Carving Farmyard Animals

These farmyard animals are a great way to add a bit of country charm to your Christmas season. Use l"-thick stock to create lightweight ornaments or P/Z-thick stock for chunkier carvings that are sturdy enough for rugged play. Children will love having their very own set of farmyard animals handcrafted especially for them. Use the animals to complement a nativity scene by enlarging or reducing the patterns to the proper scale.

While most of the carving is straightforward, I did have a difficult time carving the rooster’s feet. As a simpler alternative, use metal nuthatch feet attached to a base. I recommend adding a base to the duckling if the animals are intended as toys.

Paint the carved animals with acrylic paint thinned with water. I prefer a simple paint scheme to add to the rustic charm of the carvings. When dry, seal the carvings with beeswax or your food-safe finish of choice.