Pyrography Woodburning 101

What is Pyrography?

Well us home schooling mother/fathers know it as wood burning. If you have home schooled with a hands on approach at all you know that handicrafts are essential for kids to learn. Why?

Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Keep your kids busy about the things of Christ.

Don't let them be lazy.

I am glad that you asked. Handicrafts such as crocheting, weaving, woodworking, or wood burning teaches a young student not only how to create with his or her hands; but to engage their minds with the details of learning a new skill and then making it their own by adding their personal touch to it.

This will help them later in life to adapt to new job responsibilities and not to be afraid to try things that they have not yet experienced.

Wood burning is one of those handicrafts that allows that to happen. To take a tree, yes a tree, and slice it into pieces and let it dry and then burn an image into it is very rewarding.

So what do you need to get started? Well start small, we purchased wood slices (basswood is nice) at our local craft store, some sand paper, and a Pyrography burning tool with tips.

We bought a woodburning kit with tips included.

We also bought sandpaper for them to smooth out the finished craft once they were done burning.

We purchased our supplies at our local Hobby Lobby.

These tools and things make great stocking stuffers and hard to buy for guy gifts!

Don't forget to load a coupon to your phone and save some money!

We have two sons so they both received their own tools and wood slices.

We recycled our Christmas tree each year and save the leftover and cure them for crafting later.

is how to accomplish that.

Here

That will allow you to produce a large quantity of wood slices for your wood burning projects.

They boys wanted a more detail look and basswood is nice.

We used the store bought slices for the finished project and the recycled ones for practice.

The first question you need to ask yourself is, "What design do I want to burn on my slice"?

Our boys are into trains and tractors so this decision was a no-brainer.

I ask the to go grab a favorite doodle of theirs or one from favorite book.

Here is what they chose.

Vintage Tractor

Vintage Train

I apparently go chosen to be the artist in the family for this adventure so here is what I came up with.

No laughing... :)

I doodle the vintage tractor onto a sheet of lined paper.

Got it into my brain and doodled it again onto the basswood.

I doodled the name and date too.

I doodled the vintage train. I use a tiny ruler to accomplish this part. Using angles, lines and circles too.

Father's let me encourage you, my husband taught them the wood burning class. All I did was draw the doodles. I could have taught it with ease. But children need to know that both parents are involved in what they learn. So for the father's who are teaching right along with the mothers "way to go" for the ones who are not; I encourage you to get involved in your kids learning. They will think you are AMAZING for it! For parents who's kids are public schooled I encourage you to incorporate "handicrafts" into your kids after school time. Something that you can teach them or maybe learn together. You can do it!

something to think about..

Proverbs 22:6Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Teaching them a handicraft is a good thing, idle time and doing things that won't help them as adults later are a waste of time!

I ask you parent...what are you teaching your children?

Then they began. We allowed them to work in my husbands shop and they set up a workstation with a panel of wood. Both of the tools are plugged in away from chemicals and anything that might cause a fire! The shop has a huge garage door so ventilation was not an issue.

The wood burning tools get HOT!

Over 700 degrees.... hot!

Make them wear old clothing and safety glasses too.

They took a bunch of homemade recycled (dried out) slices and practiced burning.

After a while they were ready to try the REAL DEAL!

Just trace the pencil doodle and press slighty. The tip will burn the wood leaving a brown burn trail behind. Once cooled you can feel it with your hand.

Your kids can color the finished craft with colored pencils if they desire.

It is a slow process, but with a little patience the finish product is nice.

Allow them to create Christmas tree ornaments for loved ones, or coasters to give to grandpa and grandma. It is the craftmanship that is the real gift!