How to Carve a Daffodil From a Branch
One way to carve a daffodil from a branch is to whittle the wood. According to Don Mertz of Wood Bee Carver, the height of whittling was from 1865 to 1965, when soldiers from the Civil War brought back the fold art to their communities. Whittling is when wood from branches or scraps are carved with just a pocketknife. Select a soft wood, such as pine or willow for the daffodil, and start with a straight branch about 12 inches long and 3 inches thick.
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Things You'll Need
- Pine or willow branch
- Linseed oil
- Pocketknife or carving knife
- Sandpaper
- Beeswax
Instructions
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Dip the branch in linseed oil and let it dry outside for two days before starting. Look at parks or hiking trails for fallen branches for the project.
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Remove the bark from the found branch with your pocket knife. Observe your branch and chose the side with the thicker width for the flower. The thinner portion is the stem. Mark approximately 4 inches down from the edge of the thicker side with your knife. This is for the bottom of the trumpet shape of the flower.
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Carve away at the stem area. Thin out the area to about 2 inches thick. Start slowly and carve away small amounts at a time with your knife.
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Carve an angle around from where you marked the wood at the bottom of the flower to the stem area. Create a rounded trumpet shape, where the trumpet faces the thicker side of the branch. Form the soft angle around the entire piece of wood.
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5
Cut 1/2-inch above the bottom of the bowl shape for the low petals of the daffodil. Cut all around the flower approximately 1/16-inch deep. Form the bottom petals by carving distinct petal shapes about 1-inch apart around the entire blossom area. Carefully remove wood with your knife between the main flower and the bottom petals.
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Cut out a scalloped edge at the top of the blossom, which is the top of the branch. Carve curved edges about 1/8-inch wide around the entire flower. Refine the shape of the flower so it is trumpet-like.
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Hollow out the top of the daffodil so it looks open. Use the tip of your knife. Whittle the rim of the flower so it is approximately 1/4-inch thick all around. Carve out the hollow area so it is about 1-inch deep.
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Step back and look at the overall progress of your daffodil from a branch. Whittle away areas that need to be thinner and more delicate, such as the petals. Work slowly and carve the blossom as thin as possible without breaking the wood.
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Sand the daffodil smooth all over. Use care around delicate petals. Rub the entire flower with beeswax to protect it.
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Tips & Warnings
Form the bottom petals so they are close the rest of the blossom. Petals that are too open may be too delicate for a whittling project.
Whittling projects can be painted or stained.
Place the finished craft in a small vase.
Always carve away from your body and hold the wood with the opposite hand.
References
- Whittling with Chris Lubkemann: Some Branch Carvings
- Wood Bee Carver; Century of Whittling – 1865 to 1965; Don Mertz
- "Toy Making with Children"; Freya Jaffke, 2000
Resources
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
