Easy to stack cut, these ornaments help spread holiday cheer
By Sue Mey
Most people would agree that the holiday season doesn’t last long enough. By scrolling these ornaments and giving them out over a 12-day period to friends and family, you can hold onto the good tidings for a little longer.
These ornaments depict the objects in the popular song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” (see below). Overall, the ornaments are relatively easy to cut and make a nice gift as a set. After cutting the inner frets, stack the ornaments with a piece of 1/8″ (3mm) thick plywood or MDF while you drill the hanging hole and cut the perimeter of each ornament. That way, you can add a custom backing board in a contrasting color. Sand the ornaments round if needed (I use a disc sander). Separate the stack, sand the ornaments with a pad sander, and use a utility knife blade to scrape off any fuzzies. Mask an area on each backing board and ornament for a solid glue joint, and apply deep penetrating floor wax or Danish oil to the ornament. Use spray paint to color the backing boards a contrasting color. Remove the masking tape, and glue and clamp the ornament to the backing board.
| 1 Partridge in a Pear Tree | 7 Swans-a-Swimming |
| 2 Turtle Doves | 8 Maids-a-Milking |
| 3 French Hens | 9 Ladies Dancing |
| 4 Calling Birds | 10 Lords-a-Leaping |
| 5 Golden Rings | 11 Pipers Piping |
| 6 Geese-a-Laying | 12 Drummers Drumming |
Materials & Tools
Materials:
- Wood of choice, 1/8″ (3mm) thick: ornaments and backing board, 2 each, 8″ x 10-1/2″ (20.3cm x 26.7cm)
- Spray adhesive: temporary bond
- Tape: thin double sided, masking
- Glue: wood
- Sandpaper
- Finish: spray paint in assorted colors, deep penetrating furniture was liquid or Danish oil, clear spray varnish
- Gold string or thin colored ribbon
Tools:
- Scroll saw blades, #2, #5 reverse-tooth
- Drill press with twist bits: assorted small
- Sander: disc and pad
- Utility knife blade
- Artist brush
- Small clamps
CLICK HERE to download the patterns for the 12 Days of Christmas Ornaments
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