Ho Ho Ho Christmas decor

Christmas is coming!!!

And we still have time to make some décor!

Today I have a simple but cute project that you can make in no time at all, and you probably have all you need to decorate it in your Christmas box.   I realize we all have a lot of decorations we use every year, but isn't it fun to have something new to set out?, and the fact that you made it makes it even more special.  Let the kids do the painting and you have a family treasure to pass down through the ages.

Supplies and Equipment:

1/4" - 1/2" scrap wood, large enough for your pattern

Proxxon mini bandsaw,  Or mini scroll saw

Small awl.

3 jingle bells

3 short pieces of thin wire

3 small eye screws

Plaid Paints,

glitter and adornments  (optional)

hanger of your choice.

To get started I simply drew out a pattern I thought would be cute.  

I used graph paper to help me keep the HO HOs all the same size.  👷

I traced the pattern onto my piece of wood then cut it out first using the Proxxon mini bandsaw, (which cuts like butter) to do the long straight pieces.   I then turned to the Proxxon mini scroll saw to do the sharper inside cuts.   I could have used Proxxon's extra thin bandsaw blade to do the whole thing as it makes really sharp turns like a scroll saw, but I did it this way.

Next I sanded it all using Proxxon's OZI/E delta sander to get into all the nooks and crannys.  It's triangle shaped head really helps get the job done.

Using an awl I poked starter holes in the tip of the candy canes and inserted small eye hooks.   These are really small eyehooks as you can see.  

PAINTING

I first painted it all, front, back and sides, using Plaid icy white paint.  Next I painted the top and bottom HO's red and the middle HO green.  I used white to embellish them and paint the stripes on the candy canes.                Plaid makes beautiful paints!

       

Using my 3 pieces of thin wire I attached my Jingle bells to the eye hooks.  Oh and I added a little glitter for  some bling.   Sorry it doesn't show up well in this picture.  

Lastly, I attached a saw tooth picture hanger on the back.   You could alternately hang it with some wire.   It looks really nice on the door and the jingle lets you know you have somebody coming in.       Is it Santa?...?      no, he comes down the chimney silly.  

I told you it was easy.  Hope you choose to make one for yourself.

Thank you Proxxon and Plaid, our sponsors.  

Enjoy the Holiday season.     Carol

I

3

~Leaving You Puzzled ~Proxxon Design Team Project~

~Leaving You Puzzled~

Earring Project

Here is a very fun idea that would be perfect for a small project you and your daughter/granddaughter can do together.  Depending on the age and if they are old enough to use the drill press supervised, it is a great time to spend together creatively! If they are too young you can handle the tool part of the project and they can have the fun of decorating! This is also a great opportunity to use up the puzzle pieces from those puzzles where  the pieces have been lost! So go grab some puzzle pieces and lets have some fun!!

~SUPPLIES~

Proxxon Drill Press

A handful of puzzle pieces

White Glue

Glitter

Fish Hook  ear wires ( 2 per set)

 8 mm jump rings (2 per set)

Polyurethane sealer

 Here you can see where the hole is being drilled for the jump ring and ear wire. I have found that by applying the glue and glitter first and letting it dry,it provides a more solid base to drill into.

  Assortment of Puzzle pieces

To finish off each earring piece you would add the glue where you would like the glitter to adhere.. sometimes dipping just the edges in is interesting, this way you can still see the puzzle pieces too!

Add the jump ring through the hole in the top and then add the fish hook ear wire.

To add a protective coat ,spray with polyurethane and let dry. And there you have it a very fun and interesting way to "play" with your puzzles!

 Some fun examples of finished earrings

Happy Creating!!