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Rurality Newsletter - All Rustic News Q&A
March 01, 2022

This is the first of our new Question and Answer format for Rurality. The first question from a visitor is all about toys made from twigs.

March 1 2022

'I'd love ideas of toys that can be made out of twigs. We have so many twigs every year from our apple trees and I'd love to have ideas on how to use them to make things like toy pull along cars and a toy cradle for a doll, a toy basket pram for a doll....'

So my first thought is; for toys,you'll need to be super careful with how you attach the twigs together so there is no risk of injury to the littles as they play with the finished product.

I would make sure that the way you cut the twigs doesn't leave any splinters or sharp bits that could scratch or catch on clothing. This means that filing off the ends of the twigs is important.

When you cut the twigs, make sure to first cut the underside, through the bark, then cut from the top of the twig so the bark doesn't tear.

There are small wooden wheels available at many craft stores to use for pull cars. I've seen lots of different sizes on Lee Valley, for instance.

Then once you've cut all the pieces to length (if you have a band saw, this is when to use it, use a rasp to finish the ends and give them a rounded off appearance. This makes it so the bark stays on the twig, and doesn't tear away.

Then, use glue or dowels rather than wiring the pieces, or nailing or screwing. There is always a risk using screws or nails with twig crafts that the ends of the nails or screws will poke through to the other side. With dowels, this isn't a problem; you'll cut the ends off, and sand them down level with the twig surface. Do this carefully so you don't mark the bark, if you wish to keep it.

Use a water based sealant to give the finished piece a good cover. Then a quick wipe with a damp cloth will be enough to keep it looking good. Want even more inspiration? Visit the Rustic Garden Art DIY Blog for all updated and new pages on the website.
I hope you've enjoyed this issue of Rurality Newsletter. Now get crafting! contact.html
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