History of birch bark fishing
The first mentions of folk craftsmen who worked wonders with ordinary birch bark appeared in the 18th century. For carving, the simplest awl and knife were required, which each person had with him in his bosom for protection from enemy attacks and animal hunting.
Each craftsman in the village knew special tricks, passing on secrets to children by inheritance, keeping them secret. Why are birch bark crafts popular?
About crafts and logs
Birch wood has the following qualities: medium density, hardness, strength and sufficient viscosity. The texture is weakly expressed, and the structure is uniform. Disadvantages include susceptibility to cracking and warping, instability to rot, and a high risk of wormhole damage.
Such wood can be easily processed with various tools, glues well, is polished and painted. Very fine carvings can be made on birch wood. It can be painted maple, walnut or mahogany.
When talking about crafts for a summer house made from logs, the first thing that comes to mind are benches, tables and figurines of various characters. Usually bunnies, horses, goats and bears are made for a summer cottage. When the figurine is ready, it is painted using acrylic paint. Unique crafts create an atmosphere of warmth and comfort at the dacha. Moreover, if there are children in the family, they will be glad to have such “friends.” And if you trust the children to decorate the animals, then the joy will know no bounds.
If there are children in the family, then at the dacha you can make a horse from birch logs, they will be happy to have such “friends”
Birch logs can be useful when making fencing for flower beds or front gardens. To do this, you need to drive them into the ground close to each other, choosing pegs of the same size, 2-3 cm in diameter.
Another interesting product could be a small bridge spanning a dry stream or pond. You just need to approach manufacturing with diligence to ensure the reliability and stability of the structure.
There is even an option to cover the path with sawn logs. To construct a path, you will need high-quality logs that are free from defects and not damaged by insects. This is due to the fact that the main criteria here are strength and reliability. A high-quality base for cutting is made of sand, and the finished path is decorated with various pebbles, stones and plants. We must not forget that the tree in this case will need protection, which can be provided by impregnation with chemical compounds or drying oil.
Even designer candlesticks are made from birch.
This is done by sawing the log into small pieces and then sanding the cuts to ensure smoothness and stability. Afterwards, a hole is hollowed out in the middle, and a candle is placed inside.
Interesting birch gifts
Choosing a gift is not easy. Presents made from natural raw materials are a special palette of emotions. In the cold winter, sitting by the fireplace, it’s nice to look at such household items or souvenirs. They give warmth, a cozy mood, create a comfortable microclimate, releasing the pleasant aroma of sun-soaked wood into the air.
Bioenergy therapists are of the opinion that birch can give a person positive energy. In moments of painful thoughts, they recommend standing by a tree, leaning your head against it, placing your hands on the trunk.
Gifts made from birch bark are also given at business meetings. What is the convenience of such gifts? The products are natural and harmless. You can make crafts from birch bark with your own hands with company logos, promoting your business on the market. This approach inspires trust on the part of potential corporate clients and business partners, because these are original Russian manufacturing traditions.
This means that this is the ability to adhere to certain principles in doing business. Flasks, medallions, beer mugs or milk jugs - what they don’t give in the era of the 21st century!
Birch bark in everyday life
In the life of northern peasants, birch bark products occupied a special place. In this harsh region it was impossible to imagine other raw materials for the manufacture of kitchen utensils and household items.
Today, birch bark crafts are also actively used, becoming excellent home decor. At the same time, they are practical, as you can see by pouring milk into a jar or pouring salt into a salt shaker made of birch bark.
Since ancient times, children have played with toys made from natural materials, and today they serve as decorative objects, adding charm to the interior design of apartments and mansions.
Birch bark construction
It is impossible to imagine the construction industry without this material. Birch bark was used to make insulators against damp climates. By laying this natural “insulator” into the crowns of the log house, window sills and ceilings, you can extend the service life of a wooden building.
To this day, in villages, birch bark is used in the construction of bathhouse roofs, which last for at least 40 years. Very often, birch bark became an excellent assistant in the production of kitchen utensils.
What can be made from trash
A thrifty owner will find a use for everything. Even if it seems that the item can easily be thrown away, take a closer look and see if it turns into a craft for the garden or dacha.
For example:
- Old shoes can make excellent flower pots. You just need to make a couple of extra holes in the sole, and cover the shoe itself with brighter paint. And you're done! The same applies to old rubber boots; you can even make hanging flowerpots out of them by nailing the top to a fence or barn wall. The main thing is to plant an unpretentious hanging plant, for example, nasturtium.
- An old bathtub can serve not only as a water reservoir, but also act as a stylish outdoor sofa. True, for this you will have to cut it lengthwise and take care of a thick mattress and pillows.
- Tin cans can be turned into stylish lanterns. To do this, you need to peel them from the paper wrapper, apply a dotted pattern with a felt-tip pen and make a hole in it using a nail and hammer. A candle is placed at the bottom, the light of which through the holes will comfortably illuminate the veranda or terrace.
- Plastic bottles are an inexhaustible source of ideas for decorating a site. A variety of toys, figurines of animals and birds, fences and much more are quite easy to make from this material.
- From the remains of plastic pipes you can make a horizontal bar, a towel holder, a children's high chair, and a tool holder. You can also have a summer shower or a Charcot shower! Benefits and fun from such a device are guaranteed.
Reasons for the popularity of birch bark utensils
Residents of dusty, bustling megacities and people living in rural areas use birch bark utensils more actively. In a birch bark container you can store cloudberries all year round in the refrigerator. The berries will not absorb the unpleasant odor of plastic containers. In bygone eras, beekeepers even filled beetroot with honey.
Since ancient times, our ancestors knew: salt poured into a birch bark salt shaker does not get wet. Due to their natural composition, the products are classified as environmentally friendly items that are safe for health.
Birch grove
- Roll into a small cylinder from the remaining mixture. There is always little white plasticine, so it can only be used to design blanks;
- Roll the white sausage and flatten it. Wrap the base of the hemp, not reaching the bottom and top by 0.5 cm;
- Form a bark from yellow and brown thin strips: attach the strips tightly to the blank, and then roll on a flat surface to obtain a uniform coating.
Next we arrange the cut of the tree. To do this, roll out two strips, white and black. Place a black ribbon on a white background and twist it into a spiral.
Cool the piece in the refrigerator and cut it into 0.2 cm pieces. Flatten it slightly and secure the top.
Make the rhizomes from white pieces. Make small notches on the roots to make the figure more realistic.
Apply small black dots of plasticine to the bark. Connect the roots to the body.
Make figures of mushrooms or gnomes. Place “Trees” and bushes made of branches on a stand, seat fairy-tale characters around a stump made of plasticine.
About the benefits of birch bark
Experts highlight the following advantages.
- Birch bark crafts have bactericidal properties. It was not for nothing that our ancestors stored even perishable foodstuffs in this type of container. You can conduct an experiment: pour milk into a plastic glass, into a porcelain cup and into a birch bark cup. After three days, the milk will curdle in the first two.
- Bread boxes do not release an unpleasant aroma into the bread due to their inability to absorb moisture. In this regard, the salt in the salt shaker is always dry even at high humidity levels in the room!
- The dishes are durable, do not break when hitting the floor or flying off the table, and keep their shape and color for many years.
You can wash the products using simple soap. What is the classification of birch bark crafts?
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About the types of crafts made from birch bark
Masters highlight the following craft options.
- Constructed from single sheets of bark. To do this, choose birch bark without flaws with a minimum of lenticels (dashes).
- Wicker models created using oblique or straight weaving. Oblique weaving is considered the most durable.
- Cooking beetroot, or otherwise “tues”. This is the most complex craft, involving various finishes in the form of braiding, embossing and embossing. Such models are usually accompanied by painting and varnished for durability.
Despite advanced production methods, birch bark products are born from the skillful hands of a craftsman.
How to make a garden scarecrow
Initially, a scarecrow was placed in the garden to protect the grain harvest from winged raiders, that is, from birds. However, the effectiveness of such a device is not very great, because birds are much smarter than people used to think. If the scarecrow stands in the same place, wearing the same clothes, then very soon the birds will not pay any attention to it.
It’s another matter if the stuffed animal’s wardrobe changes regularly (there’s a place to throw away boring old things) and it changes its location at least once every three days. In addition, it is recommended to improve the scarecrow with a sound accompaniment in the form of hanging tin or tin cans, which will ring and jingle, scaring away the birds.
Modern summer residents, when installing a stuffed animal on their property, strive to scare away not so much birds as people who are not averse to profiting from the fruits of other people's labors. Such scarecrows, of course, are slightly different from previous options, primarily in their naturalness.
Originally posted 2018-03-19 09:35:42.
The magic of ancient techniques for making birch bark products
Along with carving, embossing was used in combination with shotting. These are interesting techniques for making crafts from birch bark, photos of which today can be seen on the world wide web.
Shotting involved striking a gun with a hammer to select the background of the product and obtain a grainy surface. The method was even used in metalworking. It began to be used in birch bark craftsmanship in the 19th century.
The skill of Arkhangelsk specialists was especially famous. They made such crafts from birch bark as tues, boxes, boxes and caskets, glorifying the province throughout the world.
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Their difference was a floral ornament with an abundance of patterns with branched stems and leaves, executed skillfully in an openwork form. Only masters know the true secrets of this business, so gifts of this format are exclusive.
Recipe for harvesting birch bark from modern craftsmen
The material has unique properties and is used to make practical household items. Baskets, bast shoes, souvenirs, pesteri, bread bins are increasingly becoming wonderful decorations for the home.
Harvesting begins at the end of May. Spring birch bark has a cool yellowish color. If you want to combine light and dark shades, harvesting is done in the fall to add dark brown notes
A contrasting do-it-yourself birch craft becomes a real exclusive with natural charm. The beginning of summer is also a suitable period when the birch tree is filled with sap. It is important to be able to remove the bark correctly without damaging the trunk or harming the health of the tree! How to properly prepare birch bark?
We decorate the area with wooden figures of birds or animals
Before we look at more practical ideas for using various wood materials, let's show a little imagination and decorate our site with simple, but very cute animals. From the most ordinary materials, at no cost, you can make a beautiful decorative item for a flowerbed and involve your child in the process. Let him figure out exactly what the wooden hero will look like, what size it will be, and where it will live, and all you have to do is assemble it from various fragments. We will make an owl family sitting on a branch.
We
will need:
- First of all, of course, a sketch of the future craft. Visualization is a very useful thing; with its help you can quickly figure out the amount of material needed and its size.
- A wooden branch of medium thickness, about 50 cm long;
- One large cut and one medium size;
- Four small thin cuts:
- Two small twigs or twigs;
- Two small cuts, divided in half;
- Fasteners
- Hacksaw.
Let's start with the big owl. Before tightly connecting the elements together, lay them out and see how it will look. You may want to change or add something. A large cut will serve as the body of the bird. On it you need to place two small saw cuts, which will become the eyes, and a knot, which will be the beak. The craft looks more interesting and voluminous if the elements protrude slightly beyond the overall outline. The wings can be of any shape, perhaps you can come up with a more interesting material for their execution. We took a small saw cut, split it in half with a hacksaw, cleared the edges of the bark and tried to make jagged edges to imitate feathers.
It's time to attach the parts to the body. For this you can use small nails and a hammer, but if you plan to do the craft together with your child, it is better to use “liquid nails”. Using the same technology, a smaller owl is made. If desired, you can add a very small owlet. Then all the birds are attached to a branch or stump. If you want to place them in the middle of the flowerbed, you can attach the branch to a wooden stick so that the structure looks like the letter “T” and rises above the green spaces. Unlike us, don't forget that owls have legs. They can be made in the same way as wings or from ordinary twigs of a suitable shape. In addition to owls, there are also a lot of figurines that are easy to make. Small bunnies with ears sticking up will look very funny.
A brief educational program about bark preparation
To begin with, it is recommended to select a birch tree and make a cut on the south side. It cuts better in this area. There is no need to take too large pieces of bark, otherwise you can damage the tree. The peeled part is pryed off with a wooden spatula.
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The next step is to assemble them into a stack with careful laying out of the sheets, alternating the outer and inner parts of the bark. At home, it is split into thin layers. This must be done quickly, without allowing the workpieces to dry out.
The next day you will have to process the cooked parts. To do this, the top layer is cut off with sandpaper, which helps remove dust, dirt, and debris. The inner surface must be wiped with a piece of cloth. Then pour warm water into a deep bowl, adding a small amount of salt.
The bark should “rest” in this solution for 2-3 days. The soaked material is layered into strips and then ironed to remove excess moisture. What can you make from such sheets of paper?
Cooking cold porcelain
You will need: corn starch, sodium bicarbonate (or baking soda), water, measuring container for bulk products (150g), Teflon-coated frying pan, cutting board.
Step 1
Pour starch and soda in equal proportions into a heated frying pan and pour 200 ml of clean water into the dry mixture.
Step 2
Stir the solution with a wooden spatula until the thickening mixture lags behind the walls of the dish, gradually turning into a dense mass.
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Don't be alarmed by the fizzing soda, this is a normal process of extinguishing it.
Step 3
Transfer the lump to a cutting board, let it cool slightly, and then knead like dough for 5 to 7 minutes.
Step 4
Wrap the finished ball in plastic wrap and leave in a cool place.
Important! To calculate the density and amount of sculpture material, experiment with a small piece.
Model the figures, and when they are dry, paint them with acrylic paints and varnish them.
Basics of birch bark weaving
Professionally prepared material gives 70% success in creating masterpiece figurines and amulets. In case of difficulties during preparation, it is better to contact professionals. Having successfully prepared the layers, you can begin to work.
To make birch bark crafts, you will need high-quality tools, including staples, an awl, a knife, and a square. You will also need a dry cloth to remove the shavings in time. Some craftsmen lubricate their products with sunflower oil, but this method is not always effective. The oil can take a long time to dry, and its uneven distribution will leave stains; this technique requires special skill.
Secret! In Rus', to prevent the product from rotting, they used suberic acids in an amount of 40% solution. This composition will help prevent rotting.
Weaving with a straight “cut” is ideal for the “birth” of flat objects - napkins, bags, book covers. Oblique is suitable for weaving baskets. It is convenient for adults to make together with children, developing the motor skills of the child’s hands.
In joint creativity, mutual understanding and sensitivity in relationships are born, and the child learns to be persevering. Such DIY birch bark crafts for children increase concentration. What can you cook?
Lamp from a stump
To make a cozy lamp for your home or garden, you will need dry stump, varnish (best suited is “yacht” varnish, adapted to changes in temperature and humidity), stain, light bulb, socket, and wire.
And also tools: fortune (hand or chainsaw), chisel, sandpaper of various sizes (or grinder), hammer and soldering iron.
Bark magnets
It is convenient to make a butterfly magnet for your home and as a souvenir. How to do?
- Find a drawing of a butterfly on the Internet and apply the sketch to a layered piece of birch bark.
- Take a craft knife from birch bark with your own hands and cut out a butterfly along the drawn lines. It is recommended to hold the workpiece with your finger at the cut site.
- To cut round holes, craftsmen turn to a punch with replaceable tubes.
- For embossing you will need a special metal tool with a ground tip. It is used to press lines around the cut out slots on the butterfly's wings.
You can make memorable valentines in a similar way.
New Year's display in the woodpile
Do you want to turn a routine trip for firewood into a little New Year's trip? We present a simple option for those who do not like to burn and tinker with small pieces of wood.
Related article: [Savings] Unique DIY clothes hangers
To create crafts you will need:
- axe;
- birch logs;
- acrylic paints, brush;
- coarse sandpaper or plane.
To create a festive mood in the woodpile, you can decorate a couple of birch logs with acrylic paints, creating wooden Santa Claus and Snow Maiden and place them next to the neatly stacked firewood.
- Preparing the surface for applying paint. Sand the wood using sandpaper or a plane. Small roughnesses are not scary; they will give the craft a special charm.
- Depict fairy-tale characters on the firewood. All family members will be happy to join in the activity. You can draw the spirit of winter, Santa Claus, Snow Maiden, deer or an animal symbol of the New Year. They can guard the tree or form a fabulous procession from the house to the woodpile.
- Acrylic paints or compositions for painting wood are suitable for applying drawings.
On a note. After the series of holidays is over, the firewood can be easily burned, thereby “seeing off” all the difficulties of the outgoing year. And next year put other designs on the logs.
Fairy tale characters made from logs can become guards for a wooden Christmas tree made from logs split with an axe. Creating an unusual Christmas tree does not require any special skills; it is enough to chop thin logs of different lengths and fix them on the wall - from the smallest to the longest.
Children can easily cope with the task.
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Wickerwork - what is important
The master class helps answer the question of how to make DIY crafts from birch bark. Having prepared birch bark, you should cut it into strips. This is not difficult to do: the raw material becomes soft, elastic, and easy to process.
The ribbons are cut to an approximate size of 10x10 cm. A pair of ribbons are bent and laid crosswise. It is important to maintain the same distance between the strips using a ruler. This way you can make souvenir bast shoes or baskets for berries. How are tuess weaved?
Pots for flowers
Crafts made from small stumps are in demand among handmade craftsmen. Small flowerpots of different sizes will fit perfectly into an “eco-friendly” interior.
They can be placed on window sills, shelves, or hung on thick ropes or chains.
See the photo for the master class step by step.
Features of the design of tueski
Having found a stump in the forest thicket, you can use its bark and learn how to make crafts from birch bark with your own hands for beginners, preparing tuesa. The neat container delights with its simple geometry and practical design. Technically, it performs the functionality of a thermos.
The inner surface reflects heat, keeping the liquid at a comfortable temperature. It should cook without the slightest crack. In this regard, the entire bark is removed from the birch. It is removed with a wire in the upward direction, installed between the trunk and the bark.
Having put the top layer on this workpiece when forming the product, it should be steamed. What else can you advise a “trainee” in this art?
Christmas decorations made from wood scraps
When sawing wood for the stove into small logs, it’s easy to leave a couple of “rounds” for original Christmas tree decorations. Crafts can enliven both the surface of the wall and the Christmas tree. If you wish, you can assemble a whole story from several toys.
You will need:
- desire to draw;
- round wood scraps;
- acrylic paints, or a device for burning wood;
- tassels;
- drill;
- thread or rope for attaching finished decorations to a Christmas tree or wall.
On the saw cuts of logs you can easily depict the desired picture - for example, a white rat, the patroness of the coming year.
Stages of making a toy:
- Take a “round piece” of firewood and draw the outline of the future image on it.
- Color the image with acrylic paints. Be careful, they dry quickly. Drawings with a bright outline, not overloaded with small details, look beautiful on wood.
- If desired, you can combine wood burning and painting techniques.
- Use a drill to drill a small hole for the string. When choosing a rope for a wooden toy, try to ensure that it matches the color of the wood and is durable. In this case, the craft will become a holiday talisman for many years.
- Apply wood varnish to the toy. This will fix the picture on the product and make it more durable.
Advice! If the toy is made solely as a decorative element of the house, varnish coating can be neglected. However, if you want to preserve the craft for many years, it is better to spend a little time. The varnish will protect the wood from moisture and rotting. In addition, over time it will protect acrylic paints from losing brightness and cracking.
Useful tips for beginners on making birch bark gifts
The key question of interest to a beginner is how to cut birch bark evenly. In this regard, a competent tool matters. Cutters and knives used to form birch bark crafts for children and adults must be well sharpened.
It is more convenient to work on a linden or aspen board. A mallet will also come in handy; it will make the bark strip more pliable. The indentations, which give the lines of the patterns special expressiveness, are applied using stamps made of copper or thick wood. With a skillful approach, attentiveness, and a fair amount of patience, luxurious masterpieces of birch bark art are born.
It is important to pay attention to the edges of products that undergo increased loads and are susceptible to wear. Craftsmen advise inserting stainless steel metal wire inside the edge. This is how they make a bread box.
Crafts made from birch bark are a simple, exciting hobby. Hobby gives a lot of positive feelings, uplifting your mood. Using the devices is especially pleasant and beneficial for health. They bring special romance into the interior, give originality, and paint the image of the owner of the house having good taste.
