New Miy Gifts
Spring Canvas Bag
Collection
by MaddyLane Designs
Miy Monogram Wood burning Decor
Decorative designs are easy to make, a great project for beginners
C r e a t i o n s  & I n s p i r a t i o n s
"f o r   t h e   p u r e   j o y   o f   m a k i n g   t h i n g s"

          
Miycreations Project article and photographs
by  Madeleine M Langlois

Monogram Retro Stool: Make a lasting impression

The ancient craft of wood burning creates decorative designs on wooden
objects. This project is perfect for beginners because you can start with any
wood item around your home. The last time I did wood burning was in the
'70s, so I decided to practice on my workshop stool to give it a cool retro look,
and if I messed it up it wouldn't matter.

Hands-on time: Under 2 hours.
Total time: Plus drying time for the water-based stains (2 hours), and the
gloss varnish (2 hours for each coat).
Skill: Perfect for beginners.
Project cost: Approximately $14.95 for the wood-burning tool.

Materials & tools:
•  Previously painted or unpainted wooden stool (assorted pre-made wooden
items, in basswood, pine and birch are available at craft and hardware stores)
•  Wood-burning tool with assorted points
•  Needle-nose pliers with rubber handles (to change the hot points)
•  Fine-grained sandpaper and tack cloth
•  Steel ruler
•  Graphite paper
•  Monogram letter template or design of your choice on paper
•  Circle template or a compass
•  Masking tape
•  A pencil or a ballpoint pen
•  Grey and white eraser (the grey to remove pencil marks, white for cleaning
and finishing)
•  Wood scraps to practice and test the points
•  Protective workshop goggles (to prevent the smoke from the burner from
getting into your eyes while working)
•  dark gel stain
•  High-gloss, Minwax Polycrylic waterbased protective finish
•  Foam paintbrush

(Items for this project are available at arts, crafts and hardware stores.)

Prepare previously painted surfaces by cleaning items by sanding lightly and
wiping with a tack cloth. Make a photocopy or a printout of a monogram letter
to use as your design template. Cut the design around the edges. Cut a piece
of graphite paper in the same size. Place the graphite paper under the design
and use masking tape to attach them to the wood surface. Use a pencil or pen
to trace the design onto the wood.

With a circle template, draw circles in assorted sizes around the monogram
letter. Attach the small round tip point (called the cone point) to the wood-
burner. Place the burner on the wire stand and plug it in. It takes about three
to five minutes for the point to heat up.

Use scrap pieces of wood to practice the basic strokes, like dots, lines and
shading. Hold the handle lightly in your hand, like a pencil at a normal writing
angle. With the point touching the wood surface, glide the tool smoothly
toward you in a fluid motion, lifting the point as soon as you finish a line. You
don't need to press hard. The longer the point touches the surface, the
darker the image. A light line can be made darker but dark areas cannot be
made lighter. Try burning your design lightly at first and then re-burn to
darken as desired.

When ready, begin burning the monogram pattern onto the stool. While
working, clean the point tip frequently with sandpaper to remove any carbon
deposits. Rotate the item as needed while you work. Use a steel ruler to
achieve straight lines. Make assorted circle designs using a combination of
dots and basic lines. Make dots by holding the tool straight. Touch the
surface only long enough to create the size of dot wanted and quickly remove.
As you burn your design, small ash residues will collect on the wood's surface.
Every so often, stop to brush them off with a cloth or sandpaper. Add dot
details to the border of the stool seat. Once your design is completed, unplug
the burner and let it rest on the stand until cool. Use an eraser to remove any
pencil or graphite lines.

To make the design imprint more uniform in color, rub a dab of dark gel stain
over the burned design with a cloth and quickly wipe it off.

To add to the retro look of this old stool, I gave the seat area a high-gloss
finish. Apply two to three coats of easy to use and apply Minwax Polycrylic,
letting each coat dry in between applications.


Variations: With basic wood-burning techniques you can create amazing
designs on various items throughout your home - like serving trays, chip wood
boxes, bowls, vases, flower boxes, decorative gourds, wood baskets and
address plaques.

To make an entertaining coffee table for the cottage or family room, imprint a
checkerboard design and your family name on an old table.

Water-based or wax-based stains and oil pencils can be used to apply color
and details to wood-burned objects.

Safety Tips:
Remember the points are very hot and need to be handled with care
especially when changing them; unplug the tool and let the points cool.
Remove and replace the points using pliers. Always place the hot point tips
and the pliers on a heat resistance surface (such as glass, or a ceramic) and
to place the tool back in the wire cradle stand when not in use.
Monograms on wood;
Burning gives wood a retro
look. Decorative designs
are easy to make, a great
project for beginners
• Make a lasting
impression...The ancient
craft of wood burning creates
decorative designs on
wooden objects.
............................................................................................
© All Rights Reserved
Photos and miycreations projects are copyrighted 2008
~by MaddyLane Designs~
• Designs od choice can also be
applied to wooden surfaces using
stain markers to create various
designs on wooden surfaces;mirrors,
frames, pencil holder containers, shelves
Use scrap pieces of wood to
practice the basic strokes,
like dots, lines and shading.
Copyright, All rights reserved Maddylane Designs /  Miy Creations.com 2008
Register for the
Miy NewsLetter  
and Receive
a special
MIY Project
of the month
FREE!
Your name:
Your email address:
Donate!
Show your appreciation for
miycreations.com and support
future development by Donating
Thank you
Miy Decor     Miy Garden      Miy Christmas     Miy Halloween     Miy Fall      Miy Faux-Finish      Miy Wall Art      Miy Kids      Miy Teens   
MIy Store
Creations
by
MaddyLane

Romantic lamps

Stylish Screen
Need creative content
for your Newspapers
or Website.
To Purchase MIY
Creations Home
Decor Craft Content
by MaddyLane
Designs...Click Here
To Purchase
MIY Home Decor
Craft Content

Do you want to spice up the look of your home? Want a cool bean bag chair for your office? Want to add a little comfort to a bedroom with a cool looking foam chair? At The Bean Bag Chair Outlet you can find a great selection of bean bag chairs at great prices! Get your bean bag lovesac today at affordable rates at the Bean Bag Chair Outlet! Visit today!

Miy Services
Photography & Photo Book Creations...
by Maddylane



"Putting your stories into words & books"
To help you make the most your cherished photos & memories.
To treasure for years to come
To Purchase
MIY Home
Decor Craft
Content