If you enjoy woodcrafts, it's always fun to find new free patterns to use to expand your repertoire of projects. You can use these designs to create gifts for friends and family or simply to make for yourself.
Rustic Bird Cake Plate
A wood cake plate is a great way to serve cupcakes or treats at a party or picnic. This sweet server also makes a great gift.
Things You'll Need
- 18-inch by 18-inch piece of 3/4-inch-thick poplar or other easy-to-cut wood
- Nine inches of 1/4-inch dowel
- Object for a pedestal base
- Wood glue and clamps
- Drill and drill bits
- Sandpaper in various grits
- Jigsaw
- Washable, food-safe paint and brushes
What to Do
- Click on the image to download the pattern. Enlarge as specified, and print it out.
- Trace the pattern pieces on the poplar lumber. Use the jigsaw to cut out the pieces.
- Drill a 1/4-inch hole in the center of the circle piece. Drill a 1/4-inch hole into the bottom of the bird.
- Sand the circle and the bird until the edges are smooth and slightly rounded. Start with the coarsest sandpaper, and move up to the finest.
- Apply beads of wood glue around the edge of the bracelet or pedestal object. Center the pedestal on the underside of the plate, and use clamps to hold in place while drying.
- When the base is dry, apply a small amount of wood glue to the hole you made in the bottom of the bird. Insert the dowel into the hole.
- Apply glue to the hole in the bottom of the cake plate. Insert the other end of the dowel into this hole. Allow the glue to dry completely.
- Apply food-safe paint to the entire cake plate. Consider distressing the edges with sandpaper to give it a more rustic look.
Children's Building Blocks
This free pattern can help you create a great set of children's unit building blocks. This is an affordable and personal gift to give to a special child in your life.
Things You'll Need
- One eight-foot length of untreated 2x4 hardwood lumber
- Non-toxic paint or stain in several colors
- Sandpaper in various grits
- Jigsaw
- Circular saw
- Carpenter's pencil
- Paint brushes and rags
What to Do
- Click on the image of the finished blocks and print out the pattern. This pattern is actual size and should not require resizing.
- Cut out the pattern pieces and use the carpenter's pencil to trace them onto the 2x4.
- Cut the 2x4 as specified by the pattern. You now have a set of rough blocks.
- Moving from coarsest to finest, sand the blocks with the sandpaper. Remove any sharp edges or corners and any possible splinters.
- Dust off the blocks and apply the paint or stain in your chosen colors. Allow to dry thoroughly.
Wooden Leaf Mobile
If you're looking for a free woodcraft pattern that doesn't require the use of a saw, this mobile is a great choice. It looks lovely in a corner of the living room or dining room, and it also makes a beautiful nature-inspired baby gift.
Things You'll Need
- Two rough sticks with the bark on, each about 15 inches long
- Several sheets of wood veneer
- Stain or paint in desired colors
- 14-gage wire
- Fishing line
- Carpenter's pencil
- Craft knife
- Pliers and wire cutters
- Paint brushes and rags
- Sharp embroidery needle or small awl
What to Do
- Click on the free pattern and print it out. You can resize the leaves as desired.
- Cut out the pattern pieces, and trace the leaves onto the wood veneer using the carpenter's pencil. You'll need about 20 leaves of various sizes.
- Working on a cutting board or other protected surface, use a craft knife to cut out the leaf shapes.
- Apply your desired paint or stain to the leaves and allow them to dry.
- Cross the two sticks in the middle and wrap the wire around the crossed area several times to secure it. Leave a loop of wire at the top and the bottom of the crossed sticks. Trim the excess wire.
- Make a loop of fishing line and suspend the crossed sticks above your work area. Tie more fishing line to the bottom loop where the sticks crossed, as well as at various intervals along the sticks. The hanging line should be of different lengths.
- Tie the wood veneer leaves to the fishing line, overlapping them slightly.
If you need help downloading any of these printables, check out these helpful tips.
Get Creative with Free Woodcraft Patterns
You don't have to follow the instructions or the pattern exactly when you're making woodcrafts. Experiment with different paints or stains or resize images and add embellishments to create a one-of-a-kind project. With a bit of a personal touch, any pattern becomes a unique project you'll be proud to say you made yourself.
