Handmade Holidays | 25 Days of Crafts: Day 24

If you have an artistic streak, this craft may be a good challenge for you. With a scrap piece of wood and a simple pocketknife, you can create these wooden ornaments. George Pulliam of Papillion submitted this craft project, saying he has probably made hundreds of the Santa ornaments over the years.

CARVED SANTA ORNAMENT

Supplies:

1-by-1-by-4-inch block of scrap wood

Acrylic paints (white, black, red, flesh)

Medium-toned wood stain

Small screw eye

Small piece of ribbon for hanger

Directions:

Note: Work in stages between the hat, face, nose, etc., to make sure everything is symmetrical, and keep carving downward as you work.

1. With a pencil, make a mark about ¾ inch up from the bottom. At a slight angle, make the line go around the wood and meet at the other side. Mark a parallel line about ¼ inch down from the line. This will be the hat brim. Make small “V” cuts on both sides of the hat brim to define it and start rounding out the hat. Mark a circle halfway down on the side of the hat, and mark lines on each side of the circle to the top of the hat. Make cuts around the circle and trim the hat down to make the tassel stand out. Make small “V” cuts up from the tassel to the top of the hat. This makes the hat look like it's folded over.

2. About ¼ inch from the hat brim and on a corner of the wood, mark a line straight across for the eyes. Make the line go to two sides of the wood. This will allow you to use the corner for the nose layout. Make a smaller line ¼ inch down from the eye line to define the bottom of the nose. Draw in the outline of the mustache below this. Make a cut in from both sides of the nose line to the eye line and make a triangular cut to pull the eyes down and bring the nose out.

3. Make cuts along the mustache line and at the bottom of the nose. Halfway up the nose, trim in and down to the mustache to define the cheeks. Cut a small triangle under the mustache to define the mouth, if desired.

4. Define the hairline on each side of the face with a pencil and mark a spiral around the wood, working to the bottom of the piece. With a knife, trim down the face to make the hairline stand out and make “V” cuts to make the beard look like it's falling in a spiral.

5. Install screw eye to the top of the hat and paint. When dry, dip in wood stain and hang to dry. This will dull the white paint and give it an antique look.

Difficulty: 4

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