DIY Woodcrafts for Beginners
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Wood Craft Patterns and Projects
Woodcrafting and woodworking is an enjoyable hobby that enables people of all backgrounds and skill levels to create items for the home or gifts with unique handmade appeal.
All you need is a few small pieces of wood or a flat, paintable surface, a paintbrush and a couple tubes of acrylic paint, and some imagination! This lens is going to take you step by step through the process, from finding free patterns on the internet, to demonstrating the use of a scrollsaw, to basic painting techniques. You're on your own for the giftwrapping part!
So let's get started!
All you need is a few small pieces of wood or a flat, paintable surface, a paintbrush and a couple tubes of acrylic paint, and some imagination! This lens is going to take you step by step through the process, from finding free patterns on the internet, to demonstrating the use of a scrollsaw, to basic painting techniques. You're on your own for the giftwrapping part!
So let's get started!
Countdown to Christmas
Christmas: December 25, 2012
How to Find Free Patterns
Search tips to find online sources for completely free patterns
There are numerous sources for free woodworking and woodcrafting patterns for all skill levels. Whatever you are looking for, there is probably someone, somewhere, with a website that offers it or knows where to find it.
Googling for a specific topic usually turns up the best matches for any given theme, and weeds out the link farm type sites. When searching, Always use quotations and try several variations to narrow it down even further.
For example, typing "Free Birdhouse Woodcraft Patterns" turns up our favorite source for super quick and easy beginner projects, Country Corner Crafts You can also find patterns there in other subjects such as angels, gardening, bunnies, holiday and some patriotic designs.
Try also "Free woodcraft patterns" or "Free bird house wood crafts" or "Free birdhouse project plans" or "free wood birdhouse plans". Each will result in patterns (hopefully free!) ranging from simple paint-on designs to full fledged outdoor bird condos!
Googling for a specific topic usually turns up the best matches for any given theme, and weeds out the link farm type sites. When searching, Always use quotations and try several variations to narrow it down even further.
For example, typing "Free Birdhouse Woodcraft Patterns" turns up our favorite source for super quick and easy beginner projects, Country Corner Crafts You can also find patterns there in other subjects such as angels, gardening, bunnies, holiday and some patriotic designs.
Try also "Free woodcraft patterns" or "Free bird house wood crafts" or "Free birdhouse project plans" or "free wood birdhouse plans". Each will result in patterns (hopefully free!) ranging from simple paint-on designs to full fledged outdoor bird condos!
Free Pattern Sites
Sources for free patterns and projects
- Country Corner Crafts
- Over 50 completely free wood crafting patterns for beginner scrollsaw users and tole painters. Birdhouse, Angel, Garden, Seasonal, Bunnies and Bears, Patriotic... and more!
- Woodworkers Workshop Directory
- Links to hundreds of sites offering plans and patterns for thousands of different projects
- Free Craftz
- Various crafts patterns, organized by theme rather than type of craft. Many can be modified to use as woodcraft patterns.
- North Pole Christmas
- It's Christmas Time! This site was chosen because it features all sorts of holiday printables that you can use to create ornaments and gifts.
Add your Favorite Woodworking Sites
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Transfer your Patterns
You've spent hours searching online for the PERFECT project, rifling through page after page of design and you've finally found it!
Once you have your pattern infront of you, whether you've printed it out online or it has arrived in the mail, you will need to trace it onto your work surface. I use graphite tracing paper for this process, because it is easy to use and I can use the same sheet multiple times. Graphite Transfer Paper Ideal for transferring patterns directly to wood for wood burning or use to transfer patterns onto other light colored surfaces. One Sheet 12'' x 24'' in size. Use with No. 2 pencil.
Graphite paper is similar to carbon, but is less smudgy and can be painted over or erased easily. In a pinch, carbon paper will work fine, and there are some people who just cut up their patterns. (not recommended!)
Once you have your pattern infront of you, whether you've printed it out online or it has arrived in the mail, you will need to trace it onto your work surface. I use graphite tracing paper for this process, because it is easy to use and I can use the same sheet multiple times. Graphite Transfer Paper Ideal for transferring patterns directly to wood for wood burning or use to transfer patterns onto other light colored surfaces. One Sheet 12'' x 24'' in size. Use with No. 2 pencil.
Graphite paper is similar to carbon, but is less smudgy and can be painted over or erased easily. In a pinch, carbon paper will work fine, and there are some people who just cut up their patterns. (not recommended!)
Using a Scrollsaw
A demonstration of how you can quickly create a basic woodcraft project by tracing a shape and cutting it out on a scrollsaw.
Today's scrollsaws are easy to use and cut in all directions. Watch the video to see how easy it is to use! Not all of us can use it that proficiently however, but you can take as much time as you need, and cut small pieces off to make the piece easier to handle. I used an outdated relic of a machine with a one sided blade and still managed to cut out basic shapes by coming in at the project from different sides.
Created by another squidooer, be sure to check out his lenses for a treasure trove of scrollsawing information.
Today's scrollsaws are easy to use and cut in all directions. Watch the video to see how easy it is to use! Not all of us can use it that proficiently however, but you can take as much time as you need, and cut small pieces off to make the piece easier to handle. I used an outdated relic of a machine with a one sided blade and still managed to cut out basic shapes by coming in at the project from different sides.
Created by another squidooer, be sure to check out his lenses for a treasure trove of scrollsawing information.
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Preparing the Wood Surface
A demonstration of preparing the scrollsawed shape for paint by cleaning off sanding dust and applying primer.
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Choosing Paint
There are various types of paints available, but my personal favorite is acrylic craft paints for various reasons.
First of all, they are waterbased.
This means you can safely use them in any area without the fear of toxic and dangerous fumes. You can easily mix colors together, and thin with tap water if needed. This is wonderful if you are the type who doesn't always close the cap tightly which dries out your paint and makes it too thick to brush properly! They are easy to spread, blend, and they dry quickly. If you make a mistake, just paint it over! They are not flammable or explosive which is a very good thing for clutsy or accident prone crafters! The best part is the easy clean up when you use acrylics. Brushes, palettes, and spills or splatters can all be easily cleaned with water or a wet dishcloth.
They are affordable and available!
You can find a selection of craft paints just about anywhere: Hardware stores, post offices, dollar stores... the best selection of brands and colors would be at a dedicated craft and hobby store, but prices may be higher. Low prices do not always reflect low quality either - I once bought multiple bottles of a rich red, golden mustard, and hunter green for 88 cents to make Christmas Ornaments and it was every bit as good as the pricier options. If you don't find EXACTLY the right color you can mix two or more colors together to get that perfect shade, so for basic colors that you'll use often for blending or highlights and shadows such as white and black, the dollar store is your best bet.
First of all, they are waterbased.
This means you can safely use them in any area without the fear of toxic and dangerous fumes. You can easily mix colors together, and thin with tap water if needed. This is wonderful if you are the type who doesn't always close the cap tightly which dries out your paint and makes it too thick to brush properly! They are easy to spread, blend, and they dry quickly. If you make a mistake, just paint it over! They are not flammable or explosive which is a very good thing for clutsy or accident prone crafters! The best part is the easy clean up when you use acrylics. Brushes, palettes, and spills or splatters can all be easily cleaned with water or a wet dishcloth.
They are affordable and available!
You can find a selection of craft paints just about anywhere: Hardware stores, post offices, dollar stores... the best selection of brands and colors would be at a dedicated craft and hobby store, but prices may be higher. Low prices do not always reflect low quality either - I once bought multiple bottles of a rich red, golden mustard, and hunter green for 88 cents to make Christmas Ornaments and it was every bit as good as the pricier options. If you don't find EXACTLY the right color you can mix two or more colors together to get that perfect shade, so for basic colors that you'll use often for blending or highlights and shadows such as white and black, the dollar store is your best bet.
Tips for Painting on Wood
This woman demonstrates how easy it is to work with acrylic paints. She uses a disposable paper plate as a palette, but I preferred to use an old lid from a plastic ice cream or yogurt container.
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Types of Woodworkers
There are woodworkers of all ages, types and skill levels who enjoy handcrafting items out of wood.
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Woodcraft Patterns on Ebay
If you've exhausted all of the free pattern sources and still haven't found what you're looking for, consider buying one.
Ebay is a great resource for cheap patterns. Some pattern designers offer their patterns individually for as little as 99 cents, and some may even offer immediate download. You might also be lucky enough find used patterns and pattern books. Often dedicated crafters buy quality patterns from their favorite designers, make a few items for themselves or to sell, and then sell those patterns so they can buy another new one!
Ebay is a great resource for cheap patterns. Some pattern designers offer their patterns individually for as little as 99 cents, and some may even offer immediate download. You might also be lucky enough find used patterns and pattern books. Often dedicated crafters buy quality patterns from their favorite designers, make a few items for themselves or to sell, and then sell those patterns so they can buy another new one!
Woodworking Tools and Plans
Woodworking Related Business
Portfolio binders and business cards
For the entrepreneur - Woodgrain and woodworking themed binders that you can use as a portfolio to showcase your handiwork.
Full color, professional business cards in woodwork, constructioin and handyman themes so you can make a good first impression.
%20234-5678%0d%0aContact%40website.com&t_line7=Licensed%20%26%20Insured)
Full color, professional business cards in woodwork, constructioin and handyman themes so you can make a good first impression.
Gifts for the Hobby Woodworker
or home handyman, carpenter, artist or craft queen!
Show your craftyness with one of these craft and hobby related gifts!
Or perhaps you're not particularly crafty yourself but you know someone who IS, and you're not ready to tackle woodcrafting just yet. There's always next year!
Or perhaps you're not particularly crafty yourself but you know someone who IS, and you're not ready to tackle woodcrafting just yet. There's always next year!
Click on any gift to purchase
Carve your name and message here!
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ScrollSawChuck
Jan 28, 2012 @ 7:21 pm | delete
- Thanks for the good lens. There are indeed a lot of good places for patterns on the Internet. Thanks especially for the heads up on the site for Christmas patterns.
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Joseph
May 25, 2011 @ 11:20 pm | delete
- this is pretty cool. i love reading through so much info.
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get the perfect DIY conservatory to improve the look and feel of your home!
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grannyann
Apr 26, 2011 @ 8:29 am | delete
- Good lens. I found your site which is very similar to mine. I have added your link on my link section. http://www.squidoo.com/females-start-your-power-tools
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JoyAgain
Feb 22, 2011 @ 10:22 am | delete
- Very useful lens, and nicely put together. Great job! :-) I added squidoo lens, How to Make a Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle to your link list. Thumbs up!
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GonnaFly
Feb 8, 2011 @ 4:11 pm | delete
- Fabulous lens with great instructions. .... Did I carve that okay? It was my first attempt at woodwork ;-)
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by QuirkySue
I'm an old fashioned country girl with a love for the simple life.
I try to learn something new every year, and as a result I have many hobbies whic...
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