Country wood crafts have found a place in recent years in many homes that have very little otherwise in the way of country decor. Many different types of crafts have shown up in droves, from the simple things such as plaques and wicker baskets, to much more complex carvings and such. There is a beauty to country wood crafts which goes beyond their obvious qualities. Something in the way they are constructed makes a welcome plaque feel truly welcoming, or a handmade carving of a bear more than just shaped wood, but truly as majestic and powerful as the creature it depicts. While it is impossible to truly explain why this is the case, there can be no doubt that it is true.

If you want to bring a sense of welcome to your own home, there is nothing that does so quite as well as a welcoming plaque. It can carry nearly any message or image you desire, and is probably the simplest of all country wood crafts. However, despite being so simple, it can have a great deal of impact on your home, particularly if you choose a message that has a special meaning to you and your family.

Like all country wood crafts, the first thing you will need for your project is wood. The wood you use does not really matter all that much, apart from the size of the piece. It can be in any shape you want, although leaving it in the natural shape it is cut in will give your end result a little bit of an extra rustic feel. You can get this kind of wood from many craft supply stores, in a number of different varieties. Or, if you are so inclined, you could simply cut a piece of wood from a tree or a fairly thick branch to use for your project. Be sure the piece you cut is large enough to hold the message you intend to use.

Once you have your piece cut out, sand the front surface smooth (this is particularly important, because your painting will look rather odd if the surface is not fairly smooth.) You may choose to remove the ring of bark around the outside of your piece, or leave it in place, whichever seems more appealing to you. Also, be sure the thickness of your piece is uniform, as any slant will cause it to hang poorly when put up on a wall.

The last stage of your adventure in country wood crafts is to add your message. For this, you can simply paint on your words, pictures, or whatever else you like by freehand if you are particularly artistically inclined. If you are not, however, there is no need to fear. Simply type out whatever words you want to use on a computer (an odd tool for country wood crafts, but useful nonetheless,) in a nice font, print it out and use a pencil to cover the back of the paper, and place it on the wood. By tracing around the letters, you will leave a pencil line on the wood below, which you can then fill in with paint.

Copyright ? Jared Winston, 2006. All Rights Reserved.