Free Downloads Natural Wooden Toys: 75 Easy-To-Make And Kid-Safe Designs To Inspire Imaginations & Creative Play
Think making safe, colorful, and irresistible imagination-building wooden toys is impossible? Think again! Erin Freutchel-Dearing, a stay-at-home mom who taught herself how to make toys without any prior woodworking experience, show with step-by-step instructions how to make cute and creative wooden toys for children using just a scroll saw, a palm sander, and a drill.
Paperback: 168 pages
Publisher: Fox Chapel Publishing; First Paperback Edition edition (November 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 156523524X
ISBN-13: 978-1565235243
Product Dimensions: 8 x 8 x 0.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #951,980 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #74 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies > Toys & Models > Wood Toys #410 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies > Wood Crafts & Carving #465 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies > Toys & Models > Toymaking
I am new to woodworking and wanted to make toys for my daughters who are 5 and 2. This book is a fantastic way to get started because the book discusses tools needed, wood selection, painting and finishing. Many books just show you how to make one toy at a time - a car, a puzzle, etc. What is great about this book is that the author groups together like ideas - so you can make a whole set at one time.The book is divided into sections - there is a fairytale group (complete with plans for a castle, knight, king/queen, etc), a section on the forest (trees, animals, etc), farm, ocean, and city (buildings, cars, trucks, helicopter, etc.) I just started with the fairytale group (pictures to be posted soon) and I am looking forward to working my way thru the book.I disagree with an earlier reviewer who stated these designs were babyish and only good for 0-1 year olds. Yes the patterns are basic but when you paint the toys you can add as much or as little detail as you want. The point is that to a child with a good imagination the play possibilities are endless. My oldest has a vivid imagination and I can't wait to give them to her. I recommend this book for anyone looking for some fresh ideas and/or is new to woodworking and would like to start to make toys for kids.One note: Most of the wood called for in this book is 3/4" thick stock and while you can cut out the patterns using a coping saw you really need a scroll saw to save time. They are simple to use and cheap if you can find a used one on craig's list.
My husband and I have enjoyed using this book to create toys for our daughter. It has been a fun family project. I love the author's designs, and the book sparked ideas for many other designs as well. It's easy to customize the toys to any child's interests. The directions are easy to follow. I especially like the instructions on how to use natural dyes and beeswax finish. Best of all, these toys are great for boys AND girls and don't involve marketing of any brands.
This is a great book for someone with more time than money, and zero prior experience working with wood. Some scrap wood (probably cheap or free), a $100 used scroll saw, food coloring/veggies and access to a photocopier gets you started making simple wooden toys that kids (under 10) will love. The patterns are easy to use, the directions straightforward and complete. My only quibble is that the beeswax/oil finish has no 'recipie' for amounts/proportions, which is likely an oversight, since trial and error is a pain. Once you figure that out though, it's a great finish.What I like here is that the average 5 year old can be taught to safely use a scroll saw (with adult supervision obviously!). This means that kids can be actively involved in creating their own toys, which I find is just as fun as the end result.
This is a great book for someone who wants to get into making wooden toys for kids. It has a big emphasis on natural materials and finishes. I have made a number of toys from this book and am happy with it. I had trouble with the beeswax/oil finish mentioned. I have used food dyes for coloring and a very strong mix of instant coffee also, as well as child safe paints made for child use. I have also used cooking oil for a finish on top of food colors, stains and paints. This book is a very good starting point and the reader will be able to originate many other toy ideas after finishing this book.
This book is a rare thing. Well-thought and comprehensive without being pretentious. Seriously, this book makes it so easy. A coping saw for less than $10, a couple bucks worth of wood, and some stuff you likely have around the house, is all it takes!
I've made several projects as described by this author. The directions were clear, the illustrations are very well done, and I've enjoyed designing my own variations of these toys. Maybe I'm in my own second childhood, but I'm really getting a kick out of making these toys. My grandkids love them, too. I especially like the section on using natural dyes to color the wood. The materials are readily available, the process is easy, and the results are good. I've used both paint (AP rated) and natural food dyes, and I like the results of each.
I was looking for a book that would be a guide for my nine year old to do some wood working. These patterns are easy to make and the projects are simple. The directions are clear. The toys you end up with are works of art and are perfect for younglings to play with. Fits our home perfectly.
Instructions so clear that even a novice can make some really nice toys that children love. She was very generous with her knowledge and her templates/stencils. So, if you can't draw, you can simply trace her patterns. Very inspiring to me. I am an older woman who didn't have much confidence in my ability. But, she walked me through the whole process, and I'm making all kinds of wonderful things for my grandchildren! I would highly recommend this book.
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