DIY: West Elm inspired Branch Shelves

This is currently our big project, we have never really worked with wood crafting. I wanted something other than wall canvas art for our family room, I found this picture online and looked EVERYWHERE to see where I could buy it. It turns out that the place that use to sell it does not sell it anymore...so I was out of luck. I talked to my husband about it and he being the encouraging person that he always is said "Sure you can do it!"

Here is the piece/picture we are working off:

And so the project began...first step taking measurements.

Next step was sawing the wood into the branch measurements

Laying wood pieces out to create branch piece, also from here we had to figure out where we need to cut the wood to make the angles so that it all pieces together.

Sand wood (4 step process) this will help prepare wood and it gives it a richer appearance

Sanded wood pieces

The next couple of steps are pretty intermediate we did not know what we were getting ourselves into until we started. My husband had to purchase a drill press to drill holes in the wood to allow all the pieces fit together and firmly hold. The drill press gave the holes a "professional" appearance. Then with a little wood glue the piece was ready to be screwed together.

Using the drill press so that screwing in the screws would align easier.

Glued, Sanded and ready for platform shelves to be added:

This is the one shelf all primed and ready for the final paint finish!

So then after priming and painting I realized the look is not what I wanted, Its a branch shelf it needs to look more rustic. So after spending hours stripping the paint/primer and re-sanding (3-step process) and applying the polyurethane finish I was FINALLY happy with how the 2 shelves came out.

Here they are FINALLY hung on our wall!

My husband thought it would be hilarious to put his action figures on the shelf...

Here is the finished product, FINALLY decorated!