Sherwood Creations

1947 Roarin' Rocker

2011-06-09T09:17:00.000-07:00

A great heirloom to build for your Child or Grandchild. Easy to follow pattern.

This is hog heaven for every rider who has kids! Our exclusive, easy-to-follow pattern features simple tracing, and assembly guides. The wheels really spin, the handle bars turn left and right, and the whole thing rocks back and forth! We guarantee a roarin' good time for all! 29"H x 50”L x 16"D. Parts Req’d: Dowel (2) W-190.

Item# 1947 $16.95

Interested in purchasing this woodcraft pattern? Click here!

NEW TOOLBAR!

2010-09-07T08:15:00.000-07:00

Try our NEW TOOLBAR!

• It's never been easier to find us on the web!
Install our NEW easy to use TOOLBAR.
Click here for details!

Install it today!

It's safe, it'a easy and I'm sure you'll love it as much as we do.

Halloween's Little Treaters

2010-08-30T12:20:00.001-07:00

On it's way to becoming a very popular pattern!

NEW in Catalog #161

Little Treaters
Decorate your yard this year with these whimsical characters. They’re sure to be a smash hit this Halloween! Approx. 24" Tall.3 Designs!
#2384 $12.95

Interested in purchasing this pattern? Click here!

Relaxing Skeleton Pattern

2010-08-30T11:47:00.000-07:00

Relaxing Skeleton Pattern
This skeleton is sure to be the talk of your town relaxing up against a tree with your favorite beverage this holiday season. (Beverage can not included.) Just tranfer the lines, cut it out, paint it black and attach your favorite canned beverage. 37" tall x 45" wide.
Pattern #2323 $10.95

Interested in purchasing this pattern? Click here!

Blood Drive Mobile Set

2010-08-30T09:22:00.000-07:00

Halloween is fast approaching and we have got an exciting project for you...

NEW for catalog #161

Blood Drive Mobile Set
Vampires and the Red Cross; two things that should never be combined except during Halloween. 41"H x 54"W
Pattern #2395-S $19.95

Interested in purchasing this pattern set? Click here!

Also sold seperately!

Interested in purchasing the above pattern seperately? Click here!

Interested in purchasing the above pattern seperately? Click here!

Sports Table

2010-08-30T08:18:00.000-07:00

NEW for Catalog #161

Sports Table
Think how great this would look in your little athlete’s room. Great for displaying photo’s, achievements and trophies! 36"H x 30"W x 30"D
Item# 2380 $14.95

Interested in purchasing this pattern? Click here!

Monitor Stand Pattern

2010-08-30T07:11:00.000-07:00

New for catalog #161!

Monitor Stand & Organizer
Raise your monitor to new levels and relieve some of that nagging back and neck pain. Keep organized with the convenient storage areas to store paper, envelopes, pens, paperclips and more. 5-3/4"H x 19" x 13"D.
Pattern #2385 $12.95

Interested in purchasing this pattern? Click here!

NEW Animal Crossing Patterns!

2010-08-27T09:34:00.000-07:00

Pattern #2388

Check this out! Everyone knows a place where animals cross a lot.
Could be a back road, main street or even your own driveway.

Pattern #2389

We all know just how dangerous it can be when an animal decides at the last moment to cross in front of our vehicles. You know the place, now you make the sign.

Pattern #2394

We've made if simple for you. Just select the common animal that is crossing, order the pattern, trace it on the wood, cut it out, paint it and place it. If one accident can be avoided it will be well worth the efforts. They make great conversation pieces as well. The Turtle Xing looks great on walking trails next to ponds. Deer Crossings next to bike or snowmobile trails are always fun as well.

Pattern #2387

Have some fun with them. We are sure to add to this collection of xing signs in future catalogs. If you have any suggestions please don't hesitate to drop us an email.

Catalog #161

2010-08-24T12:40:00.000-07:00

Sherwood Creations Catalog #161 has shipped to the public.

If you don't receive one by September 12th (U.S.)
or September 31 (Canada) please contact us
and we will be happy to ship another or add you to our list.

In the mean time please enjoy viewing our online version.

Everything is also available at our online store http://www.sherwoodonline.com/

Catalog #161 Coming Soon!

2010-07-23T11:56:00.001-07:00

FALL/WINTER CATALOG #161

Look for NEW PATTERNS for the HOLIDAYS,

YARD ART and HOUSE HOLD ITEMS.

Coming to your mailbox soon!

$5.00 OFF COUPON

2010-06-07T13:20:00.000-07:00

Sorry offer has expired, look for a NEW offer soon!

Just for visiting our NEW BLOG we would like you to receive $5.00 off your *next order. But you must HURRY! Offer expires June 27, 2010 Just enter Offer Code OF87BL in the item field and again in the comment section when you order online, or mention OF87BL when you call in your order. Or, if you like, you can always click on the image above, print it out and send it in with your order as well. *You must spend $45 or more to qualify for this discount, excluding shipping and handling. Sorry only one offer per order.

Visit our website:http://www.sherwoodonline.com/
and Happy Woodcrafting!

Show Your Patriotism!

2010-05-26T08:49:00.000-07:00

The Fourth of July holiday is almost upon us and I bet you are wondering what you can do to spruce up your yard to get it ready for this up lifting and highly celebrated holiday. Something more than making sure the grass is cut and the flowers are weeded; something more than raising the American flag. Something to show your friends, neighbors, and passerby’s that you are proud to be an American. Possibly something to show our veterans that you support them in all their efforts in everything they do. We have a few suggestions that you can make and display proudly. Click here, and thanks in advance for looking.

FREE SHIPPING OFFER!

2010-05-25T06:47:00.000-07:00

SORRY OFFER HAS EXPIRED....

Just for visiting our NEW BLOG we would like you offer FREE SHIPPING! on your next order. But you must HURRY! Offer expires JUNE 6, 2010
Just enter Offer Code OF93BL in the item field and again in the comment section when you order online, or mention OF93BL when you call in your order. Or, if you like, you can always click on the image above, print it out and send it in with your order as well. You must spend $45 or more in merchandice to qualify for the discount. Sorry only one offer per order. (Free shipping to continental US only.)

Visit our website:http://www.sherwoodonline.com/
and Happy Woodcrafting!

Follow Us On Twitter

2010-05-17T12:07:00.000-07:00

Sherwood Creations has now joined the ranks of many.
You can now "Follow" us on TWITTER. Click Here.

Special Discount! Sorry Expired!

2010-05-11T08:13:00.000-07:00

Sorry offer has expired....

Just for visiting our NEW BLOG we would like you offer a 15% discount on your next order. But you must HURRY! Offer expires May 23, 2010
Just enter Offer Code OF53BL in the item field and again in the comment section when you order online, or mention OF53BL when you call in your order. Or, if you like, you can always click on the image above, print it out and send it in with your order as well. You must spend $45 or more to qualify for the discount, excluding shipping and handling.

Visit our website:www.sherwoodonline.com
and Happy Woodcrafting!

Making Wooden Fishing Lures Book

2010-05-10T10:09:00.000-07:00

Carving and Painting Techniques that really Catch Fish!
By Rich Rousseau

Learning how to make your own finishing lures is as fun and easy as…well…learning to fish! With the fish-tested designs from award-winning carver and fishing enthusiast Rich Rousseau, you’ll quickly learn to create a variety of fresh and saltwater lures that really catch fish.

You’ll not only discover the difference between surface, floating/diving, and sinking lures, but you’ll also learn how to carve and paint them so they outwit even the smartest fish.

With 11 step-by-step projects for handcrafting lures from start to finish, 13 bonus patterns and additional information on hardware, hooks and more, this book is a great catch!

176 pages of full color step-by-step images

and diagrams to ensure great success!
6” x 9” quality paperback

ITEM #B-630 $19.95

To buy a copy for yourself or as a gift Click Here.

Child's Chair/Step Stool Pattern

2010-04-22T08:53:00.000-07:00

Child's Chair/Step Stool
Kids will enjoy their independance as they learn that they can do things for themselves with the help of this handy flip Chair/Step Stool. One second it's a chair just their size and with a flip of the wrist it turns into a very useful step stool. Sure to become one of the most useful items as your child learns and explores a whole new world of being 8 inches taller. Strong enough to support an adult as well and would come in handy for those hard to reach shelves. This item can easily be made with just a 1X12 x 48" long pine board and the help from our easy to follow full-size pattern. 14"H x 14"W x 11"D. PATTERN #2303 $14.95
Interested in purchasing this pattern? Click Here!

Scroll Saw Sanding Belts Article

2010-04-20T08:22:00.000-07:00

Scroll Saw Sanding Belts easily smooth the edges of scroll saw projects in wood, plastic, metal and composites. These durable, fabric backed belts have molded polycarbonate ends for attaching to most scroll saws that take 5" blades. ScrollSander belts rapidly remove bumps, burns and feathering, and correct wondering from a cutting line.

They also work great on curves, concave and convex edges and can reach into intersections.

ScrollSander Belts come with pin and plain ends in 1/4” and 1/2” widths in a choice of 80, 120, 180, and 220 grits. Mount ScrollSander Belts as easily as a blade. Remount with opposite side up to extend the life of ScrollSander.

For more information on the ScrollSander Belts and more. Click Here!

Other Scroll Saw Sanders available at Sherwood below...

Scroll Saw Sanders. Convert your scroll saw into a power sander. Files shape and sand complex contours and forms easily eliminating the need for tedious hand sanding. The silicon carbide abrasive is aggressive enough to cut as well as sand in most materials.

Scroll Saw Sanders. The last one you will ever buy! Made from Tungsten Carbide, second only to Diamonds in hardness! Sharpest and longest lasting ever! Welded to steel so it will never tear loose! Cuts and sands at the same time! 80 Grit.

Mascot Patterns (article)

2010-04-16T09:06:00.000-07:00

School and/or Team Mascots!

Have a little school spirit and show your school or teams colors by making and painting your favorite teams or schools mascot. Display it proudly in you yard, home or even at your school.

Show your child or grandchild that you want to be involved and are proud of the school that he or she attends. Get your kids involved in making the mascot themselves. They are so easy to make and with our patterns the painting process is as simple as paint by number paint set. So easy that anyone can do it, and the results will simply astound you.

These beautiful mascots can be displayed practically anywhere; home, yard, office or on the side of a barn, or shed. Fasten it to the fence or wall at the ballpark, school hallway or gymnasium. Use them as signs for fundraising events or attach them to an existing sign advertising your weekly events, games or assemblies. Just imagine how great these would look on the playing field as the marching band marches by or on the side lines amongst the cheerleaders as game takes place. They would even look pretty awesome fastened to your homecoming float in the parade.

As you can see there are countless locations and countless ways you can display and support your favorite team or school and with so many of them available there is sure to be one for you. If not we seem to add to this collection just about every catalog. If you don’t see the one you are looking maybe we will have it soon or feel free to call us (800) 843-2571 and suggest one. As always you can always email us as well: mailto:cutomerservice@sherwoodonline.com. Sorry we are unable to copy licensed logos and/or copyrighted art.

For more information
on any of these
mascots shown
and more
Click Here!

Animal Banks Patterns (article)

2010-04-15T13:16:00.000-07:00

Fun to make and kids/grandkids really love using them.

What do you do with all that scrap wood you have left over in the workshop or garage? Do you just toss it? Burn it? Or, do you put it to good use on smaller projects? If I were you, I certainly would try and find some good use for it, or you’re just throwing your hard earn money away. I would much rather toss my change in one of these great looking, useful and educational banks, than to see it go up in flames in wasted wood.

Not only will the kids learn the species of some animals,your child or grandchild will also learn the value of saving money in a rather fun way.

As you can see we have several banks to choose from and we seem to add more and more to each catalog. They are very popular and a lot of fun to make. So what are you waiting for? We also have the “kits” available for the banks which include the 2 clear acrylic sides and the plastic stopper for the bottom for emptying the bank when it gets full.

These projects are certainly a great way of using up all those small scrap pieces of lumber that keep cluttering up your workshop and you just hate to through away. They also make fantastic gifts!

For more information on these
adorable banks
and more
Click Here!

Carving Faces in Hiking Sticks

2010-04-15T10:27:00.000-07:00

How to Carve a Woodspirit in a
Hiking Stick
Learn step-by-step techniques for carving a face in the wood. Hiking sticks and woodspirits are a natural combination.

Paperback format
46 pages
Item #B-605 $9.95
Click Here!

How to Carve Faces in Driftwood

2010-04-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

Start with a sketch, end with a carving!
144 detailed black and white photos and drawings help illustrate how to carve Indian, spirits, wizardry and every day folk in old weathered wood. The step-by-step photography insures easy success as it guides you through the each process of creating your very own work of art. Detailed instructions accompany each photo.
Paperback format, 53 pages
Item #B-603 $8.95 Click Here!

Zany Wooden Toys Book

2010-04-14T06:20:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you combine a creative mind, the spark of ingenuity, a pinch of engineering, and the fun of woodworking?

You get 28 of the coolest, easy-to-make, wooden action toys that will keep you entertained for hours and hours.

With these top-secret plans from Toy Inventors Workshop, you’ll whiz a marble at warp-speed, spin a nickel until it’s dizzy, pop a gumball in the air, and fly a tissue to your sneezing friend. The best part is they can all be easily made using this simple-to-follow guide that includes detailed patterns, step-by-step instructions and good o’ engineering know-how.

Zany Wooden Toys Book
28 Projects that Whiz, Spin, Pop, and Fly that you can build, from the Toy Inventor's Workshop. 224 pages.
Item #B-626 $19.95
Click Here

Great Book of WOODEN TOYS Book

2010-04-13T09:14:00.000-07:00

Build hours of fun for Generations to Come with
These Classic Wooden Toys

In today’s era of mass production and plastic, there may as well be no other wood working projects as rewarding to build as a wooden toy. A wooden toy gets back to the basics of handmade craftsmanship, natural and safe materials, and, best of all, good old-fashion fun. Wooden toys are fun to build, fun to give and fun to play with – especially the more than 50 ingenious designs in Great book of Wooden Toys.

From powerful bull dozer to a pioneer-inspired paddleboat Great Book of Wooden Toys includes 37 three-dimensional toys any child will love, along with 16 “pull-along” classics that are perfect for toddlers. Each project includes complete step-by-step instructions, exploded diagrams, and color photographs of each finished toy from every angle showing exactly how they fit together.

Great Book of Wooden Toys
More than 50 easy to build projects awaiting to be made! 212 pages.
Item #B-629 $19.95 Click Here

Kid Crafts, Woodworking Book

2010-04-13T08:21:00.000-07:00

Take Pride in Saying, “I Made That!”
Building wooden things with your hands is easy and lots of fun. All it takes is a “can-do” attitude, the right tools, a little bit of practice – and the skills you’ll learn with this book! With clear plans, step-by-step photographs, and easy-to-follow instructions especially designed for kids, you’ll be amazed how simple and exciting it is to hammer a nail, drill holes, and cut wood as you build 21 great projects. You’ll also learn how to work safely, how to pick the right wood for your projects, and how to use hand-tools with confidence!

Before you know it, you’ll be building all kinds of cool projects to use in your room and around the house, including:

• Lightning Race Car
• Rubber Band Gun
• Catapult
• Exploding Marble Target
• Bluebird birdhouse
• Adjustable Stilts
• Balloon Racer and more!

Kid Crafts Woodworking Book
100 pages filled with colorful photos and instructions on how to build over 20 projects designed for kids. They’ll learn about wood, stain, tools and safety around the workshop as well as the basic skills to become woodworker. Item #B-625 $12.95 CLICK HERE!

Pumpkin Carving Book

2010-04-12T11:37:00.000-07:00

You'll never run out of creative ways to carve your pumpkins when Halloween rolls around. Some are frightful: are fanciful. What a wicked grin Spike has-his big teeth are positively eerie! And you can hear the "Grrr" coming from the gaping mouth of Goblin Growl. Whether you transform a pumpkin into a creepy cauldron or a goofy Gremlin, you're guaranteed to make Halloween magic.

Pumpkin Carving Book
Unique book filled with colorful pictures and 42 designs. 96 pages
Item #B-589 $6.95
While Supplies Last! (Very Limited)
Interested in purchasing this book? Click here!

3D SKUNKS PATTERN

2010-04-12T08:24:00.000-07:00

3D SKUNKS PATTERN
What is cuter then a family of skunks parading across your front lawn or in your garden?, and without the odor too! Make from scrap lumber;1-1/2" and 3/4" thick pieces. Tallest is 18" tall. Parts Req’d: Eyes (2) E-515, (6) E-509 4 Designs!
PATTERN #2051 $11.95
Interested in purchasing this pattern? Click here!

NEW! 3D Frog Pattern

2010-04-12T07:28:00.000-07:00

3D FROG PATTERN
Sure to raise a few eyebrows in your flower garden.
9"H x 18-1/2"W. Parts Req’d: Eyes (2) P-123, $.95/each
PATTERN #2371 $12.95
Interested in purchasing this pattern? Click here!

NEW! Turtle Planter Pattern

2010-04-09T12:35:00.000-07:00

LANDSCAPE TIMBER TURTLE PLANTER PATTERN
Spring is upon us and it's time to plant the flowers.
Who can resist wanting to build this adorable planter for your yard or patio?
10-1/2"T x 18-1/2"W x 30-1/2"L
PATTERN #2344 $11.95
Interested in purchasing this pattern? Click here!

Animal Puzzles for the Scroll Saw

2010-04-09T07:34:00.000-07:00

Create Fascinating Puzzles of Your Furry and Feathered Friends

From kittens to koalas, bulldogs to bears, penguins to pigs. Scroll saw puzzle artist Judy and Dave Peterson’s latest book, Animals Puzzles for the Scroll Saw, is for any woodworker looking for the very best puzzle patterns. The Petersons’ unique form of interlocking, upright puzzles is perfect for this menagerie or creatures both great and small.

Inside you’ll find:

• Revised and expanded to include 20 fresh, new animal puzzles!
• Tips & techniques for successfully selecting wood, using the proper tools, and mastering the critical steps of sanding and finishing.
• Easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions for cutting Mama Rabbit with Babies Puzzle.
• Expert guidance on adapting a pattern and designing you puzzle from a photograph.
• Advise on designing facial expressions to give personality to your puzzles.
• 50 well-designed, ready-to-cut puzzle patterns depicting pets, zoo animals, farm animals and American wildlife.
• A Noah’s Ark landscape puzzle that can be easily displayed using a backer board and stands.

Second edition. NEWLY revised and expanded version. 123 pages with 50 ready-to-cut interlocking puzzle patterns. Item #B-609....$17.95 Click Here!

Birdhouse You Can Build In A Day

2010-04-08T12:29:00.001-07:00

BUILD A FINE HOME FOR YOUR FEATHERED FRIENDS!

"OVER 50 PROJECTS!"

Birds of a feather will be flocking to your backyard to live in the beautiful house and dine in the unique feeders you can build in just a few short hours. This book is chock-full of more than 50 simple projects for bird, butterfly and bat houses designed by the export editors of Popular Woodworking books. All you need is basic woodworking skills, tools, project materials and your imagination!

Each design is guaranteed to attract specific birds in nearly every region, including Australia, Europe, and the United States. Build a cottage for chickadees, nesting shelves and boxes for robins and mourning doves, basic bluebird houses – even a finch castle! Step-by-step color photos and easy-to-follow instructions will guide you along the way.

Why spend your money on a ready-made birdhouse or feeder that looks like all the rest? In one afternoon, you can build a unique bird retreat that will soon turn your backyard into a birdwatcher’s paradise!

128 page book.
ITEM #B-613 $24.95

If you are interested in obtaining a copy of this book for yourself or as a gift for someone else, or just for more information
Click Here, or visit www.sherwoodonline.com

Classic Picnic Table

2010-04-08T06:22:00.000-07:00

Picnic tables are a staple of good times all over the country. It seems like most of the time you have a get-together, whether at a park or at your home, a picnic table is always involved. Picnic tables have become a symbol for a good time. You can’t help but feel good when you sit down at a picnic table with your friends or family, look out across the lawn, park or lake, and life seems to slow down for a little while.

There are a lot of picnic table designs. You can use 2 x 4’s, logs, landscape timber, metal frames, all wooden, and so on. They can be really long and narrow (easy to tip over), short and fat, octagon-shaped, etc. For this article, we will focus on the all-wooden, classic eight-foot picnic table.

For this project, you will need 3 - 2 x 4’s, 14 - 2 x 6’s, 20 – 3/8” x 3¼” Galvanized Steel Carriage Bolts, 88 - 3/8” Galvanized Steel Washers, 20 – 3/8” Galvanized Steel Acorn Nuts, 16 – 3/8” x 2½“ Lag Screws, 36 – 3/8” x 4” Galvanized Steel Lag Screws, 8 - #8 x 2¼“ Galvanized Steel Drywall Screws, 16 – 3/8” x 6” Galvanized Steel Lag Screws, 1 small can of Wood Putty (if needed), 1 - 2-pint can of Exterior Paint, Stain, and/or Clear Finish.

Now that you have all of the materials, let’s start cutting all of the pieces you will need. Be sure to mark each board with the names that I will give you for each, as we will be referencing them later in the article for assembly. Using 2 of the 2 x 6’s, cut out the 4 legs, at 32-15/16” long, and cut the ends at 70 ° angles. Also, out of one of these 2 x 6’s, cut 2 joining ties at 11-3/16” long. Out of 2 more 2 x 6’s, cut 2 support joists at 66” long. Using 1 of the 2 x 4’s, cut 2 braces at 42-3/8” long, and cut the ends at 60 ° angles. Using 2 of the 2 x 6’s, cut 3 rails at 34-1/4” long. The seat and top 2 x 6’s will be used at full length. Sand all boards smooth.

Let’s begin the construction. Position a joist on two legs so that the joist is centered and the tops of the legs are straight. Drill two 3/8” dia. holes through each of the legs. Insert a 3/8” x 3¼“ carriage bolt through from the outside face, and put a washer and acorn nut on the end, and tighten. Do the same to build the other leg assembly.

Take 2 seat boards, even up the ends, and create a ¼” gap between them. Place one of the joining ties in the middle of these 2 boards. The ends of the ties should be even with both of the outside, long edges of the seat boards. Screw in four 3/8” x 2½“ lag screws, using a washer, into each seat board. Do the same to build the second seat.

Now on to the table top. Take 6 table top boards and place the good side down. Place the rails on top of them, with one in the middle, and the other two 6 inches from each end. The rails will run across the table top boards and will be what the table top sits on. Lay the braces on their sides, one on each side of the middle rail. Make sure the “flats” of each end are butt up to the middle rail and the end rail. This will help ensure proper placement of the rails. Move the table top boards to create ¼” gaps between them, while making them flush with the ends of the rails. You will need to drill holes for the 3/8” x 4” lag screws to go through the rails and into the table top boards. Using a 25/64” dia. drill bit, drill down through the top of the rails. You will need to evenly space 2 drill holes inside each of the table top boards, so each rail will require 12 drill holes (2 per board) and 12 washers. Do not drill into the table top boards. After you have drilled each hole, counter bore a 1” dia. hole into each of these previously-drilled holes (using a forstner bit), and go ¼” deep. This will allow the lag screw head to be recessed into the underside of the rail. Now just screw in each lag screw (using a washer) through the rail and into the table top boards. Do this for all three rails. When you are done with this step, you will have a complete and solid table top.

Let’s add the legs. Position one of the leg assemblies on the outside of one of the outside rails, so that the joist is on the inside. Clamp the assembly into position. Drill two 25/64” holes through each of the legs and the rail. Insert four 3/8” x 3¼“ carriage bolts through from the outside, using a washer and acorn nut, and tighten. Do this for both leg assemblies.

The braces should still be laying on their sides, spaced between the 3 rails. Rotate them so that one end rests on the center rail, and the other end is against the joist. If your angles were cut right, the ends should rest flush against the other boards. Make sure that the legs are square with the top and that the braces are not pushing out the legs. If they are a little long, trim the braces to fit correctly. The braces should be offset from each other at the center rail, so that you can screw in the 8 drywall screws, through the center rail, to secure the braces and the leg assembly. So screw in 2 drywall screws through the joists and into the ends of the braces, as well as through the center rails and into the other ends of the braces. Now the main assembly is done. Let’s move on to the seats and we will be finished.

Now we need to counter bore some holes (like we did with the table top boards) through the joists. Again, Using a 25/64” dia. drill bit, drill down through the top of the joists (which will actually be the underside of the joists, once we flip the table over onto its legs). You will need to evenly space 2 drill holes for each seat board. After you have drilled each hole, counter bore a 1” dia. hole into each of these previously-drilled holes, and go ¼” deep. Do this for all 16 holes required to mount the seat assembly to the joists.

Have someone help you flip the picnic table over. Place one of the seat assemblies, which we previously made, on the joists. Position them evenly from end to end, as well as flush with the ends of the joists. Insert 3/8” x 6” lag screws and washers up through the joists and into the seat assembly, and tighten. Do this for all 16 holes, in order to secure the seats to the joists. Now it’s assembled!

You can go over the entire picnic table with sand paper, making sure that your guests won’t get splinters. Either stain or paint your new picnic table your favorite color. It is also a wise idea to use a good sealer to protect the wood from the weather and from spills.

Well, I hope you enjoy your new picnic table as much as I do. A good, solid picnic table can be in the family for many years. Enjoy!

If you are interested in obtaining one of picnic table plans there are two sizes available. Click Here for information on our 8' table or Click Here for information on our 6' table. As alway you can visit www.SherwoodOnline.com for more information on all the patterns, plans and supplies that we have to offer.
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We also have plans for an Octogon shaped picnic table. This self-contained table and bench design provides a lots of seating in a small area. Table top is 4 1/2' across. Each seated adult has approximately 22" of table width to themselves. Take note of the decorative ring around the edge of the table top, it's a feature not found in many picnic tables of this sort. A slight adjustment and you can eliminate the ring if you like. 7' Dia x 29"H Click Here for more details.

Landscape Timber Wagon Planter

2010-04-07T08:40:00.001-07:00

One of our most popular plans is our Landscape Timber Wagon Planter Plan. A somewhat simple project yet a quite rewarding when finished and will provide years and years of added beauty to your yard and garden. Since designing this plan we have noticed on numerous occasions that woodworkers across the nation are also making them to see in their front yards. Because of its popularity this wagon is now available to build in two sizes; the larger of the two wagons being the most popular at the time that this article was written.

The wagon/s are built using standard landscaping timber and easily constructed by screwing together (at times toe-nailing) using 3-4inch decking screws (depending on what's available in your area). By following the detailed diagrams on our plan you will successfully complete this project in no time at all. You can plant a variety of flowers in the bed of the wagon and display it just about anywhere. Display it next to your home, out in the garden or simply place it in your front yard. Your neighbors are sure to compliment you on just how beautiful it really is. Don't be surprised if they ask them to make one for them.

If you are interested in obtaining a copy of this plan please click on the appropriate link. Pattern #2184 CLICK HERE. Pattern #2346 CLICK HERE. For more information on our patterns and plans please visit on line at www.sherwoodonline.com

LANDSCAPE TIMBER WAGON PLANTER
Build this attractive wagon completely out of Landscape Timbers and place it in your yard with your favorite flowers planted inside!
45"H x 40"W x 28"D
PATTERN #2184 $12.95
Interested in purchasing this pattern/plan? Click here!
Read article Click Here!

Build Your Own Adirondack Sets

2010-04-06T11:46:00.000-07:00

Have you ever thought about building your own deck or lawn furniture? It’s easy to do and very rewarding! One of the most popular deck furniture is an Adirondack chair. It’s very comfortable and fits to the contour of your body. The Adirondack chair is also very easy to make. It’s basically sides and slats. However, you must get the side contour right, or it won’t be comfortable. To do this, you may want to pickup a plan for a few dollars.

Even better than an Adirondack chair, is an Adirondack set. Build a matching set with chairs, loveseat, tables, and ottomans. Use an Adirondack set on your deck for sunning. Sit in comfort out on your lawn, patio or sunroom.

An Adirondack set will last for many years to come! If you use a good waterproof wood glue (such as TiteBond II) and treat your wood with a good polyurethane sealer (such as Hydrocote Polyshield), your Adirondack set will be able to withstand all types of weather, and be enjoyed for a long, long time.

There are a few ways to accomplish building an Adirondack set. You can try to find a good design, and mimic it; or, you can buy a wood plan or pattern and guarantee that the shapes will be right; or, the easiest way is to buy a pre-cut kit and assemble it when it arrives. The first can be very aggravating, time-consuming and costly. The second is the most cost-effective, but you will need to put a little time into it. The third is by far the easiest and quickest way to build your own Adirondack set, and is much cheaper than buying ready-made outdoor furniture.

There are a few variations of deck furniture. These are basically minor differences in shape. There is the traditional Adirondack chair, the Fanback chair, and the Westport chair, to name a few. Notice in the pictures, shown here, that the basics of the chairs are similar, but the backs are slightly different. By combining these variations, they give you some wonderful contrasts on your deck for you and your friends to enjoy for many years!

If you would like more information on our Adirondack furniture patterns and plans please visit our website at www.SherwoodOnline.com or Click Here for a direct link to our Adirondack link.

Plastic Eyes Article!

2010-04-06T09:51:00.000-07:00

Do you ever wish that you could make your animals and people more real-looking? Does it seem like the flat, painted eyes just need a little something extra to bring them to life? Plastic craft eyes will do the trick!

Plastic eyes are very inexpensive and come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them have a small insert on the backside that can be inserted into pre-drilled holes and glued into position. Others, such as glue-on eyes, moveable plastic eyes, and glass eyes, can just be glued onto any flat surface.

You won’t believe what a difference it makes to use these types of plastic craft eyes! Since the eyes are 3D, they give off reflections, similar to real eyes. They also come in many different sizes (from 15/64” diameter to around 1½”) and colors (including glow-in-the-dark, for the Halloween projects), such as black, brown, blue, yellow, amber, green, and so on, so you can REALLY give some contrast to your projects. This is important, since people tend to look directly into the eyes of people and animals. A lot of times, the eyes are the first thing that you focus on. And it can be a lot more exciting to look at reflective, colored, 3D eyes, than flat, painted eyes.

Plastic Craft Eyes are very inexpensive. When you buy them in packages of larger quantities, you can find them for as little as 16 to 25 cents a piece. When buying them one at a time, prices tend to be around 30 to 40 cents a piece. Either way, using plastic eyes on your dogs, cats, birds, people, snowmen, and teddy bears can be a very inexpensive way of bringing all of your projects to life!

If you would like to look through the plastic and moveable eyes offered by Sherwood Creations, please visit our website at www.Sherwoodonline.com,
or Click HERE

Window Sill/Railing Planter Article

2010-04-06T09:34:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for a way to spruce up your dull deck or drab house windows? One way to beautify these areas is with a gorgeous, flowering planter box. Planters come in all shapes and sizes, and are a wonderful accent to your yard, garden, and even inside your house. And best of all, they are really easy to build. With only a few scraps of wood, and a few hours, you can create a beautiful planter this weekend!

If you are looking for a really quick and simple planter to build, one that will take you only minutes to build, then the Window Sill or Railing Planter is the one for you! In about a half hour, you can have this planter in place, and sporting your favorite flowers.

Cut 2 pieces of wood for the front and back, 24” x 9½” from ¾” lumber. Cut a nice, wavy design across the top length of one of the pieces. Cut 2 pieces of wood 9½” x 9½” for the ends, also from ¾” lumber. Cut a notch, at the bottom of both of these 9½” square pieces, that measures 5½” wide, by 1½” tall, to fit a standard 2” x 6” deck rail. You should verify the width of your deck rail before cutting the notches. And finally, cut your last piece of ¾” lumber to measure 7¾” x 24”, for the floor.

Now that you have all of your pieces cut, you are ready to assemble your new planter. Using waterproof wood glue and nails, attach the 9½” x 9½” end pieces to the 24” x 9½” front/back pieces, by nailing through the 9½” x 9½” pieces and into the ends of the 24” x 9½” pieces. Make sure that the notches on the end pieces are at the bottom. Next, drop in the 7¾” x 24” floor piece so that it is horizontal and sits just above the notches. Nail in from the end pieces and into the floor. Now your planter is built!

If you plan to use this planter as a deck railing planter, set the planter onto the railing. If you are concerned about the planter falling off the railing, then nail or screw down through the floor and into the railing, for stability. You can also drill 1/4” drain holes on the back side of planter, so water drips to the ground, away from the surface of your deck.

If you plan to use this planter as a window sill planter, using 3” deck screws, position the planter a few inches below a window sill on the outside of your house (centered left and right) and screw through the back of the planter and into the outside wall of your house. For safety reasons, check for any possible wiring that might be behind the wall.

Once you have your gorgeous, new planter in place, plant your favorite plants or flowers. It will brighten up your yard or window, and put smiles on the faces of all who pass by!

This planter will fit 3 - 8” flower pots, or a standard 24” plastic flower tray.

If you would like detailed instructions and a full-size pattern for this project (Rail Planter #1827) Click Here, or go to www.SherwoodOnline.com for more information on 1000's of woodcraft patterns and supplies.

Landscape Timber Planter Plan

2010-04-06T07:02:00.001-07:00

Now here’s a way to add a flowering touch to your yard or garden without a lot of effort: build a plant stand from ordinary landscape timbers. Anyone can build this simple design, and all it takes is some wood and screws. A beautiful landscape timber plant stand could be all that your yard is looking for, and you can do it this weekend, in just a few hours!

Shaped like a birdbath, this clever design brings your flowers up, off the ground, while allowing you to place the plant stand just about anywhere in your yard or garden. Having multi-tiered flower beds can give your flower garden a very unique and rewarding look.

If you have never worked with landscape timbers before, you are in for a treat. You can create wonderful things with them, and you can pick them up at any lumber yard or Home Depot, etc. They are strong, sturdy, and are treated, so that they last for many years without rotting. Their rustic appearance gives an extra added ruggedness to your outdoor atmosphere, especially if you don’t paint your project, and leave it natural. I, myself, love the look of natural wood. When I look at natural landscape timbers, I get more of a rustic, backwoods, log cabin feeling. To me, you can never have too many landscape timber displays in your yard or garden. Try it. You will never look back!

CUTTING NOTE: If after making your 30-degree angle cuts on your hexagons, you find that the angles don’t quite line up, you can make some adjustments to fix this. If, when you assemble your hexagon, your gap increases as it goes to the inside of the hexagon, then you need to INCREASE the angle on your saw by a degree or two. If, on the other hand, your gap increases as it goes to the outside of the hexagon, then you need to DECREASE the angle on your saw by a degree or two.

This and many more Landscape Timber Plans are available at www.SherwoodOnline.com.

Hope Chest Plan Article!

2010-04-06T06:36:00.000-07:00

Here’s a great Christmas gift! A hope chest is a precious heirloom that is handed down from generation to generation of girls. You don’t hear much about them any more, yet they still remain popular among woodworking enthusiasts and those who value nostalgia. Hope chests not only store valuable keepsakes for young girls, but also help create a certain elegant atmosphere in one’s room. Whether it is used for its true intention, or to store quilts, sheets, pillows, or extra blankets, hope chests can be a very classy way of creating extra storage.

A good hope chest is hand-crafted, sturdy, and can withstand many years of opening and closing, being sat on, and possibly kicked around a bit. And if built properly, it can be handed down to your children and grand children. So you want to make sure that when you build a hope chest, build it to last. Use good, hard wood, make strong joining corners, sturdy feet, use strong hinges, and have a good overall plan before investing a lot of time and money.

Hope chests are all basically the same size. They are sized this way to sit at the foot of a bed, similar to a foot locker, only elegant. The hope chest dimensions for this article will be 18”H x 18”W x 44”L.

To build this project, you will need the following materials. (5) 1” x 10” x 8’ Oak boards for the Front, Back, Ends, Top, and Base Moldings; (1) ½” x 2’ x 4’ plywood for the Floor; (5) ½” x 1½“ x 6’ Oak Trim, (10) (optional) ¼” x 4” x 8’ Cedar Slats – Tongue and Groove; (1) 1½“ x 36” Continuous Brass Hinge; (1) Counterbalance Safety Hinge; (40) #6 x ½“ Brass Screws; (14) #0 Hardwood Biscuits; (84) #6 x 1¼“ Finishing Nails; (1) Decorative Carving / Wood Appliqué; (2) Handles; (1) Small Can of Wood Putty; (1) Pint of Wood Glue; and (1) Quart of Polyurethane.

Now that you have all of the materials, let’s begin building our hope chest. Start by using 7 Biscuits (for each set of 2 boards) and gluing and clamping 2 sets of (2) 1x10 oak boards together (join at the long sides). These will be for your Front, Back, End and Top Panels. Once dry, cut the Front and Back Panels to be 15¼“W x 42½”L, from one set of the joined boards. Then, out of the other joined boards, cut the Top Panel to be 17”W x 44”L. Also, from the same set, cut the End Panels to be 15¼”H x 14½”W.

On the top edge of the Back Panel, we need to make a cut to allow for the Continuous Hinge to recess into place. Starting 4 inches in from the end, and cut 36” long, by ¾” wide, by 1/8" deep.

From the plywood, cut the Bottom Panel to be 14½”W x 41”L.

Now that the main pieces are cut out, sand everything smooth and we are ready to start assembling our hope chest. Start by gluing and nailing the Back Panel to the Side Panels. Next, glue and nail the Front Panel to the Side Panels. Now, making sure your box is square, glue and nail the Bottom Panel to the bottom of the box assembly.

Now let’s cut and assemble the Base Molding. Using the 1” x 10” x 8’ Oak board, cut (2) 44” long, by 3” wide boards for the Front and Back Base Molding. From the same board, also cut (2) End Base Molding pieces to be 17½” long, by 3” wide. Cut all of the ends (of all 4 Base Molding pieces) at 45 ° angles. Use a router, with a Classic Ogee bit, to router the top edges of all of the Base Molding pieces. If you like, cut a nice design out of the bottom of each of the 4 pieces. You can make it look like scrollwork, or give it some classy legs. Either way, make sure it looks elegant and keeps the same pattern consistent throughout. Now, glue and nail the Base Molding pieces to the bottom of the box, allowing the Molding pieces to hang down below the bottom the Side and End Panels. There should be a 1” overlap of the Base Molding and the bottom of the Side and End Panels. This will make the Base Molding become your legs for the box.

Use a router, with a Classic Ogee bit, to router the top edges of the Top Panel (lid). Attach the Top Panel to the Back Panel, by using the Continuous Brass Hinge. Pre-drill all of the holes for the hinge, by using a 1/8” drill bit and drilling ½” deep. Using the Brass Screws, secure the hinge to both the Back Panel and the Top Panel, so that the Top Panel will close properly, and is lined up correctly. Screw on the Counterbalance Support Hinge to the Top Panel and the inside Back Panel. This will keep the Top Panel (lid) from falling closed from the open position.

It’s time to add the Trim to the middle of the End, Front and Back Panels. Using the ½” x 1½” x 6’ Oak Trim, cut (4) 38½”L x 1-3/8”W Front and Back horizontal Trim Pieces. Cut (4) 12”L x 1-3/8”W Side horizontal Trim Pieces. Cut (8) 10¼”H x 1-3/8”W upright Trim Pieces. For all Trim Pieces, cut the ends at 45 ° angles. For the Front and Back Panels, use 2 horizontal and 2 upright pieces, each. Figure out the center of the panels. First, using finishing nails, nail the shape together at each corner. The, glue and nail the rectangular-shaped box Trim Pieces assembly into the middle of the Front and Back Panels. For the End Panels, create the box from 2 upright pieces and 2 end horizontal pieces. Also nail the pieces together before securing to the hope chest. Find the middle of the panels. Glue and nail the square of trim into the center of each of the panels.

Now, add the 2 Handles. Screw in the Handles on each End Panel, centering left to right, and position
1-5/8” under the top horizontal Trim Piece.

And finally, glue the Oak Appliqué to the absolute middle of the Front Panel. Now your hope chest is assembled. If you wish, line the inside with the optional Cedar Slats. Glue the tongue and groove slats together, cut to length, and nail them into the inside of the chest. Start with the floor, then the ends, and finally, the front and back. Measure and trim to size before nailing into position.

To finish, sand the entire chest and remove dust with a tack cloth. Fill all nail holes with putty and sand smooth. Stain the wood, if desired. Apply two coats of polyurethane, sanding between coats. Do not apply finish to Cedar, or the underside of the lid. And that’s it! Enjoy!

If you would like detailed instructions and a full-size pattern for this project; Cedar Chest #881 Click Here.

For more informations visit www.sherwoodonline.com

Pumpkin Carving Patterns Article!

2010-04-05T13:06:00.000-07:00

Are you getting tired of the standard way of carving pumpkins? If so than this might just be what you are looking for. It's a new fad that's growing more popular year after year. This year we thought we would join right in. Designing patterns for pumpkins seemed to be a natural transition since we've been developing woodcraft patterns for over 10 years now. Instead of the standard jack-o-lantern faces, try something new and exciting. It’s easier than it looks and offers hours of family fun. Here’s how it’s done...

Take one of our designs from either Pattern #2028 or #2029. I’ve selected the cat design from Pattern #2028 for this demonstration. Select an appropriate sized pumpkin and center the pattern over the preferred good side. (You may have to enlarge or decrease the size of the pattern depending on the size of the pumpkin you have.) With a pointed tool, like a stylist or small finish nail, perforate the design into the pumpkin. Make sure that you poke enough holes through the pattern into the pumpkin and that the holes are close enough together so that when you pull the pattern off the pumpkin you can clearly see the image on the pumpkin from the holes that you have made. (These holes need not to go all the way through the pumpkin; rather just to indent (dimple) or break the skin of the pumpkin.) Cut a hole in the bottom of the pumpkin large enough to scoop out all of it’s seeds and proceed with removing all it’s contents.

Now you are ready to cut out your design. Starting in the center of your design working your way out, carefully, with a sharp knife or carving saw, cut along the dotted lines. Standard household knives are all you need to carve these designs but there are several tools available for carving pumpkins to make the job easier and more precise. We suggest making a trip to a Halloween store or searching on-line for such carving tools if so desired. Following the pattern as closely as you can and taking your time will guarantee success and hours of family fun. Remember safety always comes fist, be very careful using sharp objects and kids should only be carving pumpkins under close adult supervision.

To extend the life of your pumpkin after your down carving seal the pumpkin with a polyurethane spay. After the sealant has had ample time to dry add a light or candle and set it out for decoration this Halloween season. It’s just that simple and look at what you just created. Your neighbors will be in awe and surprised to find out that you carved it. Lets face it carving standard jack-o-lantern faces were fun, but wouldn’t you rather carve something a little more challenging? Have a Fun and Safe Halloween!

If you would like detailed instructions and a full-size pattern for this project, or a project just like it Pumpkin Carving #2028 Click Here! There is 15 patterns per set! Visit www.SherwoodOnline.com for more information.

Yard Art Shadows Article!

2010-04-05T12:51:00.000-07:00

Making your own shadow yard art can be a lot of fun, and can really spruce up your yard! Have you seen the many different types of silhouettes displayed on lawns, as you pass by? Sometimes, they make you do a “double-take” because they look so real. Some of the shadows that I remember are Indians riding a horse, cowboys leaning against a tree, various animal scenes, waving people, and lots more. Shadows are very popular and very easy to make.

So how does one go about creating their own shadows? Well, there are many ways this can be done. First, you need to find the image that you would like to display. This could be a person, or an animal, or say, an eagle. If you wanted to find an eagle, one way is to look on the Internet for some pictures of eagles. Probably the best place to go is www.google.com and click on images. This way you are just searching for images of an eagle, and not the word “eagle”. Another way to find images is in magazines or books. Pictures can be copied for personal use on a copier.

Once you have the image you are looking for, blow it up to the size you would like the finished product. Do this either on a printer or a large-scale copier, to get to the desired size. Once you have the correct size, trace it onto a piece of ¼” to ½” plywood and cut it out with a jig saw. Once cut, sand smooth, and paint it black.

Another way to enlarge an image is with an overhead projector. Or, if you cut out the image on a small piece of wood, you can bright light behind it, casting the shadow of the larger image onto a large piece of plywood. Once traced, cut the larger piece out, sand and paint.

With this shadow being an eagle, you will want to hang it from a tree limb to show it in flight. If it is a perched shadow of an eagle, then you will want to mount it to a fence post, or something similar.

I think that some of the more interesting shadows are ones of Whitetail deer, or black bears. To me, these seem to look the most natural out in the yard. More than once, I have had to look twice to see if the silhouettes that I was passing were really standing there! This is part of the excitement of displaying designs like these, to make people wonder if what they are looking at is really standing there. To do this, make sure that the designs you choose are life-like, and not “cartoonish”. Choose a design from nature.

Try all different types of shadows and see what you think. Some other ideas could be images of a person waving from your porch, Santa sneaking to your chimney on your roof, reindeer on the roof or in your yard, a cowboy leaning against your tree, or kids playing. Enjoy!

If you would like detailed instructions and a full-size pattern for this project Flying Eagles #26 CLICK HERE, or Painted Bears and Cubs #292 CLICK HERE!Visit www.SherwoodOnline.com for more information.

Halloween Yard Displays Article

2010-04-05T12:32:00.000-07:00

It’s that time of year again… Time to scare the neighbors and trick-or-treaters! There are a lot of fun ideas for Halloween yard displays. One of the spookiest places to be at Halloween is in a cemetery. Just thinking about it gives me the chills! And making your trick-or-treaters walk through your own cemetery to get some candy, will give your Halloween-decorated front yard a chilling atmosphere!

So how do you create this eerie cemetery in your yard? Well, what does a graveyard have the most of? Tombstones, headstones, gravestones, or whatever you want to call them. They are easy to make out of plywood. Just cut them out, paint them, write or paint an epitaph on them, and stake them into the ground.

You will need several shapes and sizes. There is the common rectangular shape with the curved top. Of course, rectangles are always nice. A stacked tombstone, with a large base or two, and a tall rectangle shape on top (for the wealthy), is a nice touch. A basic cross or a small headstone can be used for the poor dead guy.

You are going to need a few different darker colors of paint. Black can be nice, but you will also need a few shades of brown, and some dark and medium grays. These colors will be used for the stones, themselves. You will also want to have some lighter colors on hand, for the R.I.P and epitaphs. These might be colors like oranges, lighter grays, yellows, light greens, etc.

For the wood, you will want to use a good, ½ inch plywood. You can use a thinner board, but you risk the possibility of warping, or it falling over in the wind. Also, the thick wood looks a lot nicer as tombstones. You can also double the wood to give your stones a thicker look. The thicker look is much nicer.

A good, outdoor wood sealer is also needed. Use a varnish that resists yellowing. By sealing your wood (after painting), you will keep the paint from running and protect the wood from warping. Plus, this way, you can use your tombstones year after year.

Cut out your tombstone designs as one shape each (don’t try to connect pieces together, as this will weaken the display and it won’t look as nice). Cut your stones anywhere from 16” H x 24” W to as big as, say, 35” H x 20” W. You can obviously vary them in size, from very small to very large. Just remember, the smaller ones are hard to see or read from the road, and the very large ones can cover up other displays and will cost quite a bit for the wood. So, use your own judgment here.

To make the stones look old and broken, cut various v-shaped cuts on the outside edges of the stones. They don’t need to be big, or many. Cut about 2 or 3 per side. To add the crack to the v-shaped cut, when painting, continue a line from the point of the “v” for a few inches into the stone. Use a darker paint (such as a black or dark gray) for this. Once they are all cut, sand them smooth (you don’t want any trick-or-treaters to get splinters!).

Randomly paint each stone a different color and let dry. Now, using a thin brush (or a colored marker or paint pen), write “R.I.P.” or your own clever epitaphs, such as “Here Lies A Man Who Zigged, When He Should Have Zagged.” Use different colors for each stone. For an added touch, make it look like the paint has eerie drips hanging from the words. Use different style lettering for each tombstone.

Now we have to make them stand up in the yard. This can be accomplished a couple of ways. Either use a staking kit (which attaches to the back of the project and stakes into the ground), or cut out a board (larger than the tombstone) to use it as a flat base to keep it from tipping over. Either nail or screw up through the flat board and into the bottom of the tombstone. Use waterproof wood glue between the boards, for added strength. Remember, the taller the tombstone, the deeper the base will have to be. Test one before cutting all of the bases.

After your tombstones are built, use the outdoor varnish to seal them. Again, this protects the wood and the paint, so it will last from year to year.

For added effect, you can use a smoke machine in your cemetery. Hide it behind one of the tombstones, and turn it on at dusk. A smoke machine can really give your cemetery that spooky feeling you get when strolling through a graveyard at night. Another added touch would be to install orange and green lights around, or poked through, the tombstones. The lights, added to the smoke, will create an eerie glow that is sure to scare the bravest trick-or-treater!

Have a Fun and Safe Halloween!

If you would like detailed instructions and a full-size pattern for this project Create A Graveyard #1070 (8 tombstone designs and dozens of sayings, in 2 alphabet sizes!) CLICK HERE. There are many more Halloween projects avaiable. Visit www.sherwoodonline.com for more information.

Full Size Color Prints Article!

2010-04-01T09:03:00.000-07:00

Wood crafts and holiday displays can be a very fulfilling and rewarding hobby. There are many aspects to creating a beautiful display piece: picking the right pieces of lumber to use, tracing the pattern onto the wood, cutting the pieces out of the wood, tracing the inner lines of the project, painting the project, sealing and protecting it, and setting up the final display on your lawn for all to see and enjoy! All of these elements can be a lot of fun. Some of them are more fun than others, for some.

I have found, in talking with fellow woodcrafters, that some people love cutting out the wood, and would like to skip right to the displaying part of the process. They seem to just endure the tedious painting part of the craft. They wish that there were some other way to get past it. Well, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for those who would like to quickly cut out and setup their holiday displays, without the tedium of hours of painting: Color Prints.

There are many benefits of using color prints, over painting the display yourself. One, in particular, is that the color print is a flawless reproduction of the original. The lines are crisp and sharp, the colors are impecible, and the entire print is consistent. Even the best painter will show imperfections in their painting, but a color print is always perfect. If you want a perfect color display, and have little time to accomplish it, then you will want to use color prints on your holiday displays.

This is how it works.

Obtain full-color, poster-strength color prints (there are a few companies who offer these very specific types of prints – see below). Glue the print down to your wood. To do this, use a good spray adhesive (one that sprays consistently, and allows you to peel back the print if you make a mistake) to spray the wood and the back of the color print.

Carefully spread the print across the wood, starting at one side of the print, and gently pressing the print down and across the wood, with your hand. Make sure that you have pushed out any air bubbles. If air bubbles persist, don’t worry, you have a little time to gently, and very carefully, peel the color print back up, until you reach the air bubbles. Then, very carefully, continue to press the rest of the color print back down to the wood.

Once the color print has been spread out and glued down to your wood, lightly press the print down to the wood with a rolling pin. Let dry for a few hours, before cutting your wood. Once dry, using a jig saw or scroll saw, cut along the outline of the color print, so that the shape is all that remains.

Now you must seal your display with an all-weather sealer. Get a really good sealer, called Exterior Gloss Varnish. It seals the print and the wood, to keep out moisture, and also resists yellowing. Standard polyurethanes will yellow very quickly, which results in a very unsightly display. The gloss will ensure that your display will stay dry, with crisp, bright colors. Test the sealer to make sure that it doesn’t cause the colors to run. Apply several coats, making sure to seal the edges and back of the display, as well.

Now you are ready to display your project on your lawn. Attach wooden stakes to the back of your project and then into the ground. Or, to make it easy to stake into the ground (without the risk of ruining your display), use a staking kit. A staking kit makes it easy to attach the stake to the back of the display, as well as making it easy to release from the stake. Stake your display into the ground, and you are done!
So to recap, glue the color print down to the wood, cut on the outline of the image, seal your project, and stake it. You’re done in minutes, instead of hours or days. You just saved yourself huge amounts of time. The end result is that you ended up with a wonderful, professional-looking display. And best of all, this frees up your time to do many projects this weekend, or just to quickly do the one project that you have been putting off for weeks.

Our color prints can be sent to you at full size, or reduced to just about any size you like! Just call us with the final size or percentage and we will take it from there! Item numbers that start with the letters CP are for the optional COLOR PRINT price, not the pattern price. However not all products or prices are listed in the catalog or online. Please call for pricing and availability for all others.
1-800-843-2571

For more information on our Color Prints visit www.sherwoodonline.com/

Dress-Up Darlings Article!

2010-04-01T08:18:00.000-07:00

Now here’s a fun and unique idea that can be used for every holiday: Dress-Up Darlings! This adorable pair can stand in the corner of your house, or out on your lawn, promoting just about anything. You change their clothes for any season, holiday, sporting event, or just about anything.

Here is how it works. You cut the boy and girl out of your plywood, and paint them. They are wearing just their underwear. You then cut out and paint their holiday or event clothes and Velcro them to the kids. As the holiday changes, or you want to display a different event, simply cut out a different design, paint it, and Velcro it to the kids. By doing this, you reduce the amount of wood, paint, and time spent having to do the entire display. Plus, it’s a lot of fun changing their outfits every once in a while!

Dress-Up Darlings are great for special events, such as reunions, parties, graduations, open houses, sporting events, get-togethers, and more! The outfits can contain the different objects that the event would call for. For example, if it was a hockey event, the kids could be wearing a hockey uniform, complete with helmets, skates, hockey sticks, face masks, etc. For a graduation, they would obviously wear cap and gowns in your graduate’s school colors. The applications are endless! For added touches, fill theme or event balloons with helium and attach them to the kids’ hands.

To create your dolls, find a good pattern or design of a boy and girl cartoon character. If you draw well, you can do this yourself. If not, don't fret, there are companies out there that sell patterns, such as these. Trace them onto ½” plywood and cut them out. Paint the boy and girl a skin color over the entire body. Once dry, use a pencil to draw the features, such as hair, eyes, nose, mouth, etc. before going over it with paint or paint pens (make sure it looks good before making it permanent). Use a thin brush to paint over the pencil. Or, to make it much easier, use a paint pen. This will give you much more control. If you wish, you can paint underwear on them, but they will never be seen. So it is up to you. Their hair will be seen, so you will need to paint that. To finish the dolls, just add some feet, so they will stand on their own. Cut out rectangular-shaped feet, and round them at one end (so that they look like an oval at one end and a rectangle at the other). Make them the same width as the feet of the doll, or just wider than the legs. Paint them black. Nail or screw the feet up through the middle of the flat feet and into the bottom of the vertical legs or feet.

Now that you have the dolls done, you just need some clothes. Using the shapes of the dolls as a guide, either sketch up some ideas for clothes (based on their sizes), or find some pattern ideas either on the web, or from Sherwood. The tracing, cutting and painting are done the same way as the dolls. Once they are dry, apply Velcro to the back of the clothes and to the dolls, and hang the clothes onto the dolls. You are done! Now, each season, or event, you can change the clothes to match. What a great way to decorate around the house, the yard or at a party!

If you would like detailed instructions and a full-size pattern for any of these projects and more (We have over 60 Dress-Up Darling designs to choose from.) CLICK HERE!

Copyright 2010, Sherwood Creations

How To Sell What you Make

2010-03-31T13:26:00.000-07:00

All of us enjoy creating woodcrafts. We love the smell and feel of the wood, adding our own touches to the design, painting to perfection, and finally, displaying for all to see and admire! Well, what if I told you that you could make lots of money by selling your creations? Yes, you heard right! A lot of people, such as yourself, hammer out a lucrative living by selling what they make. A person is lucky when they can combine their hobby with their career, and you can too!

So how is this done? One way is by selling your wood crafts right fro your lawn. A lot of woodcrafters make great money by setting up gorgeous yard and holiday displays on their own lawn! Many people love to display cute and funny lawn displays, but don’t care to spend the time creating them. Some of them don’t feel like they can do it, while others don’t have the time. They just want to buy the finished product. This is where YOU come in! You can supply a valuable service to these types of people, by selling what you make, to them.

Another way to cash in on your woodcrafting hobby is by renting a booth at a flea market or craft show, to sell your displays and wood projects right off the table. These types of places are great locations to show off your woodcrafts, since the potential buyers came there to buy your type of products. These are quality prospects, and you will do great in these types of places!

In this age of technology, there is another way to show off and sell your woodcrafts over the Internet. Having your own website allows you to show the world what you have to offer. Now, instead of a few thousand prospects at a craft show, you have literally MILLIONS of prospects! A woodcraft website can be a very powerful tool in selling your hobby to the world.

So what sells the best? How do I get supplies at wholesale so I can make a bigger profit? What marketing strategies work the best? I am not a salesperson, how do I make this work for me? How do I get started with my new business? These questions and more are answered in our woodcrafting book, “HOW TO SELL WHAT YOU MAKE”. CLICK HERE NOW to pick one up and get started making money at what you love to do!

Copyright 2010, Sherwood Creations

Catalog #160 Mailed!

2010-03-31T12:45:00.001-07:00

Lighthouse Plan Article

2010-03-30T06:47:00.001-07:00

A shining light at night to boaters could be the difference between life and death or simply just getting home for dinner on time. The beautiful lighthouse; a symbol of strength, hope and guidance; used mostly on the Great Lakes and Oceans can now be used in the same way but on a much, much smaller scale.

How many times have you been out on a boat well after dark and struggled to find your way back to the dock? Or, refused to go out because it was too close to dark, knowing that it’s just too hard to find your way home. Lets face it, lakes are getting over crowded and with house after house, and dock after dock, landmarks of any kind are far and few between. Now you can have your very own fully functional lighthouse at the end of your dock, channel or peer. Your very own landmark to help navigate you home after dark. One that is durable and will last year after year and is easily constructed from readily available landscaping timber.

What? You don’t live on a lake. Well this beautiful structure also works great in yards, end of driveways and flower gardens, bringing a nautical look to your home and/or business. Simple construction, longevity, fully functional and can be built on a retiree’s budget!

Plan available EXCLUSIVELY through Sherwood Creations
Landscaped Lighthouse Plan: Item #2041...$12.95
Parts Required: (1) Revolving Beacon: Item #H610...$64.95
Plan includes easy to follow instructions, templates, patterns, material list and clearly illustrated diagrams.

Copyright 2010, Sherwood Creations

Catalog #160 Online!

2010-03-30T06:45:00.001-07:00

Sherwood Creations
Thousands of Woodcraft Patterns, Plans & Supplies
Catalog #160
http://www.sherwoodonline.com/