Sweetheart Basket - Project of the Month

[mtylerfl]

Hello,

Here is a preview of the next Project of the Month, the "Sweetheart Basket". This is to provide a few details beforehand so subscribers will have time to "gather" the materials, etc. if they want to do this project.

The Sweetheart Basket makes a charming gift for your loved one and will be especially cherished for a very long time! Fill it with ‘goodies’ and give it to your sweetheart for any special occasion...Valentines Day, anniversaries, weddings, or ‘just because’. After the goodies are gone, the basket can be filled with silk flowers, roses, or whatever your sweetheart desires!

This project features a basket weave motif with four mill-grain bordered hearts on the sides and a unique, decorative heart-themed handle to match. The finished ‘basket’ is about 14" wide x 9" deep x 8" tall.

The project requires no special bits. The sides and handle are carved and cut out with just the two bits that came with your machine. (The bottom is a plain board cut to size yourself on a table saw or other suitable tool.)

Main items you will need:

1) The 2 Project Files (included):
Heart_Basket_Front_and_Side.mpc
Heart_Basket_Handle.mpc

2) Boards with the following dimensions:
Front and Sides: .75" x 7" x 28" (two)
Basket Handle: .75" x 6" x 22" (one)
Basket Bottom*: .75" x 8" x 10 7/8" (one)
* the bottom can be cut from any suitable material, such as solid wood or plywood (I cut the part for the bottom on my table saw from scrap ¾" thick pine)

(NOTE: Do not use a board that is smaller than specified above, or if you are using a sled, you can subtract 7" from the length of the board and have the sled provide the extra 7" required)

3) Round Wooden toothpicks (two)

4) Sandpaper, clamps and/or box clamp (strap), wood glue, quick-set Epoxy, wood stain and/or paint and clear finish

5) A Dremel-type rotary tool with assorted sanding wheels and bits to sand small details and speed up preparation for finishing.

Here’s what I used on my Sweetheart Basket made from Select Pine wood:

Basket Finish:
1) one very light coat of thinned Bullseye Sealcoat (2 parts sealer/3 parts Denatured alcohol)
2) sanded again with very fine sandpaper & Dremel
3) applied 3 coats of clear shellac (the sealer is clear shellac) full-strength from the can
4) painted the large hearts with red acrylic craft paint
5) applied Minwax Early American stain #230 and wiped most of it off, leaving just slight amounts in the crevices of the carving details
6) applied several spray coats of Krylon clear acrylic

Handle Finish:
1) one very light coat of thinned Bullseye Sealcoat
2) sanded again with very fine sandpaper
3) applied Minwax Natural #209
4) applied several spray coats of Krylon clear acrylic

[Kenm810]

Perfect Timing, MT

I love the the Basket and especially lay-out of the Handle!
Valentines Day and our 38th Anniversary are only a day apart for Barb and I,

Thanks Again for your POM's

[temler]

I love this one. you out did yourself. the handle it a great touch. Thanks for all you work.
Thanks
Tim

[RayTrek]

Hi Michael,
Now that’s a sweet basket! Your creations are so cool, and filled with experience and imagination.
I am curies if the hearts are raised enough to put center line text on them?
Thanks again for another assume project.
Ray

[henry1]

Hi Michael,
Now that’s a sweet basket! Your creations are so cool, and filled with experience and imagination.
I am curies if the hearts are raised enough to put center line text on them?
Thanks again for another assume project.
Ray

Iam curies also about center line would love to use

[Kenm810]

Hope you don't mind Michael,

How about Black Chancery for a font

http://www.dafont.com/search.php?psi...Black+Chancery