Creative Woodworks & crafts 2009-04, страница 25

SUPPLIES

Wood: curly maple or wood of choice— one piece 1 /4" x 6-1/2' wide x 10-1/2" long; thin mahogany veneer or veneer of choice—one piece 4" wide x 8" long (for backgrounds) Tools: scroll saw with No. 2 and No. 2/0 reverse-tooth blades; drill press with assorted small bits; handheld orbital sander with assorted grits (120-400) sandpaper; vacuum with soft brush attachment Temporary-bond spray adhesive 2"-wide clear packaging tape Clear-drying wood glue Acrylic paints in black, brown (light,

medium, and dark), dark grey, medium blue, and white* Satin spray varnish or clear finish of choice Two-part epoxy glue (for attaching

hangers) Lightweight picture hangers (two)

*Refer to color swatch chart for suggested shades

Please refer to all manufacturer's labels for proper product usage.

Introduction

I used curly maple for these two songbird plaques because I love its mottled appearance and the way its texture still shows through the paint, helping the birds come to life. However, any light-grained wood will work well if curly maple is not available.

The painted detail on the plaques requires minimal effort and painting skill. Using only seven paint colors (including black and white!), you can achieve a beautiful effect simply by following the scroll-sawn lines. Of course, the plaques could always be left natural, but I encourage you to try your hand at painting them.

To make the painting process even easier, I have included a basic color chart for your reference. The color swatches will give you an idea of what I mean by a label such as "light brown." It may be helpful for you to take the chart to the craft store with you when selecting your paints. Remember, though, that there is a great variance in color and shades in nature, even within the same species, so don't get too concerned with matching the colors exactly.

Look for two additional songbird plaques to be featured in an upcoming issue of the magazine. In the meantime, have some fun with the sparrow and blue jay, and let's see if we can coax the inner artist within you to surface!

Creative Woodworks & Crafts April 2009 • 11

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