Spring Wreath

The Spring Wreath represents a time of renewal and gives your guests an exceptional and cheerful welcome when displayed in your foyer or hung on your front door!

This project features a fusion of spring flowers and leaves along with a scroll-type banner design.

The finished, assembled wreath is about 17″ in diameter x 1½” thick.

STEP 1 – Upload Project

Open the Designer software and open the included project file(s). You can then simply compile (upload) the project(s) to your memory card.

When you compile, you may or may not get a pop-up window with an “Auto-Jig” warning message. If you do see the message, you may safely click on “Ignore” because our actual boards will be large enough that it won’t be an issue. 

After the project is compiled, select “Normal or Best” for the File Quality setting. Click “OK” to upload to your memory card. 

NOTE: Carve times are as follows:

• TOP_Spring_Wreath.mpc
  • Good – 2 hours 45 mins
  • Best – 5 hours
• BOTTOM_Spring_Wreath.mpc
  • Good – 2 hours 30 mins
  • Best – 4 hours 30 mins
• Banner_Scroll.mpc
  • Good – 1 hour 45 minutes

Take and insert the card into your machine and load the project board. 

Turn your machine on and proceed with Step 2… 

STEP 2 – Carving

Run through the setup steps and carve the project.

Once the carving is finished, remove it from the machine and vacuum or blow off any excess sawdust.

STEP 3 – Separate Parts from Material 

Separate all the pieces from the boards with a utility knife or hobby saw.

Use a Dremel-type tool to sand off the tabs and sand all the components to remove any fuzzies and undesirable tool marks.

Use a Dremel-type tool to sand off the tabs and sand all the components to remove any fuzzies and undesirable tool marks. I use various Dremel bits as well as 3M Radial Bristle Discs from www.mcmaster.com to safely remove fuzzies from carvings without loss of detail.

The seam will be hidden by the banner, so it doesn’t need to be perfect.You can fill any gap with glue mixed with sawdust from the carving process, if you wish.

NOTE: The top and bottom mpc’s show the wreath sections as inverted. The top section is recognized by the middle two leaves that form a ‘v’ shape where the wreath will be hung over a nail.

STEP 4 – Wreath Glue-up 

Glue the two halves together and allow to dry. I used wood glue and CA wood adhesive (super glue for wood) to tack the parts while the regular wood glue cured.

Position the banner on the wreath, as desired (cover the joint seams) and temporarily tape in place.

Turn the wreath over and drill a couple countersunk holes from the back side for the #6 wood screws. Be careful to position the holes over the thicker parts of the banner ends so the screws won’t poke through the front side.

Fasten the banner onto the wreath with the screws, then remove the screws and banner before finishing as desired.

STEP 5 – Finishing

Apply stain/paint and a clear coat of your choice. Here’s what I used on my Spring Wreath made from Select Pine:

• Banner
  • one very light coat of thinned Bullseye Sealcoat (2 parts sealer/3 parts Denatured alcohol)
  • sanded again with very fine sandpaper
  • applied Minwax Colonial Maple stain #223
  • applied several spray coats of Krylon clear acrylic

• Wreath
  • one very light coat of thinned Bullseye Sealcoat (2 parts sealer/3 parts Denatured alcohol)
  • sanded again with very fine sandpaper & Dremel 
  • applied Minwax Ipswich Pine stain #221
  • hand-brushed Minwax Early American stain #230 on the leaves only
  • applied several spray coats of Krylon clear acrylic

STEP 6 – Final Assembly

After the finish is dry, reassemble the banner to the wreath using the wood screws to complete your project.

FINAL

I hope you have enjoyed creating your Spring Wreath. After you’ve made one for yourself, make another for a great gift for someone else!

Happy Carving!