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I traced Alex's hands (he is a 4 year old boy that I have been watching for a single mother since he was 5 months old) and then cut them out with the scroll saw, had him paint them. Then I created a little turkey body and face for him to paint, then my husband used a nail gun to attach the hands to the body (he drew blood! Accidentally nail gunned his finger). Alex gave it as a gift to his grandma today Nothing impressive, but we had fun!

Oh Dan..... that is harsh LOL I thought you were going to say "how will my wife clean my castle" I did figure out how to make wheels, but I don't have a dowel... I have been thinking about taking my daughter's paint brush handles, but I don't see that going well LOL

I still need to sand it and either paint or stain it, but I'm just SO excited I had to share! Clayton was very sweet and offered to send me some different wood pieces to try. They arrived on Friday and I just had a chance today to play I didn't know he was also sending me some blades too. I learned something very important...the right blade makes ALL the difference! Dick also sent me some wood and blades, but they haven't arrived yet, I'm extremely THANKFUL to both men for being so sweet and generous and helping me get started with the right materials. I saw a finished one of these on pinterest and went to the website hoping to find a pattern. There isn't a pattern, but I was able to use her pictures as a guide to create my own. I also got really creative with transferring the pattern. I don't have spray glue, carbon paper, or a glue stick (I still can't believe I don't have a glue stick) and my husband is hooked up to the dialysis machine, so I can't leave the house to get anything, so I used a pencil on it's side to cover the back with lead and then I just traced over the top with the paper on the wood to lightly transfer the pencil markings. I am thrilled with how it turned out! It was tricky and there was some wood burning, but I'm still very happy with the results. I'm going to try and create my own pattern for one to make as Christmas gifts. I have enough of this wood from Clayton to make one more, so I may keep this one for my family, make another with the piece from Clayton and see if I can track down some wood in the trash or on craigslist to make some more as gifts. Thanks for looking This is after I sanded it

Very cool freebies!

Those are all great! My husband would love the motorcycle one!

Those look great!

Thanks for the compliments Yes I do wear a mask and goggles when I work. I don't normally have issues with my goggles fogging up, but the last few times I have, not sure what the difference is.... maybe the temp in the room. We don't have any tools.... I should make a complete list and put it on my profile, so that when I ask for help, people know what I have to work with. Hubby built helicopters (big search and rescue ones and ones for governments) for a living, so most of our tool collection is related to the work he did, nothing much for wood working. Big equipment wise we have a table saw, scroll saw, and the drill press... that is it. The rest is just small hand tool stuff. Have a great day

We are moving everything from the basement to a "finished" carport for me to work. Our basement has mold issues and I have asthma. Anyway, I'm a sewing teacher (among all the other jobs I have) and I use to collect old sewing machine. I have been selling the collection off, but decided to keep the base to an old treadle sewing machine. Today Hubby attached a piece of MDF (I think I'm out of MDF to scroll now) to the base and attached my drill press. It works great and I love how it looks!!! Thanks for looking

Steve - this is great! I love it!

My older daughter walked in while I was looking at your amazing piece and her mouth dropped! You do beautiful work!!!!! I'm very impressed!

Wow, the detail is amazing, especially the face.

Wow the detail is amazing!

Great job!!!!

Amazing, the details on the frog are so small and they are beautifully done!

Love it! Especially the icicle details.

Oh wow Dan that is really cool! Definitely expensive, but maybe I will keep a look out at yard sales next year and see if I can get one used. I do have a drill press.

I do understand that it's a dowel, it was more how to attach it to the toy and make it roll that I was struggling with, I have since figured it out Oldhudson - Love the grasshopper! You did a beautiful job! Yep it would be easier to buy them, but I really want to learn how to do it myself. I like being able to say I made it all. I will figure it out, I'm just more of a hands on learner and it will take me time. Wish I knew someone locally that I could watch.

Thanks rjR - What type of wood makes playable wheels? Thanks Larry - I did that and was a little overwhelmed LOL I think I might be out of my league with wheels! I understand the cutting of the wheel after reading over and over, but the axle is where I'm getting stuck. I may just follow the directions exactly and figure out it as I go along. Thanks!

A friend wants me to make her son a chicken toy that can roll around. I can make the chicken no problem. How do I make and attach wheels? Thanks!

How many inches can I stack stuff to cut?

Thank you all for the suggestions! I'm keeping a list and when I can save up, I will slow get the things I need, because I do believe that having the proper tools for any job really makes the difference

I have never tried stacked cutting. How do you tape them together? Thanks!

Thanks everyone. I ended up creating a different, bigger pattern, changed the blade to 18.5tpi, and slowing the speed down and it didn't turn out too bad. Thanks for all the help, I really appreciate it. I am all for using what I have and doing my best. It just isn't always possible to buy the perfect part, so I just make do I will post pictures when the paint dried and I have it assembled

Thanks! I will try the 18.5....it isn't in the budget to order blades right now so I will see if this works, if not I will save this project for a different time yep the plywood is from a big box store.

I saw this http://www.pinterest.com/pin/328622104032123538/and fell in love I drew up a pattern grabbed my plywood and got to work. I encountered two problems.....maybe three. First the cutting was easy but the wood is splintering....is it just the wrong stuff to use or my blade or my sawing? I also think I am making it too small because I am coming close to losing my fingers trying to get out the little notches. Any thoughts on how to do this project? Here is what I have on hand to work with - 1/4" plywood - 1" pine - 1" mdf (I think the 1" pieces are way too thick for this but wanted to share everything I have access to) Blades are regular tooth 10tpi and 15tpi, hook tooth 7tpi, and skip tooth 18.5tpi Thanks for the help!