Scroll saw projects that make great gifts
Get ready for the most wonderful time of the year with our list of homemade woodworking gifts that will delight your family and friends! We pulled this gift list together from the the best of Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Magazine! Most of these gifts can be made in a weekend with the help of each tutorial. So fire up your scroll saw and put on some holiday tunes and take a peek and the ideas below.
> On the Banner: Christmas Tree Puzzle Box by Rita Cels, Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Magazine, Issue 85
10 Scroll Saw Gift Ideas
Block-Printed Tees
By the Staff at Scroll Saw Magazine
Make wearable, custom gifts for as little as $6 a pop! When you think of popular scroll sawn items, decorative word art might come to mind. But what about word art you can wear? We designed a handful of scroll saw patterns for just this purple – they’re fairly simple to cut, the stamping process can be repeated as many times as you’d like, making these tees a budget gifter’s dream! From scrolling your letters to stamping your tees, find the tutorial and patterns in the Spring 2021 Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Magazine!
Wine Holders
By Carole Rothman
Give your favorite vintage the royal treatment with this elegant and sturdy design! Made from sturdy maple, the holder consists of two curved supports and a base. The supports are easy to sand with a belt and spindle sanders, and the base can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like. The base uses glued-up strips of maple, bubinga, and black veneer to simulate a cutting board, but a single piece of contrasting hardwood, with an interesting grain or figure, would be an attractive alternative. Find this full tutorial and pattern in for the host or hostess in your life in the Winter 2021 Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Magazine!
Magnet Puzzle Box
By Levi Dojczman
Plywood layers are the key to this. “The inspiration for this project came one day as I stared at the selection of rare-earth magnets in a Lee Valley catalog. I sketched the idea as fast as I could and ran to the computer to order a bunch of magnets. I was so excited that I started and finished the box the day the magnets arrived, barely giving the glue enough time to dry. As you’ll see, it’s important to make the piece from Baltic birch plywood because the layers disguise secret “key” to opening the box.” Follow along step-by-step with Levi in the Summer 2014 Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Magazine.
Wildlife Cutting Boards
By Dayle and Jeff Taylor
Inlay your favorite animal into these functional hardwood cutting boards. “We have always shared a passion for wildlife; more recently we discovered woodworking. A few years ago, we combined the two to make a variety of wooden wildlife projects, including cutting boards. The idea took off and has become one of our best-selling products. We like to inlay our favorite animals on one side of the cutting boards and back them with a side solid for cutting. We also make custom cutting boards featuring motifs ranging from classic cars to a mouse and cheese.” Dayle and Jeff will walk you through the projects for making these host or hostess gifts in the Fall 2013 Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Magazine.
Stocking-Stuffer Bookmarks
By Jacob and Wayne Fowler
Stack-cut these simple designs as tiny gifts for everyone on your list. You can cut these bookmarks from any thin, flexible material. I settled on paper-backed birdseye maple veneer for the ones shown here, but I’ve also made them from thicker plastic, such as Mylar or Dura-Lar (both available from art supply stores). Follow the pattern with a material of your choice or leave the flap uncut for reusable gift tags. Get the pattern in Winter 2018 Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Magazine.
United States Wildlife Puzzle
By Brian and Alexis Beals
This two-in-one design features an animal puzzle underneath a puzzle of the United States. The animal puzzle includes 50 animals native to the country, with an oversized bald eagle in the center. There are multiple solutions for the placement of the animals, but only one solution for the states, of course. The Great Lakes were a challenge, so we decided to include them as a permanent part of the frame. Get the pattern and Brian and Alexis’ expert scrolling tips in the 2014 Holiday Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Magazine.
Intarsia Rose Frame
By Kathy Wise
Embellish this quick and easy frame with stunning hardwood flowers. Special occasions demand special gifts. This rose frame makes an elegant wedding gift and is perfect for displaying portraits without overpowering them. The base frame is made of gently curved sections and eliminates the need for mitered cuts or difficult joints. Beginners can eliminate the intarsia roses and use figured wood to create a stylish contemporary frame. The rose embellishment requires minimal cutting and shaping and adds a romantic touch, giving the frame a more traditional feel. The spacer is open on top, so you can easily slide a photo in place. Visit Kathy’s workshop as you cut intarsia with her in this tutorial in the 2009 Spring Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Magazine.
CUSTOM CHALKBOARDS
By L. Kim Braa
Chalkboards are fun projects that are easy to customize. You can use virtually any silhouette to complement a kitchen, a kid’s bedroom, or an office. Use the chef
design or a teapot to keep family members informed of tonight’s menu selection. Create a chalkboard in the shape of a company logo, a school mascot, or the family pet. The simple apple design is a perfect way to get familiar with the technique, and it makes a great gift for that special teacher. You can also make the chalkboard from thin
plywood and add magnets to the back for a fun and useful locker accessory. Patterns and the step-by-step apple scroll saw project can be found in the Fall 2011 Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Magazine.
Farmyard Play Set
By Fred and Julie Byrne
Choose the level of effort with this versatile farmyard set. The animals are easy to make and suitable for scrollers of any skill level. More advanced woodworkers will find the construction of the buildings a rewarding addition to the project. The farm makes a fantastic gift that is sure to be passed down through generations. Create the main barn and a few animals as an initial gift and add the pig pen and chicken coop later. The lucky recipient is sure to let you know if they need additional horses or fence sections. From a barn to the animals, you can make a whole barnyard set with Fred and Julie’s tutorial in the Spring 2010 Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Magazine.
Earrings out of scraps
By Richie & Larkin Newberry
Use hardwood scraps to make easy, inexpensive gifts. Using designs inspired by antique ironwork and
made from wood scraps, we have created beautiful,
lightweight, and inexpensive earrings to expand any jewelry collection. Our designs are fairly bold; feel free to reduce the pattern sizes to make smaller earrings, if you prefer. You can even create colorful earrings by staining
the wood before you cut the frets. Find Richie and Larkin’s earring project in the 2017 Winter Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Magazine.
Hardwood Baby Teethers
By Tim Gilman
Use maple to make durable, nontoxic baby toys. Making toys for your children, grandchildren, or friends’ children is one of the most rewarding woodworking projects. These patterns were designed for our two children as an alternative to commercially available plastic teethers. We use maple, which is hard and naturally inert, and do not apply any finish, making these teethers 100 percent chemical free. Maple this thickness can be put in the refrigerator or freezer and, when removed, it stays cold for a long time to soothe a baby’s gums. When the kids are done putting things in their mouths, get out paint or markers and let them be creative by adding color to these toys. These darling patterns can be found in the Winter/Spring 2016 Scroll Saw Magazine.
Catapult castle
By Bob Gilsdorf
Lay siege to the castle by breaking down the portcullis, but keep a wary eye for the king and his men, who an catapult the boulder (aka, Ping-Pong™ ball) back at you! Defend yourself with a homemade shield and sword, or catch the ball and fire it back into the castle. The castle is powered
by a simple, rubber band powered mechanism that’s easy to build but relatively durable. Kids will enjoy helping to build and paint this toy. Defend your castle with Bob’s project in the Fall 2017 Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Magazine.
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