Handmade Wooden Toy Wooley Mammoth

Handmade Wooden Toy Mamoths
Handmade Wooden Toy Wooly Mamoths

 

After visiting the Florida Museum of Natural History, my grandson developed a fascination for mammoths after seeing their skeleton. He gave me marching orders that I was to make him a mammoth for his birthday. Fortunately, I had a pattern in one of John Lewman's books I had purchased. These patterns presented me with several small challenges.

The patterns were in color. I prefer simpler patterns with plain black or red lines and no shading. I find these much easier to see and to cut accurately. Some of the parts required multiples, but there was only one pattern.

The book I have was in digital format so I do not need to scan the page. I used Gimp to load the page and remove all of the color, shading and extraneous text. From there it was a simple mater to select the parts one at a time and copy and paste them into Inkscape.

Handmade Wooden Toy Wooly Mamoths
Handmade Wooden Toy Wooly Mamoths

 

In Inkscape traced the bit map to produce an SVG path and create the duplicates I needed. Save it and print. When I am done, I have all the patterns I needed on a single sheet of paper.

I run almost all of my patterns through Inkscape to produce SVG files for several reasons. 

  • I want to create a pattern that I can see and cut easily.  
  • I can put multiples on a single sheet of paper. 
  • Once the pattern is in SVG format, it is very easy to resize patterns to fit the material I have.
  • The lines printed from SVG files are sharp and clear with no jagged edges.
I finished these with shellac and rubbed them with 0000 steel wool and paste wax. I'll not use this finish on wooly mammoths again. With all the corners and crevices rubbing them was a real pain. The next time they will get an oil finish.

Handmade Wooden Toy Wooly Mamoth
Handmade Wooden Toy Wooly Mamoths


The tusk overlay I made from shop made plywood. I glued three thin peices of oak together to make much better plywood than I can buy locally. I used plywood here because I was sure the tusks would break if I used solid wood.

My grandson was very happy with his new mammoths.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Handmade Wooden Dinosaur Pterodactyl Figurine Handmade and Finished From My Buddies Dinos Collection - 655979018

Image
Buy This Dinosaur Today My Buddies Dinosaur Collection All My Dinosaurs Welcome to my shop, where I handcrafted this unique Pterodactyl dinosaur figurine from carefully selected hardwoods using traditional woodworking tools. Approximate Dimensions: Length: 6-5/8 inches Height: 4 inches I use a custom blend of mineral oil, beeswax, and carnauba wax to give each figurine a smooth, durable, renewable, and natural finish that enhances the beauty of the wood. Because working with natural wood is unique, every dinosaur I create is one-of-a-kind. The item you receive may vary slightly from the one pictured in the photos, but that's the beauty of it. The natural variations in wood grain, color, and knots add to the character and charm of each piece, making it truly special. I take great pride in creating these handmade treasures in Tallahassee, Florida, USA. Don't hesitate to contact me if you have a specific wood preference or want a custom order. I'll do my best to accommodate yo...
Read more

Wooden Toy Lorry Truck My First Version Made For My Grandson - 705872553

Image
  Handmade Wooden Toy Lorry Truck From The Quick N Easy 5 Truck Fleet - Left Side Front View Buy This Truck Now  My Easy 5 Truck Fleet My Toy Truck Collection I created a fleet of toy trucks for my grandson almost a year ago. Unfortunately, he started playing with them before I had the chance to take photos. All the parts for the truck, except for the wheels, can be made from wood purchased at a big box store. I used a scroll saw to cut the body from a 2x4 section, but a piece of 2x6 would be easier. I had to reduce the body size to avoid the rounded corners on the 2x4. I also had to adjust the sides of the bed to clear the wheels. The toy truck is not detailed, but the simple design makes it easier to create than more complex toys. Plus, there are fewer bits and pieces to make, which reduces the likelihood of breakage. I've considered adding fenders to the design. I used pine to make the toy truck because it's lighter than other options, and I prefer to keep the weight o...
Read more

Wooden Toddlers Puzzle Black Kitten - A Simple Two Piece Tray Puzzle Handmade and Painted From My Puzzle Pals Collection - 645535259

Image
  Buy This Puzzle Today My Puzzle Pal Collection My Puzzle Collection   This adorable wooden puzzle features a playful black kitten crafted from select-grade hardwood. Each piece is hand-painted with colorful acrylic paint and finished with a coat of shellac for durability.   Approximate Size: Height: 3.5 inches Width: 3.5 inches Thickness: 0.75 inch   I take pride in creating high-quality and engaging toys for little ones, and this cat puzzle is no exception. Its four-piece tray design makes it easy to assemble and store, and the pieces are painted on only one side to assist with matching. Perfect for little ones just starting to explore the world of puzzles, this cat puzzle can also be used as a freestanding stacking toy, providing fun and developmental benefits.   At my workshop in Tallahassee, Florida, USA, I carefully assemble and test each toy to ensure the highest quality. It's important to note that all my items are handmade using natural wood and wood p...
Read more