Holiday Tradition Tree

The Holiday Tradition Tree is a custom I started when my son was very little. I made several trees for work but they were never published so they floated around our home for awhile until I settled on one and it slowly became the Holiday Tree.

At Christmas it gets little ornaments, at Thanksgiving-- thankfulness leaves, at Halloween- bats (obviously) and at Easter - little chicks.

You could put any number of different things on it year round: origami birds, fabric flowers, twinkle lights etc.

Materials:

• Branch(es) about 24" tall with lots of little twigs coming off of them
•  A saw (I won mine in an Instructables contest)
• Wood glue
• A wood base: a wood plaque from the craft store works really well; they even have natural wood slice bases now
• Drill and bits (size depends on branch bottom diameter)
• Scrap wood surface to drill into (just in case)
• Wax paper
• Optional: Paint (spray or acrylic and a brush)

Determine the depth of the wood base - you will not need to drill through the bottom.

Gauge the diameter of the branch(es) being added to the base and select the corresponding sized drill bit.

Put a piece of painters tape around the drill bit to show how deep to drill (i.e. not all the way through the base).

In some cases, the wood bases already have a hole drilled into them for lamps but in general, it will not be the size needed to fit the bottom of the branch.
 

Hold the branches where they will sit and be aware that you might need to have the things balance later (i.e. put a second branch in).

On a protected surface, such as a piece of scrap wood, drill all the holes.

Set the base on wax paper and add a dab of glue into the hole.
Add a dab of glue to the branch bottom and stick it into the hole.

Repeat with the other branches if more are being used.

When the glue is completely dry, spray paint the whole tree or set your children to painting it by hand with acrylic paint.

You can paint it white (or a color) or leave it natural - both white or natural will work for all the holidays and seasons.

Twig Necklace

 

 

Cut small disks from a hardwood branch and sand them using 150 grit paper flat on the sandpaper.

Drill a small hole and decorate- the possibilities are endless-you can use scribbles glitter, permanent marker, paint, initials, words, glue things on like a tissue paper flowers or a real dried flower?- possibly seal it?

You could put a jump ring in the hole but we used lightweight twine (which might be itchy but it was what we had on hand) in the hole and back around in on itself. It would look nice with a light linked metal chain I think- more finished?