Tree Branch Dream Catcher

I plan my week by my phone’s weather app. One thing I learned in my college education classes is to anticipate problems. So, If I see rain clouds and lightening bolts, it’s time to think of some indoor activities...for our own sanity. My first thought whenever I’m deciding what to do, is to come up with an art project and my favorite resource and source of inspiration is the outdoors.

Before the rain arrived, the kids and I went on a nature walk behind our house and collected some branches. This is one of my favorite parts to the art process, because it welcomes conversations about the world be live in, where things come from, and how we can use our creativity to use these natural resources in a new and beautiful way.

After we collected our branches, we selected three that were about the same length and thickness. I cleaned them off and sanded them down a bit to remove any loose bits of bark or rough edges. My three-year-old, Laina, wanted to paint them, so that’s what we did. (I was a little low on paint, so I diluted them a bit, which gave the colors a more transparent, chalky appearance when they dried.)

Here’s how we made the rest of our Tree Branch Dream Catcher:

Once the paint is dry, overlap the ends of your branches to make a triangle and fasten them together with yarn or string.

Cut long strands of yarn and tie each one to a side of the triangle. Also, take out beads to thread. I wrapped a small piece of masking tape tightly around the end of each piece of yarn, so the beads are easier to pull through and so the yarn doesn’t fray.

Laina threaded rows of colorful beads, as we discussed how to make color patterns. She also wrapped the yarn around the branches and across the middle to make a colorful web design. (Depending on your child's age, they may need help with this part.)

As a final touch, we added some oil pastel to the branches, glued on some craft feathers and added a bit more yarn and beads. I snipped the masking tape off the ends of the yarn, once the project was finished.

Nothing looks better than original artwork, when decorating your home, and this is a beautiful addition to an empty space in the kid's playroom. This multi-stage project kept us busy during the not-so-pleasant weather, as we worked on it little by little for several days. Let me know if you give this project a try!