cork screw willow? don't know what to do for crafting.

[toetoe]

My aunt asked me to cut down her willow tree 6 days ago. She told me to take all the branches and make things out of them.

My 9 yr. son has asked if he can have them to make things for a craft fair at his school to make money for Christmas but I don't know what he could make with them, how to get the bark off or how to bend it.

Could anyone give us some ideas.

 

[ebwy]

I made willow wreaths earlier this year (a branch fell off the tree and hit the house, just missed the motorbikes and car!)

just twist a leafy twig or two around and around into a circle-ish shape (twice around so it's around itself and tuck the ends in

I made smaller ones (to go on keyrings) out of smaller twigs, made a sort of celtic cross, and a few pentagrams etc

Do it before the willow starts to dry out, though! or it will be too brittle to bend

 

[therealsilkiechick]

well u can take the cuttings and root them to make more plants, use to make dream catchers or use to make reaths or christmas ornaments also or just about anthing really if u got an imagination. the bark should peel right off very easily once cut into but if u do that u have to do it while fresh. bend while wet and tie it let it dry that way at least a week or 2 to hold shape.

 

[blossom hen]

Usually a few hours of being dunked in the bathtub will rehydrate the willow twigs so that they can be shaped if they have dried too much. You can use them to weave baskets as well as the other things suggested.

 

[toetoe]

I was wondering if anyone might have the pattern for making willow or twig chairs, or maybe corkscrew willow canes.

 

[vfem]

I would make wreathes for sure... but my mom used to braid them and make handles for 'hay' brooms that she decorated with dry flowers to hang on the front door and on the fence out in the yard.

I think my grandmother made them before her.