Miniature Bottles

This is an ideal project for a beginner. If you keep the lines fairly straight, it is quite an effective subject and provides you with a good introduction to some simple techniques. I will upload more complex projects related to wood carving in this month so make sure to see them too!

You will need

> Block of wood 3.8 x 3.8 x 8.9 cm (1½ x 1½ x 3½ in.)

> Knife

> Varnish or paint to finish

Trace around one of the plans to create a template, then transfer the outline to a block of wood. Draw the bottle's end shapes on the top and the bottom of the block. The plans of three different bottles and at the last.

Tip

To help draw the circles at either end, mark lines diagonally from corner to corner, then mark lines horizontally and perpendicularly.

Start shaping around the base. You can carve away or towards yourself, whichever feels more comfortable.

Complete the bottom of the bottle.

Start shaping the neck and the shoulders.

Use your template to re-mark the neck and shoulders where the original marks have been carved away.

Continue to carve the neck to completion.

Compare the progress with the template.

Complete the shaping of the shoulders.

Refer to your plan and mark the lip around the top of the neck.

Score at the bottom of the lip, holding your knife firm and rolling the bottle around the blade.

Carefully remove the wood from below the scored line.

Tip

Find the depth you require and use your second finger as a depth gauge - carpenter style!

Do the same on the top line of the lip.

Add a little more interest by carving in a label - mark with your pencil.

Score in the drawn line.

Carve wood away from around the label.

Varnish or paint to finish. Write whatever you want. I wrote Hoc, Wine and Port.

This is not a step this is just the template.