10 WOOD CARVING PROJECTS TO MAKE FOR CHRISTMAS
Handcarved Christmas, Updated 2nd Edition, $19.99
The Best of Woodcarving Illustrated Magazine
Giving a handcarved Christmas ornament, decoration, or gift is just as much fun as it is to make one! This newly updated compilation of beloved Christmas carving projects from the archives of Woodcarving Illustrated magazine includes 40 festive projects and patterns, including a storybook ornament, candy dish, folk art angel tree topper, Christmas stocking, earrings, nativity ornaments, plucky penguins, and so much more. And of course, there are several Santa projects as well!
The featured projects and patterns within these pages are from some of the carvingâs master artists and leading experts, including Floyd Rhadigan, Wayne Shinlever, Bob Hershey, Betty Padden, Lori Dickie, Sara Barraclough, and many others. Thereâs a project inside this best-of collection for everyone, from beginners to advanced
craftsmen, and with step-by-step instructions and color photos, readers are guaranteed a very merry carving experience!
Take a peek inside Handcarved Christmas, Updated 2nd Edition by The Best of Woodcarving Illustrated with these 10 wood carving project ideas below.
Handcarved Christmas, Updated 2nd Edition
 et ready for winter withâŻHandcarvedâŻChristmas!
– 40 holiday carving projects with a variety of skill levels
– Step-by-step instructions
– Ready-to-use patterns and festive project
– Contributions by today’s leading carving experts
What can you learn inside Handcarved Christmas
How to Use Wood Bleach
Santa with Cardinal by Vicki Bishop
In this charming caricature, Santa takes time out from his hectic schedule to visit with a feathered friend. You can carve several of the cardinals separately and use them as miniature ornaments for your Christmas tree or wreath. I decided to do this Santa in white and blue and add a splash of red with the bird. I really donât like to paint white because it always looks ceramic. The white canât be used as a wash because it looks dirty, so I have to mix it 50/50 with water. I use wood bleach to strip the color from the wood and then paint the sections with the color.
How to Carve Intaglio Style
Santa’s Collectors Plate by Robert Biermann
This carving is done in intaglio style, which is a type of relief carving. Traditional relief carving removes the wood around the subject so the subject protrudes from the wood. Intaglio carving lowers the subject, not the background. Start with a 12″ (30.1cm)-diameter flat beaded basswood plate. Photocopy the pattern and cut off the excess paper. Align the pattern so the grain runs across the design from side to side. Transfer the pattern to the plate with graphite paper and a stylus.
How to Create Pierced Relief
Old World Santa by Mark Gargac
This Old World Santa demonstrates two styles of carving. Traditional relief carving techniques create the face and hat, but pierced relief adds texture and interest to the beard. Creating negative space or pierced cuts in the beard adds dimension and lends a nice flow to the carving. Hollowing out the back of the ornament makes it lighter and easier to hang. The small size of the project cuts down on the investment of time and is a great way to build your confidence in creating realistic facial features before tackling more involved carvings. I suggest carving several ornaments and changing the expression or features on each.
How to Make an Adjustable Carving
Playful Chris-Moose By Cyndi Joslyn
Take a break from Santa with a humorous Christmas moose ornament. The individual parts are easy to carve and assembly is simple. Chris-Moose (Chris for short) will hang on just about anything. He is designed to hang out on the Christmas tree, but my family takes turns hanging Chris all around the house. Heâs been spotted clinging to a bed frame, a mirror, and even a cupboard door!
How to Add Texture with a Woodburner
Power Carved Dove by Hugh Parks
This dove ornament is an excellent way to practice texturing techniques. Because the ornament is essentially a relief carving, you can finish the project quickly. The carved dove makes a great gift or addition to your Christmas tree. This ornament evolved from the annual Christmas ornament exchange between members of the Woodcarving Illustrated message board. Compared to some of the wonderfully carved ornaments I received, I felt my ornaments were little more than trinkets. I designed and carved this dove ornament as something credible to exchange with my carving buddies.
How to Add Texture with a Woodburner
Passing Preflight Inspection by Sandy Smith
Excluding the base, Santa and Rudolph were carved from a single piece of basswood. The blank was larger than my band saw could safely handle, so I used hand tools to rough out the carving. After drawing the front and side views on the basswood, I realized there was no way to clamp or secure the carving on a vise without leaving gaping holes that would later need to be filled.
How to Use Mass-Production Techniques
These relief-carved ornaments require only simple cuts with little to no undercutting. You can customize the different designs by changing the hat color. Transfer the pattern to the 3/4″ (1cm)-thick basswood and cut the perimeter of the ornaments with a band saw or scroll saw. Drill 1/8″ (3mm)-dia. holes in the tops for the hanging strings. I remove the saw marks and add texture to the beard and mustache right away so I can tuck an ornament and knife in my bag to carve when I have spare time.
How to Weight a Carving
Whimsical Santa Stocking Holder by Shawn Cipa
This Santa angel is a charming way to display Christmas stockings. The base is hollowed
and weighted with steel shot, providing the stability needed to support a stocking stuffed with holiday cheer. Carve one for each member in your family and personalize them with different paint schemes. Line the Santas on your mantel for a festive holiday display. The Santa is carved from 2″ (5.1cm)-thick stock and combines elements of both in-the round and relief carving.
How to Use Mass-Production Techniques
Star by Jim Sebring
Dress up your Christmas tree with handcarved stars! The stars are ideal for highlighting garlands or wreaths and make perfect stocking stuffers. Carve the stars from a solid piece of basswood or butternut. To add interest, create laminated blanks by gluing together several thin pieces of colorful hardwood. The contrasting layers will be exposed as you carve the star.
Master the Art of Nordic-style Carving
Guided by noted carvers, Frank and Balder Egholm you'll master the art of one of the most historic and traditional carving styles. This online-only exclusive title is filled with rustic, yet functional projects from utensils to decorative and functional pieces that...
Easy Workshop Organization Projects
Making a Basic Caddy to Hold All Your Tools By Casey Foster Spring is upon us! There's no better time to clean out your workshop and implement new organization techniques to keep your work area looking tidy all year round. Below is a tool caddy project by Casey...
Beat the Winter Blues with Woodworking Projects
Personalize your toolbox - ideas to carve, paint, and decorate By Rev. Jim Paulson There's nothing like the challenge to stay motivated and inspired when the winter doldrums set in. Try these fun, easy woodworking projects to beat the winter blues! This project...
Creating a Custom Blade Cover
Ingenious leather sheath turns any blank into a blade cover By Roger Beane Like many carvers, I used to use plastic tubes to protect my knife blades. Then, I took a class on carving caricature faces and realized I could modify the faces to make custom blade covers. I...
Free Carving Project: Tiny Carved Gnomes
Complete this simple, customizable figure in one sittingâand then make a whole army of them! By David Young I love carving small figures. Itâs incredibly satisfying to complete a carving in one sitting, but carving small has another advantage as well: with a few cuts...
How to Carve a Ladybug Wheelie
Get in the summer spirit by making your own crimson critter with this whimsical whittling project and free wood carving pattern by Sara Barraclough.
Wood Carving For Beginners: Flat-Plane Bunny Project
Hop into whittling with this free wood carving pattern and project! Using the flat plane style of wood carving, you can create this creature in a matter of a few hours.
Chainsaw Carving Tips & Tricks
Author and chainsaw artist, Helmut Tschiderer, shares his quick fixes for chainsaw carving mistakes!
Wood Carving Pattern: Tiny Hippo
Practice carving animal caricatures with this amusing miniature! Sample this hippo step-by-step wood carving pattern from Steve Tomachek’s new book, Scrap Wood Whittling.
Wood Carving Pattern: Chip Carving Practice Board
Every carver should use a practice board for chip carving! Grab a scrap piece of wood and this free wood carving pattern to practice your chips.
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