Another Decor Project that you can make yourself!

I have really been in the gourd crafting mood since I got home from this past Gourd Festival which we went to in Alabama.  I found this special gourd that just spoke to me and I had to bring it home.

The Supplies needed for this project are: 

Proxxon Jig Saw

Proxxon Professional Rotary Tool with burrs

Proxxon Delta Sander

Proxxon Band Saw

Alcohol Inks

Q-Tips

Small pieces of t-shirt fabric

Wood burner and Pen

Small wooden stand

Small piece of Cholla cactus

E 6000 glue

Kamar Varnish

Plaid Paint in a dark brown

I started out with a raw gourd that had been cleaned on the outside.

I drew a line that I wanted to cut out. I used my Proxxon Professional Rotary Tool to drill a pilot hole in the gourd and used my Proxxon Jig Saw to cut around the line.

This is what things looked like when I opened it up. Yuck, gourd guts as I like to call it. I was lucky and the guts of this gourd were pretty easy to clean out. That's the part of working on a gourd that I hate, the cleaning.

Here's a good picture of the insides after cleaning.

I got a little ahead of myself with the prior picture but once the gourd was opened up and cleaned I drew oak leaves all around the gourd and wood burned them. I then used this filigree bur to cut around them.

I used this sanding burr that I got from Proxxon Tools to sand the edge all around the top of the gourd. I then used the alcohol inks to color the leaves, the body of the gourd and also the base. I used Plaid paint to paint the inside of the gourd and also around the top. 

I used my Proxxon Band Saw to cut my piece of cholla cactus down to size. Then I used my E 6000 to glue the cholla cactus to the gourd and the cholla cactus to the base.

Here's the final product! I love Fall colors and Fall leaves and I think they came together very well on this piece. I hope you like it as much as I do. Take a look at all the tiny tools that www.proxxon.com has for you to purchase and also www.plaidonline.com and the many products that Plaid has to offer also. 

Barbara

How to make an extension cord organizer

Hi, and welcome back.   Carol here with an organizing idea for you.  I don't know about you but I have a zillion extension cords.  (and I need them all.  I do...but not all over the place... if you know what I mean).    Anyhow, perusing the internet I saw a nifty idea someone had posted with hooks and a pivot and.... Well there wasn't any instruction with it, so today I am going to take it upon myself to make one of those, but with my own tweeks and show you how to do it.  It is going to be really easy..  The hardest part for me is going to be finding that little bit of wall space I need to hang it.
  Ok let's get going.

Supplies:

1" x 6" x 36" pine board

1" x 2" x 36" pine board

6 bicycle hooks

1 1/2" screws (12)

4" lag bolt

wood glue

Equipment:

Proxxon mini band saw

Proxxon OZI/E delta sander
Kapro measure mate 313

Drill

Drill bits

Screwdriver

OK, here's the cutting plan.  Each little square represents 1"  Shaded areas are waste.

I used the Kapro measure mate 313. to do my measuring.  I like how it sits flat on the work surface and the measuring part lies right on the work surface.  In the picture below I am determining the center point of the width of my wood piece while planning my project.  The centering side of the ruler comes in very handy.  See how it measures 2 3/4 on each edge of the wood. Zero marks the perfect center.

I use the proxxon mini bandsaw to make my cuts.  No set up required on this tool.  Just follow the lines.  Easy and fast!

The cutting was easy and now I have all my pieces.  Next step is to sandwich the middle piece in between the two sides.   I used wood glue and clamps to secure it.  Later I will strengthen the bond with a few wood screws.

When this is dry I place the long piece in the hole left by the shortened middle piece.  Make sure the long bar has room to swing without hitting the middle.  This is important for later.  I clamped it there then drilled a pivot hole through the 3 pieces.

Long bar will be inserted in the gap  and the hole will be drilled where you 

currently see the lag bolt  The bar should swing freely when the bolt is through all 3 pieces.

On the long bar I first predrilled some holes then screwed in my hooks approximately 4 1/2" apart.  I did leave a larger space on the last one because I have a really long extension cord so it would have room, being so bulky.

Be careful not to put any hooks where it will interfere with the swing of the bar.  You need to be able to extend the bar straight out and also the bar should hang perpendicular to the hanger part.  

My next step was to attach it all to a board that I will be able to screw onto my wall.  I used a 12" long piece of the 1" pine.   I first glued it, then added some screws to strengthen the bond.  I also added a few screws to my holder to make it stronger as well.

Attach it to the wall.     See that tiny nail at the end of the holding piece?  That holds it horizontal while I load my cords.   

Now the cords are loaded, I take out the nail holding pin and lower my arm.  The cords are separated and will not get tangled.  They really take up much less space, sitting nicely against the wall, and I am neither walking on them or tripping over them.   I'm going to make a little one for the household cords, when I organize the pantry closet.  😚

What do you think?   I am thrilled that the cords are tamed! and... even better, I don't have to untangle them every time I need one.   It was fun and very easy to make!

Thank you all for stopping by.   Thanks Proxxon for having such neat and easy to use tools.  Thanks to Kapro for making measuring so much easier, and Thanks to Terri for letting us do this.

Till next time.   Be have fun and be creative    Carol

How to create a decorative sewing panel

Hi everyone, I've got a sewing panel to share that would make a great decoration for your favorite crafter.

Supplies:

Proxxon Scroll Saw

Proxxon Delta Sander

Prima Metallique Paints

Imagine Crafts Ink

Makin's Clay and Clay Cutters

Chipboard

I started by drawing the pattern on a piece of plywood.  Then I used the Scroll Saw to cut the design.

Once the design was cut, I used the Delta Sander to sand the panel.

Wanting to create with a sewing theme, I added chipboard elements to the panel then painted everything with black gesso.

I used molding paste through a stencil in the open area, then painted the piece with assorted colors of Prima Metallique paints.

I continued adding colors until I was happy with the finished piece.

Using a script stamp with black ink, I stamped it randomly about the panel.  I also stamped some chipboard elements and added them around the panel.  A large flower was added above the dress form and some trim along the lower edge.  SEW was created from Makin's Clay and Clay Cutters.

Thanks for stopping by.

How to Create a Rustic Angel Using Scrap Wood

This rustic angel decoration not only uses scraps of wood, but is a great beginner project. It's great for learning to use the band saw, scroll saw, and disc sander.

Supplies and Equipment for Making the Rustic Angel

• 2½" x 7" x ¾" piece of wood of MDF for angel body
• 2½" x 7" x ½" piece of wood of MDF for angel wing
• Pattern for angel
• FolkArt Painted Finishes Barnwood
• DAP Rapid Fuse Wood Adhesive
• Proxxon Band Saw MBS/E
• Proxxon Scroll Saw DS 46
• Proxxon Disc Sander TSG 250/S

Instructions for Making the Rustic Angel

1. Cut MDF or wood pieces to size using the band saw.
2. Print the angel body and wing patterns and adhere to wood pieces. 
   
3. Cover the substrate with painter's tape; spray the reverse side of the pattern with spray adhesive; mount the pattern onto the covered substrate. The adhesive holds the pattern in place, and the painter's tape makes removal easy.
   
4. Cut the straight sides of the angel body on the band saw—up to where the shoulders begin to curve.
   
5. Complete the curved parts of the angel body on the scroll saw. Cut out the angel wing using the scroll saw.
   
6. Sand any rough edges using the disc sander or the Delta sander.
   
7. Paint both the body and wing pieces with FolkArt Painted Finishes Barnwood.
   
8. When the paint is thoroughly dry, glue the wing to the body using Rapid Fuse Wood Adhesive.
   

Carole

A Nifty Holder for your Remote

Supplies used for this Project:  

Proxxon Table Saw

Proxxon Delta Sander

4" X 24" Strip of Birch plywood

(Plaid) Martha Stewart Decor Paint

(Plaid) Folk Art Chalk Paint

Paint Brushes

Nails

Stencil

I began by using the Proxxon Table Saw to cut from the piece of Birch, 2 pieces 4" long and 2 pieces 5 1/2" long. I then cut both ends of these pieces at a 45 degree angle. You then put the side pieces and end pieces together to form a box by matching the 45 degree ends together as shown in the picture below.

From the remaining scrap of wood you need to cut a bottom to fit inside of the box ( approximately   2 7/8" X 4 3/8") Nail or glue all of the joints.

Now use your Delta Sander to smooth out any rough spots on your edges.

I then finished up by lining the insides of the box with felt strips (black). Afterward I used embossing powder (black) around the top edges to give some texture to the top. I painted the outside of the box with the Plaid Martha Stewart Decor Paint (black) and then stenciling a feather on the outside of the box using Plaid Folk Art Decor Chalk Paint in White. This remote control box turned out quite special and I don't think we will be losing the remote quite as often as in the past.

How do you like this idea for your remote controls? I thought it was terrific! Now if my husband will just put the remote in it before he falls asleep in his chair. Take the time to go on over to www.proxxon.com and check out the tools that are there. I'm sure that you will want one and the website www.plaidonline.com has so many paints and Mod Podge and papers and did I say paints? You won't be able to resist.

Barbara

How to make a scary cat decor for the door

Hi again.    Well, Halloween is coming so its time to decorate the door.  For this project I chose a black cat.  I love how a scrawny old cat will hunch up his back to look all bad.

  This project really highlights how easy it is to use the Proxxon scroll saw.   There are a lot of zigs and zags in this pattern but it isn't at all difficult. The Proxxon scroll saw makes the tight turns easily.

Supplies:

12 x 12 x 1/4" piece of plywood.

bendable wire

Plaid paints  I used black white, red, green and orange

spray adhesive

paper for making a pattern

Equipment:

Proxxon scroll saw

pliers

Proxxon OZI/E delta sander

Proxxon rotary tool with small drill bit

Now to get started:

The first thing I did was to draw my pattern.  I drew it on a piece of paper.  

A confident person could draw it directly on the wood.  😛

Next I used some spray adhesive to temporarily stick my pattern onto my wood.  It will be secure there until I am finished.   This makes it so easy to cut it to the shape I want.  Just follow the line.  What could be easier?

When that is done I remove the paper.  Any stubborn paper can be removed by warming it up a little with a hair dryer.   

I was lucky mine came off easy.  Now I have a wooden cat silhouette

Sand it all smooth with the Proxxon OZI/E delta sander.  It gets all the nooks and crannies easily.

Time to paint:

black cat with white eyes       now with scary eyes

I added my little poem after I painted a little piece of wood orange.   and used my Proxxon rotary tool to drill two small holes in the cat's tail and two in the little sign and attached it with small pieces of wire. 

Lastly, I drilled a hole in the cats back and attached a wire for hanging.  Now he lives outside on the front porch wall next to the door.  If he scares the kiddies...I might get some leftover candy....😀
Of course, I'm just trying to save the little one's teeth. 

Ya'll have a fun Halloween.  Be safe, I want to see you back here again next time.
      Carol

Thanks to Proxxon, Plaid and Terri