Plywood cut out characters

[cnlmom]

Yes, I am a long time lurker on the camping board. I am begging hubby to make a micky lamppost and am working on disneyfying the TT. Now I have a request. I have seen lots of plywood disney character cutouts at campsites on numerous threads. I would like to attempt to make one or two for our upcoming trip. Cannot be to difficult right?!?! Does anyone know of any sites that have plans (preferably free of course)

 

[Shan-man]

I doubt you will find any plans online, but all you really need is a technique. The time-honored technique for enlarging plans to full-size is to use grids to redraw your art. A popular source for Disney art is coloring books, and they are plentiful! Find a page you like and remove it from the book. Draw a grid over the area you want to duplicate. If you are a good artist your grid can be large, if not so much draw a finer grid. Sand and prime your plywood on both sides. Now duplicate the grid on your plywood at whatever final size you need using light pencil strokes. Now, instead of having to freehand a mouse, you just redraw a couple of arcing lines in a square and then move on to the next square. Draw initially in very light strokes, paying attention to where on the grid lines start and end and replicate it accurately. Once you have sketched out all the squares you can then go back and smooth out and darken your lines. Now cut out your shape... don't wait until after it's painted or you risk marring your work. Sand, fill and prime the edges. Optionally you can redraw the grid on the back and draw your art in reverse on the backside (make a flipped photocopy to make the task easier). Or just paint the back a solid color. I would recommend black since your edges will be black. Now paint in the color fields and finish with the black outlines. If you do the black outlines first, you have to do them very carefully and then you do the color and have to do it very carefully. If you do the color first you can do it pretty coarsely and then do the black very carefully. Give the edges several coats of black since they will take the most damage. Finally, take pictures and post them on PhotoBucket so you can share your success with your DISfriends!

 

[2goofycampers]

Here are some directions on the MM lamp post if you might like to try that.

http://www.rvusa.org/rv'ing_tips_and_guides.htm

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Shan's idea of a coloring book is very good...but "gridding" can be alot of work...and unless you have some decent artistic skills to begin with...you may not get the results you want. An overhead projector will make your work rival Picaso's! And its an easy cheat.

Buy some clear sheets of plastic from your local craft store, similar to this..I havent looked but Im sure you can find these sheets at Walmart as well.
Trace the coloring book picture onto the clear plastic with a black sharpie.

If you cant find a place that rents overhead projectors, find a way to steady the traced picture(perhaps paper-clip it to a coat-hanger or something along those lines) and shine a flashlight through it onto your plywood. Make sure the traced picture AND the flashlight remain COMPLETELY UN-MOVED through the entire process of tracing the shadow onto the plywood with the sharpie.

Use a technique like this and you will be the artist you always wanted to be!!

Follow Shans directions after the image has been traced onto the plywood.

 

[cnlmom]

An overhead project is a good idea. I will see if I can get my hands on one. I have plenty of disney coloring books....Doesn't everyone????
Now to find some time!
Thanks
Stephanie

 

[Tnbob]

We used to use one of these projecters that you can set right on the coloring book and project the image on a wall or paper on the wall or even right on the plywood. The further away it is the bigger the image for you to trace. I saw one in Hobby Lobby for $25.00 last month, my DW says Michaels has them also.

 

[Shan-man]

They are called Opaque Projectors. Usually I've seen them in the $50-85 range, but I've never been to a HobbyLobby. Grids are much cheaper! LOL

 

[kristytru]

Craft stores carry cheap opaque projectors. I think mine was around $20. Set it on the image and project onto the plywood and trace. To cut out, I used a "rotozip" that used to be all the rage on the infomercial circuit. Sand, Paint and acrylic finish and you're done!

 

[LuckyinGa]

Yes, I am a long time lurker on the camping board. I am begging hubby to make a micky lamppost and am working on disneyfying the TT. Now I have a request. I have seen lots of plywood disney character cutouts at campsites on numerous threads. I would like to attempt to make one or two for our upcoming trip. Cannot be to difficult right?!?! Does anyone know of any sites that have plans (preferably free of course)

I came across this person selling several on ebay.

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/mywoodlooksgood_?_sid=280414562&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14&_pgn=4

 

[cnlmom]

wholly moley.....they are wicked expensive on ebay. I googled disney coloring pages, the kids picked out a few they liked (donald and Meeko) got a friend to give me some scrap plywood and am pretty sure I got a projector lined up to borrow (was suppose to have access to it yesterday, but it did not work out). I already own a bunch of craft paint so I will just have to pick up a few additioal colors (and make sure they are weather proof) and I am good to go. Sounds so simple doesn't it (I always get these ideas that is it so easy to make things others sell)
I want to make the musket mickey one, but hubby thinks it is a bit to detailed for the jigsaw....maybe after we make the two simpler ones, he will tackle it.
I will post the (unless they look embarassingly awful) if I ever get them done!!!

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Please do post them...Id love to see how they turn out!

 

[auntie]

I came across this person selling several on ebay.

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/mywoodlooksgood_?_sid=280414562&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14&_pgn=4

They had some great looking stuff...I especially liked the Mickey shadow figures...as well as the Charlie Brown Christmas, and Halloween characters!

 

[cnlmom]

I finally finished my 3 cutouts......They were not as difficult as I thought they would be. Just a little time consuming as you had to wait for the paint to dry in between coats and colors.



I thought I could do the photos to show you, but apparently not....let me try again.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Looking forward to the photos...if you need help on how to post them...jus ask...we dont mind walking you through it.

 

[daddyscooltv]

Here's a couple of the one that my DW has made.

 

[Cindy F]

Those are FANTASTIC!!

 

[cnlmom]

Ok....I think I need help posting the photos. I really want to share them as I concededly think they came out pretty good . I opened a photobucket account cause that is what the posting photos thread said to do, then it said I could just put in the link and when I did that.....wal-la, it just posted the link gobblygook and not the photo. At this point, so much for figuring it out myself, I would love some help!

 

[cnlmom]

double post sorry

 

[cnlmom]

I am giving it one more try....

Well what do you know.....my stuborness does sometimes pay off!!! I still have to attach the stakes to the back and then I am going to spray them with a clear lacquer.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Wow, all the photos shown so far- those plywood cut out characters/etc. are AWESOME!
I especially like the square "camp" one... maybe I can make that one. I know I can't on the others and talking DH into all that work for something "disney" is probably not gonna happen. wow those are really great!