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ksokiegonnab

Painted branches

17 years ago

Has anyone successfully painted tree branches for indoor decorating? I painted a relatively small branch white for an Easter egg tree and it took an INCREDIBLE amount of spray paint. It just sucked it up. My favorite florist/decor store had a small (8' long, 1" diameter) limb painted white and decorated with winter greenery hanging near the ceiling & the green/white contrast was so striking. Of course I want to copy it!! Would Kilz help or Do I need to apply gesso first? Now that the leaves are gone I am eyeing the branches that I want to cut & decorate. Suggestions please?

Comments (16)

  • 17 years ago

    K,
    Are you going to use a flat paint or a glossy enamel? I used spray "gloss enamel" one year and did not notice any problem. I painted glue over the white paint and sprinkled plastic ice chrystals. It was really nice. If the branch is dry and dead it will suck up more paint than a fresher branch. Any kind of sealer should minimize the paint absorbsion. I am interested in knowing what "look" the branches you saw at the florist had. Rustic? or shiney? Please tell us more!!!! I may want to do one again too. :)

    Susie

  • 17 years ago

    Was the greenery draped or just wrapped ?

    I have a beam between my dinning area and living room area...with posts (one on each end and one is offset middle) the posts have two x two's angling up to the beam.
    (this is inside of an old barn) I'd like to make one of the limbs and greenery with little white lights to hang on the longer space. maybe with snowflakes hanging on monofilament thread.

    I used to paint snowmen on barnwood....it's really dry...I used white craft paints and it covered without needing a second coat. If you want a shine you spray with a sealer.

    patti

  • 17 years ago

    I would think if it's absorbing the paint, then maybe a sealant would help. Then use you imagination. And please post some pix so we can see what you've done.

  • 17 years ago

    To answer your question about Kilz, - yes. It would seal it very well and you might not have to put a top coat on if you are going to wrap it in greenery. I really would love to see the example from the florist shop. Or maybe you will show us yours!!!!

    Susie

  • 17 years ago

    There is also spray primer. That might work. Can't wait to see it!

    ~~Mimi

  • 17 years ago

    Just use a white spray primer.....:D Sounds like a great display

  • 17 years ago

    You just gave me a wonderful idea! I have some 50's wall planters on the porch that are currently empty. They would be perfect filled with purple branches and some cheap little ornaments!
    Thanks for the great idea!!

    GGG

  • 17 years ago

    If you can get your hands on any "corkscrew willow branches," they are wonderful for a project like this! I took branches to FMrkt. this summer and they sold like hot-cakes! A friend of mine, spray-painted them a dark red and put them in an garden urn (filled with sand) at her front door entrance...they are beautiful against the house and snow!

    Pattico...your place would be perfect! Love the pics you posted on conversation side! Would love to visit sometime! Good luck, ksokie! Jeanne S.

  • 17 years ago

    When I used to do a LOT of outside decorating, I used sweet gum branches (sprayed with white primer)in wreaths & fresh greenery filled window boxes, adding big redbows.

    Also made tiny decorations for all the birdhouses & hung half a dozen or so homemade seed covered peanut butter wreaths on olower tree branches.

    Suzi

  • 17 years ago

    Ooo love the idea of red painted branches on front porch. Purple sounds good too! We might have to do a holiday and or seasonal front porch/entry thread.
    kathy

  • 17 years ago

    You give me too much credit to think that I might ACTUALLY get this project done!! However, I think the red twigs in an urn would be beautiful. I have resisted the temptation to paint my doors red, this might be a good substitute--or just push me over the edge. Several years ago we built a big bird using the log and branch method (you have seen the log deer). It was about 12 ft tall & quite a conversation piece. It was purple with yellow legs, beak and hot pink tail 'feathers'. It took 3 cans of spray paint & touch up occasionally. I don't think I even have a picture. This wasn't an original, I copied after seeing one in the MO Botanical Garden. Big giant IF I do any of these I will learn to post photos and share with you. Thanks for the ideas--everyone!!

  • 17 years ago

    I made some last year......
    Cut some branches from a dogwood tree in the woods. Sprayed it with some white pearl Paint and then brushed gold acrylic paint I had around... some glue....some glitter! Worked out great.
    Here's where they are this year..........
    Click to see bigger picture

    Closeup from last year...

  • 17 years ago

    I like the bead ornaments too. (Still have mardi gras beads in the cellar from going to New Orleans for mg in 2004!

  • 17 years ago

    I spray painted ditch willow trees (or whatever the trees are that grow along creeks and ditches) for my son's wedding. They were about eight to ten feet tall, and I painted them white. I bought a pail of cheap white paint from Wal-mart, and used a Wagner spray painter. They turned out really well. I stuck them in the sand pile we have outside, so they stood up, and tried to spray upwind!
    Or downwind..I'm not sure.
    Hope this helps.

  • 17 years ago

    Kilz or gesso will help, any kind of paintable wood sealer. This time of year I always start thinking about painting branches and weeds for the holidays. Pinecones and branches and seed pods and paint and glitter, it's just so much fun.
    My mom had a large grapevine wreath that was painted pure white and had a string of small white lights laced through it. It was just beautiful for Christmas.

  • 17 years ago

    When I lived in Houston TX I had to make my own ice branches. I used plastic ice chrystals, glitter, and ice sickles on a glossy branch. I mounted it in a plastic flower pot (painted gold) and poured plaster in it covering the top with white snow glitter. It made a nice icey tree out the back window in the midst of 70 degree weather.

    {{gwi:197439}}

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