How to make a great trinket box with Proxxon Tools

It seems like everyone is trying to get organized at this time of year and there are many internet sites and blogs who have certainly tried to give us every idea they could think of to get us to become more organized. This trinket box that I've made seems to fit the bill for me. You can put your keys, wallet, etc. into it when you come in the door.

Supplies Needed for this project:

Proxxon Jig Saw

Proxxon Band Saw

Proxxon Belt Sander

Proxxon Rotary Tool

3/8" piece of plywood

1/4" piece of birch wood

Alcohol Ink-Caramel

Piece of cloth to put the Alcohol Ink on with

Topper- In this case I used a resin moccasin

E-6000

Black Paint mixed with Elmer's Glue

Paint Brush

Plaid Apple Barrel Paint - Black

I used the Proxxon Jig Saw to cut the top off the gourd that I wanted to use for this project.

I cut the top off two gourds but decided on this one for this project. The other one was very thick so I set it aside to carve on.

After I cleaned my gourd out on the inside I used my compass to make circles on the wood I was using with one being smaller than the other so that it would fit the inside of the gourd. The two pieces were put together with E-6000 glue and clamped. I let them set overnight to dry. The next day I used my piece of cloth to apply the Alcohol Ink to the lid and then glued the moccasin to the top of the lid to be used as the handle.

To tell you another tidbit about Proxxon tools, most of them have an outlet where you can attach your vacuum or in my case my shop vac with the adapter to suck up a lot of the dust created by either sanding wood or gourds.

I used my Proxxon Rotary Tool with a sanding drum to go around the inside edge of the gourd to smooth it and make it easier to put the lid on.

I used my Proxxon Belt Sander to smooth all the edges of my wooden lid. 

I used Plaid Black Apple Barrel Paint mixed with the glue to the inside of the gourd.

I also used the paint to go around the rim of the gourd.

The trinket box looks pretty awesome doesn't it? I was very happy with how it turned out. This job is relatively easy to do and I think you would have a lot of fun making it.

Check out the tools on the Proxxon Tools website and also check out the products that Plaid has on their website also. Please leave me a comment, I do read them, thanks.

Barbara

How To Make A Wood Bracelet Using Proxxon Tools

                                   

     Hi everyone! My name is Colleen and I'm new to the design team!  I'm excited to get know everyone and share some of my projects. I've got a lot of scrap wood and I thought I'd try making  jewelry from some of it!

 
     Here's a list of tools and supplies I used for my bracelet.

• Proxxon MICRO Bandsaw
• Proxxon Bench Drill Press
• Proxxon Disc Sander
• Scrap Hardwood
• Wood Stain (Varathane Golden Oak)
• 10 8mm black beads
• Elastic cord

Starting with a piece of scrap poplar that's 2 1/2" x 1 3/4" x 3 1/2"

I marked off every 1/2" and drew my cutting lines. I then came down a 1/2" and marked off where I needed to drill the holes for my elastic cord.

Using the Proxxon Bench Drill Press and an 1/8'drill bit , I drilled 12 holes. One one each side of the soon to be slices.

Using the Proxxon Micro Bandsaw I then sliced my bloc apart into 6 slices.

Each slice now has the holes in them for the elastic cord.

I decided that in order for the bracelet to lay nicer on my wrist that I needed to miter cut the edges of the longer sides. I set the band saw table at a 25 degree angle and trimmed each piece.

You can see from this picture that by cutting those edges at an angle, it's going to fit together nicely.

 

I wanted the corners of each slice to be rounded so I free handed a little curve and sanded them off using the Proxxon Disc Sander.

All of my pieces are now sanded! I laid them out next to one of my bracelets and realized I only needed 5 slices. I'll save the extra one for a necklace!

I then ran the elastic cord through the holes and placing one of the 8mm beads in between just to see how it looked then took it back apart for staining.

   

I chose Varathane stain in the Golden Oak color. I stained each slice the reassembled everything. Here's my finished bracelet!  Hope you enjoyed my little project!!!

   

How to Make a Heart wall hanging

I know Valentine's Day has passed, but that doesn't mean your love of hearts needs to end.  Hearts can be used for weddings, anniversaries and even every day projects.

Begin by drawing a heart on a piece of wood.

Use the 2 Speed Scroll Saw to cut out the heart.  The Scroll Saw makes quick work of cutting wood projects. 

Use the Delta Sander to sand the heart and the Bench Drill Press to make a hole in the center of the heart.

Next, paint the heart with black gesso.

Use assorted Crafter's Workshop stencils with molding paste to add dimension.  Allow to dry then add color with Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Sprays.  I used Desert Sandy, Lilac Posies, Pear Tart and Potter's Clay.

I then used Prima Art Alchemy waxes to add different effects to the black gesso.

Along the right side I added chipboard elements then placed tiny hearts created with Makin's Clay and a Mod Podge mold.  

Along the left side, I placed colored gauze.  Flowers, labels and tiny rocks were added to the panel to complete my design.

I nestled a wood word amongst the flowers and added a clipped tag.

What do you think?

How to Make a St. Patrick's Day Wall Hanging

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with this colorful wall hanging. Proxxon MICROMOT tools makes it easy.

Supplies and Equipment to Make the St. Patrick's Day Wall Hanging

• One piece 5" x 4" x 1/8" Baltic birch plywood for base
• One piece 4" x 4" x 1/8" Baltic birch plywood for shamrock
• Fifteen 10" lengths of a variety of ribbons
• FolkArt Glitterific acrylic paint (gold)
• FolkArt Extreme Glitter acrylic paint (peridot)
• Strong liquid adhesive
• Proxxon Table Saw FET
• Proxxon Scroll Saw DS 460
• Proxxon Bench Drill Press TBM 115
• Proxxon Thermocut 115/E

Instructions for Making the St. Patrick's Day Wall Hanging

1. Use the table saw to cut the Baltic birch plywood to appropriate sizes.
   
2. Mount the shamrock pattern onto the 4" x 4" blank, and cut out the shape using the scroll saw.
   
3. Measure and mark two holes ½" from each side and ½" from the top of the base blank for the ribbon hanger. Measure and mark seven holes for the ribbon streamers ½" from the bottom of the base blank.
4. Use the bench drill press to drill these holes. Securely position the stop to ensure the holes are equidistant from the bottom of the base.
   
5. Cut ribbons to length using the Thermocut, which automatically cuts and seals the ribbon ends. Alternatively, cut the ribbons to length and quickly pass through a flame to seal the ends.
   
6. Paint the base with gold Glitterific and the shamrock with peridot Extreme Glitter acrylic paints. Allow the paints to dry thoroughly.
   
7. Thread hanging ribbon and streamers through holes.
   
8. Use strong liquid adhesive to attach the shamrock to the base.
   

Carole

How to make a fisherman's wall hanging

Spring is coming....Yes it is a little ways off, but still, it is coming, and I am looking forward to it.
Today in celebration of spring, (albeit, a little early), let's make something that will help take our mind off the current cold snap.   Let's make a fun little sign.  It is easy and fun to do and if you have some kids you might be able to enlist them to paint the little fishies
.

Materials and Equipment:

Scrap wood ( I used some 1/2" pine for the fish and a small piece of 1/8" paneling for the reel)

small branch or dowel for the fishing rod

wire or string for the fishing line

small eye hooks 4 or 5

1/4 or 3/8" small piece of dowel  (only need about 1")

Proxxon mini bandsaw

Proxxon OZI/E delta sander

Proxxon mini drill press  (optional) or small drill

Plaid paints: sap green, green forest, true blue, spring white, cardinal red, and black.

Plaid's glitterific paints purple and gold.

To get started I just drew some simple fish on my pieces of wood.  I drew out 3 of them then went to my Proxxon mini bandsaw to cut them out.  I used the really narrow bandsaw blade they have out now as it cuts curves as easy as any scroll saw.

When they are done I sand them using the Proxxon OZI/E delta sander.    I take time to round all the edges so my fish is not flat.  Also,

I used the edge of the sander to make fin-like indentations on the tail.  I think that came out really neat.

Note the rounded edges on the left fish.

I used the Proxxon mini drill press to put holes near their mouths where the hooks will go.

Painting was easy using Plaid's wonderful assortment of colors.  I dipped into my different greens and blues to paint the fish.  I let the colors mingle a little.

  After they dried I  wrote my messages on the fish  "Wishin I was Fishin", let that dry, then added Plaid's glitterific paint.  Wow!, that stuff sparkles just like a wet fish.

To make the fishing pole, I took a piece of an old branch that I had stripped the bark from and added eye screws 4 to 6 inches apart (like a fishing pole).  To make the reel I cut 3 circles, 2  from the thin  1/8" wood and one slightly smaller in diameter for the middle out of the 1/2 inch wood.  (Like a sandwich cookie)   The outermost layer of the "cookie" needs an offset hole where the handle (small piece of dowel), will be inserted.  

Next, run a screw through the holes into the fishing rod.  Put the small dowel in the offset hole. 

Wind some wire around the reel then thread it up through the eye screws in the pole.  I used some red wire to make hooks to put in the fish's mouths so they would show up. then threaded my fishing line through them.    

All done.   I used a very small picture hanger to hang it on my wall.    I'm sorry the picture just doesn't capture the Plaid paint's glitterific shine.   Wish you could see it.  

Thank you for visiting.   I look forward to seeing all your comments.  As always, I had a lot of fun making this.  With the right tools, (Thank you Proxxon) and the right paint and embellishments, (Thank you Plaid), it is all fun in the workshop.  

Try it, you'll like it.  👀

I look forward to seeing you next time.  Carol