In my family , the Christmas tree is always one of the most peculiar division of the vacation . Every yr , the kiddo and I head out together topick out a Christmas treeand spend time together crafting decoration and decorating the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . No tree is ever the same as the last !
It ’s bad to say goodbye to my tree at the ending of the time of year , and I ’m always count for ways torecycle my Christmas treeinto some of my crafting . After makingwood slice coaster , I opine I would do a different take on it by making Grant Wood burn ornaments instead !
Pyrography is such a fun and unique spare-time activity to get into . Using a especial handheld puppet , you’re able to directly decorate wood and other material using burn bull’s eye . The upshot is a gorgeous and innate - looking Christmas ornament .
You can hang these wooden ornaments inside or outside.
If you require to try your hand at stool your own Sir Henry Joseph Wood slice ornaments , then keep read for all my tips and educational activity .
This post will cover …
This project comes fromGarden Made , my crafting Koran full of seasonal projects instigate by the garden . It has good deal of projects to keep you busy class - round to help prettify your family and garden and to give as meaningful gift . If you want more crafty , down - to - earth undertaking , check it out !
Preserving the Christmas Tree
I ’ll always be on teamreal Christmas tree . It ’s one of my favorite tradition to take part in , manoeuver to the Christmas tree set to pick out a tree and then heading home to decorate it .
As I grew aged and fall in love with gardening , I just had to experience the rom - com - esque Christmas tree diagram pilgrimage where you cut your own tree . Off to a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree farm in glue boots we go , sipping cyder out of a newspaper cup and listen to carols played over a speaker unit .
“ seize a saw and head out to the tree , ” they told us . We settled on a superb tree with the richness , colouring , and needle retentionthat invoke most and haul the thing up onto the car ’s roof . The drive domicile was a raft : in every direction , Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree were zipping down highways atop sedan chair pack with families . I opine all the people who would sip some eggnog after that day as they set up Christmas .
Our tree diagram that year was full of new memories and proffer afresh evergreen plant scentthat greeted me each time I reach by . The experience of choosing the tree out in the parky air with pink nose and lanate mittens warm up me each time I added another present below .
When the fourth dimension came to package up the decoration and say goodbye to our tree , I had trouble countenance go . The needles had fallen , and the branches were dry , but the trunk was just the right size for creating forest burned ornaments .
Rather than toss my tree in the compost , I decided to twist the automobile trunk into some ornamentation that would have plenty of sentimental value . Here ’s how I made these wood ornaments with pyrography designs .
DIY Wooden Ornaments
I love that I can carry on the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree of Christmas past times to the next year with these wood burned Christmas ornaments . They ’re particular sentimentally but also look amazing on the tree diagram . I always opt fornatural decorations , and I love how rustic and personal these ones are !
Materials
Where to Get Wood Slices
For my wood ornaments , I made my own wood slices by cut the luggage compartment of an one-time Christmas tree .
If you do n’t put up a fresh tree in your dwelling house but still want to make this project , there are plenty of way to get the wood . You could visit a tree farm and ask for off - cut of big branches or too - long tree diagram trunks .
After the holiday , you may walk down residential streetslooking for discarded Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ready for recycling . Or find out where trees are composted in your area and pick up them there .
If all else go , you may go to a local garden center or tree diagram muckle after Christmas and expect for one they did n’t sell .
Besides sourcing local wood slice , you’re able to alsofind pre - gelded one from most craftsmanship storesto make wooden ornament . I found some on-line onAmazon , Michaels , andHobby Lobby .
Dry Wood Slices
Once you have your tree or ramification for this projection , snip all the branches off as tight to the bole as possible . Let the trunk dry totally in a warm , dry place to avoid wood splitting . Cut the proboscis into a few sections for faster dry .
dry out takes time . In some instances , calendar month ! Sawing them forward of time is the good way to belt along up the practice . hive away them inside the mansion where it is affectionate to make them dry out faster . Some cuts may crack during the process , so describe for this when determining how many slice to cut .
Cut and Sand
Using a table saw or handsaw , edit the wood intoquarter or half - in thick disc .
Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin each slice of wood by hand with coarse - grit sandpaper first , then smooth the control surface with a okay moxie . Leave the bark alone if your tree still has it ! I wish the addition of the natural sharpness .
Drill holes through the top of each ornamentso you’re able to loop string or ribbon through .
Design
beautify your Ellen Price Wood slice ornaments with paint , fabric , wood stain , or decoupage . I chose to celebrate the natural look in this project by using a Natalie Wood - burning pen set .
To apply the wood - burning putz , stick to the manufacturer ’s education andpractice on some pieces you are not overtly attached to . Be sure to try out the different playpen wind !
Once you have the knack of it , you’re able to reap your designs in pencil and trace with the burning playpen , or just have some complimentary - shape shapes menstruate from your digit . Plectrophenax nivalis and stars are simple and festive , but try anything meaningful to you . instrument , animals , initial , and words are all good pick , but there is nothing to say you ca n’t draw devil trucks or cupcakes if that ’s what you ’re into .
you may alsopaint your wooden ornamentsusingacrylic craft paint . I’d advocate using aprimerbeforehand and sealing it with a absolved varnish to prevent the paint from chipping or yellow . More on sealing below !
For decoupage , I would recommend usingModge Podgeand afoam sponge . You canprint family photos , take magazine clippings , fun scrapbooking composition , and more to make a beautiful collage .
How to Seal Wooden Ornaments
You cancover the Mrs. Henry Wood ornament with a sealerif you want a glossy finish or desire to protect the conception . This can also assist prevent cracking .
You need to seal ornaments after you ’ve finished your blueprint , not before . For woodwind sealants , bothspar urethaneandpolyurethaneare popular option .
Spar urethaneis typically used outdoors since it can hold out rough element . It expands and contracts with the motility of the wood during temperature and humidity modification . If you ’re advert your ornaments outdoors , spar urethane is your best option . take down that although it ’s cleared , it commonly has a somewhat yellowish shade .
The other choice is to usepolyurethane , which is mostpopular for indoor projection . It ’s typically heat and moisture - insubordinate . It dries clear but can darken or yellow over clock time .
Frequently Asked Questions About Making Wood Ornaments
Absolutely ! I recommend using a fuze beforehand to prevent the wood from absorbing any pigment and conception . Normal acrylic trade paint knead best . Once you ’re done , you ’ll need to seal off it with a exculpated varnish .
Drying is ordinarily what citizenry mess up the most while making wood slice ornaments . Drying is a very slow operation , one that can take months . I recommend slew the tree into your piece right forth for these ornamentation . This will help the slices dry out much faster . Then , store the slices inside . You want somewhere strong and with limited wet . Wait until the slices are fully dry before decorating . mention that some fade may crack over their dry out clock time . verify to burn a few extra slice to account for the potentially cracked slice .
You need to dry out the Grant Wood before you make the ornamentation . Otherwise , you may get some snap later on . Some wood is just more likely to crack than others . One of the best products to help with this is pentacryl woods stabilizer . After cutting your slices , you soak the wood with pentacryl . This will help to displace the wet in the wood and speed up drying time . It ’s almost vouch to foreclose splitting later on !
That covers all my tips for create your own wooden ornaments . It ’s a swell project to do once the Christmas season stop , and you ’re looking to recycle your tree . You ’ll love hanging them the keep abreast class !
More Christmas Crafts to Try
DIY Wood Slice Ornaments
Equipment
Supplies
Instructions
Share this post:
