After a big windstorm, it can be a little overwhelming to look at all the branches and sticks that need to be picked up in the yard. Instead of dreading this cleanup task, you can see it as a chance to collect all sorts of great materials for creative projects.
For example: I really like wooden buttons, but the ones from stores are often so highly polished that they barely look like wood at all. Here’s how to make nicer ones out of fallen branches that you find yourself. These buttons are smooth, but they retain the beautiful characteristics of the tree they came from — grain, texture, and even bark, if you choose. They are the perfect thing to adorn your totes, shirts, bags, or any other project that needs a little tree bling!
Steps
Step #1: Choose a branch and remove the bark (optional).
Next
- Find a hardwood branch with a straight section 6"–8" long by ¾"–1½" wide. You can use a fallen branch or cut one yourself, but make sure it has no sticky sap and a small pith (the hollow or spongy center), no more than 1/8" for a 1"-wide branch.
- Moisture level is important. Branches that are too dry will snap when bent, and freshly fallen or cut branches will need to dry out in the sun for a day or two before being made into buttons. Buttons cut from wood that’s too green or wet will crack once they dry all the way. Expect some trial and error with determining the right moisture.
- You can leave the bark on your buttons, but if you want to remove it, use a sharp knife to peel away 2"–3" of bark at one end of the branch, working around it evenly with shallow strokes. It’s important that your knife is really sharp; if it’s dull, removing the bark isn’t just a pain — you’re also more likely to slip and cut yourself.
Conclusion
This project first appeared in MAKE Volume 24, page 126.
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