Easy wood carving ideas for beginners
First steps are always very important in every job. And you may need some help or direction. That's why in this blog we want to share with you about easy wood carving ideas for beginners.
Easy wood carving ideas for beginners
Wood carving is one of the easiest and most fulfilling skills you can learn. It has an intrinsic value (a good stress reliever) and is one of the best-selling woodworking projects if you want to start retailing wooden objects.
Whether you want to learn wood carving for your private amusement or to make some money out of it eventually, we’ve got some easy beginner wood carving projects and ideas you’ll love.
Starting out in wood carving can seem like a daunting task. There are so many different projects and tools to learn that it can be hard to know where to start.
Luckily, we will go over the basics of wood carving for beginners and provide some tips. But for now, let’s start with these simple wood carving ideas.
Whether you want to learn wood carving for your private amusement or to make some money out of it eventually, we’ve got some easy beginner wood carving projects and ideas you’ll love.
Starting out in wood carving can seem like a daunting task. There are so many different projects and tools to learn that it can be hard to know where to start.
Luckily, we will go over the basics of wood carving for beginners and provide some tips. But for now, let’s start with these simple wood carving ideas.
1. Wooden spoon carving
If you want something unique, a cool alternative is to craft your spoon. Besides being one of the easiest wood carving projects, spoons are also practical.
Whittling a spoon is easy because there’re no hard and fast rules when it comes to dimensions and shape. For example, the bowl of the spoon can be oval, round, or even square-shaped. The handle can be thick, thin, straight, or curved.
You can keep it for yourself, your significant other, or a friend that will get a kick out of it. As you get better at small wood carving ideas, you can vary the design and embellishments, so you’ll never get tired of whittling wooden spoons.
Depending on the tools and wood you use, carving a wooden spoon can take anywhere from a couple of hours to a day or two. A good way to preserve your finished project is to apply a food safe wood finish.
Whittling a spoon is easy because there’re no hard and fast rules when it comes to dimensions and shape. For example, the bowl of the spoon can be oval, round, or even square-shaped. The handle can be thick, thin, straight, or curved.
You can keep it for yourself, your significant other, or a friend that will get a kick out of it. As you get better at small wood carving ideas, you can vary the design and embellishments, so you’ll never get tired of whittling wooden spoons.
Depending on the tools and wood you use, carving a wooden spoon can take anywhere from a couple of hours to a day or two. A good way to preserve your finished project is to apply a food safe wood finish.
2. Chip carving
Chip carving isn’t something you hear a lot about these days, but it is famous in the right circles.
As the name suggests, it is a method of carving that involves making small cuts or chips at a time. Of all the ideas on our list, this involves probably the fewest number of tools.
This is a whittling process that only needs two cutting knives, yet it is amazing what you can accomplish with them.
Unlike the photograph above, chip carving is rarely displayed on its own but instead helps add detail to existing wood carving projects.
For example, you can use chip carving to jazz up the handles of your wooden spoons. You can also use it to modify a wooden clock, chopping board, tray, wooden bowls, bracelets, or pendants.
One of the major benefits of handling simple whittling projects before more complex designs is that it teaches you how to handle a carving knife.
As the name suggests, it is a method of carving that involves making small cuts or chips at a time. Of all the ideas on our list, this involves probably the fewest number of tools.
This is a whittling process that only needs two cutting knives, yet it is amazing what you can accomplish with them.
Unlike the photograph above, chip carving is rarely displayed on its own but instead helps add detail to existing wood carving projects.
For example, you can use chip carving to jazz up the handles of your wooden spoons. You can also use it to modify a wooden clock, chopping board, tray, wooden bowls, bracelets, or pendants.
One of the major benefits of handling simple whittling projects before more complex designs is that it teaches you how to handle a carving knife.
3. Wooden rabbit
Next, another slightly intricate design with plenty of curb appeal. Wooden rabbits or any animal are fun beginner wood carving projects. Like gnomes, they can help you track how far your carving skills have come.
What is fantastic about whittling a bunny is that even as a beginner, you can finish a small project in under an hour. This will boost your confidence and help you take on more complicated tasks.
It is also a simple animal wood carving project to help you get accustomed to different tools and cutting methods. Once you’re done, you can use it as a desk statue, keyholder, or as a gift.
You can also paint it or cover your first bunny with woodworking epoxy so that it lasts a lifetime and can be a reminder of how far your skills have come. For your first wood carving project, start with a flat design, where you only have to cut one side of the wood.
What is fantastic about whittling a bunny is that even as a beginner, you can finish a small project in under an hour. This will boost your confidence and help you take on more complicated tasks.
It is also a simple animal wood carving project to help you get accustomed to different tools and cutting methods. Once you’re done, you can use it as a desk statue, keyholder, or as a gift.
You can also paint it or cover your first bunny with woodworking epoxy so that it lasts a lifetime and can be a reminder of how far your skills have come. For your first wood carving project, start with a flat design, where you only have to cut one side of the wood.
4. Whittling a flower
I can bet you’ve never given a more romantic valentine’s gift than a wooden flower. Okay, maybe you have, but you should try it.
Besides giving you a bit of romantic flair, wooden flowers are a great exercise for the family. If you have kids, you can have them color the flowers. And with so many different plants to recreate, you can keep improving your skills over time.
Unlike chess pieces, flowers don’t need to be identical. You also have a bit of leeway as to how you choose to execute this. You can either carve a flower out of an existing surface (similar to wood spirit carvings) or make it a 3-D image (like garden gnomes).
Besides giving you a bit of romantic flair, wooden flowers are a great exercise for the family. If you have kids, you can have them color the flowers. And with so many different plants to recreate, you can keep improving your skills over time.
Unlike chess pieces, flowers don’t need to be identical. You also have a bit of leeway as to how you choose to execute this. You can either carve a flower out of an existing surface (similar to wood spirit carvings) or make it a 3-D image (like garden gnomes).
