Get outside in the sunshine and build your very own Tree Hut Hideaway! This sweet craft from our friend Mollie, @modest_mollie, is the perfect way to enjoy the beautiful summer season.
Gather Your Supplies:
These are the tools we used to make a Summer Fairy Window Transparency:
- A saw to cut down branches
- At least 12 large branches
- String or rope
Make a Summer Fairy Window Transparency:
Step 1:
Determine how big you’d like your structure to be. The branches I used were about 8 feet long. I wanted it to be wide enough for my 3 kids to be able to sit inside comfortably. Once you have a rough idea – go and gather your branches! The more the merrier for this, and the longer the better since you can trim them down.
Step 2:
Lay them all out on the ground with the bottoms evenly aligned so you can get a better idea of the lengths you have, then cut them down to the height you need. Keep in mind that they need to overlap at the top by at least 6 inches. You can also just leave them all different lengths if you are going for a more whimsical not perfect look.
Step 3:
You’re going to start the structure off by making a tripod. Start with 3 branches and lay them next to each other close together. Tie them tightly by wrapping your string around them about 5 times. Stand the 3 branches up and then move them apart from each other, all three in different directions to create a tripod (The string may feel a little loose and that’s ok). Make sure 2 of the branches are the correct position for where you want the entrance to be.
Step 4:
Tie the three branches together again at the top tight, once you like the distance they are from each other. Next, start to add on more branches, evenly spaced around the three main ones by leaning them onto the top so they are supported. Make sure to leave room for the entrance. Once they are in place, tie them all up together going over and under all the branches so they are all tightly tied together.
Step 5:
Keep adding on more branches to fill in between the gaps and tie those in too. Then you are all done and you can step back and admire your work! This can be an ongoing project, so whenever you find a branch that has fallen in your yard you can add it in!
Step 6:
Ideas to make your fort even more fun –
- Paint all the branches before you assemble to add in some color!
- Use branches from all different types of trees. Our fort is made from 2 types of trees so the branches vary a bit in shades of brown which is nice.
- Add solar paneled twinkle lights to create a cozy late summer night hideaway
- Use the fort to grow food like peas! (Please note it is often recommended to grow sweet pea flowers on something like this as they are fast growing and pretty, but they are toxic to humans if ingested!)
Leave a comment