Deck The Halls With….Branches Of Maple?

So I’m not sure if I told you or not but over the Labor Day long weekend we had a wind storm. Nothing odd for this time of year where I live but the odd thing was that a huge chunk of branch from the middle of my towering Maple tree came crashing down. Luckily nothing was damaged except the tree!

Clearly I couldn’t let all that lovely wood go to waste! I saved the better part of the branches, at least the sections that were a decent size. After all, holiday season is fast approaching and what says old-fashioned Christmas more than natural elements?

Well today I started making things with some of the wood I saved. Wanna see?

Oh good!

So one of the first things I did was to take some of the smaller branches and cut them into thin slices with my chop saw.

My original plan was to form a wreath using a thin base to stick the wood slices to so that only the wood showed but I couldn’t find anything that I already had on hand that would do the job. Since I wasn’t able to go anywhere at the moment to get materials, I decided to change my plan just a wee bit.

I took a vine wreath base that I had and started sticking some wood slices to it using hot glue.

For the second layer, I used a strip of wood glue since it is wood to wood and there is a lot more surface area to attach to. Of course this means I have to wait a while for the glue to dry before I can continue working on it. Oh well, maybe I will start another wood project while I wait!

Here it is with the second layer of wood slices glued on.

Personally I like to decorate wreaths with them hanging the way they will when they are finished. I know a lot of people like to do it with them laying on a table or counter but I find I don’t get a feel for exactly how they will look unless they are hanging. Some things droop differently when they are vertical – like people! lol

So I made a basic loopy bow out of this lovely soft cream colored wired ribbon that I had laying around and wired it to the wreath.

From there it was just a matter of adding some evergreen sprigs, a couple magnolia leaves and some white berries. I almost left it like that – all neutral, however in keeping with my plan for some touches of traditional christmas red, I decided to add just a splash of red with some tiny geranium flowers.

Last but not least I thought the addition of this little chalkboard tag was the perfect finishing touch!

I haven’t decided exactly where this piece will go once I start putting my winter decor around but it’s a piece that can go in so many different places. I can think of about 5 right now. I’ll be sure to show you once I get it all styled.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed this simple diy wood slice wreath.

Until next time…

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