Friday, January 25, 2019

Potpourri Box Scroll Saw Pattern.



Everyone loves the smell of potpourri. This little potpourri box will make a nice gift for almost any occasion. We have Valentine's day coming up. Give her this box with her favorite potpourri.


The most difficult part of this little box is sanding everything flush and rounding over all the edges.
I used a small round-over bit in my router table. If you do not have that option then some time spent hand sanding will be required. 

It difficult to see in the picture but the small finial on top has been sanded to a tapered point. If you leave it flat it looks odd.


I used three species of wood for the project for contrast. The body is cherry. The top and bottom are soft maple and the lid insert is walnut. Almost any wood will work for this project. The main body of the box does need to be thick so it holds enough potpourri. I used 1" thick cherry for the body. I would not want to go thinner than that. Glue up two boards if you need to.


I wanted to show the bottom to explain why I added the foot to the box. The foot raises the box off the table just enough to add a shadow line. This makes the box look lighter and almost as if it is levitating. This is a very common design element in furniture making. After I made the box I decided to use the technique because it looked bulky with out the foot. 



A comment about selling scroll saw projects: Short Ramble.

I receive many emails from people who want to earn extra money from their scroll saw hobby. A few even want to do it full time. I had an email today that I felt bad about how I thought I needed to answer the question. I felt like I was going to discourage the person but I wanted to give accurate feedback.

The email stated that they had been scrolling for a short time but felt pretty confident with their skill. 
The person had made many projects for family and friends that were well received. All was good up to this point.

Here is where the question came in. "Where can I buy the thin boards I need to make the products I want to sell?" He only had very limited tools. Other than his scroll saw he had no other major power tools. 

I always recommend that to be profitable you need to mill your own boards from rough lumber. This is not 100% true but very close. Unfortunately to mill your own boards you need a boatload of equipment. Table saw, planer, jointer, and band saw are all necessary to some degree to mill rough lumber. Yes I know there are hand tools for all these jobs but they require training, skill and for most people extra time.

I love to buy thin boards from online sellers but to be honest the cost is just too high after shipping to mass produce projects. They are great for hobby work but not so good for profit.

I still stand by my recommendation that milling your own boards is very important to being profitable but with a little creativity, you can get started without all those tools.

A good example is a scroller who sells animal puzzles. These are typically cut from inexpensive species of wood and are 3/4" thick. I know several scrollers who work the weekend farmers markets and other sites selling these puzzles. They can be profitable.

In closing my advice to the email question was to try to find projects where they could maximize profit with the tools and skills they currently have. If you absolutely have to have thin boards for a product then find ways to add value to the product so you can sell it for a profit.

How do you add value to a product? Let's say you have $10 worth of time and materials cost in a product. How much can you price that product to sell. That depends on the perceived value of the product. If the product is utilitarian(broom) you won't be able to mark it up much. If it's a very nice broom you may get away with 100% markup. 

If the same cost is associated with a pattern of a poodle and you are selling at a dog show you may be able to mark the price up 200%. The buyer is emotionally invested in the product and may be willing to take it home even if the price is a little higher. 

Look for projects that you can make with what you have available. Be creative in adding value to your products. Don't invest more than you can afford and realize that it can take many many shows before you know what will sell. 


$12 per sheet of 12 coins plus $3.50 shipping
Inlay with a 1" Forstner Bit.
The perfect way to sign your work.

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Products for your consideration:


Every Scrollsaw Workshop Pattern from 2007-2018 in DVD


Purchase the entire Scrollsaw Workshop pattern catalog for offline access.

This DVD has over 2,600 patterns published from 2007 thru 2018.
The DVD is $20 plus shipping. Ships to 60 countries around the world.
If you use the DVD on a Windows PC there is a simple viewer program to browse through the patterns.

The DVD also works fine on a MAC. The viewer program is not MAC compatible but there is an included PDF with all the patterns shown as thumbnails for easy viewing.


Scroll Saw Pattern Design Tutorial: DVD
Let me teach you to create a beautiful wooden portrait pattern. I will show you everything you need from start to finish. The video will show you the free software program you can download for Windows or Mac OS. I will show you how to install the program and configure it for best results. 
Then I will show you the technique to take your photograph and make a pattern from it. When the pattern is complete we will go in the shop and cut it.
The DVD is $10 plus shippingThis is a data DVD that you will use on your computer to watch the video tutorial  


Unique Wooden Vases:
Want to create beautiful wooden vases on the scroll saw?
My two "Wooden Vases on the Scroll Saw" books make it easy.

The books are $12 each and available for instant download after purchase. Click for Video Demonstration.


The Scrollsaw Workshop is primarily supported by donations. If you enjoy this Blog and would like to make a donation please click this Button. Your support is greatly appreciated. 
https://www.stevedgood.com/donate2.html

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This is the end of the daily posts. Keep scrolling for lot's more scrolls saw fun!






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Heritage Wood Specialties. Scroll saw ready boards!


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Seyco

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Seyco began business in 1986 with the goal to supply the best customer support and quality products in the scroll saw industry. I have worked with Seyco on many occasions and I can tell you they are simply the best. Please do yourself a favor and click the image above. Steve Good

Free Pattern Catalog. 1000's of free patterns.

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Thousands of FREE scroll saw patterns. No registration or signup required.

The projects form these patterns can be sold without restrictions. The patterns cannot be sold.

Click here for the Free Online Catalog.

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Wooden Vases on the Scroll Saw Book $12 Each

http://www.stevedgood.com/woodenvases.html
Each digital book is available for download immediately after payment.
The books are $12 per edition and contains eight unique patterns each.
Watch the following video to see how easy these beautiful scroll saw vases
are to make. 

Order the $3 pdf Catalog

This is a PDF of all the patterns in my free catalog. It is for Windows only and has a program to automatically download the pattern to your computer. Please watch the video below before you order. Click the picture to order.
http://www.stevedgood.com/swpd/swpdorderpage.html
You do not need a PayPal account to order. At the bottom of the PayPal page is a button that will allow you to pay with a credit card. After successful payment click the Return to Merchant button for the download.

Stencil Printer 1.7

Stencil Printer Instruction Video.

The Scrollsaw Workshop Stencil Printer 1.7 is my latest software for creating patterns. It will create key chain fobs, desk name plates and more. Click the image above to download the latest version. It is free to use donationware. This software is for Windows PC only.

Scroll Saw Pattern Printer update 1.1

Scroll Saw Pattern Printer update 1.1
Download the Free Scroll Saw Pattern Printer Version 1.1. Create name patterns in seconds. Windows PC only.
Download Version 1.1
Please consider a $5 donation for The Scroll Saw Pattern Printer v1.1.

Scroll Saw Keychain Pattern Maker

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.
The following link will start the download process. After the file download is complete just click the setup file and the program will be installed. Please consider a $5 donation for the program.

Download the Oval Keychain Pattern Maker.

Enjoy designing and printing these great personalized key chains. Give them as gifts, make them for fun or sell them at craft shows. It's easy, just watch the video demo then download and install the program. You will be designing these fun projects in minutes. Windows PC only.
Download the Free Oval Key Chain Pattern Maker. Create Oval key chain patterns in seconds.
Download Version .9a
Please consider a $5 donation for The Oval Key Chain Pattern Maker.

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The Lifter

Papa's Custom Patterns.

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Philip Lowndes Noah's Arc Pattern Available. Watch the video below.

This video is from Philip Lowndes. He is the designer of this beautiful Noah's Arc puzzle pattern. If you would like the pattern follow the link below.
Buy This Wonderful Heirloom Puzzle Pattern

Think Safety

Remember to keep the safety of yourself and others in your work shop in your thoughts at all times. Always wear eye and ear protection. Follow all the manufactures warnings that came with your power tools. If I demonstrate something on this web site that you don't feel is safe, don't do it. Your safety is your responsibility. Fingers are handy things, try to keep all of them.
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Disclaimer:
The Scrollsaw Workshop Blog is in no way affiliated with or sponsored by Scroll Saw Woodworking and Crafts Magazine formerly (Scroll Saw Workshop Magazine) or it's publisher Fox Chapel Publishing.

Scroll Saw Woodworking and Crafts