Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Home Depot. All opinions are my own.

I recently had some fun playing around with my new Dremel Stylo+ craft tool, which is definitely one of my favorites. I experimented with some wood carving and dying with India ink, and created this little carved tree art. You can check out the tutorial below.

DIY CARVED TREE ART DYED WITH INDIA INK

SUPPLY LIST:

Dremel Stylo+ Craft Tool (I used one of the high speed cutter accessories and one of the engraving cutter accessories.)
Scrap Wood (I used a small piece of 1″ thick pine. Pine is a good option for this project since it’s soft wood and easy to carve.)
India Ink
Rag
Rubber Gloves
Printed tree graphic (I found a free download online and printed it out. If you go this route as opposed to designing your own, just check the copyright specs and make sure it’s ok for personal use, or commercial use if you plan on selling what you make.)

Step 1

Select (or design) your graphic and print. Then tape it down to your wooden canvas and trace the outline with a pencil, being sure to press down hard enough to create an indentation in the wood.

Step 2

I used my Dremel Stylo+, starting with the high speed cutter, to follow the outline left behind after tracing the tree with my pencil.

Let’s talk about this tool for a minute. I love it! It comes with 15 accessories for etching, engraving, polishing, and sanding.

It’s lightweight and has a quiet compact motor which makes it perfect for in home use. (I used it in my dining room.) It has a comfortable grip and its slim size allows for maximum control, which is key when doing precision work. It has variable speeds which can be adjusted based on the application and material, and it is just so versatile in general. I’m a fan. I used a speed level 5 per the manual based on which accessories I was using and what material I was carving (soft pine).

Step 3

I traced over my outline again with a small engraving cutter accessory to add a little bit of additional depth.

Step 4

I went back over it again with the high speed cutter just to make sure there was plenty of definition, and I added some detail to the tree with it too.

Step 5

Next, I dyed the entire thing with India ink. I applied it with a rag, and wore rubber gloves since this stuff is quite messy. The goal was for the carved part to remain natural and the rest of the wood to be dyed. I ended up touching up a few spots later with my high speed cutter attachment.

Step 6

I plan on sealing my art with some polycrylic, but you can use the topcoat of your choice. You can mount picture hanging hardware on the back or just use velcro picture hanging strips, which is what I usually do.

Overall, I think I’m going to have a lot of fun with this little tool. And this project could certainly be customized in a lot of different ways. What would you make with your Dremel Stylo+? Let me know in the comments!

I acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with me to participate in the promotional program described above (the “Program”). As a part of the Program, I am receiving compensation in the form of products and services, for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are my own words. My post complies with the Word Of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.