Living driftwood art - Arts, Crafts and DIY

53 Comments

Epiphytic plants don't need soil or even water like most plant so they can live and even reproduce happily on a driftwood surface (if your drift wood is from the ocean it's a good idea to wash it before use!)

Material

1 Polystyrene broccoli box lid (ask in the fruit and veg department of your local supermarket)
1 Small tub brown paint
1 Shopping bag full of collected driftwood
1 Bottle of PVA craft glue (timber and fabric glue)
2-3 Epiphytes or air plants (Tillandsia Ionantha) your local nursery or Big W will have some

Method

With your paint, paint the surface of your box lid, you won't see much of it but it looks best painted a ocher or brown.
When the lid has dried begin arranging your drift wood in a pattern, you don't have to use a linear pattern but It does have a striking effect. When you are happy with your coverage begin glueing each piece down, this can be tricky if your wood is bent.
Add your plants by glueing them to your polystyrene lid like the wood. Fill any gaps with little pieces of wood. You can mix PVA glue with water and paint over the entire piece (excluding the plants) to give it a glossy finish

Notes

These make beautiful long lasting gifts. Most nursery a have a range of air plants, there are some stunning flowering varieties available too!

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This project was posted by:

- mle00
- 03 Mar 2014
  6:45 pm

53 Comments

- - mom81879 said
  - 21 Nov 2019
    11:20 am
Love the look of these. You say it’s easy to make, but for someone who is the total opposite of a green thumb, I think i might struggle

- - kjgarner said
  - 29 Jun 2018
    12:10 pm
They would look good hanging on a wall
- kjgarner replied
  
  30 Jun 2018 , 8:38 pm
  Even more interesting when the kids make it
- - jaymarie12 said
  - 29 Feb 2016
    11:04 pm
gorgeous! this is so perfect!

- - mom62624 said
  - 02 Feb 2016
    6:43 am
A lovely craft idea; thanks!.

- - mom109229 said
  - 29 Sep 2015
    2:39 pm
This is such a cute idea. My daughter will love it!
- mom94125 replied
  
  07 Oct 2015 , 1:24 am
  it sure is. it is a great looking piece. arty and green
- - dannsbuild said
  - 21 Sep 2015
    6:13 pm
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing this!

- - Kell said
  - 21 Jun 2015
    8:55 pm
this is so artistic i love it

- - mom70050 said
  - 01 Jun 2015
    1:59 pm
I love this idea as I’m going through a bit of an infatuation with air plants right now! So many possibilities for displaying them and all of our rooms can benefit from having a plant (or few….) in them, thanks for sharing!

- - dannsbuild said
  - 31 May 2015
    12:32 am
A good idea!

- - mom57522 said
  - 13 Jan 2015
    3:29 pm
This is a stunning idea. I’d never would have thought of this.

- - mom93821 said
  - 19 Nov 2014
    6:53 am
Thanks for sharing this creative project; it looks good.
- mom93821 replied
  
  18 Mar 2017 , 4:46 am
  Living art costs quite a bit in stores – so DIY is a good way to go.
- - mom94125 said
  - 01 Nov 2014
    12:05 am
i think that this is a great idea and it is an interesting way to display a plant

- - caramello said
  - 29 Oct 2014
    2:56 pm
what a wonderful idea, thanks for sharing

- - mom57598 said
  - 21 Oct 2014
    5:02 am
they look amazing. x x

- - mom56842 said
  - 15 Sep 2014
    2:39 pm
Just need to source some from the beach or bush, nice work.

- - kazh said
  - 20 Aug 2014
    9:32 pm
These are really beautiful, I would love to hang one at my place.

- - ginoula5 said
  - 10 Aug 2014
    7:41 pm
wow, so creative, love this look, has a bali theme feel to it

- - caramello said
  - 31 Jul 2014
    11:44 pm
great idea, thanks for sharing

- - mom70050 said
  - 30 Jul 2014
    11:28 am
This looks stunning! Cannot wait to share with a couple of mothers in my group that also love getting creative. Thanks for sharing.

- - Statho2000 said
  - 15 Jul 2014
    11:11 pm
Such a great gift idea, especially for city dwellers who just don’t have the space for a greenhouse.