Romantic Carved Initials Gift

You… Me & a Carved Tree

With Valentine’s Day coming up, I thought I’d share a meaningful, DIY gift idea that can also double as romantic bedroom decor!  

And the best part is- even your “manly man” should appreciate it.  Let’s face it, coming up with a DIY gift idea for a man can be tough.  Especially when it comes to a frilly, pink holiday like Valentine’s Day.  But wood carvings can be rustic, and sentimental.

There’s just something so romantic about carving your initials in a tree.  Don’t you agree?

To make a personalized tree branch photo holder….

You’ll Need:

• A piece of a tree branch
• A pencil
• A Wood Burner
• An Electric Drill and Bit
• Wire (I used part of a wire hanger)
• A favorite photo 

Here’s What You Do:

1.  Using a pencil, draw a heart on your tree branch with your initials inside.  Then simply trace your design with your wood burner.  (If this is your first time using a wood burner, you may want to practice on another piece of wood first.)

2.  Use an electric drill to put a small hole in the top of your tree branch, just big enough for your wire to fit.  (For my hanger wire, I used a 5/64 drill bit.)

3.  Bend your wire into this shape…

4.  And stick it into the hole you drilled.  (For extra security, you may want to use a dab of hot glue.)

5.  Add your picture and… voila!  You’ve got one romantic, meaningful gift!

And as long as you have that wood burner out, why not make some more romantic decor for V-day?   All you need is some wood! 

How about this darling vase?  {Can you believe it only cost me $5?!}  Burn your initials on the side and fill it with a man bouquet for your sweetheart, or use it spruce up your table for your Valentine’s dinner.

With a little piece of tree bark, you can even add a matching gift tag.

How about some personalized tea light candle holders to set the mood?

Or just get a sheet of birch bark and frame your carving for a beautiful display.  You can even add your wedding date!

Even if you don’t have a wood burner, you can still get the same effect!  I found a sheet of scrapbook paper with a woodgrain design for 50 cents at my craft store and backstitched a simple heart with initials using embroidery floss.

So sweet, right?  These would make great gifts for weddings, bridal showers, or anniversaries, too.

And if you’re looking for more ideas, you’re going to want to check out our Valentine’s gift round-up AND our round-up of Valentine’s decor!    Or check out our Valentine’s Board on Pinterest.  You’re SURE to find something there you’ll love!