Caution: Only use electric tea light candles.
All the wood parts are cut from 1/8" thick Baltic birch plywood. The top handle is a coat hanger cut and bent to shape. I started to make the handle from plywood also but it was too fragile. The coat hanger has some spring to it making it easy to put the ends into the holes.
The top is not glued on. You remove the top to insert the tea light. The small hole in the bottom is there so you can use your finger to center the tealight. The hole is optional.
This project only weighs 1.8oz so it might make an interesting Christmas ornament. I would change the handle shape and replace the window with a holiday-themed pattern. I might even be able to make this one of these years personalized ornament patterns.
This pattern is much easier to cut if you use stack cutting. You might also be better off using a reverse tooth #3 blade.
Notice the beautiful light pattern the candle is shining on the wall in the photo below.
Anji Long Discusses tip for beginners on Etsy.com
I am not endorsing Anji. I do not know her. I do think the video has valuable information.
Read this before you watch the video.
I receive a lot of email questions about selling crafts on Etsy.com. If you are not familiar with Etsy. it is an online market place for selling crafts and more. I know a bit about Etsy but am no expert by any stretch. I started looking for a good source of information that I could point folks to and I found Anji's YouTube channel.
Warning: While I like the information she includes in her videos, she also tries to sell a marketing product at the end of her videos. I know nothing about the product she sells so will leave it up to you if you want to watch the last few minutes. Here Etsy product is not a marketing product so I suspect she uses affiliate links to make extra cash. That's not a bad thing but something you should know.
Selling online crafts is very difficult. In this time of chaos around the world, many of us need an alternative way to make extra money. Etsy is potentially a way to make a few dollars but you need to know that it is a lot of work. Etsy is like so many other opportunities. It takes knowledge and hard work to be successful. It also requires a product that someone wants to buy.
In this video, Anji does a good job of laying out the groundwork of the financials of Etsy. She discusses fees and expenses. She discusses Etsy advertising costs. She breaks down her personal gross income and net income. She also has several other videos on her channel about Etsy selling but I have not watched enough of them to say how valuable they are.
Now my two cents. You need all the basic information about selling online but you also need to find a product that will sell. That can take time and research to find your niche. Jewelry is the number one product sold on Etsy. That means your jewelry better be outstanding and unique if you want to draw eyeballs to your merchandise.
If you try to get too unique, think, voodoo dolls, then you might not find many customers. You have to make a product that is unique and easy to produce at a price where you can make a decent profit.
From my personal experience, it is not good to list dozens of different products that don't have a similar theme. If you make a bunch of random scroll saw projects and list them it does not give the potential customer a sense that you are an experienced craftsman. Find a niche. Think about a theme. If Christmas is your theme then keep all of your products Christmas projects.
Many of us may never be able to sell at craft shows again. The risk may just be too high for us to take the chance. It is common to make no profit from craft shows for the first several shows. You have to learn the ropes. Will you take the chance if this virus is still floating around? Tough question. Etsy may be an alternative if you won't have the opportunity to sell in person. Just make absolutely sure you understand the financials. Many craftsmen have lost money and never realized it happened. Count every expense.
$12 per sheet of 12 coins plus $3.50 shipping
Inlay with a 1" Forstner Bit.
The perfect way to sign your work.
Email Newsletter Readers: Remember that the Newsletter is just a copy of the daily blog post. To see the post in its proper formatting click this link. If you ever misplace a pattern or any item you see here you can always find it on the blog. Everything stays on the blog forever.
Products for your consideration:
Every Scrollsaw Workshop Pattern from 2007-2019 on DVD
This DVD has over 2,900 patterns published from 2007 thru 2019.
The DVD is $20 plus shipping. Ships to 60 countries around the world.
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.
All the same file but in an easy to use thumb drive. The USB thumb drive option is $23 plus shipping.
Now Available on USB Thumb Drive
Don't have a DVD drive on your new computer. No problem. Buy the catalog on a USB thumb drive.All the same file but in an easy to use thumb drive. The USB thumb drive option is $23 plus shipping.
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.
My Sponsors:
Support the businesses that support our community.
Home of Pegas scroll saw blades.
Ad: Affiliate
Scroll Saw Chuck Heads by Pegas - Improve your Saw!
The Pegas chuck head kits are available for many different scroll saw. Pegas, Excalibur, Jet, Delta, DeWalt, and Seyco. I think these clamps are a good investment if your current clamps are worn out.
Upgrade your Scroll Saw with Pegas Blade Chuck Heads - 40% lighter, Less Vibration.
These new “Blade Chuck Heads” (also known as Blade Clamps) were developed in Switzerland by Pégas in association with the HEIG engineering school in Yverdon. The studies and the tests demonstrated that the weight of these heads is in direct relation with the service life and the vibrations of the machine.
1) These new heads, manufactured with aeronautical aluminum for resilience and optimal weight, are 40 % lighter than you original Heads.
2) Vibration will be greatly reduced
3) Changing Blades is easier and faster
4) Better protection of the mechanical parts of the scroll saw.
As you can see, they are clearly more compact than original heads and even easier of use. The assembly of these new Heads is very simple and takes only a few minutes.