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Thursday

Make Your Own Driftwood Star...Easily!

You didn't think I would go the summer without a driftwood project did you? 
Remember last summer's Driftwood Mirror Project
I'm still not in love, but it IS hanging on the wall.
This summer it's all about the star...

How to easily make a driftwood star.

A Driftwood Star

I took inspiration for this project from here and here.  
Both of these sources made their 'star shaped' base out of plywood.
I took a much easier and faster route! 


Steps to making a driftwood star.

I used a metal star.

You can find these at some craft stores, or scroll down to end of post of some online options.

Look how easy this is.

Step 1:  A Trip to the Beach.
Gather, gather and gather a 'boatload' of driftwood pieces.
(We have a home on Camano Island, WA. Our beaches are filled with driftwood.)
I went for straight 'stick-like' pieces on the smaller size. 
The smaller your metal star, the smaller your pieces.  I used a 24" star, so my pieces were about 6" long or less. Some thicker, some thin.

Steps to making a driftwood star.


I thought about washing the sand off the sticks and waiting for them to dry in the sun...
but, I didn't think it was necessary...or worth my time.
(My laziness is really coming out today.)

  
Step 2:  Heat Up that Glue Gun!
(Be sure you have plenty of glue sticks!)

Steps to making a driftwood star.

My metal star was a bit rough, so I knew my hot glue was going to stick.
You might want to rough up your star with sandpaper if you're worried.
I didn't have any problems.  Just apply the glue generously and press down.


Step 3:  Get Moving!
I started on an outside point and worked in towards the middle.
Hot glue each stick and put some glue on the metal star as you go.

Steps to making a driftwood star.

Glue down the bigger pieces first.  Place them as tight as you can.
Steps to making a driftwood star.

The metal star is divided into 10 triangle sections.
I filled in one triangle section at a time before moving to the next section.

Steps to making a driftwood star.

I worked my way around the star being careful to keep
my sticks going in the same direction.
(Pointing in toward the center.)

Steps to making a driftwood star.


Once the base is covered, go back and fill in all the holes with little stick pieces.
Glue the small pieces right on top of the big pieces.
(This part can get very addicting and time consuming...I didn't want to stop!)

Steps to making a driftwood star.


Step 4:  Force Yourself to Stop!
Stand back and take a look. 
Pull off all your hot glue threads.


Step 5:  Display!

How to easily make a driftwood star.

 Find a great spot to admire your creative work!

Ah...finally a driftwood project I love!



**This post contains affiliate links to help you locate products.
(Any size metal star will work, you'll just need to adjust your stick size. I used a 24" star. 
If star has a printed pattern on it, paint the star edges and star points a color that matches your driftwood sticks. Rough it up a bit with sandpaper, before using hot glue on a painted surface.)






Have you seen my Oar Wall?  Check it out here.
Easy to make oar wall.

33 comments :

  1. This is such a great idea! Now, I don't know what beach you go to but I typically find like 2 pieces of drift wood! Big shells but no drift wood.

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  2. I LOVE this!!! And I love the last picture of it on the card catalog looking piece of furniture!!! You sure do know how to rock the driftwood, Michelle!

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  3. Love this! Stopping by from Stuff and Nonsense. I may have to make one of these babies! Thanks for sharing.

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  4. What a lovely DIY! It looks so nice! i really have to try to make a star! Thanks for the inspiration and have a great weekend

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  5. Here from Happy Hour Projects. Love this! I have the star, but no driftwood... alas! Thanks for sharing!

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  6. Oh, Michelle, this is a project by my heart!
    Thanks for sharing this.
    Cheers

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  7. Oh, I just love it! How creative you are!
    Brenda

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  8. Ok that is just fabulous! LOVE!

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  9. I love it! I love anything beachy ~ and this fits the bill - I want one!! Thanks for sharing - I'm stoppig over from Happy Hour Projects: New follower here :) I would love if you stop by and follow me at www.eatloveinspire.blogspot.com

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  10. That is really pretty! I love Camano Island, what a great place to get driftwood.

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  11. Wow, what a great project! You are so creative!

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  12. That is really pretty! Great job! Megan

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  13. Hi! Visiting from tt&j! What a fun project!! I love all things nautical and this star just rocks! Im going to have to pick up some driftwood the next time Im at the beach! Thanks for such a great idea :)

    If you get a chance I would love for you to share this (and any other awesome post you have) at my Friday link party!
    http://www.thegrantlife.com/2012/08/financial-friday-fabulous-features.html

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  14. PRETTY! This is really great! Must find driftwood :) Just popping in from TT&J.

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  15. I LOVE this! So wishing I didn't live 8 hours from the beach.

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  16. Wow this is so simple, yet so clever. Looks beautiful!

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  17. Love it! So beachy and nice.

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  18. Wow!! This is Beautiful!! Pinning

    would love it if you could share this on my link party Serenity Saturday, that runs from Saturday to Thursday @ www.serenityyou.com

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  19. Holy moly Michelle! I can't believe you made that it looks like something straight out of the pages of Pottery Barn.

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  20. I love this! I just wish we got drift wood at our beaches here. All we get is seaweed. Ick.

    I would love it if you would share this on Martha Mondays, open now through Wednesday night!

    http://www.watchoutmartha.net/2012/08/martha-mondays-link-up-party-features_12.html

    -Amanda
    www.watchoutmartha.net

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  21. This is fab! Love the texture. I would love it if you would share this on Tout It Tuesday. http://www.claimingourspace.com/2012/08/tout-it-tuesday-19.html

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  22. This is great! I wanted to do something with driftwood this summer, but wasn't that creative! I'd love for you to share it at my linky party, Twirl & Take a Bow at www.houseontheway.com. It's every Tuesday. Hope you can stop by!
    Leslie

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  23. Oh my stars that is GORGEOUS!!! Featuring you right away on Facebook! http://facebook.com/iGottaCreate
    Thanks so much for linking up at I Gotta Create!
    <3 Christina

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  24. Came over from Gotta Create. You added the step in this project I always have trouble with: Stop. You must have extreme patience for this project. Love the outcome and wish I could leave for the beach to collect all those small pieces I usually overlook! Great technique!

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  25. Beautiful project, love it! Oh you're so lucky to be near the beach. I miss it so much. I'm two hours away:-( No drift wood for me.

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  26. This turned out beautiful! What a unique and pretty piece of decor you now have -- and you can say you made it yourself, which is always fun when you make something that turns out great. :-)

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  27. What a fabulous project, I love the look of the driftwood on the star. It's much more interesting and unique that way! Great one of a kind piece of decor, thank you for sharing it at A Crafty Soiree!

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  28. I love this idea! Looks stylish and fairly easy to accomplish!

    I'm pinning and sharing on FB!

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  29. You're a STAR tonight at I Gotta Create! Thanks SO much for linking up this beauty.
    http://igottacreate.blogspot.com/2012/08/wildly-original-linky-party-14-features.html

    A star for such a cool driftwood star ;)

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  30. I can't believe I missed this! I'm going to have to make one at the beach cabin next summer!

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  31. LOVE IT! A perfectly clever idea for driftwood art and reusing the metal star!

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