Drift Wood Orb Tutorial

Dear Chicago House,

After a lovely vacation on the beach I am drawn (once again) to creating beachy thing. I think it is my destiny, to one day, to live on the coast.

I saw a lovely drift wood orb in Crate and Barrel recently and as soon as humanly possible went to my secret Chicago beach to collect some drift wood, ready to make my own version. Lake drift wood is just as good as sea drift wood.

Ta da!

It took a little patience and did result in quite a few hot glue gun burns but what can I say I should wear gloves!

What you need

  • Short lengths of drift wood, get way more than you think you will need. I ran out mid project and my orb sat unfinished in the garages for ages. I did not want to cut any of the wood I collected preferring the natural look of the ends.
  • An inflatable beach ball
  • Hot glue gun with lots of spare glue sticks.

Blow up the beach ball. Working from the top down create a lattice work ofย  drift wood, hot gluing as you go. The easiest way is to build the basic structure first and infill with smaller pieces as you go.

drift wood orb tutorial

Once the ball is totally encased in wood deflate and remove.

drift wood orb tutorial

How easy was that?

…oh and by the way, the orb can be jazzed up even further by adding a few fairy lights, check it out here

Love from

Creative in Chicago

XX

drift wood orb tutorial
drift wood orb tutorial
drift wood orb tutorial

 

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40 thoughts on “Drift Wood Orb Tutorial

  1. Lake driftwood is surprisingly good…although my last two trip to my secret beach have been fraught with issues. I got my first ever parking ticket then I managed to leave my purse, phone, ID driving license etc in my bag…in the garage!

  2. I love driftwood and beach creations too. There is something really invigorating about having images in your home that remind you of being at the beach. Thanks for sharing this tutorial. I would love to try it one day.

  3. That is really cool. I have some driftwood that I have collected over the years and taking an outer banks vacation this summer. Will have to try this. Thanks for the idea.

  4. Hi i tried today and had the project going on good, except when I lifted it up it all fell apart… i think it might be because of the quality of the drift wood. It is from the seaside.
    Did that happen to anyone who tried before?

  5. Wow can’t believe I’m only now coming across this great article! Its been a long time since I have been beach combing for items to use in my jewellery. I used bits of drift wood that I stained with natural dyes and polished, usually with a silver hole decoration in the centre, as I was through a bit of a chi phase back then ๐Ÿ™‚
    Might have re-inspired me with your upcycling!

  6. I am having the hardest time finding the hanging lamp part to make it a lamp! I would prefer a stem than cord, and black. I see some of the commercial ones have a hole to change the light on the side and they have complaints about that. A hole on the bottom would work fine and the last part at the top would have to be done after removing the ball/balloon I think.

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