Cute Wooden Handicraft: Make a String of Hearts

Everyone loves heart-shaped decorations. This cute wooden handicraft can be hung over a doorway or as part of a wall display. Paint the hearts red, pink, and white, and you will have a decoration for Valentines' Day. Paint them red and green for Christmas, or red, white, and blue to display love for America. You can leave it plain for a natural look. The string of hearts wooden handicraft fits well with country style furnishings.

To make the string of hearts, you will need 5 wooden heart cut-outs approximately three inches wide, a drill with an eighth inch bit and a quarter inch bit, a small amount of raffia, two yards of 1 -1/2 inch wide soft ribbon, two large wooden beads, and acrylic paints in the colors you want. The ribbon and the beads should match the color sceme you desire. Plaid ribbons are particularly effective. The string of hearts has five hearts side by side tied together with small raffia bows. The first and last hearts have the wide ribbon strung through a hole on each side and a bead strung on the ribbon. The ribbon is knotted at the very ends, making a loop of ribbon on each end which can fit over a nail for hanging.

The first step in making the wooden handicraft is to drill a small hole on each side of the hearts. The two outside holes are made with the quarter inch bit, and the other holes are made with the 1/8 inch bit. Now paint the hearts with the acrylic paint in the colors you desire. Acrylic paints are the small bottles of craft paint that are sold in 2-ounce bottles in a wide variety of colors. They can sometimes be purchased very inexpensively. Tempera paint will work if you can't get acrylic paints. Another idea is to spray paint them, especially if you want to use a metallic color.

When the paint is dry, tie the hearts together with the raffia. To do this, cut four 10-inch lengths of raffia. Thread the raffia down into one hole and up through the hole on the next heart so that they lay side by side. The raffia should be tied in a neat bow on the top of the arrangement. Do the same between the rest of the hearts so that all the small raffia bows are on top. Trim the raffia ends if necessary.

Through each of the outside holes, thread one of the ribbons. Pull the ribbon through until the ends are even. Thread the large bead over both ends and slip it up close to the heart. Trim the ends of the ribbon decoratively and knot them. Repeat the process on the other side to complete the wooden handicraft. Now hang the string of hearts wherever desired for a cheerful decoration. A wooden handicraft like this makes a nice gift for someone special.

Woodworking as a Business

Let’s say you’re an avid woodworker. You’re so good at it that people who have seen your work say it’s a masterpiece. They suggest that you make it a business. Why don’t you?

Starting a wood working business is just one of options woodworkers can resort to the minute they realize that their building and creating products from wood is more than a hobby. It is a craft. In fact, the design and quality of any hand-crafted furniture is considered to be valuable all over the world.

When you make woodworking your business, there will always be a demand for your products. Considering that people are in need of furniture all the time. Not only that, woodworking can also produce boxes, toys and many other things people fancy on a daily basis. There will always be a market for woodwork products.

Therefore, woodworking is a wonderful business opportunity you can venture in.

Nowadays, a lot of woodworking products are supplied in the market due to the demand of the public. Shipping crates and armoires are also other example of woodworking products a woodworker can supply to his client.

There is also a growing market that is devoted for hand-made wooden toys. Despite video games appearing left and right, surprisingly there are still children who prefer to play with toys made from wood.

Since you have the talent and the skill creating woodwork products, and you clearly have the interest and passion in doing so, you can let the money roll in by trying out your hand and your sawhorse bench on a woodworking business.

Here are the things you need in order for you to start your woodworking business. First of, you need to know your territory. Obtain the local requirements in order for you to open your business. Above all, you have to know what type of items you will produce. Strategize first since this is necessary on the tools and supplies that you must have with you.

Consider joining trade organizations that are connected to woodworking. This will assist you in spreading the word about your work through the events and shows that will also be of good assistance in showcasing the pieces that you have.

You must also have a supplier of woods and tools. Your supplier must be someone of a company you fully trust. Never use sub-standard materials. Quality is very important when it comes to producing woodwork. You want to be famous for delivering the goods – literally and figuratively. Since woodworking products are expected to be durable, give your clients what they hope and paid for. Notice that the minute your purchasers see that your products are long-lasting, you will be getting lots of referrals.

The minute you struck a trusting relationship with the supplier of your wood working business, you then work on the advertising aspect of the business. There are so many ways on how you can showcase your products to the market. One is by having a web site that is targeted to clients. You can upload pictures of your products. This is a great way to have your business out there. A lot of people shop online. Once they like what they see, their purchasing from you is just a mouse click away.

You can also go for the traditional selling of your product. Display your works of art in flea markets, malls, outlet stores, arts and crafts fairs and trade shows. By marketing your products at furniture and special stores, your woodworking business is sure to roll.

But double check that you do not book your business too much. Maintain the level of quality of your business during the whole sales process. It is always quality over quantity.

Use the internet to your advantage by spreading the word of your business through forum discussion boards and bulletin boards. You can also advertise on trade magazines.

Seize every opportunity that you can and make the most out of it. It will not only boost up your business’ profile, but your woodworker’s resume as well. You can also enter woodworking trade contests. You may get referrals and contacts.

Do not limit your business’ potential. You can even reach out to the home décor and fashion side of the whole woodworking business. By producing beautifully crafted accessories such as bowls, kitchenware and the like, your business will gain more popularity.

For fun, you can try the artistic side of the woodworking field. Make frames, sculptures and other art projects that you can sell along with your furniture.

Woodworking is both enjoyable and practical – that’s why it makes the perfect career for a passionate woodworker.

What Is Woodwork?

Woodwork will pertain to anything or any item that is made out of wooden material. It can include doors, tables, benches, windowsills, cabinets and furniture.


Woodwork Value


What really is the value of a single woodwork? Is it really worth your every cent? Has the market only taken advantage of the changes in the economy to justify the high prices?

There is no definite formula to get the exact value of a woodwork but it will help if you start by acknowledging that woodwork is done by woodworking or generally speaking, carpentry.

Woodworking is a craft. As such, it requires more than just materials and labor. The whole project will require some considerable amount effort, dedication and skills on the part of the person doing the woodwork.

Furthermore, this woodwork is not the typical commercial item that you see in the market that is mass-produced.

A woodwork is unique in itself. There may be other items that are of the same kind, but there will definitely be a unique quality in one woodwork that you cannot see in another.

This can be attributed to the fact that the carpenter or woodworker came up with the product with his bare hands. Thus, there is only the perseverance of human industry and none of the mechanical but impersonal precision.

Thus, when you look at one piece of woodwork, it is like looking at the work of art of the woodworker. Every little detail in it, including the curves, the cuts and the contours will be something that came out of the hard work of one person.