DIY Decorating - Branches

Branch Antlers

DIY Decorating

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I have a confession to make, I've been kind of a yard waste hoarder lately...after each storm we've had, I save all the branches that fall from the tress because I think they can be turned into great items for the home! (I just heart branch decor) My first easy DIY Decorating project using branches was in my daughters room which you can see here (still need to add the birds).  About a week after setting up her tree branches, I saw these "Branchlers" by custom furniture maker Luke Bartels and I couldn't help myself.  Even Todd Oldham has put a pair of these branchlers up in his home.  I have been slowly working on my little guys room and I've been wanting it to be northern outdoorsy, kind of a woodland theme, but rustic and modern with soft colors for a baby at the same time.  Anyways, it's a WORK IN PROGRESS....to say the least...but I made these branch antlers out of one of the branches from my stash and now he has 2 things on his nursery walls! (hey it's progress :) The other item is the When I Grow Up I want to be like My Daddy sign I made last week)   This branch decor was really simple, I will show you in pictures how I did it.

I should also mention, this is a super fast and easy project...one of the easiest, effortless diy projects I have done.  (This cost $2.27 to make as I bought the wood plaque and hanging hardware..however there are at least 3 or 4 more pieces of hanging hardware left over)

Supplies

Wood Plaque (got mine at hobby lobby for $0.99 it was 50% off)

instant coffee and water....make a really strong dark coffee

foam brush

hanging hardware kit (found in the same area as the wood plaque for $1.27 for a little baggy of them)

tree branch or branches

garden clippers

glue gun and glue

rope

 I stained the wood with very dark brewed coffee and did 2-3 coats. See picture below for before and after color comparison.

Position your hanging hardware so it is straight and use a small hammer to attach it to plaque.

Find a good branch or 2 branches that will make good antlers and clip them to shape your branch antlers...

Clip the bottom tip of your antlers at an angle so you can line them up flush against the plaque...

Heat up your glue gun.  Make a big pile of hot glue centered on the lower part of your plaque.  Affix your branch antlers, adjust the the branches to how you like and then hold in place till the glue dries.

 This one branch took extra long to secure so I just propped it up...

Loop a rope around the base of your branch antlers and secure with hot glue.