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Fine Hand-Crafted Wooden Puzzles
I have received a few emails from readers who have tried to have my patterns printed at Kinko's and other print shops. Because they need permission from the copyright holder thay won't print the pattern. I have added a note to the bottom of the cover page giving permission for unlimited printing. If you run into problems just point out that note and they should do the job.
This little gift box is perfect for jewelry or other small gifts. The box is 4" x 4" square. The ribbon is cut from a laminated board as a single piece. Use nicely contrasting woods for that little extra pop.
The pattern is pretty easy to cut just pay attention to the inside of the ribbon. Cut it last so you can measure for a good fit to the top of the box. The dimensions of the outside of the box will change a little after you sand the top and bottom flush. If you cut the ribbon before you sand it might not fit snug. Also notice the little extra pieces of ribbon on the bottom of the box. These allow the ribbon to fit all the way to the bottom of the box so don't forget to add them.
This is a pattern for a small compound cut desk ornament. You will need a block of wood 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" x 4" to cut the pattern.
I want to take a minute to talk about the pattern I posted yesterday. When I post a pattern I like to include a picture of the finished project. Sometimes I don't have time to actually cut the pattern so I simulate the picture with wood textures. That was the case with yesterdays post.
Because the picture is simulated it can confuse some readers as to how it should be cut. Yesterdays pattern was designed to be cut in sections and glued to a backer board. If you look at the picture and then look at the pattern it will usually make more sense. In most of my patterns you can think of the gray as the wood and the white sections need to be cut away.
I don't mean to be condescending but I had one email that made me laugh. He let me know that it was absolutely humanly impossible that I could have cut that pattern by hand. The lines were just too straight. I guess the simulated picture looked pretty convincing. :)
I'm still not able to get back in the workshop yet but I have been working on some patterns. Here is another Christmas themed project for you to cut. Get out your #3 blades because there are a lot of small interior cuts in this pattern.
The finished picture will be 13 inches wide and 14 1/2 inches tall. Use 1/4 inch Baltic Birch plywood for the backer board and 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick hardwood for the overlays. I have not been able to test cut this pattern because of my recovery but I think it should be pretty straightforward. The real challenge here will be the music staffs because of the large number of interior cuts.
If you decide to build a frame around the outside of the picture you might want to enlarge the backer board 1/4 inch all the way around to accommodate the frame.
I just wanted to take a minute to thank everyone that emailed me well wishes for my knee surgery. I am home now and everything went fine. I am a little gimpy but doing good so far.
I know there is a lot of unanswered email in my inbox. Be patient with me and I'll get caught back up as soon as I can. Thanks everyone and enjoy the blog while I recover a little and I'll get back in the shop soon.
Carole Rothman
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This is a follow up to a pattern I posted last week. I had a few requests for a woman's version of the same pattern.
The audio tip talks about the picture above. Look at the top edge if the wood. Notice the tear out on the top left as compared to the tear out on the top right. What you are looking at is the bottom of the cut. The picture is upside down for clarity.
Press button to play audio.
I know that many of you who do shows during the holiday season have already begun working on your holiday themed projects. It takes time to decide which projects you are going to make and actually make enough inventory to last through the whole season. So I thought I would go ahead and begin posting a few holiday patterns now so you would have a chance to incorporate them into your inventory.
For those of you who like to make gifts for family and friends maybe you could get a little head start also. If not the pattern will still be here in the catalog when you get ready.
I hope you all like this pattern, it was a lot of fun to cut and I think it turned out pretty good. I designed the cross a few days ago but I couldn't make up my mind what type of base it needed. I finally decided to incorporate the bottom cell of the cross into the base and I think that pulled it together.
I've been getting e-mails lately asking for patterns. A few have been for updates to older patterns so I am going to try to spend the next few days working on those requests. Most of the requests have been for patterns that would be useful to many so those are the ones I'll be working on first.
This pattern is just the female version of a pattern that is already posted in the catalog. I get a lot of requests asking that I do both a male and a female version so I'll try to work on that in the future.
This weekend and next week might be a little slow around the scroll saw workshop. I am having some minor knee surgery next week so I guess I'll be hobbled up for a couple days. Hopefully I'll be able to sit in front of the computer and design patterns even if I can't get out in the shop.
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For the king of bowling in your family build this desk trophy with optional pen and funnel.
This pattern book has several different crest patterns. The letter templates are included. There is also a blank crest so you can add your own graphics. The crest is about 8" tall.
The project looks better if you use contrasting woods for the backer board and the overlay crest piece.
The tray is 14.75" long and 10.25" deep. Plenty big enough to serve drinks. You could also use the tray as a centerpiece filled with flower containers or fruit. It would look nice sitting on a dresser for makeup and accessories.
The tiles are 4.25" x 4.25" and can be purchased at home centers and tile stores. You will also need some tile cement and grout to finish setting the tiles.
You don't have to use the tiles. The tray looks fine without them. If you are into mosaics you could let your imagination go wild and fill the bottom with the design of your choice. Enjoy the pattern and don't forget that I love getting pictures of finished projects.
This shelf can be made to include the towel bar or leave it out for a small shelf. With the towel bar it makes a nice bathroom accessory. The shelf is 14 1/2" long and 4 1/2" deep. I made the project from 1/2" poplar and finished it with oil and lacquer.
Sorry that the pictures are not of a hanging shelf. I plan to give it to a friend so I did not want to hang it. The top shelf has the edge treated with a router to give it a nice profile.
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I have a friend that wanted this pattern. He was going to cut it for an artist friend. I know many of you come from creative families so some of you might be able to use this one also.
I would cut this from Baltic 1/4" Birch ply. It probably need a good finish so the paint can be removed easier.
I have always wondered how it would start. Now I know. First it's aches in the joints then you start sleeping during the day. That is followed up by forgetting things. Nothing big at first, just little events like birthdays and waking up. Then the first signs of dementia slap you in the face and it hits you. You are getting old.
Okay I admit it. It's all down hill from here but you would think I would at least not add a new character to Roman numerals. They have been around a while now so when I added the Roman numeral N the the last pattern you would think I would have caught the mistake. But no.
Thanks for all you that found my error and let me know. The pattern has been corrected and if you got the bad one just download it again.
Off to be evaluated now.
Several months back I did a series of military emblems. I never finished the Air Force emblem for various reasons. I promised several readers back then that I would eventually try to complete the series. Tonight I finished.
There will be a bit of a challenge to cut the letters out of the center board. Some of them are pretty small an will require a small blade. A #1 or a #2/0 should do the trick.
The emblem is a sandwich of three layers. A plain backer board, a center board with the letters cut out of it then all the ornamentation is applied to the middle layer. After you get the letters cut the rest should be pretty easy. I don't have time right now to do a test cut. If any of you give this pattern a try I would appreciate feedback on any problems.
I am happy to say that the winner of the Craftsman scroll saw returned the email and it's now Official. Jerry Bair Has won the scroll saw and Jared Schlabach won the $20 Amazon gift certificate for answering the bonus question first.
Jerry Bair holding one of his projects.
Jared Schlabach in his man cave with a DW-788
I spent some time this weekend updating the free pattern catalog. There are now over 400 pattern books online for you to download. You can find the pattern catalog on my blog. Just look for the image above in the left hand column. You can also click the image above to access the catalog.
This set of anniversary plates are 8" in diameter. In the simulated picture above I am showing the plate with a lighter colored backer board. You can use the backer board or just cut the fretwork. Either way looks fine.
There are plates for every 5 years through 50th. I also included a blank and letter templates so you can make your own.
The deadline for entries has now passed. I will be announcing the winner of the Craftsman scroll saw giveaway in a video posted on the blog at around 8pm tonight, 9/5/09. There were 376 entries so you have a pretty good chance.
Because so many people have problems viewing the videos in the email newsletter the video will only be posted on the blog. The video will be placed in the same location on the blog as the entry area was. I will email the name of the winner the next day after everyone has had an opportunity to watch the video.
Good luck to everyone.
The other day I visited a local woodworking store and they had this beautiful Ambrosia Maple. I knew right away that I would make at least one cross out of it. The price was too high but I could not pass it up. You have to see this wood up close so at the risk of showing my poor cutting technique you can click the picture above and it links to a larger version.
Ambrosia Maple has these beautiful flowing stains and holes that are created by the Ambrosia beetle. The beetle bores into the tree and introduces two types of fungus. One of the fungus's stains the wood around the hole resulting in beautiful flowing streaks. There are several varieties of Ambrosia beetle and the are all ugly as sin but they are fantastic artists.
If you get a chance to pick up some Ambrosia maple take it. It cuts very well and finishes beautifully.
I have been studying chip carving patterns lately to try to understand the beautiful geometric designs they come up with. I decided to use the chip carving influence in this pattern. The cross stands 10 1/2" tall.
Use the Scroll Saw Keychain Maker to start a small keychain business. Build yourself a nice display and make up severl keychains with common names. Sell at craft shows, on Ebay or at work. Everyone needs a keychain. Take custom orders. Heck just make them and give them away as gifts. It's all made easy with the Scroll Saw Keychain Maker.
Watch the video demonstration then download the file below and get started with the fun.
