I dragged a branch home, what do I do with it?!

[HoldMeCloseImTryingToDanceHere]

While taking the dog for a walk the other day, I spotted a fallen branch which I decided would be perfect for the ‘hanging from the ceiling with baubles on’ thing that I’ve seen.

But I’m not crafty and have no idea what to do with it!
I’ve googled, but a lot of the instructions seem to be for people who know what they are doing and not…me.

Has anyone made one? How did you do it? How do I clean the algae off it?!😬

Thanks in advance!

I’m not sure, but don’t you have to ‘dry’ the wood out before you do anything with it?

I suggest you hit Google up for some anso

Thank you 😊
I’ve now given it a bleachy scrub, so will look into how to dry it next!

Doesn't trying to bleach and "decontaminate" a natural material sort of defy the point of using a natural material? I would have thought the lichen was part of its natural beauty.

Get some screw hooks for the ceiling, and the tie long hoops of string round each end and hook onto the hooks, sorry that explanation makes sense in my head! Great idea. I want one! As above, let it dry out a bit first

Place marking for tips on how to hang it from the ceiling. Your DIY skills sound on par with mine OP

I'd imagine you need a branch with more branches on to make it useful.

I live rurally and have done the branch in a large vase thing often - you have no branches to hang anything on

Don't worry too much about the algae. It's sort of an inevitable part.

I did this once and hung little glass baubles on invisible wire (from Amazon). I also wrapped the branch in battery powered lights.

@actiongirl1978

I'd imagine you need a branch with more branches on to make it useful.

I live rurally and have done the branch in a large vase thing often - you have no branches to hang anything on

It's to be hung on its side, parallel to the ceiling

I'd be wary of just screwing into the ceiling, as you could damage the thin plaster layer, unless you know where the ceiling supports are positioned, and can screw into them.

A better idea might be to look at something like Command hooks to hang the branch from? Also you'll need something like clear fishing line, as you will need it firmly secured.

Have you thought of giving it paint and/or glitter to add some highlights?

Looking at the shape of your branch, another idea is to stand it in a large carboy or similar, and use it instead of a Christmas tree.

Thank you all 😊 Going to look for some invisible wire, and command hooks.

I came across this while googling, so might go with this wreath idea (probably will look in charity shops rather than attempting to make my own though!)

I haven’t gone too crazy cleaning it, but it was very flaky and didn’t want green bits plopping down on me when I’m eating my dinner.
It looks like this now- it’s come inside for a warm up!
I looked like Rafiki from the Lion King carrying it home, and I’m kind of attached to it now.

Hope yours turns out well DentalWorries- glad I’m not alone in the struggle 😁

You'll have to post a photo of it @HoldMeCloseImTryingToDanceHere once you've got it hung up!

@AdaColeman I will!
Unless it’s a total failure, in which case I’ll skulk off quietly…
(Actually I’d post it anyway, as a how not to do it example! )

Ahh @HoldMeCloseImTryingToDanceHere you’ve made me want a big branch to hang somewhere, i think I’ll make that my project tomorrow...

DH will be pleased.

I've got some table clamps (like this www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk/extendable-up-over-table-clamp.html) for the Christmas table and put in a similar long branch.

Then it's battery fairy lights and hanging lots of bits off it.

It's very effective for a special dinner and used much more than you'd think! (Birthdays, halloween, football bbq)

Yes, like this picture. Two loops of rustic string. images.app.goo.gl/sT872JVtyQXqLf1JA
Friends have one above their kitchen table and decorate it for every season of the year. Their two girls join in and add stuff they have made for Christmas, Valentine's day, Easter, summer holidays, autumn, Halloween... It is really joyful to sit under!

I have one in my kitchen window, not quite as chunky. It's tied to some hooks with brown string and has wire twinkly lights on. In Autumn I hang silk leaves on, at Easter little Easter eggs the kids painted, at Christmas a few tiny decorations. (I know MN doesn't like Easter or Autumn decors - it's tasteful, I promise!)

I saw a lovely one which was covered in foliage and then had Christmassy birds and pine cones and baubles hanging down. It was really sweet. They'd use fishing line I think.

I did this once but with a smaller, lighter stick and hung it from a light fitting.

Do you have picture rails? Couple of picture rail hooks might hold it?

I used bright coloured ribbons at different lengths tied to stick to hang baubles.

I love the seasonal idea! I can keep it forever! Ooh I love the thought of Christmassy birds too!

Sorry to your DH @Loveatthe5anddime Hope you find a great branch!

Ah I don’t have picture rails unfortunately.
Coloured ribbons sound lovely!

I do something similar in the windows of my living room and dining room. I have two command hooks (the wire hanger ones) stuck on the top surface (these stay there all year as you can't really see them) from which I suspend a branch on thin ribbon, then I hang baubles off this. Some years I wind some thin lights on a copper wire around too.

I tried to find a picture - you can sort if see in the background of this picture how it looks.

That’s lovely @Stompythedinosaur!
Your tree is beautiful too!

We picked up a branch last year. My DH made it into a reindeer, covered it in outdoor fairy lights,and put it in the front garden

How about you wrap the clear fairly lights around it and use clear wire thread go hand some bauble from it. Use command hooks and wire to hang it from ceiling.

Let it dry for a week.
I wrapped battery operated fairly lights round mine and hung it from the lights.