bleach water to rid of any pests? Learning how to clean, strip, and finish branches for decor and crafts will ensure they look wonderful and last. . Tree logs and fallen tree trunks are great materials for nature-inspired garden decorations. I finished them off with two coats of Rust-Oleum Ultimate Polyurethane in Satin because I wanted to bring in a bit of sheen while providing further protection for the branches. I found it was best not to cut any branches off a tree but instead, find one already on the ground. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! ), (Remember to wear a mask and eye protection while sanding and working with wood, and wear an appropriate mask while working with paints, stains, and finishes. Many thanks for sharing this post. Great tip- horrible rainy weather we have now will actually be useful for something ? You could use this ladder to display blankets, as a towel rack in a rustic bath, or just wrapped in globe lights like they have it here. {found on jenea}. I want to use branches already on the ground from trees that have either fallen due to weather or from people cutting down trees and leaving the branches behind. I pulled most of it off with my fingers and used a butter knife on the knobbly bits. We foraged the woods behind my parents’ house and found two great branches that were already on the ground. How to treat tree branches for indoor use, specificially how to clean, treat, and finish the branches for decoration and crafts. After all this work staining and finishing the branches, I couldn’t bear throwing out scraps we had to cut off. Can you tell me? It just took time and elbow grease, and it was extremely messy. While I read that a lot of people use a draw knife and even a pressure washer to remove bark, I used a paint scraper. I took them home and just spray-painted them a glossy black and arranged them in glass vases filled with sand. We also didn’t want to hack up any trees that were still growing when there are plenty of fallen sticks and branches to choose from. Jan 22, 2017 - You might want to grab a fallen branch from the yard when you see her closet idea. I'm not an expert, but one thing I can say is that those sticks lasted for at least 5 years without any problem. You can see the cat tree made out of a real tree build that these branches were finished for as well! You can read more about that here. And after I did some research on how to prepare wood branches for home decor, I realized it wasn’t that diff . After I’d scraped all of the bark off, I cried of happiness that the miserable process was over and grabbed some sandpaper. This post will teach you how to treat tree branches for indoor use. Consider this post an appetizer for a post I have coming up later this week on how to make a cat tree out of a real tree! I used 100-grit sandpaper on some of the rougher spots. 20 arm length branches. Talk to you soon. I’d read that you had to let the branches dry out for a while—upwards of a year, even. See, Click,…, how to make a cat tree out of a real tree, the cat tree made out of a real tree build. After reading this, he might change his mind. After publishing a DIY tree stump inspiration pack today we are presenting you twenty hand picked DIY Branches Crafts that will surely amaze you. View in gallery. I was truly amazed at how well sanding polished the piece. There are lots of ways to de-bark trees. Minwax Stain in Natural really helped to bring out the wood’s character. Left: Stain dried; Right Top: First coat of poly on; Right Bottom: Drying poly. Check out my post about my DIY tree stump side table and this post on a lovely stained stump with wheels! So I made a tiny faux succulent planter out of one of the branch pieces. Likei s it to rotten benn down to long etc. This is a water-based polyurethane that dries much faster than an oil-based one. Using tree parts for home decor is beautiful, cost effective, and not too hard. Jan 22, 2017 - You might want to grab a fallen branch from the yard when you see her closet idea. And I also did a post about how the tree held up years later because I get a lot of questions about it. HI there! The branches were very damp and kind of yucky so the bark came off incredibly easily! Very Boho chic! Took an hour to strip approx. It will for the moment be by goto approach until I see the results for myself. This is a very important step that a lot of people skip when bringing tree parts indoors. Not just those of you who want to build a real kitty tree. Wood Projects. Alison says. How do you decide on a branch? The possibilities are endless, and if you’re lucky, you can get the materials you need to create these awesome projects for free. It’s a cute and easy DIY! Then fold the paper slightly then roll the branch in the glitter. Note that is best to let them continue drying out for at least 2 months if you are wanting to use them indoors. You can make table decorations, holiday trees, family trees or wall art with tree branches you have on hand, bringing a touch of the natural world into your home or classroom. , (This post contains affiliate links. I didn’t even wipe off the excess stain—I just left it to soak into the wood for about 24 hours. I also really love Varathane water-based polyurethane in matte. Rust-Oleum Ultimate Polyurethane in Satin.