Elegant Bamboo Craft Ideas
There are a growing number of bamboo craft enthusiasts the world over who love to work with this flexible wood product. It can be used to make very large projects, and is just as effective in making projects that fit in the palm of your hand. It grows quickly and is therefore an inexpensive material that is readily available for a huge number of applications.
Because bamboo is very flexible, it can be turned into curved shapes without breaking. Since the canes are smooth, they don't have to be stripped for craft work like most woods require. Because of this, bamboo is very desirable for basket making. Round bamboo is used for the sides and split; flat canes are used for the bottoms. The split canes can even be woven into intricate designs. Much of the work appears in natural colors but some are dyed.
Another elegant project is the creation of a bamboo bird cage. It gives a beautiful and natural Asian feel to the decor of your room. And bamboo pots are quite popular, including antique carved Chinese brush pots.
Bamboo is also used to make musical instruments and a nice project is to create a bamboo flute. It actually gets good tone and is lovely in appearance.
Bamboo wind chimes made from hollow wooden tubes can hang outside a window or in your yard or garden. As the wind blows and the chimes strike each other, they make a relaxing and entertaining sound. They can be quite transporting. Just close your eyes and imagine you are on a tropical island. You can also experiment with other surfaces to intersperse amongst the chimes to get different sounds.
You can also create a bamboo water fountain for your garden. The sound of water trickling through the hollow bamboo tubing is very relaxing and, it is said, will actually slow your heart beat.
On a grander scale, you can create an outdoor bamboo tiki bar. On those balmy summer nights, you will party like you are on vacation in Polynesia. Since this is an outdoor use, you should coat the bamboo with a sealer to protect it from the elements. Also on this scale is a bamboo gazebo or tiki hut as it is sometimes called. This becomes a wonderful focal point for your garden.
Taking your craft work inside, you can create bamboo furniture for your home. From couches and chairs to coffee tables, bamboo is a great sustainable resource for building beautiful furniture that creates a style and fashion statement for your home. You can also create a bamboo floor vase which is made from long strips of spun bamboo that are curved around a frame to create the shape. And not to forget the kitchen and bathrooms, you can create elegant bamboo countertops to give your home that tropical look. Bamboo window treatments have become very chic and desirable as well. Believe it or not, you can even create bamboo bedding and towels.
This remarkable plant gives you a myriad of desirable craft projects, so just delve in and enrich your life!
