Driftwood pieces, okay they’re fake.

What do you do if you want to create decor using driftwood pieces, but you live far from water? Okay, you can buy driftwood, but I decided to fake it.

We live in Pismo beach for five glorious years. I found lots of sea glass and tripped over the driftwood. But, I never picked it up.

Now with all the DIY projects using driftwood, I wish I’d picked up some, or a truckload. You can buy driftwood on Amazon, but I decided to try and make driftwood.

We live in the mountains with truckloads of sticks. I could have tried to soak pieces and sand or put a bit in a tumbler. That could make a pile of toothpicks! After dumping a can of paint on our wool carpet last week, I decided not to try that one.

This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.  Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Don’t have a Prime membership? What are you waiting for? 

Click to Start your Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial now!

Shop for supplies

• White canvas
• Paintbrush
• White paint {or your favorite color}
• Craft paper {I used a few pieces from a roll}
• White craft glue

You can gather items around the house for this project.

I used a piece of MDF that was painted brown and leftover from another project as the base. A canvas works too. I painted the board. Then removed paint slightly around the edge with a paper towel. Then let the paint dry.

While the board dried, I tore pieces of craft paper. These are my fake driftwood pieces.

I rolled the pieces like a cigar…or driftwood.

Then, I tapped the ends on the counter, bent the paper, twisted other pieces, anything to make it look like wood that’s been in the ocean for months.

Now I started laying out the fake driftwood. My first idea was an autumn leaf. Hum, that’s not working. Looks like a man with his arm in the air.

When all else doesn’t work, go simple. So, I made a pumpkin.

Or an apple. Mike says, “apple.”

I’ve used several different things to make pumpkins in the past.

These framed pumpkins made a Boston area magazine.

This painted gourd went from fake to gorgeous gold.

Then glued the pieces in place with white craft glue. I grabbed the still wet paintbrush and dry brushed over the cigars, uh, driftwood.

Maybe we should move closer to real driftwood.