How to make a simple broach?
It is actually quite easy to make a beautiful broach featuring a bird’s nest with sparkling jewel eggs perched delicately upon a slender branch: a handmade treasure for Easter, Mothers Day, or any occasion. All of the items used can be purchased from a craft store, though nature can provide you with the twigs and grass or straw.
Items Needed:
- Small wooden shape such as oval, round, or egg shape
- Glossy paint in desired color
- 1/4-1/2″ Lace
- Tiny twigs, dried grass or straw for nest
- Slightly larger twigs for tree and branch
- Pearls, rhinstones or other jewels, or even tiny pebbles, to be the eggs
- Broach Pin Back
- Glue gun with Glue Sticks
First paint your wood shape the desired color on the top and sides, and allow it to dry completely before continuing. Once it is dry, paint any additional accents desired such as clouds. Once again, allow to dry completely before continuing.
Once the paint has dried, put a thin strip of glue completely around the edge of the broach. Carefully apply the lace to the glue, going around the edge of the broach. Try to keep the lace even all the way around.
Now take the glue gun and place a string of glue on the back side of the twigs that will serve as your tree trunk with branch. The “branch” should be near the bottom of the broach. Glue the twig on and allow the glue to set for a few minutes.
Next place glue on the broach above the “branch”, in a small nest shape. Place your nest material (tiny twigs, dry grass or straw) on the glue and gently press the nest material into the glue. If necessary, apply more glue and more nest material until you have a full nest shape. Allow this to set for a few moments, then glue your “eggs” (the pearls, jewels, etc) in the nest.
Glue the broach pin on the back and give this time to dry. As simple as that, you have a beautiful, unique handmade broach to wear proudly or give as a gift to someone special.
Use the base idea here– a wood shape, broach pin back, paint, glue and various pretty accents– to make other simple broaches. Using items found in nature will make your broach unique and cut costs as well.
Happy broach crafting!
