Better Homes & Gardens – Holiday Crafts 2019

Instructions

26 HolidayCrafts 2019

String Theory

shown on page 18

MATERIALS

10×10×1-inch piece of pine
8×8×^1 ∕ 2 -inch piece of pine
Scrap of^1 ∕ 2 -inch-diameter wooden
dowel
Scroll saw or jigsaw
120-grit sandpaper
Painters tape
Acrylic paint: red, gray, green,
black, white
Artists brushes
Transfer paper
Hammer and small wire nails
Embroidery floss: assorted greens
Glue: crafts and wood
1-inch brad nails
Saw-toothed hanger

CUT AND SAND THE WOOD

Trace truck pattern in Pattern Pack onto
white paper; cut out. Trace pattern onto
1-inch pine; cut out with a scroll saw or
jigsaw. Cut all other pieces as follows:

From^1 ∕ 2 -inch pine, cut:
^1 ∕ 4 ×5-inch rectangle (tailgate top)
2—^1 ∕ 2 ×2^1 ∕ 2 -inch rectangles
(tailgate sides)
1—2×4^1 ∕ 2 -inch rectangle (tailgate)

From^1 ∕ 2 -inch dowel, cut:
2—^1 ∕ 4 -inch segments (taillights)

Sand all sides of all wood pieces and wipe
off sanding dust. Sand one end of each
tailgate side to round the edges.

PAINT THE WOOD
Use painters tape to mask off the bottom
1 inch of the truck. Mask off tree area
where indicated by line on pattern. Paint
the front and sides of truck red; let dry.
Paint all sides of tailgate pieces and taillights
red; let dry.
Peel off tape. Paint the bumper, including
the sides, gray. Paint the tree and tree sides
green. Paint the wheels black. Let dry.

Referring to the photo, below, for

placement, lightly draw a rounded

rectangular window on the truck. Paint the

window white; let dry.

Lightly sand all painted pieces for a

distressed look. Wipe off sanding dust.

Trace the lettering in Pattern Pack onto

white paper. Using transfer paper and a

pencil, trace the pattern onto tailgate.

Using a fi ne-tip brush, paint letters white;

let dry.

COMPLETE THE STRING ART

Gather the paper truck pattern and

trim away the truck portion, leaving the

complete tree outline. Cut slightly outside

the dots. Tape the pattern to the wooden

truck, aligning pattern with treetop.

Using a hammer and wire nails, gently

tap nails around the tree edges, placing

the nails on the dots or^1 ∕ 4 to^1 ∕ 2 inch apart.

Lightly tap nails into the wood so you can

still pull them out. When you’ve nailed

all around the tree, pull out the nails and

remove the pattern. Hammer a nail halfway

into the pine through each hole.

Tie green embroidery fl oss onto a

nail, leaving a short tail. Wind the thread

randomly around the nails, tying off and

using a diff erent green fl oss as desired. Tie

off on a nail when satisfi ed with the look.

Trim the tails, making sure knots stay

secure. Using a toothpick, dab crafts glue

onto each knot and smooth down any tails;

let dry.

ASSEMBLE TRUCK

Position the tailgate top snugly against

bottom of string-art tree; place tailgate

sides snugly against sides of tailgate top.

Attach each tailgate side with three brad

nails, or use wood glue to secure pieces.

Run glue along one long narrow edge of the

tailgate top and adhere it in place.

Use wood glue to adhere the tailgate.

Glue a taillight to each end of the bumper.

Let dry. Add a saw-toothed hanger to the

back of truck.