• Home
  • Suggest A Craft
  • DIY Newsletter

Recycled Crafts

Creative DIY Projects That Turn Trash Into Treasure

  • About CraftGossip
  • Our Network
    • Bath & Body Crafts
    • Candle Making Ideas
    • Crochet Ideas
    • Cross Stitch
    • Edible Crafts
    • Felting Patterns
    • Glass Art
    • Home & Garden Ideas
    • Indie Crafts
    • Jewelry Making
    • Kids Crafts
    • Knitting Patterns
    • Lesson Plans
    • Needlework
    • Party Ideas
    • Polymer Clay
    • Quilting Ideas
    • Recycled Crafts
    • Scrapbooking
    • Sewing Patterns
    • Card Making
    • DIY Weddings
    • Not Craft Ideas
  • Giveaways
  • Roundups
  • Store
  • Search

How to make driftwood

April 9, 2014 by Stefanie Girard

how to make driftwood

A bunch of you have commented that the link to the post I shared a while back on how to make faux driftwood doesn’t work anymore. I tried it too and it looks like the blog has turned private. So I Googled it and found this post at Craftiments that features a tutorial on how to make driftwood. I hope this works for you all you driftwood making peeps!

Creating a coastal ambiance in your home is a great way to incorporate a natural and relaxing feel. One of the best ways to achieve this is by using driftwood in your decor. Driftwood has a unique and rustic charm that is hard to replicate with any other type of material. However, finding real driftwood can be a challenge and often comes with a high price tag. Fortunately, there is a simple solution to this problem – you can create your own faux driftwood at home using a few materials and some patience.

To get started, you will need to gather the necessary materials. You will need eye protection and rubber gloves, sticks and small logs that are at least partially dry, a hammer, and other tools for distressing the wood. You will also need Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (MSDS), hot water, a container large enough to hold the wood, and a wire brush. Optional materials include an oven for drying the wood and sandpaper or a sander power tool.

The first step is to collect dry sticks and small logs that are at least partially dry. This will ensure that they are able to absorb the solution. Next, you will need to use a hammer and other tools to beat up the wood. This will give it a more natural, distressed look that resembles real driftwood.

After you have distressed the wood, fill a container with hot water and add washing soda while stirring. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and eye protection as the solution is caustic. Add washing soda until it no longer dissolves. Place your wood in the solution and let it soak for 12-24 hours. Use a rock to keep the logs submerged during this time.

Throughout the soaking period, use a wire brush to scrub off softened bark. This can take a few rounds of scrubbing depending on the amount of bark. Once the soaking period is complete, rinse your logs well with water and dry them. You can air dry them in the sun or use an oven at 250°F for an hour.

Finally, use sandpaper or a sander power tool to round out sharp edges and create a more realistic driftwood look. With these steps, you will have created your very own faux driftwood to decorate your home with.

The active ingredient in washing soda is sodium carbonate, which breaks down lignin in wood. Lignin is a component of plant cell walls that gives them strength and rigidity. By breaking it down, the bark softens and can be easily scraped off. In addition, the wood’s natural colors are released, lightening the surface. This creates a beautiful, natural-looking finish that resembles real driftwood.

By creating your own faux driftwood, you can bring the beauty of the beach into your home without the high cost or difficulty of finding the real thing. This is a simple and affordable way to add a unique and rustic charm to any room in your home. Whether you use it to make a decorative centerpiece or to add a natural touch to your mantelpiece, your faux driftwood is sure to be a conversation starter.

 

Shellie Wilson
It’s possible to have allergic and/or adverse reactions to essential oils as well as fragrance oils. If you’re making soap or massage candles, it’s important to make sure whatever you’re using is skin safe. Because both soap and massage candles come in contact with skin, it makes more sense to use essential oils because the body can absorb the therapeutic properties better.
Using essential oils in homemade soap and massage candles can be a great way to enhance their therapeutic benefits, but it’s important to be aware that some people can have allergic or adverse reactions to these

 

Related Posts:

  • Upcycling or Hoarding? Why Your DIY Projects Could…
  • Teaching Kids About Recycling: Fun Activities to…
«
»

Have you read?

Recycled Paper Cylinder Face Art – A Colorful Win for All Ages

Build Big Memories on a Budget: DIY Cubby House Using Recycled Pallets

Upcycled Writing Desk to Cocktail Cabinet

Discover Your Unique Style with Second Chances by Macy Eleni

kids-upcycled-cardboard-sandcastle

DIY Kids Craft Project – Upcycled Cardboard Box Sandcastle

Explore

books Christmas CraftGossip Giveaways Craft Inspirations Easter glass halloween Home Decor kid crafts mason jar More Crafts Patterns & Tutorials recycled art Recycled Clothing Recycled Jewelry Recycled Sewing Recycled Tutorials Recycling Ideas Recycling Organizing tin can

RSS More Articles

  • Cozy Up Your Holidays with This Stunning Christmas Blanket!
  • 5 Must-Know Secrets to Turning Your Suburban Home into a Profitable, Sustainable Homestead
  • Recycled Paper Cylinder Face Art – A Colorful Win for All Ages
  • 12 FREE Summer Digital Stamps to Download
  • Today Only: 50% Off When You Spend $50 at Crochet.com!
  • Today only 50% OFF When You Spend $50 at KnitPicks.com
  • Kids and Adults Will Love this Paper Version of Tetris
  • Knit a Hat with a Flock of Chickens
  • That Time a Thrift Store Employee Shamed Me – And Your Honest Responses
  • DMC American Camping Embroidery Pattern – A Nostalgic Outdoor Stitch for Summer Lovers

Copyright © 2025 · CraftGossip | Start Here | Contact Us | Link to Us | Your Editors | Privacy and affiliate policy