DIY Birch Wood Slice Ornament with Wood Burned Design

While I was visiting Ashley in Ottawa, we got a little crafty.  We had both seen these and these wood burned birch slice ornaments on Pinterest, and decided to try making some ourselves!

Supplies:
Birch branch or pre-cut and drilled wood slices
Wood burner*
Drill (if you're making your own slices)
Chop saw or hand saw (if you're making your own slices)
Narrow plaid ribbon or twine
Pencil
Pliers (to change wood burner tips)
Old chopping block or cookie sheet (to protect work surface from wood burner)

*Ashley used a 50% off coupon at Michael's and bought a wood burner for around $25 plus tax.  I've linked to the same tool on amazon, which is about $23 plus shipping.  We chose this tool because it came with a variety of tips, a stand, and was a great price.  Plus, it can also be used on leather and other materials, so it's pretty versatile.

Steps:
Ashley's Handy Hubby cut birch slices for us and even drilled the holes so they were ready for hanging.  If you're tackling this project, you can also buy wood slices sanded and ready for use.  We left the bark on, instead of peeling it off and sanding smooth, because Ashley preferred the rustic, natural look.

Wine in hand (not recommended), we spent an evening taking turns with the wood burner, creating a series of snowflake designs - no two alike!  First we roughly sketched out a design using a pencil (using these as our inspiration), and then simply tried our best to trace that design using the wood burner.  You can also transfer a design on to the wood slices if you'd prefer to use some clip art - the wood burner I linked to even includes a transfer point so you can transfer laser printed images onto a surface with ease.

Neither of us had used a wood burner before, so we really experimented with different designs and all of the wood burning tips.  We created some duds during our experimentation, but we had a lot of fun - actually, this project is kind of meditative because it's so repetitive and simple.  Plus, the burning wood smells strangely good. 

When we were done, we let the designs cool and then threaded a narrow plaid ribbon through the drilled holes, finished with a knot, and then used a dab of clear nail polish to keep the ends from fraying.  These would also make adorable gift tags, and you could burn initials, names, or meaningful dates on the other side.

I can't say we're pros, but we learned a few tips for any wood burner newbies:

• Protect your table with an old chopping block or cookie sheet so if you drop the tool, or switch out the tips, your work surface is protected.
• Start with a simple design while you get the feel for the tool - snowflakes were easy!
• If you can, it's best to sketch out only a rough design as a guide and free-hand with the wood burner as much as possible, because erasing the pencil, if any isn't covered by the wood burner, is tricky.
• The hotter the wood burner, the smoother and more fluidly it will move across the wood, so experiment with the heat a little (the instructions recommend only a range of temperatures).
• "Drawing" with the wood burner is not what you might expect: we ended up making lots of short strokes - kind of like sketching.
• Work slowly and build up the intensity of the wood burned areas - you can go over areas as many times as you like to smooth out the design.
• Practice is key!  Have some scrap wood on hand to experiment with techniques, tips and heat - especially if you bought pre-cut wood slices and have a finite number of them.
• Take breaks so you don't overheat the tool.
• Use a pair of pliers to change the tips and allow a new tip to heat up before using.

Here's a look at the wood slice ornaments on Ashley's tree.  She has such a cute assortment of rustic ornaments, with a smattering of glittering balls for some sparkle.  I helped her trim the tree before I left and we spent a long time weaving that plaid ribbon garland just so, so if you want to take a moment to admire our handiwork, we definitely won't mind...
 

Have you used a wood burner before?  I'd love to hear your tips and experiences! 

Modern Fireplace Tool Set

When we first moved into the lakehouse, we couldn't find a spot for the fireplace tool set my grandfather welded so we spray painted the set left with the house and used that instead.  It turned out really well and looked so cute, but the handles were uncomfortably short, so our relaxing fireside evenings were punctuated with a lot of swearing as we singed our arm hairs trying to stoke the fire.

I love being thrifty - I relish the opportunity to make use of what I have and I love a good hand-me-down, but sometimes I just want something new.  We decided to look for a new set and started our search at Canadian Tire, because that's where we found the chic fireplace doors we purchased for the townhouse.  Sure enough, we quickly found a perfect, modern fireplace tool set:

It's the Preston Fireplace Tool Set, which also has a matching log holder.  The vintage iron finish almost disappears against the charcoal painted fireplace - which is exactly what I wanted.  The best part is that the handles are really long, plus there's a handy log grabber, which our last two sets didn't have.

You probably didn't notice a new fireplace tool set perched on the hearth in my tutorial for the bleached and dyed bottle brush trees (compare the photos above and below), but it's one of those little upgrades that just makes me smile every day!  I'm planning on hibernating for the winter soon so I'll be logging a lot of hours fireside, which I'll enjoy even more now that it looks a bit more sophisticated.

Disclosure: This post is a collaboration with my friends at Canadian Tire.  I was not prompted or encouraged to provide a positive review. 

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DIY Wood A-Frame Triangle Ornament Stand

Since moving from Ottawa, I've returned to the city annually to visit my friend Ashley.  Last year I really wanted to find the perfect gift (to thank her and her hubby for putting up with me!).  I searched high and low, but couldn't find anything.  She loves tea, so I ended up buying a few specialty blends you can only find in my city.  It was a good gift, but not a great gift.  This year I still couldn't find anything, even though I scoured every local shop and artisan sale.  One night, shortly before my trip, Ashley and I were texting back and forth, planning my visit and chatting about her holiday decorations because I had promised to help her decorate before I returned home.  I texted her a photo of a wood Crate and Barrel A-frame ornament stand and she loved it!  Then I realized that Crate and Barrel no longer sells the wood version (although a metal version can still be purchased).  Oops!  I had already sold her on it.

Undeterred, I rooked Handy Hubby into building a pair of tree-shaped wood ornament stands with me.  They just barely fit in my suitcase but, carefully wrapped in bubble wrap and cushioned with clothing, they survived the flight - and Ashley loved them!

Here's how to make these simple, DIY A-frame ornament stands.

Supplies:

• 3/8" Dowel
• 1/2" x 1-1/2" wood for the sides. Home Depot calls this Craft S4S (smooth four sides) and it would be in the moulding & millwork aisle of most home reno stores.
• 1/2" x 4" wood for the base.  This is also referred to as Craft S4S.  It is basically small lumber or project wood.
• Wood glue. 
• Painter's tape (used for clamping corners without marking surface).
• Chop saw (or miter saw, hand saw...)
• Drill and bit (sized the same as the dowel, 3/8")
• Sliding T-bevel
• Brushes, rags, gloves etc. for stain application
• Varathane Ultimate Wood Stain - Chocolate
• Varathane Professional Clear Finish - Satin

First we laid out the pieces and determined what shape and angle we wanted for the tree.  Using a T-bevel, we captured the angle between the two sides so we could adjust the miter to that angle.



Then, once we determined that our miter saw cannot cut an angle that steep, we adjusted the miter saw to the steepest angle possible and went with that.  Your results may vary ;)

We cut one end of each our two side pieces to that angle and laid them out on a table with the newly cut ends together, but overlapped so the end grain of one is covered and the other is exposed.  Here's a look at the peak of the finished stand, so it makes sense:



With the peak lined up, we measured down each side and marked on both sides (with a pencil line) where the bottom cross piece should be located.  Specifically, we marked where the pieces met on either the cross piece or the side piece.  If you're making one of these, keep in mind that these marks determine which pieces will overlap and have exposed end grain. 



Using the T-bevel, we captured the angle of the lines we just drew.  As this is an isosceles triangle, the angle should be the same for the left and right sides.  We adjusted the angle on the miter saw blade to match the angle captured by the bevel and cut the appropriate ends to make the overlap. 

Once all sides were cut, we laid them out and measured for placement of the dowels.  We measured from the top peak down each side, evenly spacing the dowels.  Of course, this measurement will vary based on how many dowels and what space you'd prefer between them.  Both the smaller tree (which is 18 1/4" tall) and the larger tree (22 1/4" tall) have about 3 1/2 - 4" inches between the dowels.  We weren't super precise with this measurement.

We marked off the points and drilled holes in each location (not all the way through - just enough to hold the dowels in place).  These did not go in straight, but at the same angle that we had just used for cutting the bottom piece.  We used the bevel that was already set from the last cutting step. 

Here's a better look at the holes:



Once the pieces were cut and the holes for the dowels was drilled, we cut the dowel with a chop saw to length - the lengths were determined for us by the angles used to make the frame of the tree.  With the dowel pieces cut, we laid all of the pieces out.  Before touching the wood glue, we dry fit the trees to make doubly sure that everything was cut perfectly.  When we were confident that everything looked right, we started gluing.  We started at the top peak, and while Hubby held the corner, I worked down the tree, gluing the ends of the dowel and assembling the tree.  We worked quickly to glue and then made a few adjustments so everything was assembled tightly.  It was definitely a two-person job (and not without it's frustrating moments).

To make it a bit easier when you start gluing, use a pencil and put a mark on the places that will be glued.  We numbered each joint, so we knew to put glue on the number three and stick it to the other number three.



To keep the trees together while the glue dried, we just used some painter's tape on the corners to keep everything tight.  No nails required because the glue holds strongly - strong enough to withstand the rough handling of baggage handlers!

 

We let the tree shape dry for 24 hours and then we glued the base on, again using painter's tape to hold it in place while the glued dried (another 24 hours).

Before I stained them, they were already looking so cute:

If I had kept them for myself, I might have just given them a clear coat or stained them grey.  Or (who am I kidding?), painted them aqua.  My friend has a rustic, somewhat traditional Christmas scheme and favors warm, dark woods so I used the same Varathane chocolate wood stain I used for my DIY nautical rope accent table.

Before staining, I lightly sanded the surface, edges and corners with a fine grit sandpaper to ensure there were no sharp edges or rough areas.  I wiped the dust off with a tack cloth and then got to work staining.  I just applied the stain with a rag and removed it after a few minutes with a clean cloth - so simple.  That same day I applied a coat of Varathane satin clear finish (also left over from the nautical table project).  

I couldn't resist taking photos of them in the lakehouse because I love how the chocolate stain pairs with glittery teal and pale blue ornaments. 

I really liked bringing something handmade as a gift, so now I need ideas for my next visit - preferably something a little more portable!

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Easy DIY Poured Soy Candles

When I shared the tutorial for my DIY Earl Grey Tea scented soy candle, I hinted that I'd actually made many more.  Did you spot them in Hello Holiday?  Customized candles are such a great handmade gift idea.  The instructions on Hello Yellow are a little more in depth, so if you're thinking of making some poured soy candles as gifts, check out the tutorial.  I used a variety of vintage vessels and that's really the key to making one-of-a-kind candles.

I think this trio is my favorite - I love the gold wheat sheaf design.  I thrifted the set and always hoped to find a fourth, but no such luck.

This grey sugar bowl - with an iridescent glaze and tomato red trim - was actually something I scooped up at from the good neighbor shed.  I had to save it - it was too beautiful to get trashed.

This beautiful gold dish was another thrift store score - I had been looking for more of these for years, hoping to make a set, but I never found another one.  I'm happy I could give it a new lease on life as a candle!  (Now I'll probably find a set of three at the thrifts...)

This set of four glasses just would not sell in my vintage Etsy shop and it was heart-breaking to see them languish on my shelf.  I love how the white candle wax really helps the design stand out now.

This pink milk glass goblet was picked up at a yard sale.

I have used this glass dish all over the house: as a mini planter, as a catch all and now, as a candle.

The matching creamer to this Sadler sugar bowl was broken, so I thought it was a perfect excuse to use it as a candle.

I'd been setting aside potential candle vessels for about year and while I can't say I loved making candles (it takes a long time and is kind of fussy), seeing the beautiful assortment of one-of-a-kind soy candles I created was definitely worth it!  This is such a great way to re-purpose vintage wares that might have otherwise reached the landfill.

I hope these ideas have inspired you to turn some lonely glasses and bowls into gorgeous soy candles!  Don't forget to check out Hello Yellow for all the details and tons of step-by-step photos.

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