Wood Project Decorations?

[dominick]

Does anyone else here enjoy the smell of sawdust, paint and over worked power tools while listening to Christmas music in the garage? :???:

I looked on my computer and the only pictures I can find are of my first project (makes me glad I bought myself a new camera). Not my first choice, but I had some particle board lying around. The finished product isn't as refined and it's a little more difficult to work with, but I think they came out okay. After cutting the shape (I believe I used a rotary saw) I just drilled the holes with a bit just large enough for the tip of the bulbs to pass through. Then in each of those holes, drill half way through with another bit large enough for the socket to sit in. I arranged the wires with little nail secured wire brackets you can get at any hardware store. I'll try to take some pictures tomorrow of the ornament discs I kind of free hand sketched on and carved into.

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/9350/woodlightsmh4.jpg
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/4562/woodlightsiimf8.jpg

So anyway, show us your Christmas craft projects, wood or not.

-Tony

[sheepsnot]

I think they are fantastic, dominick. :)

[dvdguy]

fun

[elfworks]

how the heck did you get the pix to post in the body of the message????

and man those snowpeeps are fab!!

xo

[dominick]

Thanks for the compliments. Don't any of you guys get into the crafts, though?

how the heck did you get the pix to post in the body of the message????

I just hosted the pictures (there are many free sites that will do that for you, i.e. photobucket.com, imageshack.us) and then inserted the URL for the hosted picture between the image code brackets. The finished product would look like this to you in your message:

imaginarywebaddress

If you would like a little help with it, I'd be more than happy to assist.

[sheepsnot]

I'm not crafty, but lots of the other folks are. Ervserver makes cool stuff.

[Ervserver]

looks good dominick, got any patterns or just work from scratch?

[dominick]

I just sketch it out onto the wood in pencil. Granted, I never get it right the first time, but that's what the eraser is for. If I need to make multiple items of the same general size and shape, I'll trace the first one I did if I'm happy with it.

Again, thanks for the kind words.
-Tony

[marekkane]

Looks great! I l ike your Christmas tree too. :)

[Ervserver]

I like that BIG present sitting behind the smaller snowman.

:???:

[dominick]

I like that BIG present sitting behind the smaller snowman.

:???:
8-)
If I remember correctly, that was a "creeper" (kind of like an oversized skate board with all caster wheels that a mechanic uses) that my mom gave me that year. Unfortunately I'm generally too... well, Santa-esque to fit under most cars unless they're on a lift. :D

[Ervserver]

I had one of those once but would not roll very well on the rough concrete floor in my garage, nothing like gettig stuck under the car and can't wheel out. :o

[dominick]

Tell me about it. I have a really nice wide saddle 2 ton jack, and I still struggle to get the car high enough for me to get under it. Come time to buy property, I'm thinking about putting up a small airplane hangar as a garage so I can fit a hydraulic lift in there.

Anyway, these are the ornament discs I speak of. I swear there are more of them, but these are what I could find. I just punched out a bunch of discs, sketched something on them, and then etched them with a rotary tool (a.k.a. Dremel). This year I think I'm going to try a some actual three dimensional sculpture type ornaments. Sorry to anyone on dial up.

Please be kind with the artwork. I'm no artist, and I did all of this free-hand. They could be better, but I had fun making them.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m250/techbracing/christmas/all.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m250/techbracing/christmas/glittersantabear.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m250/techbracing/christmas/penguincenter.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m250/techbracing/christmas/snowmancutout.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m250/techbracing/christmas/woodbacksanta.jpg

[Ervserver]

I really like those, very colorful

[Christy Carol]

Freehand?? I can't even draw a stick figure! Those are too cool. And I love the snowmen and Christmas tree.

Any chances of you selling any of that? Ya know, give your friends here a discount maybe? I see that stuff at craft shows and flea markets and you can get a pretty penny for that stuff.

[dominick]

I really appreciate the kind words.

Any chances of you selling any of that? Ya know, give your friends here a discount maybe? I see that stuff at craft shows and flea markets and you can get a pretty penny for that stuff.

I hadn't really considered it. I've always just made these nick-nack sort of things to amuse myself. I've never gone to a single craft show, so I have no idea what I'd be getting into. I'm flattered you would even suggest it, though. Perhaps if I can find a sheet of suitable material lying around and I have enough time, I could churn out a few of them for the board here for next to nothing... not looking to make any money on them. You'll be first in line for a snowman if I do. 8)

[elfworks]

those are great tony!!!

and quicherbichin!! your artwork is just fine!!!!



xo

[Christy Carol]

I really appreciate the kind words.

Any chances of you selling any of that? Ya know, give your friends here a discount maybe? I see that stuff at craft shows and flea markets and you can get a pretty penny for that stuff.

I hadn't really considered it. I've always just made these nick-nack sort of things to amuse myself. I've never gone to a single craft show, so I have no idea what I'd be getting into. I'm flattered you would even suggest it, though. Perhaps if I can find a sheet of suitable material lying around and I have enough time, I could churn out a few of them for the board here for next to nothing... not looking to make any money on them. You'll be first in line for a snowman if I do. 8)

YAY!!!! Thank you!!!!! :)

[sheepsnot]

Let a person be humble, EW! They ain't complainin'. DaVinci did the same thing, "Ah, it's just a ceiling. I'm gonna cover over it with a drop ceiling later."

[Ervserver]

I think the home made stuff makes Christmas more special, anyone can buy some stuff at the store and likely matches stuff 100,000 other people have. Home made stuff is one of a kind

[dominick]

I think the home made stuff makes Christmas more special, anyone can buy some stuff at the store and likely matches stuff 100,000 other people have. Home made stuff is one of a kind

Well said. Every year someone comes out with the next big decoration fad and by the following year everyone has it. Those dangly icicle lights for example; they took everyone by storm and the first year everyone stood in awe of them, but now every other house has them. Of course they look good, that's the reason they're so popular, but I like to personalize my decorations. The only way to do that is the old fashioned way!

[Ervserver]

I bet your place looks real nice all decorated, I hope we can see photos

[dominick]

Likewise. 8)

[Ervserver]

Here is a primitive snowman I'm working on now, should be done this weekend. Scrap lumber and the scarf is made from an old flannel shirt.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v219/Javern/snoguy.jpg

[dominick]

Sorry for the late response...I missed a post once again. That snowman is awesome! I love it! :???:

By the way, does it ever seem to you that we're the only ones in the decorating threads? 8-)

[marekkane]

I'm working on something, but it's not in wood. I'll post it when I'm done. ;)

I love the personalized homemade decorations, and I like to have more of those than the store bought ones. I just wish I was more creative some days, and had more supplies. :D

[Ervserver]

By the way, does it ever seem to you that we're the only ones in the decorating threads? 8-)


yes maybe some aren't in the mood yet, waiting for Halloween to get over

[dominick]

Hey, can you do me a favor and snap a couple pictures of that Santa you have in the backroud? Looks good.

[Ervserver]

here ya go, finished him about 2 weeks ago


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v219/Javern/oldsanta.jpg

[dominick]

That's exactly the type of stuff I like to see. The fence and sign at the bottom adds a nice touch of detail. My hat's off to you, sir. :D

[Ervserver]

Thanks, nothing fancy but makes good use of scrap wood. I like the primitive look so most of my stuff reflects that.

[Ervserver]

Does anyone else here enjoy the smell of sawdust, paint and over worked power tools while listening to Christmas music in the garage? :???:
-Tony


While at Lowes I noticed some battery operated candle lights that use a LED and some circuit that turns on/off the light same time everyday ( not a light sensor ) I bought several and plan to hock the electronics out of them and use them on other battery operated projects

[dominick]

How much current do you suppose those circuits will handle? What kind of projects do you have in mind? I guess if you wanted to power something too festive for the circuitry, you could make use of a relay and use the circuit on the control side.

[Ervserver]

They were designed for under 6 volts which is fine for my small projects

[Ervserver]

Does anyone else here enjoy the smell of sawdust, paint and over worked power tools while listening to Christmas music in the garage? :???:

So anyway, show us your Christmas craft projects, wood or not.

-Tony

made this prim snowman out of a piece of barnwood

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v219/Javern/primsnowman.jpg

[elfworks]

thats great erv!!

xo

[sheepsnot]

A rather svelt snowman. He's been watching his intake, I see. Good on him!

[Ervserver]

he may fatten up soon as the Christmas goodies get baked

[dominick]

Looks good. What do you do to get that finish? Skimp on the paint or paint then sand?

[Ervserver]

I call it dry brush painting, just barely dip the brush in the paint and brush with wide strokes.

[Ervserver]

Does anyone else here enjoy the smell of sawdust, paint and over worked power tools while listening to Christmas music in the garage? :???:


So anyway, show us your Christmas craft projects, wood or not.

-Tony

finishing up this little guy, needs a scarf and some letter adjusting
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v219/Javern/DSC01597.jpg

[Christy Carol]

WAAAAY to cute!!! :D

[dominick]

What can I say that I haven't said before? As always, you make me look like the novice I am. :D Looks great! :???:

[Ervserver]

Working on anything lately dominick?

[dominick]

Tomorrow I'll be out there looking over my materials. I'm definitely going to be making an ornament for the exchange, and I'm working on making an oscillating mechanism for that little motor I pulled from the old tree stand.

[Ervserver]

oh the exchange....not sure If I will make something or not. I'm idea-less

[megarrick]

For the exchange, do ya'll think this would be nice?...I've made several before and I just thought a handmade ornament would mean more than a store bought one.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r308/megarrick/SequinedOrnament.jpg

[dominick]

I think they'll do fine. I like making home made ornaments as well. I think they might be on the second page of this thread.

[megarrick]

I will say that you have gotton a lot of use out of that one flannel shirt :eek:

[Ervserver]

pays to be thrifty

[mrshfromjersey]

I love to make home made ornaments too.

[Christy Carol]

Saturday I stopped at a yard sale and saw a really cute craft idea. The lady had taken very large (say one gallon) pickle jars and painted them white. She then took white lights and filled the inside of the jar with them. Then she painted a snowman face on the front of the jar, glued a toboggan to the top and some even had ear muffs. They were so cute!! If I can find a big enough pickle jar I am gonna have to try and make one. Sorry I dont have a picture, I even googled them and couldnt find any.

[Ervserver]

I'm curious about these, I find painted snowman jars online but they didn't have the top as you described

[dominick]

Working on anything lately dominick?

What a mess! I went out there today to make this one little ornament and first had a heck of a time cutting out the blank, then couldn't find my sanding drum (still don't know where it went), and then finally burned up the chuck in my rotary tool trying to smooth edges with a metal bit. Looks like I should probably pick up some thinner wood while I'm buying that new sanding drum. :-? Then I wanted to go work on that waving Santa, and the wood I was going to use for that got ruined by rain water when our garage flooded.

[Ervserver]

maybe Mondays are not a good day to work in the shop. Kick back and sip eggnog tonight, hang out in the forum. Tomorrow is a new day!

[dominick]

Tomorrow I'll hopefully be hitting the hardware stores. I think tonight I need to straighten up out there.

[Ervserver]

Did you get your gutters cleaned out? I did mine late this afternoon as rain is predicted to move in the next couple of days. I hate cleaning gutters. In the future I plan to install some of those gutter guards.

[dominick]

Yep, I cleaned them last week. Then when I went back up there on Saturday to hang lights only days after I cleaned them, they were already filled with an abundance of leaves again. I'll probably end up doing them again before long.

[dominick]

I went out there today to change the chuck on the rotary tool (turned out to be a major PITA because it was rusty) and try out some new detail bits I got. I started messing around a bit and ended up with this:
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/6623/dscf3071kp2.jpg
It's a little rough but it's been awhile since I've done this and I'm using new bits, so hopefully it'll come to me.

[Ervserver]

looks ok to me

[dominick]

There are some gouge and burn marks on it that I was hoping to avoid.

[Ervserver]

I like the rustic look...who ever gets your ornament is lucky!

[dominick]

I'm not sure what I'm going to use as the exchange ornament. I have to do a few of them and get some paint on them before I decide. Thanks for the compliment, though. 8)

[Ervserver]

I'm not sure if I'll make anything. I usually just make stuff for myself to my own taste, hate to impose that on someone else who may think it's junky

[dominick]

Your stuff is better than mine by a long shot! I think making a unique ornament for the exchange would be better than store bought, but that's just my opinion. Another perk is that the little wood ornaments don't require any special packaging. Many of the thinner ones I do will even fit in a standard envelope with no worries of breaking.

[Ervserver]

true....anything glass require careful packing. Maybe I'll get inspired and make something

[Christy Carol]

I'm curious about these, I find painted snowman jars online but they didn't have the top as you described

I just found two large pickle jars downstairs in the breakroom and I am trying to find out if they belong to anyone. If they dont I am gonna snag them and probably make these this weekend. When I get one finished I will post a pic here.

[Ervserver]

COOL !

:???:

[xmaslilly]

dominick- new here.... like your ornaments and snowmen.
I too have made a similar snow men but can't find the pic when Ido I wil post it.
I love making wood things most of mine are halloween though, but here's a pic of my xmas trees I made a few yrs back. gave them to my friends as gifts.
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/imdiamondlilly/xmas%20stuff/trees1a.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/imdiamondlilly/xmas%20stuff/newtree2a.jpg

[dominick]

I like the little packages you put at the bottom. Do they light? They look like big cookies.

[Ervserver]

giant yummy cookies

[xmaslilly]

No sorry they are not cookies .
Actually I used to work at a store that sold mini xmas trees in pots, and they were going to throw them out so I took all the ornaments off them and thats what those are.
maybe I should have glued a plate on there for santas cookies instead ..good idea haha

[xmaslilly]

ok I had to get my sister to take a picture of the one I made for her 2 yrs ago. so here it is:sry it's not bigger but it's a cell phone pic.
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/imdiamondlilly/xmas%20stuff/mysnowman3.jpg

[Christy Carol]

Cute!!