Christmas ornaments

[kmealy]

It's been our tradition that every year, my wife and I alternate making a Christmas ornament for each off the grandkids.  The thought is when they get off on their own, they'll have a starter set of ornaments.

 

It's my turn this year and looking for ideas.  I first thought of making the ubiquitous Christmas tree that is made of slightly overlapping pieces up each side.  My prototype was a failure.  The small pieces cut at 60 degrees went flying off the table saw at 75 mph.   Then I thought about doing an 8 or 6 point star.  Then my wife reminded me that I did something similar a few years back.  So now I need ideas.   I do not do any turning so that method is out.

 

Whatcha got?

[Headhunter]

How about something along the lines of a Kissmas Tree? 

 

Simple to put together, can be sized from tiny to enormous and if you make it big enough, they can actually decorate it with Hershey's kisses, or Rolo's, or Reese's miniature cups, etc.

 

Edited August 21, 2024 by Headhunter
picture too big

[kmealy]

Yes, I did some of these for the family a few years ago.  I'm looking for something to hang on a tree.  

 

[Grandpadave52]

What about "bandsaw reindeer?" Like the ones Alex Snodgrass does (in a minute BTW) I think @John Morrishad a thread asking about the template a while back.

 

Another thought would be a Nativity scene or setting.

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

Most of the stuff I've seen is either scroll sawn or turned. If you have a Meisel catalog it's full of ideas, but that's mostly scroll sawn work.

[DAB]

my wife requested that i decorate for Christmas the year she passed away, and I did.  have not decorated since then.  we just used commercial ornaments and old ones we had collected over the years to put on the tree (fake).

 

don't stress  yourself out over stuff like this.  it's ok to repeat something, just use a different wood, or paint it different.

[HandyDan]

Image search seems to have an unlimited number of handmade wooden Christmas ornaments.

[DAB]

ah, got it:

 

chunk of wood, say 2"x5", 1/2 to 3/4" thick.  paint black, on the black, paint "Bah Humbug" in white/silver

 

done.

 

it'll be a huge hit!!!!

[Smallpatch]

We keep the big snow flake hanging under the ceiling fan all year long and the glitter makes it noticeable all the time 

[Gene Howe]

I'm in the midst of scrolling some ornaments. Nothing as nice as yours, though, Jesse. You are a true artist.

[HARO50]

On 8/22/2024 at 1:42 PM, DAB said:

ah, got it:

 

chunk of wood, say 2"x5", 1/2 to 3/4" thick.  paint black, on the black, paint "Bah Humbug" in white/silver

 

done.

 

it'll be a huge hit!!!!

That about covers my feelings at Christmas, ever since we lost our son.

[PeteM]

 These looked fairly simple to make.  I'd probably use a bandsaw for the final cut-outs.  There are several patterns/make up your own, once you understand the technique.  If you get hobby paint tubes (Walmart), water based, and dilute the paint, it becomes a color stain.  You could make a different pattern each year, the kids will collect them after your Gone.  Until they throw them away.  Only the rocks live forever.   

 

[DAB]

15 hours ago, HARO50 said:

That about covers my feelings at Christmas, ever since we lost our son.

 

Linda had 44 boxes of decorations, it was my job to bring them all in from the garage on Dec. 1, stack them in her studio, and then she'd spend the next week or two decorating the entire house, we'd do the tree last (fake) and together.  i joked that i had to keep moving, else i'd get decorated too.

 

those boxes haven't been touched in 2 years, and are likely to stay there.  i hang a large wreath on the gate.  that's it.  and perhaps buy myself a goodie or two.

[kmealy]

3 hours ago, PeteM said:

 These looked fairly simple to make.  I'd probably use a bandsaw for the final cut-outs.  There are several patterns/make up your own, once you understand the technique.  If you get hobby paint tubes (Walmart), water based, and dilute the paint, it becomes a color stain.  You could make a different pattern each year, the kids will collect them after your Gone.  Until they throw them away.  Only the rocks live forever.   

 

Yeah. I made a batch of these a few years ago, alternating cherry and walnut.

[Gerald]

I did the snowflakes once . A bit tedious as it is repetitive. It is interesting how the patterns can be changed. I never thought of adding color. Do all my ornaments on the lathe now.

[KevTN]

I love seeing everyone’s ornaments! Yall are the most talented folks I know thanks for sharing..

[Gerald]

Here are a few I do. The hollow ornaments do not sell well so mostly for gifts.

Edited August 29, 2024 by Gerald

[Smallpatch]

This year I'm putting together some 7" 8 sided snow flakes like this 4 sided thing plus I found this holiday reef I will start on after taping the four pieces together. Plus I got more plans for something else but my mind is blank but it is sitting on my table to prepare the wood. I have never cared for old folks and now I are one.

[Smallpatch]

 

this scrolling took a little longer to do for I sawed four boards at a time, 

and it look like some of the poinsettia's might turn into some Texas yellow roses.

I did notice I will have to add some filler to the second capital H for I lost my little mind 

there for a few moments. 

Edited August 30, 2024 by Smallpatch

[Smallpatch]

These two with backer boards makes it a little slower sawing so the speed of the blade has to be reduced so the blade don't get too hot..

And since I only have the one pattern to remove I get the extra pattern and stick it on the wood where I will be kinda carving the leaves. So I will be using this glue wife uses on here sewing quilts and things.

It is what I use for just a small item I want to scroll out and not big patterns with the shipping tape first then the glue then the pattern . I will have to remove the residue with lacquer thinner.