Finished measurements are approximately:
36" long (from broom end to broom end)
plaque:13.75"x7.75"
DISCLAIMER: I am making this tutorial from memory and it's not perfect! If you find something that makes no sense, please email me and I'll correct it. I apologize in advance:)
Supplies:
- 1 piece of wood 13.75"x7.75" and .75" thick
- 1 wooden dowel 5/8" thick and 19.5" long
- Approx. 54" black cord/string or spray paint it black like I did (see picture below. I used a twine used for tying boxes and spray painted it black)
- Thin bendable and cuttable wire (see below) in black
- Not sure what to call the end of the broom. It's really bendy, long thin tangle of twigs. I found it at a German florist so I don't know the name of it but see picture above.**update: I spoke to the florist and it's called Creeping Wire Vine (latin name: muehlenbeckia axillaris).
- I used white letter stickers for the name. You could also stencil the it.
- 1-2 cans of black spray paint (gloss). It depends how many coats you do and how much you need to spray the cord and twigs. I used 2 cans.
- 1 can of clear sealer
- drill
- mod podge (I used outdoor mod podge but indoor all purpose is fine too). This is not meant to be weather proof.
How to:
- Spray paint the board, dowel and twine. Do as many coats as you see necessary. Spray the twiggy broom end (not attached to the dowel yet). I just laid it out on newspaper, sprayed then rolled the bundle over, sprayed again and so on. You'll spray with clear sealer later.
- After the paint has dried take your board and after determining where the letters will be placed ( I used blue painters tape and a ruler to find the center) spread a thin layer of mod podge all over the front. Stick letters to it while it's still wet. Spread another coat over that to hold the letters down. Let dry.
- Drill one hole on each side of the board (see picture) about 2" in on each end and about 1" down. The hole needs to be big enough for the twine to thread through.
- Insert dowel in to twigs with "handle" of dowel sticking out approximately 15". The other end is inside the twigs. Mark where the top of the twigs end and where you'll wrap the wire around them to hold them in place (see photo). Set aside twigs and drill holes in the dowel big enough for the wire to thread through. Insert a long (maybe 36" long?) piece of wire in one hole. Insert about 1" and wrap the 1" part around dowel to secure it. Stick dowel back in to twigs and spread the twigs so the wire will now be coming through them . once you have it where you want it, start wrapping the wire around the twigs as tight as you can. Spread apart twigs where other hole is and do the same thing. Hard to describe but look at the picture and maybe you can tell what I did:)
- Once twiggy end of broom is attached, insert one end of the twine in one end of the board. tie twine off (see photo). Next you'll wrap twine around broom handle (see photo) and then make a loop long enough for hanging then wrap and tie around broom twiggy part and then insert end in other hole and tie off. You will most likely have some twine left over so just cut that off. Spray the whole thing with clear seal and voila! You're done:)
