Tree Slice Wall Art - DIY WITH DANIELLE

Here’s another inexpensive DIY project to bring the outside in! This project is not only inexpensive, but eco-friendly too. Plus, it is easy to make this project exactly what you want (size, shape, color variations). I used tree slices to make a focal backdrop for our wood pellet stove, but the options are endless. Here are the steps I took to bring this project to life.

Materials Needed

Tree Branches/logs of your choice (I used a dead Juniper on our property)
Miter Saw or Band Saw
Sawzall (Reciprocating Saw) or Chainsaw
Sandpaper
Cooking Tray + Oven
Wood Glue
Backer (I used 1/4 inch plywood)
Black Paint

*if you don’t have access to tree branches or the tools necessary, you can buy pre-sliced tree cookies here!

First, I used a sawzall and a small chainsaw to cut limbs of different diameters off. I knew I wanted the slices to be different sizes so I grabbed everything from small sticks to larger logs to cut tree cookies.

After the branches were cut, I used a miter saw to cut the tree slices. It is EXTREMELY important that you are careful while cutting branches to avoid kickback on the saw. NEVER cut a branch shorter than 12 inches to avoid getting your hand too close to the miter saw blade. I cut different thicknesses of slices, but if you want all of the slices to be uniform, use a saw guide to get the same thickness.

I recommend using a band saw to cut the tree slices! I didn’t have one so I used a miter saw, but a band saw would’ve been easier and safer.

After the slices are cut, you need to “bake” the tree cookies to kill off any living bugs and dry the wood. You can do this with a standard household oven. Preheat 218 degrees F. Place the slices on a cooking tray, and make sure the slices are not touching one another. Leave the tree slices in the oven for 1 hour.

After the slices are dry, you can sand the slices. and prepare them for assembly!

I painted the backer black to disguise any spaces between the slices.

Then, I attached the tree slices to the plywood backer with wood glue. This part of the process took a longgggg time since I needed to cover 32 sq. ft. with tree slices. This could be an easy and quick project if your piece is a more manageable size. 😉