tuesday tutorial: elephant push toy
I wanted to do a tutorial for this push toy, but I didn’t take any pictures as I was making them (I finished two). But I had a request for instructions and I finally caved and tried to recreate it without actually making a new elephant. Also, I took the pictures late last night so the photos are pretty bad. Sorry.
You will need:
1. Mod Podge 2. a sponge brush for the Mod Podge and and paint 3. acrylic paint, I used grey and pink 4. paper to cover the elephant body and ears, I used a grey pattern and a pink polka dot 5. a rough fingernail file 6. wooden toy wheels (you can get these at a craft store) 7. ears cut out of 1/4 inch particle board 8. two 2-inch pieces of wooden dowel (match the dowel thickness with the hole in the wheel) 9. an animal pattern, I’ve had this one for many years, I thinks it’s from a Martha Stewart Baby magazine 10. a piece of wood that fits your animal pattern
I forgot to show the wood glue, the clamp, and the sand paper. And you’ll need a scroll saw or a jigsaw to cut out the elephant pattern and a drill press or a hand held drill.
Directions:
1. I didn’t take a picture of this, but first you will need to trace your animal pattern onto your wood and trace your ears onto the particle board. Cut them out using a scroll saw or a jigsaw. Using a drill or drill press, make a hole where pictured on the pattern that is slightly larger than the dowel that you will be using to allow the wheels to roll. Sand down the rough and uneven edges.
2. Using your new wooden elephant as a template, trace two elephant shapes and two ear shapes out of your paper and cut out. It’s better if the shapes are a little bit bigger than the wooden elephant because we’ll be filing the paper down for a perfect fit.
3. Paint the edge of the elephant grey, going around the whole elephant.
4. Paint the skinny edge of the ears pink.
5. Using Mod Podge and the sponge brush, adhere the paper to the wooden elephant. I only applied Mod Podge to the back side of the paper. Repeat for the ears.
6. After the Mod Podge dries, file down the edges of the paper to meet the edge of the wood using the rough file. This will create a crisp and distressed line along the elephant. Repeat for the ears.
7. Using just a little bit of wood glue, stick both of the ears onto the elephant body and hold in place with a clamp. Let dry overnight.
8. Meanwhile, spray paint your wheels grey and cut your dowel to size.
9. When everything is dry, insert the dowel through the drilled hole and glue the wheels to pieces of dowel.
10. Tie a matching bow and find someone to give your elephant push toy to.
Tags: Elephant Shower, Tutorials
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22 Responses to “tuesday tutorial: elephant push toy”
September 24th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
that is darling!
September 24th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
I can’t believe you used a saw and made that! That’s awesome!
September 24th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
thank you for this. i seriously loved it from the first photo you posted of it. it’s a perfect handmade gift for any little one. thanks for sharing.
September 25th, 2009 at 2:41 am
So, so cute. Now how do I justify buying a jigsaw for my "crafting"?
September 25th, 2009 at 3:43 am
Okay, to be fair I should mention that I was the feminist-type girl who took three–yes THREE–years of woodshop in junior high/high school. I loved it and projects like this never intimidate me. Also my husband was a finish carpenter for many years before we met and before he returned to school to get his degree in something else. So we both have a lot of sawdust in our pasts.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
An Elegant Elephant. Perfect. My sister is just like you – we always gave her a new tool for Christmas and Birthdays. But for the rest of us, you really should simply sell a craft kit with the elephant wood cutouts. The shape is just perfect.
September 26th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
What a simple easy tutorial ~ minus the whole jigsaw, cut my finger off part. What a sweet gift to give to a new mommy!
September 27th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
This is just so darling! Thanks for the tutorial ~ while the instructions seem fairly easy to follow along with, I think I’ll stay far away from any tools! I’ve run over my finger with the needle in my sewing machine once…..I can’t even imagine what might occur if I had my hands on a power tool! Beautiful work!!
September 28th, 2009 at 3:48 am
Adorable! I just showed it to my husband and told him to get to work cutting out the wood:o) I can’t wait to make one for my little seven month old, Ellie. We call her Ellie-phant.
October 29th, 2009 at 10:43 am
That is really cool!
November 4th, 2009 at 3:39 am
I love your blog!! Can you tell me how big is the finished elephant?
February 1st, 2010 at 9:12 am
[...] Sucre, this shower is fantastic! Get the scoop on all of the delightful details, to include a tutorial for the elephant plush toy, on Brittany’s blog, One Charming [...]
April 1st, 2010 at 8:02 pm
[...] just came across a tutorial for a beautiful elephant push toy on One Charming Party. It’s not plush and velvety, but it is elegant, and it would make a [...]
April 5th, 2010 at 2:59 am
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April 27th, 2010 at 10:33 am
[...] Chair: Part 1 and Part 2 @ The Creative Maven Gorgeous Home Offices + Craft Spaces @ stephmodo tuesday tutorial: elephant push toy @ One Charming [...]
May 12th, 2010 at 6:49 am
I LOVE this! It’s posting today! xo
May 12th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Super cute idea! It will go on my toddlers gift page.
May 12th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
WOW! This is one of the cutest baby toys I’ve seen in a long time!! Darling!
May 13th, 2010 at 11:18 am
I love this-so cute and the possibilities are endless!
May 13th, 2010 at 11:19 am
Oops–I meant to tell you that I think your tutorial is great! Very well done!
May 14th, 2010 at 8:13 am
How Cute! I just love your little elephant…and the colors too!
Blessings,
Debbie
May 26th, 2010 at 8:21 am
Just wanted to let you know that I featured this idea on my blog with a roundup of other fun baby ideas, getting ready for Baby Week at Oopsey Daisy. Here is the link:
http://oopsey-daisy.blogspot.com/2010/05/wednesdays-wowzers-baby-crazy.html
Thanks for sharing! Have a great day!
~Alison
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