Root furniture: fabulous beauty. We make crafts from snags with our own hands: where to get the material, how to process, what can be done? DIY driftwood table

Today, decorative elements and furniture made from recycled materials are becoming increasingly popular. It's hard to believe, but even nature has a "secondary" material. Why cut down new trees if you can make magnificent things from old snags, stumps and the like.

1. Bench

2. Wall of cuts

3. Coffee table

Magnificent table from a large polished stump. Such an original piece of furniture can be obtained in the forest belt or on your own personal plot.

4. Decor item

5. Flower pot

6. Mirror frame

7. Clock

An amazing watch made from a saw cut of a tree is an original and useful thing that you can make with your own hands.

8. Shelves

9. Bench

A charming rustic wooden bench is what you need for comfort in the hallway.

10. Bookshelf

11. Tabletop

12. Headboard

13. Woodpile

Snags are called partially rotted fragments of trees that have been lying on the ground for a long time.

Despite the peculiar and sometimes unpresentable appearance, driftwood is a good material for making various crafts and products.

The material combines a fairly high mechanical strength and an unusual shape, and also has a wood texture.

In this article we will talk about what can be made from snags, and also teach how to process this peculiar material.

The basis for the appearance of driftwood is a living and dead tree, as well as its parts.

When a plant weakens or ages, its immune system can no longer effectively resist various pathogens and pests.

Therefore, in some areas, damage appears that changes the properties of the wood.

Over time, damage leads first to death, and then to decay, resulting in part of the plant loses its strength and collapses by wind, rain or other factors. Since there is no clear boundary between normal and damaged wood, the destroyed areas take on the most bizarre forms.

If destructive processes occur on a tree, then over time the damaged fragment breaks off from the trunk or roots and turns into a snag, that is, a severely damaged piece of any part of the tree.

If a branch or trunk broke off from a tree even before the damage, then they are a snag become only after various microorganisms have sufficiently damaged them, and these defects will be noticeable even with a cursory examination.

If the damage has affected the roots, then they turn into a snag after the trunk breaks off from them, and the root system comes out of the ground under the influence of various factors.

Where can I find it and can it be collected?

Since driftwood comes from unmaintained trees, easier to find them:

• forests;
• forest parks;
• windbreaks;
• groves.

Although allows you to collect driftwood and other tree fragments naturally separated from the plant, local authorities often impose various restrictions.

Therefore, before going for a snag into the forest, ask your local government whether there are any restrictions at the local level.

The brush removes dirt well and cleans even cracks and depressions, but it damages the surface of the wood, so it will have to be sanded. Most effective, however, almost completely removing the bark, is the processing of driftwood pressure washer. This machine removes any dirt, but does not damage the wood.

Bark cleaning

Bark removal can be either a separate operation or one of the actions carried out when removing loose wood or grinding.

In the first case use blunt chisels with which from wood. It is undesirable to use sharp chisels, because they can damage the wood and deprive it of its natural texture.

In the second and third cases, standard tools are used for removing or grinding, that is, nozzles for a drill / grinder or sandblaster.

Drying

forest snags have very high humidity(25-55%), which makes it difficult to stop the destruction processes in them, because high humidity is the main condition for the active life of microorganisms that feed on wood.

In addition, washing the material with a sponge or pressure washer further increases this parameter, making the material even more vulnerable. So driftwood after cleaning it is desirable to dry. This can be done in two ways - forced and natural.

For forced drying, the wood is placed in a dryer or oven and the heat is turned on.

The liquid inside begins to evaporate and look for a way out, which leads to cracking of the material. Depending on humidity and temperature, such drying takes 10-50 hours.

For drying naturally the snag is laid in a well-ventilated shaded room without drafts, it is desirable that the temperature in it be within 15–25 degrees above zero. Drying time is 10–30 months, due to the slow release of moisture on the surface of the wood, no new cracks appear.

Loose part removal

Before removing loose or rotten wood, it is necessary to mark its boundaries with a simple pencil.

It is undesirable to use a marker for this purpose., because its paint is absorbed into the wood and it will be possible to remove it only together with the top layer of the driftwood surface.

Then the middle of the rotten area removed in various ways., for example:

• break out by hand;
• knocked out with a hammer or an ax;
• cut with a jigsaw;
• grind with a brush-nozzle with hard steel hairs.

During this stage, it is advisable not to approach the edges of hardwood, because you can accidentally damage them, after which you will have to grind this area hard. Rude on the border with hardwood removed with a large rasp or nozzle brushes with soft metal hairs.

Shape change

Despite the fact that the unusual shape of driftwood is its main advantage, sometimes you have to change the shape.

For this:

• it is cut with a hacksaw, jigsaw or chainsaw, depending on the size and thickness of the driftwood;
• the surface of the material is leveled using manual / electric planers and jointers;
• cutouts are made in the walls using manual and electric jigsaws.

All these operations are performed in the same way as when processing any other wood, for example, boards. Therefore, those who know at least a little how to work with wood will be able to independently change the shape of the driftwood, giving it the desired shape.

Putty

For sealing cracks use both ready-made putties for wood, and a mixture of wood dust with PVA glue. You can get the dust of the desired color using a grinder. In addition, wood dust of any color and suitable water-soluble colors can be used.

Before puttying it is necessary clean the surface wood and, if possible, sandblast it.

After filling the defect with putty, it is necessary to remove all excess, so that the putty area does not protrude relative to the surface wood. If the size of the defective area of ​​the driftwood exceeds the values ​​​​recommended for putty, then it is advisable to fill the defect several times, this will keep the putty from cracking.

Grinding

Sanding eliminates minor imperfections, and also make the texture of wood more clear.

Coarse sanding can be done with a grinder and coarse sandpaper or with a brush attachment with soft metal hairs inserted into the drill.

Medium grinding of hard, as well as medium and final grinding of soft rocks, is performed only by hand using sandpaper with numbers from 20 to 6, gradually reducing the grit. For final grinding of hard rocks, use 5-n or 4-n sandpaper.

If during coarse or medium sanding it is not possible to remove the pile, which constantly rises after the passage of sandpaper, then the surface of the wood must be wetted. For any grinding method, periodically change the direction of movement of the sandpaper to avoid deep marks.

Burning

This operation is used for surface color changes polished driftwood, because during heat treatment the wood darkens, and the stronger the heating, the darker it becomes. You can burn both the entire surface of the driftwood, and only certain sections.

For firing use a blowtorch or gas burner. All flammable substances must be removed before firing.

If, by firing, the surface is made a little darker than necessary, and then sanded again, you will get a very unusual pattern of wood texture, which will retain its shape, but greatly change the color.

Impregnation with various reagents

Such impregnation is carried out if the finished product is located in places with high humidity or high temperature.

For this processing,:

• antiseptics (protect against pathogenic bacteria);
• insecticides (protect against pests);
• hydrophobic or water-repellent (to protect against high humidity);
• flame retardants (to protect against high temperatures and open flames).

For such processing, it is advisable to use only high-quality ready-made formulations, and also act in accordance with the instructions that are pasted on the reagent containers.

In addition, snags often boiled in soda or table salt, however, both methods are applicable only for those products that will then be constantly in water, because soda and salt are very hygroscopic, therefore they draw in moisture even from the air.

Painting and varnishing

For painting, both paint from aerosol cans and any water-soluble, for example, acrylic dyes, are used.

Before painting with water-based materials, it is necessary to carry out a “wet” sanding of the surface to completely remove the pile, otherwise, after contact with water, it will rise and the surface will have to be sanded first to remove the dye, then repainted.

Also you can use paints and enamels on any polymer bases However, before this, the driftwood product must be thoroughly dried, otherwise excess moisture will not be able to escape through the vapor-tight polymer layer, and the wood will begin to break down.

You can also change the color of the wood surface with the help of stains. Their main advantage is that they penetrate deep into the wood by 0.1-1 mm, so by carefully grinding individual sections, you can change the color saturation.

In addition, the color saturation in individual areas can be adjusted by the amount of stain or by applying it in several layers.

For varnishing, you can use any varnishes compatible with dyes. Varnishes based on acrylic and wood resin allow water vapor to pass through, so the workpiece can not be dried too much. Varnishes based on other polymeric materials form a vapor-tight film, so only well-dried snags can be covered with them.

Polishing and joining with other parts

Lacquered surfaces can to polish using the same mastics that are used to polish parquet or wooden floors. In addition, you can use any polishes for lacquered furniture.

There is two conditions for high-quality polishing:

• use a mastic or polish that is compatible with varnish;
• strictly follow the procedure described in the instructions for the polishing material.

Often a snag is, albeit the main one, but only an element of the whole composition, so it has to be combined with other details.

For this use:

• glue;
• pins;
• nails;
• locks;
• threaded elements;
• furniture corners.

Any of the connection methods does not differ from the same action applied to any wooden parts, so you will find more detailed information on this issue.

What products can be made?

Due to their unique appearance and rather high strength, driftwood is a good basis for making a wide variety of crafts.

Here short list what can be done with them:

• decorations for an aquarium or terrarium;
• lamps and chandeliers;
• candlesticks;
• decorative figures from snags for the garden and interior;
• furniture;
• wall and table decorations;
• watches and watch stands;
• gazebos.

Decorations for aquarium and terrarium

Snags in aquariums and terrariums not only play the role of decorations, but also create a more familiar habitat for fish and other living creatures.

For a terrarium, you can choose wood of any species, however, when making driftwood for an aquarium it is better to use the hardest hardwoods of all that are available.

Although you can use driftwood from branches, material from the roots is better suited for terrariums and aquariums. And it is advisable to take a firewood for this purpose, that is, wood that has lain in the sea or running water for a long time.

The selected material must be cleaned of and dirt, then carefully sandblasted or soft wire brush. This will help you find any rotten or moldy areas that need to be removed, including some of the healthy wood.

Since the use of purchased antiseptics is unacceptable, because they can be harmful to the inhabitants of terrariums and aquariums, during the preparation of wood boiled in a solution of common salt for 3-10 hours.

After that, it is boiled for another 5–15 hours in clean water, changing the liquid every half hour.

Such preparation completely cleans the wood from harmful substances and dangerous microorganisms, and also saturates it with water, so that it will not float.

If the snag still pops up, then you can attach rubber suction cup and with its help to fix on the bottom. If the snag is prepared for the terrarium, then after boiling it is dried in a ventilated room for 3-5 months.

Lamps and chandeliers

Due to their unusual shape, driftwood is well suited for the manufacture of lamps and chandeliers. It is best to use snags from the butt (lower part of the trunk) or roots that contain indentation with jagged edges.

You can install a lamp in the recess, and uneven edges, especially with roots coming out of them, will give fancy shadows.

Making a lamp from driftwood is usually includes several steps:

• cleaning from dirt and bark;
• removal of loose areas;
• drilling holes for hanging on a wall, ceiling or other surface;
• drilling holes for installing the lamp and cartridge;
• coarse and medium grinding with lint removal;
• impregnation with stains or firing;
• fine grinding;
• varnishing;
• polishing;
• installation of a lamp and cartridge;
• laying wires;
• wall mounting.

Candlesticks

For the manufacture of a candlestick, a snag of any shape is suitable, while the type of wood does not matter.

If the candlestick will stand on the table, then it is necessary provide maximum stability, which may require changing its shape.

If the candlestick is installed on a wall or ceiling, then it is necessary to install the mount on the most durable part of the material.

The most important steps processing are:

• cleaning from dirt;
• removal of loose areas;
• grinding;
• flame retardant impregnation.

In addition, very it is important to choose the right place and method of installing candles. Candles can be placed either directly into the wood, for which you need to drill a hole 1 cm deep in the snag, the diameter of which is slightly less than or equal to the diameter of the candle, and into metal glasses of any shape that are attached to the wood with self-tapping screws.

decorative items

In the vast majority of cases, in the manufacture of decorative figures, you have to perform all the processing operations, and some need to be done several times.

Some snags similar in shape to humans, animals, or mythical creatures, so you can make beautiful decorative figures from them and use them in garden design.

Often you have to make a composition either from several snags, or from driftwood and various additional elements, which can be anything.

For example, a figurine of a mythical gnome can be decorated with a wide-brimmed hat and old boots. And the figurine of a horse - with bundles of natural or artificial hair imitating a mane and tail. In addition, other crafts for the garden can be made from driftwood, for example, flower stands.

Beds, tables, cabinets and other furniture

For the manufacture of furniture, you need to use the strongest and largest snags from roots and branches, because the finished product will experience significant loads.

From this material you can make:

• tables and coffee tables;
• chairs or stools;
• beds;
• bedside tables and cabinets.

In the manufacture of tables from snags, only the legs or the body are made, but they have to be made from another material.

The choice of finishing method depends on the shape and color of the driftwood, so in each case it is selected individually.

However, in any case, mandatory steps are:

• cleaning from dirt;
• bark removal;
• grinding with lint removal;
• drying.

In the manufacture chairs or stools both individual legs and the entire structure are made from driftwood.

In order for such a chair or stool to be more comfortable, for him make soft bedding, which can either be attached to the surface of the seat, making it part of the structure, or made in the form of a removable pillow.

The minimum set of operations is the same as for tables. In the manufacture of beds, driftwood is used as a decorative element or a supporting structure.

In the first case, these can be relatively small parts of any thickness, in the second case, it is necessary to use only material from roots or thick trunks, and most of it should retain its mechanical properties.

The frame and lattice for the mattress are made of planed boards or metal, connected with snags in various ways, providing the necessary strength and beautiful appearance.

In addition to the minimal processing used in the manufacture of other furniture, interior details from knots, branches, roots and snags must be soak thoroughly with antiseptics and insecticides so that various diseases do not appear in them and bugs do not settle.

All parts made of natural material must be varnished in order to prevent raising the pile and the appearance of splinters.

For nightstands and cabinets made from snags body only, as seen in the photo, and drawers and the top cover or countertop of a piece of furniture (if provided for by the design) are made of other materials.

This approach allows you to make a bedside table that can not only be used to store things inside, but used as a stand.

In addition to the minimum set of operations have to change shape snags, because without this it will not be possible to insert a box into it or fix a beautiful lid / table top on top.

Wall and table decor

Due to the unusual shape of the snags are obtained stylish wall and table decorations. It can be flat, partially or completely three-dimensional figures. For the manufacture of a flat decoration, you can use both a snag bent in two changes, and a cut from a large snag of any shape.

The cut can be made with a chainsaw, circular or band saw, then level the surface with an electric planer or electric jointer. The same trimming can be carried out for a partially voluminous product, this will preserve the voluminous appearance, but greatly reduce the overall thickness of the product.

On such decorations, the remains of the bark can harmoniously fit into the overall pattern, so it is very important to remove all damaged fragments as much as possible and thoroughly soak the workpiece with antiseptics and insecticides.

If this treatment is not done or done carelessly, then it is likely that after a few years, due to the destruction of the cellulose, the bark will peel off the wood, and it will have to be glued into place. In addition, various bugs can settle in poorly processed bark, which will spoil its appearance.

Watches and stands for them

From snags, beautiful and stylish cases and watch stands are obtained.

To make the case, pick up a piece of driftwood that is noticeably larger than the size of the watch, then either insert them into a natural recess wood, or first cut or gouge a hole under the clock with a chisel, then insert them there.

The first method is preferable for those who are not very good at working with a chisel, but the second method allows you to make a complete imitation of the fact that the watch is part of a driftwood.

In addition, from driftwood you can make not only the case, but also the dial, into which the clock mechanism will then be embedded. To do this, it will be necessary not only to create a flat plane, but to partially disassemble the clock, after which attach the mechanism from the inside of the structure, and install arrows and numbers from the outside.

If a stand is made of driftwood, then it is necessary select material with a flat area at the top, the size is not inferior to the clock.

In cases where there is no such platform, it can be made either by sawing off the upper part of the material, or by hollowing out a recess of the required shape in it with a chisel.

gazebos

Due to the unusual shape, driftwood can be used to create decorative arbors, including antique ones. The thickest and strongest snags fit well for the role of load-bearing pillars, medium and small parts can be used for wall cladding.

Such a gazebo will look most stylish if its roof is made of straw or various plants, while the roof frame is best made from boards small thickness.

Chairs or benches, as well as tables in such a gazebo, should also be made of snags, in which case the whole structure will be made in the same style.

In order for the wood not to lose its color over time, its it is desirable not only to clean, sanded and impregnated with stain, but also varnished.

Links to thematic forums

Homemade products from snags are in great demand, so the authors often discuss their works on thematic forums and share their experience there, what and how can be done.

• Aquaforum;

  Any snag, regardless of its shape and condition, can be used. However, in order for a product made of it to serve for many years, the material must be properly processed.

  Now you know:

  • what can be made from snags;
  • how to prepare and process them;
  • what kind of driftwood can be put in an aquarium, and where to look for other ideas and tips on the use of this material.

  In contact with

  How to make wood for crafts with your own hands from ordinary driftwood? Many craftsmen ask this question. In this article, I want to show you how you can make driftwood at home. It will take a little time (about a week), but then you will get a large number of pieces of wood of different sizes, both in length and in thickness. These driftwood are suitable for any kind of crafts, except for an aquarium!

  You will need:

  • Plastic container;
  • soda ash;
  • sandpaper;
  • laundry bleach.

  In a plastic container, add about 1-2 cups of soda ash and pour hot water into it. Now put the branches there and press them down so that the water covers the wood completely. I needed about seven liters of water. I then filled two containers with water and used them as an anchor to hold the wood under the water.

  

  So it should lie in the water for about 48 hours or longer, so that the bark softens and can be removed with a wire brush.

  

  

  When you clean the branches, you will see that the color of the wood is not uniform. Now we need to bleach them. Pour clean water into a container and add bleach. For seven liters of water, I added one cup of the product. We again immerse the wood in the container and press down with containers so that the branches are completely in the water. We leave for 48 hours.

  

  After that, we take out the driftwood and put it in a sunny place for another two or three days. The sun works just fine! After 3 days of sun, you will have wonderful driftwood, but they are still rough for crafts. All sharp and uneven places must be cleaned and sanded with fine sandpaper.

  

  Now they have acquired such a look as if they were washed by the sea for a long time.

  

  In the photo below you can see a picture of how great the unprocessed snag differs from what you got after processing. Now you can put them in a secluded place and store for a very long time.

  Ordinary twigs of trees, which usually abound in an orchard or a personal plot, are a unique material.

  Nature has already given them bizarre forms, which, with due imagination and a little skill, can be turned into a real work of art. Crafts from tree branches will originally fit into the home environment, help to diversify and decorate the interior.

  material requirements

  Of course, not every branch is suitable for making crafts. It is better to harvest the material in early spring or autumn, when the bark and core are not touched by bark beetles.

  There are no requirements for the type of wood: birch, willow, grape and other branches are equally suitable for making crafts. The main thing is that the material does not have traces of the presence of pests, chips and other defects.

  To exclude the appearance of any insect larvae in the house, it is recommended to treat the collected branches with a weakly concentrated solution of potassium permanganate.

  So that the craft from branches and snags for the interior is not jarred, the material must be subjected to preliminary. You can do this in two ways:

  • in vivo, spreading the branches in an even layer on the floor and keeping at room temperature for about 2 weeks;
  • accelerated process- Arrange on a baking sheet and place in the oven for 3 hours. There must be a slow fire and an ajar door so that the moisture comes out evenly.

  If it is planned to remove the bark from the wood for crafts, this operation must be performed before drying begins. When the branches are freed from excess moisture, the surface can be coated with wood varnish.

  Decorative candlestick

  This is the easiest way to make DIY crafts. It will take less than an hour to make a decorative ornament. For work you will need:

  • glass cup. A container with high and low walls is suitable, it is better to choose transparent glass, but this moment remains at the discretion of the master;
  • glue;
  • thin dry branches;
  • small secateurs.

  At the initial stage, the lower parts of the branches need to be cut so that they lie flat against the bottom of the glass. The proportionality of the upper part does not play a significant role.

  The further operation is simple: we spread the branches with glue and glue them to the wall of the glass close to each other. The candle is inserted inside the glass container, and the original candlestick for decorating a room or a romantic dinner is ready.

  The second version of this craft: the branches are glued directly to the candle. For this, thin willow twigs that have a straight shape are more suitable. However, such products are used only as a decor: it is not worth lighting a candle pasted over with dry wood for reasons of fire safety.

  Photo frames and mirrors

  From tree branches, you can make a beautiful frame for a family photo or a mirror in the hallway. The work is carried out according to an identical scheme, the difference lies only in the method of registration and the amount of consumables for crafts.

  To decorate a photograph, dried and varnished thin twigs are glued onto a wooden frame.

  Note! The basis of the photo frame can also be made independently by sawing a rectangle out of plywood with a jigsaw.

  Pasting starts from the long sides. The branches are laid close, it is allowed to apply two or three rows. Then, in a similar way, the short sides of the frame are pasted over. At the corners, the ends of the branches can be laid end-to-end or with an intersection, both options look equally interesting. As an additional decor for crafts, you can use dried moss or any other decoration at the discretion of the master.

  In a similar way, you can make the original frame for the mirror. However, here the base has a larger area, and finding relatively straight branches can be problematic. In such cases, the source material can be cut into small pieces (3-5 cm) and the branches can be glued not parallel, but perpendicular to the base. There will be more time to make such crafts from branches, but an ordinary mirror will look elegant, unusual.

  coasters

  Having cut down an old tree in the country, you do not need to immediately send it to the fire. From a small part of the trunk, you can make an original stand for stationery. To create this craft you will need:

  • cut a trunk with a diameter of not more than 15 cm, a height of 5-8 cm;
  • drill with a set of drills;
  • fine-grained sandpaper;
  • wood varnish.

  The workpiece is cleaned of bark if necessary, the lower part, which will serve as the base, is leveled to give stability. Holes are drilled in the upper part, the distance between each is kept at 5-10 mm. Then all surfaces and corners are sanded with sandpaper. At the final stage, the wood is covered with several layers of varnish, and after drying, the stand for pencils and pens is ready for use.

  Hanger

  Homemade hangers are ideal for decorating the hallways of apartment and private houses, summer cottages. This is not even a craft, but a real joinery made from tree branches.

  For manufacturing you will need:

  • board. Its length and width are chosen arbitrarily, depending on the number of clothes that will be placed on the hanger;
  • thick branches of trees with branches of branches, preferably located at an acute angle.
  • self-tapping screws;
  • saw;
  • paints and varnishes.

  The base board must be sawn in accordance with the specified dimensions, varnished or painted, having previously treated the surface with sandpaper.

  Each thick bough is cut to a length of 30-40 cm, 1-2 processes are left on the base, which will serve as hooks for clothes. The back surface of the knots can be bevelled to ensure a snug fit to the base.

  Hook branches are fastened with self-tapping screws, if a home-made hanger is not supposed to be used to store heavy things, you can get by with glue.

  Vases

  Flower pots and flower vases can also be beautifully decorated with branches. To do this, the branches are cut on both sides so that the source material has the same dimensions. The branches are laid out in one row on the table, tied together with a strong thick thread, twine. To make the design more presentable and durable, the branches are fixed in two places: above and below. If the work is done correctly, you should get a path of tightly fitting branches.

  A vase or flower pot is covered with burlap. At the final stage, the branches are wrapped around the base, the ends of the twine are tied together with a bow. As an additional decoration, the surface of wood crafts can be varnished or decorated with decorative elements.

  As a decor for branches for a vase, do-it-yourself flowers are made of paper, then glued to the craft. Use cones, old beads, pieces of cotton wool. Diode bulbs look beautiful as a backlight for a floor vase.

  Crafts from roots and snags

  It is noteworthy, but a stylish decorative ornament or a handmade wooden sculpture can be created with a minimum of effort. This will help stumps, snags, roots, which remain in large quantities after harvesting trees. In fact, the snag is already a finished sculpture, which only needs to be cleaned of bark, dried and varnished. Children are happy to look for interesting forms. Crafts from snags are suitable for older kindergarten groups and for school.

  Wood in general is a unique raw material for construction or home crafts. This is an environmentally friendly material that is easy to process, retains its original properties for a long time, does not require special care.

  In addition, even ordinary branches and twigs that are used to kindle a fire can turn into real works of art even in the hands of an inexperienced master. Crafts are made from small branches and large branches, after sawing off all that is superfluous.

  From scraps of tree trunks, you can fold a low woodpile, decorating it with thin branches on top - you get an interesting coffee table that will organically fit into any interior.

  Branches with a diameter of 5-7 cm and a height of 1.5 m are assembled into a rectangular frame. The walls are created from branches folded crosswise. We lay glass on top and get a beautiful dressing table.

  Tree branches can decorate the interior and decorate almost any piece of home furniture: floor lamps, shelves, ceiling chandeliers and wall lamps. Finally, thin twigs can simply be placed in a vase, making a decorative composition.

  Rutarium will allow you to make furniture for summer cottages from snags, stumps. Also from these materials you can make flower girls, sculptures with your own hands.

  
  Rutarium is an interesting trend in landscape design. He will help turn the cottage into an unusual corner. Stumps, various snags, an old tree are suitable for this.

  DIY stump crafts

  If you got a plot with the root system of a tree and its low above-ground part, do not uproot this element. To make crafts from stumps for a summer cottage, you will need:

  • stumps or one;
  • colored chips;
  • antiseptic;
  • stones;
  • flowers;
  • the soil;
  • tassel.

  

  1. To make the stump craft last as long as possible, take out the dust from the inside. Dry this inner hole. Remove the bark from the stump.
  2. Paint this natural wood element inside and out with two coats of antiseptic. When it is completely dry, you can start decorating the flower girl.
  3. Pour fertile soil inside the hemp, plant undersized flowers. Mulch the surface with ordinary or colored wood chips. Put stones next to the stump.

  

  
  

  Inverted glass or plastic bottles can be used instead of stones. The latter have their necks cut off.

  
  If you do not know how to arrange the northern part of the territory in the country, then place the rutar here, plant shade-tolerant flowers in it.

  Not only hemp is suitable for adaptation, but also all kinds of snags.

  

  
  If you have an unnecessary log for a long time, saw through it from above, take out part of the wood, remove the bark. Also treat the surfaces with an antiseptic, then pour fertile soil, plant unpretentious plants.

  Take a closer look, maybe a snag found in the forest reminds someone? In the photo, she looks like a fairy-tale dragon, you just need to work out the details so that they become obvious. To do this, use a hatchet, hacksaw, wood carving tools.

  Crafts from snags can be not only in the form of flower girls, check out the following ideas.

  How to make furniture for a summer residence, wood sculptures?

  See what results the craftsmen achieve. Having marked some details of the silhouette, you can make such a Bigfoot or a good-natured Leshy.

  

  
  To make this type of chair, take:
  • driftwood;
  • board;
  • rope;
  • stain;
  • varnish for wood for outdoor use;
  • brush;
  • self-tapping screws;
  • saw.
  Manufacturing master class:
  1. To make the chair reliable and stable, choose only strong, not light snags, oak ones are perfect.
  2. Saw off parts from them that will turn into legs. The two front ones are short, the back ones, together with the back, are long. Make the base of the seat, put a couple of boards here, attach them with self-tapping screws.
  3. From strong snags, make armrests, secure them with self-tapping screws and rope. For the backrest, a reliable cross member is taken, which is fixed in the same way. Two small snags are attached vertically to the center of the back.
  4. It remains to cover the chair with stain, when it dries 2 layers, apply three layers of varnish with intermediate drying.

  

  
  If you want to emphasize the natural structure of the tree, then do not varnish it, but just walk with an antiseptic, it can be transparent. See what wonderful chairs are made from stumps. The table is made from the same workpiece, only the top is attached to the top.

  

  
  But what can be done from a large hemp by sawing off its upper part. Then thick intricate snags will turn into table legs.

  

  
  A bench made of wood will also turn out to be unusually interesting, openwork and even fabulous.

  To do this, take:

  • two strong boards, preferably floorboards;
  • driftwood;
  • self-tapping screws;
  • glue for wood;
  • antiseptic;
  Make the base for the bench. It consists of two front and 2 rear legs. Stuff them with crossbars to connect these elements. From above, attach the boards that will become the seat.

  To securely connect them to the legs, attach snags here with self-tapping screws. Additionally, they can be fixed with pins by sawing holes of such a diameter in two connecting elements into which glue is poured.

  In the same way, fix the back, consisting of many snags. Sand down some elements if your design needs it.

  

  
  Almost the same type you can create a massive sofa. But its legs and base are logs.

  

  
  You can leave the product in this form or paint it with varnish, it also turns out very beautiful and unusual.

  

  
  Not only individual items will come out of the old tree, but the whole set. Coated with antiseptic and varnish, it will be able to stand outdoors in the air.

  

  
  On such country furniture it is so pleasant to sit in the shade, eat food here, arrange holidays.

  

  
  If you use a spray of golden lacquer to decorate furniture made of driftwood, create, for example, a chic shop that will look like an old one with a copper tint.

  

  
  If you only have an old stump, remove the bark from it, take out the dust, prepare it as described above, put tempered glass on top, you will get a wonderful wooden table.

  

  
  He may come out different. If you have a longitudinal saw cut of a tree, process it, attach the legs from below, put glass on top. Instead, you can make a countertop from.

  

  Rutarium from snags: a master class

  We continue the topic of how a rutarium is created. In order for the crafts to come out beautiful, you first need to prepare the snags. For this you will need:

  • soda ash;
  • bleach for linen;
  • iron brush;
  • Plastic container;
  • sandpaper.
  DIY creation:
  1. Pour hot water into the container, if it has a volume of 10 liters, then add two glasses of soda ash, stir. Put driftwood here. Place weights on top to prevent them from floating up. It can be plastic cans of water.
  2. After two days, the pieces of wood will soften, then clean the surface with an iron brush. Since the wood will be uneven in color at this stage, rinse the blanks. Pour 10 liters of water into the same 10-liter plastic bowl, add one and a half cups of bleach. Place snags here for two days.
  3. After this time, lay them out in the sun for 3 days. Then, using sandpaper, you need to grind the unevenness of the place.

  

  
  Now you need to fold these blanks in order to use them for crafts if you wish, for example, to make such a three-dimensional star.

  

  
  For her you will need:
  • plywood sheet;
  • jigsaw;
  • driftwood;
  • hot glue;
  • star pattern.
  Attach the template to the plywood. Circle it, cut it out with a jigsaw.

  

  
  Sawing pieces of driftwood to the desired length, glue them to the star, starting from its outer edge.

  

  
  Then, gradually move towards the center, try to cover all the plywood with chocks.

  

  
  Wait for the glue to cool, then cover your work with spray paint of the desired color. The silver star looks great.
  

  

  
  For such crafts from snags, the door of a country house is perfect. Attach the finished work here so that the star decorates the building. You can make another rutary.

  See what a wonderful wooden shelf you get.

  

  
  For her you will need:
  • strong snag;
  • rosewood varnish;
  • iron brush;
  • construction hooks;
  • corners;
  • brush.
  Using a wire brush, clean the surface of the snags. Coat with 2 coats of varnish.

  

  
  

  If you like, you can cover the hooks and corners with gold paint, when it dries, use these elements.

  
  Screw on building hooks to hang mugs or wine glasses on them. Attach the driftwood shelf to the wall with metal corners.

  

  
  From snags, wonderful things are obtained not only for the street, but for the home. Watch the following master class, from which you will learn how to make a flower stand with your own hands. For this creation you will need:
  • small log;
  • snag;
  • shells;
  • leg-split;
  • river pebbles;
  • hot glue;
  • self-tapping screws;
  • saw.

  

  
  First you need to prepare the wooden parts. To do this, remove the bark from a wooden log. This must be done very carefully so as not to damage your hands.

  

  
  Saw circles about 5 cm thick from the log. You also need to remove the bark from the snag. If this blank is of the wrong type, then bleach it in the same way as it was described earlier.

  

  
  While the driftwood dries, you will have time to decorate the flower stand. On the side surface in a circle from above and below, glue the rope with a hot gun. Using it, attach pebbles, shells. Paint the surface with varnish in 2 layers.

  In the same way, decorate other pallets where the plants will stand, including the largest one, which will become the basis for the flower girl. Attach a snag to it, attach the circles to the tops, on which the planters will stand.

  

  
  Paint the driftwood also with varnish in 2 layers, let it dry. You can decorate the flower stand with artificial greenery.

  

  
  In some places, glue shells on hot glue, you get a very beautiful picturesque stand.

  

  Do-it-yourself rutary in the city

  If you do not have a personal plot, you live in a city, trees were cut down here, interesting snags, stumps remained from them, then you can decorate the yard using this idea. To carry out this venture, you will need:

  • stumps and snags;
  • dye;
  • brushes;
  • seedling;
  • fertile soil.

  

  
  If it is difficult to take out the middle part of the tree cuts, then just paint them, for others, remove this middle part, fill it with earth, and also paint these blanks to make them look more positive. In this case, you can use not only white, but also any others.

  From the branches of cut trees, make a semblance of a well, putting four pieces in a row. Here also fill the soil and plant seedlings of flowers. If there is little sun in the yard, then use shade-tolerant plants, such as hostas, vines, ivy.

  

  
  If there are a lot of snags available, you can make interesting sculptural compositions from them. For example, these horses.

  

  
  If you know how to carve wood, then try making a rutary with a sculpture of a funny man.

  

  DIY wood figures

  They can also be made to decorate the yard in the city or in the country. Such a rutarium looks great, adds personality to the site, it is clear that a jack of all trades lives here.

  If you want to know what kind of wood is best to carve a sculpture, then check out the following information.

  1. Linden is one of the best materials. Such wood is cut softly and easily. The structure of this tree is light, it almost does not warp or crack.
  2. Aspen is also easy to work with. Products from it can even not be varnished, then after a while they will have a beautiful silver color. But crafts made from such wood are prone to chipping, so it is used to create large sculptures.
  3. Alder lends itself well to cutting and processing, resistant to cracks. Therefore, it is also an excellent material. Take note of this when you do the rutaria on the site.
  4. If you want to make elements of fine art here, use walnut, it is very decorative, does not warp and is resistant to chipping.
  5. Birch is not processed so well and warps. Therefore, if you want to carve wood, use this to create small parts and souvenirs. But the birch is well painted and has a beautiful relief.
  6. Large carvings can be made from oak, they will be durable. But such dense wood is difficult to cut, so you have to make an effort or use an electric tool.
  Once you have decided on the material, look at what woodcarving tools to use.
  1. Of the large ones, this is an ax, a hacksaw and even a chainsaw.
  2. Using cutters with a blade width of 1.5 cm, you can cut small elements that are in hard-to-reach places. There are many cutters, each designed to perform a specific function.
  3. Tesla is suitable for the initial processing of small parts.
  4. Also for wood carving, knives, jambs and chisels are used. The latter perform any notch, designed to work out the details. The cutting edge can be of various shapes.
  5. The Bogorodsk knife is perfect for carving wood sculptures. It is named so in honor of the village in which such work has long been performed.
  6. The drill is suitable for drilling holes.
  7. To make the surface of the product smoother, use a rasp, grinder and sandpaper.

  

  
  The photo shows how woodcarving is performed. You can see the stages of creating a sculpture from this material using the example of carving a bear.

  

  
  This is preceded by the following work:
  • creating a sketch on paper, it needs to be drawn from various angles;
  • then this sketch is transferred to the workpiece, which is best used as a rectangular bar;
  • if you want to avoid mistakes when carving a sculpture from wood, then mold it first from plasticine or clay, make adjustments;
  • now you can move on to rough cutting, which is carried out with a hatchet or saw;
  • small details you will create with a tesla;
  • and the cutter and chisel will allow you to cut off extra corners.
  As in the photo, to make a bear, take a log. Using a hatchet, chop off its upper part, but not completely. At the next level, this workpiece should become a little smaller.

  Next, the details of the bear's nose and sternum are worked out. Then he will acquire ears, front paws and hind legs. At the next stage, they are marked more clearly, and a stand for a wooden sculpture also appears.

  For the next step, you need to use chisels, a Bogorodsk knife, and jambs that will help make facial features, bear claws, and fur more realistic.

  

  
  At the final stages, you will need to sand and sand the wood sculpture, then cover it with stain and varnish. You can use special wax.

  If you want to see how a bear is carved out of wood with a chainsaw, then check out the next master class.

  If you want to know what a rutarium can be in your country house, then turn on the following video.

  Another one will clearly show how you can decorate the yard with the help of sawn trees.