Driftwood is very trendy and can be used for all sorts of projects. Whether it's beach-style summer decorations or a mini Christmas tree for Christmas - driftwood is a real eye-catcher for indoors and outdoors. However, if you are not lucky enough to live near the beach where this material can be collected, you have two options: buy driftwood from a specialist store or make it yourself. Today we'll show you how you can make your own driftwood using a simple recipe and home remedies and give even conventional wooden boards a driftwood look!
You will need a large pack of washing soda or baking soda, old dry branches and twigs, bleach, water, sandpaper, wire brush, a large container (preferably a plastic tub), and something heavy to weigh down the wooden pieces. It is also recommended to wear gloves and safety glasses when handling bleach.
Gather small twigs and branches for your project. Light woods such as cedar, birch, beech and maple are best suited. Then you need to mix a baking soda solution according to the following recipe. Protected by gloves and safety glasses, fill the container with warm water and gradually stir the baking soda until it completely dissolves in the water. Place the wooden pieces in the plastic tray and place flat stones on top to weigh them down.
Allow the wood to soak in water for 24-36 hours or longer until the bark has softened. You should then remove the pieces and remove the bark from the wood using a wire brush. If this is too difficult, the wooden parts can be put back into the water.
To ensure all bacteria are killed, refill the container with water and add another cup of bleach. Now wait for another 48 hours.
Rinse all wooden parts well with water and place them in the sun for 2-3 days. If your pieces are small enough, you can also dry them in the oven at 120 degrees. Once the wood is dry, you can sand the wooden parts with the sandpaper so that everything looks nicely rounded and naturally weathered. A thin layer of a patina glaze can also create the optical driftwood look and imitate the natural gray color of the weathered wooden parts.
You can now use your artificially producedMaking various driftwood craftsand decorate as you wish!
You can give the driftwood look not only to small branches, but also to entire boards. The following method is faster and looks just as good. This wall shelf will bring a wonderful touch of beach feeling into your own four walls!
First you need to sand off the old paint, then mix baking soda and water in a 1:1 ratio and put the paste on the wooden board. Drizzle or spray vinegar onto the baking soda and water mixture. Leave to work for 5 – 10 minutes and scrub off with a wire brush. Rinse the wooden board with water and dry with a cloth.
To give the wood a natural gray patina, mix brown glaze (4 parts glaze medium and 1 part latex paint), a little white wood craft paint and a little water to thin.
Now you have to work quickly. Apply a small amount of the mixture to the board and wipe immediately with a wet rag. This means the natural wood grain is still visible.
Paint the brackets and hooks light blue and decorate your shelf to match the maritime theme. If you still feel like crafting, you can create these shell pendants yourself. A lighthouse and a vacation photo makes everything perfect!
