Painted Sticks

Blending art and nature is a wonderful way to beautify your outdoor space, and it all begins with a little exploring. You’ll need nothing more than a sunny afternoon and some eager children willing to wander through your local park, ravine or woods to gather sticks for this project.

Materials

sticks
sand paper
old cloth
drill
acrylic paint
twine or similar

Instructions

1. Collect an assortment of sticks which will be used to make this hanging outdoor sculpture, and break or cut them to the desired size. Use sand paper to remove dirt or peeling bits, clean off the dust with an old cloth, and allow to dry indoors.

2. Once dry, the sticks can be painted with acrylics in a variety of patterns and colours. Allow to dry. Lay them out in the order you would like to hang them in.

3. Holes need to be made in the center of the sticks in order to hang them. Select a drill bit which is slightly larger than the twine you will be using, and drill a hole in the center of each stick.

4. Cut a piece of twine long enough to string all the sticks, and to make a loop at the end for hanging later on. Make a knot at one end of the twine and slide the sticks on through their drilled holes. Finally, create a loop with the remaining twine, and look for a perfect spot to hang it up.