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| Call Me Frank |
 MATERIALS:
- One piece of old fence
wood, approx. 4" by 9"
- Scrap piece of 1/4"
wood or pre-cut wooden shapes (for bats)
- Paint brushes (be sure
to use old ones, as this wood is rough on brushes)
- Acrylic paint (yellow,
green, red, black, white, purple)
- Spray sealer (matte or
semi-gloss finish)
- 2 (two) large bolts,
with screw-type threads (for the "bolts" in the sides of his
head)
- 20 gauge wire - approximately
12"
- Wire cutters
- Drill and drill bits
(one bit for starting hole for bolts; one bit for wire for bats)
- 9" black paper twist
ribbon
- Permanent glue, such
as Bond 527 or E6000
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Cut the fence wood to
size, using a table saw, jig saw or band saw - take care to follow all
safety precautions. Brush the fence wood free of dirt and any loose
particles of wood. You don't want to smooth the wood out with sandpaper,
as the texture is part of what gives it charm.
- Looking at the photo
for reference, paint most of the surface in lime green. This color is
more yellow than green when mixing the 2 colors to make lime. The top
area ("hair") is painted purple. Don't worry about getting
several solid coats of paint - unless that is the look you want. This
one has one coat of paint. You could slightly sand the edges and surface
if you want a more weathered, rustic look. If you have "new"
looking edges where the wood has been cut, use a piece of charcoal or
the side of a pencil to darken it. Just rub it on the surface, then
wipe any loose residue off with a cloth. Repeat the process until you
have the shade you want.
- Again using the photo
for reference, paint the face details. A permanent marker does not work
well on this kind of wood, as it is rough and it's difficult to draw
solid lines. Use black paint on a liner brush instead.
- The bats are made from 1/4" wood for
the wings and a round, pre-made disk for the head. Use the photo here
to make a pattern - from wing tip to wing tip it measures 3 1/2".
Paint the round disk and the wings black. Using photo as a reference,
paint the details white with a fine liner brush.
- When all painted surfaces
are dry, spray Frank and the bats with a couple coats of acrylic sealer,
allowing them to dry completely between coats. Be sure to do this in
a well-ventilated area.
- Using an appropriate
size drill bit, make a "starter" hole in both sides of the
head. Make a pilot hole like this will help prevent the wood from splitting
out when you screw the bolts in. Insert the bolts as seen in the finished
photo.
- Take a 6" length
of wire for each bat and curl it tightly around something with a small
circumference, such as the end of an old paintbrush. Using a very small
drill bit, drill a hole in the wings on each bat and a hold in Frank's
head (wherever you wish to place the bats). Place a dab of permanent
glue in each hole prior to inserting the wire. Stick one end of the
wire in a bat and the other end in Frank's head. Once the glue is dry,
the bats will have a little bounce to them, and the glue will help keep
them securely attached.
- Untwist a 9" length
of black paper twist ribbon, Tie it tightly in the center and fan out
both ends. Glue this paper "bow tie" at Frank's "chin".
- To hang your Halloween
cutie, drill a shallow hole in the top center of the backside to hang
it on a nail. Or you may prefer to attach a length of wire from bolt
to bolt, making sure you take it above the head for hanging. However
you choose to display him, Frank is sure to bring rave reviews this
All Hallows Eve!
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MATERIALS: