How to Make a Table Decoration of a Cute Easter Rabbit with Eggs

This rabbit and eggs table decoration is sure to be a favorite at Easter. Proxxon tools make it easy and fun to create. The downloadable pattern is included.

Supplies and Equipment for the Rabbit and Eggs Easter decoration

• Downloadable pattern of rabbit and eggs
• Proxxon MICRO Bandsaw MBS/E
• Proxxon Scroll Saw DS 460
• Proxxon Bench Drill Press TBM 115 
• Wood or MDF scraps: ~ 8½" x 2" x ½" for base; ~ 5½" x 4" x ¼" or ½" for rabbit; ~ 4½" x 6" x ½" for eggs
• 1/8" dowel rod, thin skewer, or round toothpicks
• Gesso (optional)
• FolkArt acrylic paints

Instructions for making the Rabbit and Eggs Easter decoration

1. Print out the rabbit and eggs pattern.
2. Cover blanks for rabbit and eggs with painter's tape.
   
   
   
3. Mist the back side of the pattern with spray adhesive, and mount on the taped blank. The painter's tape makes removal of the pattern easy without leaving any sticky residue.
   
   
   
4. Cut out the shapes using either the bandsaw or the scroll saw.
   
   
   
5. Sand the edges of the cutouts on the disc sander.
   
   
   
6. Measure, mark, and drill holes in the sides of the eggs for the dowels rods. I varied the angle that my eggs would stand. Secure the eggs in the machine vice and use the adjustable fence for accuracy. Use the bench drill press to drill the holes.
   
   
   
7. Use the depth gauge to ensure holes are consistent in depth.
   
   
   
8. Mark the desired position of the rabbit and eggs on the base blank, and drill holes for the dowel rods. Use the bench drill press, adjustable fence, and depth gauge for accuracy.
9. Optional: Coat the the pieces with gesso prior to painting. Gesso primes the surface for the acrylic paints. I find it especially effective when working with MDF.
   
   
   
10. Paint the base, rabbit, and eggs. After the gesso, I painted the eggs with FolkArt Pearl Gold Brushed Metal paint, and gave each egg a final coat of a different color of FolkArt Glitterific paint. The rabbit was painted white, and the base was painted with FolkArt Color Shift paint.
    
    
    
11. Glue the dowel rods into each egg and the rabbit. Gluing the rods only in the figures makes disassembling and storage easy.
12. Add a handful of Easter grass and your decoration is ready for display.
    

Carole

Easter Rabbit and Stand Is an Easy Beginner Scroll Saw Project

This cute Easter rabbit with its own stand is a great beginner scroll saw project. 

Here are the supplies that you'll need for your Easter Rabbit and Stand:

• Rabbit and Stand Template
• Wood blank to fit the template
• Proxxon DS 460 Scroll Saw
• Proxxon Delta Sander OZI/E
• Proxxon Precision Vice FMZ (optional)

Let's make the Easter Rabbit and Stand:

Note: The pattern template includes three sizes. The large and medium rabbit are designed for ¼" thick wood. The smallest is designed for 1/8" thick wood. Other thicknesses can be used, but the receiving slot in the rabbit and stand must be adjusted to the thickness of the substrate that you are using. Make these adjustment on the pattern before cutting the shapes.

1. Cover one side of the blank with painter's tape. Mist the back side of the pattern with spray adhesive, and mount on the taped blank. The painter's tape makes removal of the pattern easy without leaving any sticky residue.
   
   
   
2. Cut out the rabbit and stand shapes on the scroll saw.
   
   
   
3. Use the Delta sander to sand and smooth all surfaces. I have mounted my Delta sander in the precision vice which allows me the use of both hands in manipulating the piece for sanding.
   
   
   
4. If necessary, finish with hand sanding with a fine grit of sandpaper.
   
   
   
5. Here are my cut and sanded pieces.
   
   
   
6. The pieces are now ready for the finish coat. I chose FolkArt Milk Paints, but the rabbit and stand could be finished with wood oil, paste wax, or acrylic paints.
   
   
   
7. Enjoy your Easter rabbit and stand.
   

Carole

How to Make an American Curly Maple Rabbit

With Easter right around the corner, it's the perfect time to make this American curly maple rabbit.

Supplies and Equipment for the Curly Maple Rabbit

• 5¼" x 5" x 1/8" piece of curly maple (or other hard wood of your choice)
• Pattern for rabbit and stand
• Kapro Measure Mate
• Proxxon Micro Bandsaw MBS/E
• Proxxon Scroll Saw DS 460
• Proxxon Delta Sander OZI/E
• Detail sanding pens

Instructions for the Curly Maple Rabbit

1. Print the pattern for the rabbit and stand. Using the Kapro Measure Mate, measure the size of the pattern.
   
2. Use the sliding markers on the Measure Mate to mark the measurements and transfer them to the piece of wood.

   Set slider to marked measurement

   Transfer measurements to wood

3. Mark the cutting line.
   
4. Cut away excess using the band saw.
   
5. Cover the piece of wood with painter's tape. Mark the direction of the grain of the wood to correctly orient the pattern.
   
6. Lightly spray the reverse side of the pattern with adhesive, and mount onto the covered wood.
   
7. Use the scroll saw to cut out the rabbit and the stand.
   
8. Sand the surface and edges using the Delta sander. Use progressively finer grits of sandpaper, starting with 150 and finishing with 240.
   
9. Use detail sanding pens to sand narrow curves, again using progressively finer grits of sandpaper. (Follow the link to learn how to make your own detail sanding pens.)
   
10. Coat the wood with a paste wax, and buff to a shine with a soft cloth.
    

Enjoy your American curly maple Easter rabbit.

Notes, suggestions, and variations:

• The pattern includes three different rabbits—make several for your own colony of rabbits.
• Make several rabbits using different hardwoods.
• Make the rabbit out of MDF, and paint it.
• I prefer the unadorned beauty of the wood, but you could add embellishments of your choice, such as an eye, a neck ribbon, a puffy tail.
• The pattern is designed for 1/8" thick wood. If you use a different thickness, you will need to adjust the slits on the bottom of the rabbit and the stand to the thickness of your wood.
  

Carole