The Perfect Gift: Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch

Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch featured on top lifestyle blog, Design Mom

DIY: Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch. So easy! | Design Mom - Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch featured on top lifestyle blog, Design Mom

Birch snowflake ornaments! This is the 3rd (and last) project in our mini-series of cool things you can make with a wood burning/etching tool. Project 1 is here. Project 2 is here. Birch trees are just lovely for the holidays. Paired with a slip of ribbon or twine, an evergreen bough or two, and these little ornaments will instantly give your home a rustic, woodsy, holiday feel, and have you ready to greet the first snowfall with a big grin.

DIY: Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch. So easy! | Design Mom - Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch featured on top lifestyle blog, Design Mom - Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch featured on top lifestyle blog, Design Mom

The interior of the birch branch was soft so etching was very easy and the process was very quick.

DIY: Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch. So easy! | Design Mom - Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch featured on top lifestyle blog, Design Mom

And these couldn’t be more affordable to make! You could cover your tree with them. Or hang them on doorknobs around the house. You could give a set to your niece who’s just settling into her first apartment. Use them as gift toppers, or give them as holiday party favors!

DIY: Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch. So easy! | Design Mom - Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch featured on top lifestyle blog, Design Mom - Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch featured on top lifestyle blog, Design Mom

Don’t worry if drawing snowflakes isn’t your thing — feel free to copy mine! The designs I made are totally easy and simple to mimic.

DIY: Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch. So easy! | Design Mom - Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch featured on top lifestyle blog, Design Mom

Flex those fingers and let’s do this.

DIY: Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch. So easy! | Design Mom - Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch featured on top lifestyle blog, Design Mom

Supplies:

– etching tool
– birch branch
– bow saw
– drill and small drill bit
– ribbon or natural twine

DIY: Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch. So easy! | Design Mom - Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch featured on top lifestyle blog, Design Mom

First thing to do is to cut the branch into slices, the width of which is your choice. Honestly, the bow saw made it through the branch really easily but if you aren’t up for sawing, look for a friend with a power tool and a willingness to assist you. Real birch does peel a little and the sawed edges were a bit rough so I rubbed them down with a rag towel to soften the edges.

DIY: Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch. So easy! | Design Mom - Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch featured on top lifestyle blog, Design Mom

Use a pencil to draw the snowflakes on the cut pieces and then burn away.

DIY: Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch. So easy! | Design Mom

When the flakes are done, use the drill to make a hole for a ribbon.

DIY: Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch. So easy! | Design Mom - Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch featured on top lifestyle blog, Design Mom

And finally, add the ribbon or twine to hang, and they are ready for the tree or gift topper. The red ribbon adds a very Christmas-y pop of color, but if you like a really natural tree, twine would keep the palette neutral.

DIY: Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch. So easy! | Design Mom - Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch featured on top lifestyle blog, Design Mom

And that’s it. Easy as pie. Just be sure to slice up plenty of birch, because these snowflake ornaments are so fun to make, you won’t want to stop. Speaking of which, don’t stop with snowflakes! You could etch any design you like. Wouldn’t a monogram be fun?

Happy Making!

——–

THESE SNOWFLAKE ORNAMENTS WOULD ALSO BE GREAT FOR:

– Simple neighbor gifts.
– Classmate gifts.
– Creating a garland of snowflakes, or you could spell out Happy Holidays.
– Party favors for your holiday party.

P.S. — Like to make gifts? Check out our Perfect Gift series.

 


Text and images by Amy Christie for Design Mom.

85 thoughts on “The Perfect Gift: Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch”

  1. I love these, Amy! Is it just me, or do they have a lovely Scandinavian feel to them? (I’m only about 1/8 Swedish, but it takes over this time of year and I crave all things Nordic!)

    Thanks for the great idea. We must have an etching tool around here somewhere….

  2. Pingback: Etched Snowflake Ornaments in Birch with Design Mom | this heart of mine

    1. I just tried this with a wood branch from a local park. Probably pine but I’m not sure. I used my soldering iron since I don’t have an etching tool. Not sure if it’s because the wood is harder than birch or if my soldering iron just isn’t up to the task but this didn’t work too well for me. I just couldn’t get the wood burning marks to be even. I felt like I had to press really really hard with the soldering iron which make the marks uneven and took way to much effort to get through one line. I’m going to go get a proper etching tool and try again. I’ll let you know how it goes.

  3. I LOVE these etched wood ideas. So much fun and easy. I’ll have to get an etching tool. They’re pretty useful to have around anyway. I wonder if I can get my 4 year old to do it too!

    Thanks!

  4. Very cute and creative! I like this. Is the little ornament heavy? Would a Christmas Tree have a problem holding it as an ornament?

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  17. Dear Gabrielle,

    Thank you so much for this amazing idea. I love it! :)

    I have not used my tolls for years, but this incredible idea was an inspiration for me. Thank you for that.

    I also want to congratulate you being a mother of six. You are real hero! :)

    Once again thank you! :)

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  19. I’m thinking of cutting a slice off the bottom of our Christmas tree (and then continuing the tradition each year!) to make an ornament. Question – do you think some sort of protectant/shellack needs to be painted on to the wood, or will these last without anything?

    Thank you!

    1. I want to do the exact same thing, and I have the exact same question!
      I am also wondering the best way to clean them. I had the slices cut when we got our tree, but they were cut with a chainsaw that got dirt all over them and now they’re pretty dirty looking!

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