Contributor post by Chelsea of Lovely Indeed
I recently was gifted a little supply of birch bark, and it immediately got my brain working overtime on how to use this awesome material! I had never worked with it before so I thought simple would be best. And to me, birch bark has always been beautifully simple anyway. So after a little bit of daydreaming, I came up with this sweet, simple nightlight -- perfect for little ones and big ones, too! Gather your materials:
Draw a heart on a sheet of paper and cut it out. I chose to draw freehand because I wanted a natural look, but you can also print out shapes from your computer. Trace the heart onto the back of the sheet of birch bark in a nice flat spot. Carefully cut it out with your scissors, being careful not to snap or bend the bark.
Spread a layer of adhesive on opposing sides of your foam cube and sandwich it between the heart and the nightlight. Use a clamp to hold the pieces together while they dry thoroughly.
Chelsea Costa is an actor and blogger living in Los Angeles. Her blog, Lovely Indeed, focuses on a DIY lifestyle and all of the happiness that comes along with it. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.
- birch bark sheets (if you need a source, a quick Etsy search should turn up a few)
- a plain nightlight (I found mine at a dollar store)
- paper and pencil
- scissors
- gold spray paint
- masking tape
- firm foam
- strong adhesive
- clamp
Begin by removing the shield from the nightlight and masking off the electrical portions. Also, cut a piece of foam to a 1/2-inch cube. (If you don't have foam, you can use any material that will create some space between the light and the birch bark.)
In a well-ventilated area, spray paint the nightlight and the foam gold.
Draw a heart on a sheet of paper and cut it out. I chose to draw freehand because I wanted a natural look, but you can also print out shapes from your computer. Trace the heart onto the back of the sheet of birch bark in a nice flat spot. Carefully cut it out with your scissors, being careful not to snap or bend the bark.
Spread a layer of adhesive on opposing sides of your foam cube and sandwich it between the heart and the nightlight. Use a clamp to hold the pieces together while they dry thoroughly.
Once they're dry, remove the clamp and test out your light! Put it in a spot where you need a little glowy love. Have fun!
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Chelsea Costa is an actor and blogger living in Los Angeles. Her blog, Lovely Indeed, focuses on a DIY lifestyle and all of the happiness that comes along with it. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.
