star wars Archives - Handmade with Ashley

8-Bit Star Wars R2-D2 Pixel Wall Art Tutorial

Ashley — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 02:14:59 +0000

A step by step tutorial on how to make an 8-bit R2-D2 from Star Wars.

DIY 8-Bit R2-D2 Pixel Wall Art Tutorial

Hello, everyone in this post I’m sharing details on how I made an 8-bit R2-D2 from Star Wars. I made R2-D2 using the same technique I used to create a few of my other pixel art creations like 8-bit Link, Goomba, Lakitu, Spiny, Koopa Troopa and Blooper.

(For sneak peeks on upcoming projects follow me on Instagram and for more DIY project tutorials subscribe to my YouTube channel!)

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase an item via one of these links, I’ll receive a small commission at no added cost to you. This helps keep the content on the site free and I appreciate the support! :o)

Tools and Supplies

The following items are some of the tools and supplies I gathered to make 8-bit R2-D2:

TOOLS

SUPPLIES

2′ x 2′ plywood – 1/2″ thick
Acrylic craft paints (white, black, blue and red)
Primer spray paint
Clear coat
Sand paper

WATCH THE VIDEO TUTORIAL

Click play and watch the video tutorial below. The video shows how I made pixel Link, but the general steps remain the same for pixel R2-D2. For more woodworking videos, CLICK HERE to subscribe to my YouTube channel.

Continue reading for the written tutorial.

How to make R2-D2

Here’s how to make R2-D2 in 5 easy steps.

Step 1: Draw a grid on a piece of plywood.

Use a ruler to mark grid lines space 0.75″ apart.

Drawing a grid onto a piece of plywood. The scale is 1 pixel = 3/4″

Step 2: Use a router and route a v groove along the grid lines

Install a v-groove router bit and route along the grid lines. Use a clamp edge guide to ensure straight lines

Using a router to create v grooves along the grid lines

Step 3: Cut out the silhouette of R2-D2’s shape

I followed a pixel grid for R2-D2 that I found online. Here’s the source of my image.

R2-D2 Pixel Grid | Source

Trace out the silhouette of R2-D2 and then cut out the R2-D2’s shape with a jigsaw (or use a bandsaw).

Drawing R2-D2’s silhouette onto the plywood

Step 4: Sand and prep the surface for paint

Sand between the grooves and sand the surface of R2-D2. I used scrap piece of wood to support the sandpaper as I sanded between the grooves.

Step 5: Paint the pixels

Paint each pixel on R2-D2. Painting between the grooves is a little tricky. Use painters tape to maintain clean lines. I was impatient and used paint brushes for painting miniatures to paint in the crevices.

If necessary, apply multiple layers of paint. Once the paint is dried, protect the finish with a clear coat.

Base coat of paint drying

8-Bit R2-D2

Install some hanging hardware and enjoy!

8-bit R2-D2 (Star Wars DIY)

DIY R2-D2 Pixel Art Tutorial

FIND ME ONLINE!

What do you think of the pixel R2D2? Leave a comment below!

The post 8-Bit Star Wars R2-D2 Pixel Wall Art Tutorial appeared first on Handmade with Ashley.

Darth Vader Bust | 3D Printing

Ashley — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 02:25:28 +0000

A 3D printed bust of one of the greatest villains of all time: Darth Vader. (3D model designed by David Östman)

3D Printed Darth Vader Bust modeled by David
Östman

Hello everyone, today I’m sharing one my of favorite 3D prints so far: a bust of the Star Wars villain, Darth Vader! The Darth Vader model was designed by David Östman and is available for download via My Mini Factory.

The model is split into two parts: the bust and the stand. No supports are required.

I printed the model with PolyAlchemy’s Onyx Elixir PLA and wow! That stuff looks incredible.

The bust took roughly 26 hours to print and the stand was another 8 hours or so. I printed it at 20% infill.

Stringy print fail

The first attempt at printing the model, I tried printing it at 0% infill. Unfortunately, it failed. I think probably because the Elixir filament is a bit flexible and and some point during the print it flexed and triggered a chain reaction of fail.

This is a wonderful model, and I can’t wait to print more of Mr. Östman‘s work!

3D printed Darth Vader Bust by David Östman

The post Darth Vader Bust | 3D Printing appeared first on Handmade with Ashley.

DIY Star Wars Themed End Table

Ashley — Thu, 04 May 2017 12:36:59 +0000

DIY Star Wars Inspired End Table

Hello everyone! Today I’m excited to share my latest creation: a Star Wars Inspired End Table. This was a really exciting project to work on for three reasons:

It’s Star Wars Themed
It’s my first project with dado joints
It sparkles

Stay tuned for a YouTube video. I hope to upload it my YouTube channel over the weekend.

Star Wars Themed DIY Projects

In honor of Star Wars day, I have teamed up with a few fellow bloggers to share tutorials on how to make some Star Wars inspired projects. Please take a moment to check out each project:

Here’s a list of my other Star Wars themed projects:

DIY Star Wars Inspired End Table

Now, let’s get started!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase an item via one of these links, I’ll receive a small commission at no added cost to you. This helps keep the content on the site free and I appreciate the support!

Tools and Supplies

The following items are the tools and supplies I gathered to build this Star Wars themed end table.

Tools

Router
Homemade Router Dado Jig (tutorial coming soon!)
3/4″ Dado Router Bit
Up Spiral Router Bit
Router Circle Jig (alternatively can use a jigsaw)
Jointer
Planer
Circular Saw
Silhouette (for cutting Rebel Symbol stencil)

Supplies

Sheet of 3/4″ Plywood (1)
1″ x 6″ x 8′ (1)
Wood glue
Glitter
Cardstock (for Rebel stencil)
Red acrylic craft paint
Paint brush
Black paint
Stain
Sealer
Mod Podge
Clear Matte Spray
Pour-on High Gloss Finish

Cut List

Project lumber

For ease of use, I cut the plywood into manageable chunks.

24″ x 48″ (2) – Plywood
20″ x 22″ (2) – Plywood
1×6 – 21″ (4)

Mill the 1×6 with a jointer and a planer prior to starting step 1. For details on that process, check out my blog post on How to Make a Wooden Cutting Board.

How to build the Star Wars End Table

I have SketchUp plans in the works. This is something I hope to make available before the weekend is up.

Step 1: Glue up the 1×6 boards

1×6 edge jointed panel

First up, create a panel with the 1×6 boards. Glue the edges and clamp the boards together. After 15 minutes have passed, use a scraper to remove excess glue from the squeeze out. Let the glue dry completely before removing the clamps.

Step 2: Create dados

I opted for dado joints for this project because alignment critical. I felt a dado was the best form of joinery for the project. I whipped up a little jig for my router to create dados. The jig was inspired by a Popular Woodworking Magazine article. You can read about it here.

On a quarter sheet of plywood mark off the center from the short side and long side. Create a dado along the lines. Repeat this step for the other end of the quarter sheet of plywood.

At the midpoint of the 20” x 22” pieces of plywood, create a dado on each side.

Creating dados in plywood with a router

Step 3: Cut circles

With a router and a circle cutting jig, cut out 4 circles. (Alternatively you can use a jigsaw.)

20″ diameter circle with the dados (2)
20″ diameter circle from the 1×6 panel (1)
19 1/2″ diameter circle (1)

Cut the 19 1/2″ circle into quarters.

All done cutting the circles. I finished cutting the other parts of this project too. Tomorrow I’ll assemble it. Hopefully everything will fit together. . #imnervous #notfeelingoptimistic #woodworking #woodwork #woodworker #dowoodworking #circle #circles #woodencircle #plywood #pine #garage #garageshop #sundayfunday

A post shared by Ashley Grenon (@handmadewithashley) on Apr 30, 2017 at 4:51pm PDT

Step 4: Notch out the table “legs”

Find the center of the 20″ x 22″ pieces of plywood and notch out a portion of the board to make a lap joint with the other table leg.

Plywood joint

Step 5: Assemble the table base

To assemble the table base:

Place 1 circle with dado side up on a flat surface.
Attach the legs.
Attach the base top.
Insert table shelves.

Use wood glue and clamps to secure the joints.

Assembling table base

Inserting table shelves

Table base assembled!

Step 6: Paint the base, stain the top

Painting the table base

Paint the base and seal it with your favorite sealer.

Table top stained with ECOS Paints Woodshield

Stain the table top. I used ECOS Paints Woodshield (Pine Needles).

Step 7: Paint the Rebel Symbol

I used my Silhouette to create a Rebel stencil about 16″ in diameter.

Rebel Logo stencil

I traced an outline of the symbol and painted the symbol red. Allow the paint to dry before continuing onto the next step.

Painted the rebel symbol red

Step 8: Add glitter

Add glitter to the Rebel symbol. I used Mod Podge to adhere the glitter the table top. Once the Mod Podge dries, seal the glitter with a coat or two of clear matte spray finish.

It’s so shiny Getting close to finishing up this project! I should have started it a week ago. This top is the 2×6 I resawed earlier. I didn’t have any issues with it warping. I think that’s probably because that scrap has been sitting my garage for many months. . #rebel #starwars #starwarscrafts #starwarscraft #geek #geekcraft #geekywoodworking #woodworking #dowoodworking #woodworker #glitter #red #rebelsymbol #starwarsday #may4th #maythe4thebewithyou #maytheforcebewithyou #diy #handmadewithashley

A post shared by Ashley Grenon (@handmadewithashley) on May 3, 2017 at 10:12pm PDT

Step 9: Coat the top with resin

Before applying resin, try to remove as much of the loose glitter as possible. Mix the resin according to the package instructions and apply a coat to the surface of the table top. Allow for it to completely cure before continuing onto the next step.

Pour-on resin

Resin applied to the table top

Step 10: Attach table top to table base

Secure the table top to the table base.

Resin cured.

Top secured to the table base

Step 11: Make it spin!

This step has not been implemented yet, but it is a modification to the project that I plan on making.

Star Wars Inspired End Table

If you build this Star Wars inspired end table, please leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @handmadewithashley or Twitter @handmadewithash. I’d love to see your pictures!

DIY Star Wars Inspired End Table

Pin it!

Pin it! How to build a Star Wars Inspired End Table

I’m linkin up to:

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DIY TIE Fighter Shelf (The Force Awakens Edition)

Ashley — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 18:12:09 +0000

DIY TIE Fighter Shelf (The Force Awakens Edition)

Hi everyone, I’m really excited to share details on my latest creation: another TIE Fighter shelf. My original TIE Fighter shelf tutorial is one of my most popular projects and it is also a personal favorite. This updated version sports the paint job from Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. It’s slightly smaller than my first version and instead of storing books, this one will store acrylic craft paints. Continue reading for project details!

TIE Fighter shelf storing acrylic craft paints

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Tools and Supplies

The following items are some of the tools and supplies I gathered to build the TIE Fighter shelf.

Tools

Supplies

1×12 – 24″
1×6 – 48″
1 1/4″ pocket hole screws
Wood glue
Gray spray paint + primer
Black spray paint + primer
Gloss sealer
Painters tape
Contact paper or removable vinyl paper

How to build a TIE Fighter Shelf

Step 1: Cut the boards to length

Cut the 1×6 board into two 20″ long pieces
Cut the 1×12 into two 11 1/4″ pieces.

Step 2: Cut out a hexagon shape for the TIE Fighter wings

Orient the 1×12 squares such that the grain is running up and down.
Mark the midpoint on the left and right side.
Mark 2″ from each corner.
Draw a line connecting the midpoint to the 2″ marks.
Cut along the lines with a jigsaw or circular saw.

You should have a hexagon shape. Refer to the image below.

Step 3: Drill pocket holes

I like using pocket hole joints. They are quick and easy to make.

Drill 2 pocket holes on the ends of each 1×6 board.
Drill 3 pocket holes on the side of one 1×6 board.

Drilling pocket holes

Step 4: Sand

Prep the surface of the boards for painting. Sand, sand and sand. I used paint with primer. If you are not using a paint that contains primer take a moment and prime the surface.

Step 5: Apply the base coat of paint

Paint one face of each 1×6 board with gray paint
Paint 1×12 boards black on all sides

Allow the paint to dry completely before continuing on to the next step.

Applying a base coat of paint

Step 6: Paint the TIE Fighter wings

With 1″ painter’s tape, tape off each side of the hexagon
Tape off the diagonals
Apply a piece of tape from the left side to the right side
Paint the exposed area with gray paint

Repeat this 3 more times for each face on the hexagons.

Taping off the TIE Fighter wings

Spray painting the TIE Fighter wings gray

Step 7: Paint the TIE Fighter cockpit

Painting the TIE Fighter cockpit is the most difficult (and possibly most frustrating) step in the whole project. I used a mixture of contact paper and tape to create a stencil for spray painting the cockpit. You may find it easier to hand paint the cockpit.

Here are the dimensions for the cockpit:

The circle has a radius of 4 1/2″
Each side of the octagon is 2″
The line thickness is 1/2″

I cut out a semicircle and half an octagon from contact paper. Once that was in place, I taped a line from each point on the octagon to the semicircle. Refer to the picture below for details.

I did not have 1/2″ painters tape so I just cut my existing tape in half.

Taping off the cockpit

If you are painting the shelf before joining the boards, keep in mind the location of your pocket holes and remember one of the boards will be partially covered by the other.

Paint the entire board with black.

Everything is painted!

Step 8: Assemble the shelf

To assemble the shelf:

Join the 2 – 1×6 boards together
Join the shelf to one wing
Join the shelf to the other wing

I used a scrap 1×4 board to help attach the shelf to the wings:

Lay a TIE Fighter wing face down on a flat surface
Align the 1×4 board to the bottom edge of the TIE Fighter wing
Place the shelf on top of the wing. The bottom corner should touch the 1×4 board.
Select an angle you like for shelf and pick some visual reference. (I aligned the shelf edge with one of the corners on a gray triangle.)
Attach the shelf to the wing with pocket hole screws
Align the 1×4 board to the bottom edge of the other wing
Place the shelf on top of that wing such that the bottom corner is touching the 1×4 board
Align shelf with the matching visual reference you selected on the other wing
Attach the shelf to final wing with pocket hole screws

Step 9: Seal the shelf

Seal the shelf with a few coats of your favorite sealer and you’re done.

DIY TIE Fighter Shelf

If you build the TIE Fighter shelf, please leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @handmadewithashley or Twitter @handmadewithash. I’d love to see your pictures!

DIY TIE Fighter Shelf

TIE Fighter Shelf with tiny human

TIE Fighter shelf storing acrylic craft paints

The post DIY TIE Fighter Shelf (The Force Awakens Edition) appeared first on Handmade with Ashley.

DIY BB-8 Push Toy (Tutorial)

Ashley — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 10:01:15 +0000

How to make a wooden BB-8 push toy. This is an excellent homemade gift for the little Star Wars fan in your life.

DIY BB-8 Push Toy

Hi everyone! I’ve teamed up with 12 awesome woodworker bloggers to bring you 13 Days of a Woodworker Christmas.

13 Days of a Woodworker Christmas

My Love 2 Create – Open now!
The Handyman’s Daughter – Open now!
Craftsman Drive – Open now!
Handmade with Ashley – That’s me!
Hazel & Gold – Open now!
The Painted Key – Open now!
The Created Home – Open now!
Her Tool Belt – Open now!
Lazy Guy DIY – Open now!
Uncookie Cutter – Open now!
Knock It Off Crafter – Open now!
The Jawn Shop – Open now!
Keddie Woodshop – Open now!

And on top of sharing the how to on 13 projects, we’re having a giveway! We’ve teamed up with @RyobiPowerTools and @PaintWIZ_ Paint Sprayers to bring you a prize pack valued at over $300!

To enter to win the giveaway, starting December 1st repost the 13 Days of Woodworker Christmas Image to your Instagram feed with the tag #13DaysofWoodworking. Want additional entries? Each day a different blogger “unwraps” their project they’ll post a teaser image on their Instagram feed. Follow their account (and check out their project!) and repost their teaser image to your Instagram feed with the same tag #13DaysofWoodworking along with the unique tag that’s will be given out along with each project. What? We are giving you 14 different chances to win this awesome gift pack? Darn right, it’s the season of giving isn’t it? You have until 10:00pm PST on December 14th to enter. All entries will be tallied and a winner will be announced Friday, December 16th.

My secret hashtag is #bb8pushtoy.

The Fourth Day of Christmas

BB-8 Push Toy in action!

I’m a Star Wars geek. I enjoy combining Star Wars with woodworking (see TIE Fighter Bookshelf). Today, I’m sharing how to build a wooden BB-8 Push toy. This would be a cute homemade gift for the little Star Wars fan in your life.

On the fourth day of Christmas your dear woodworker made a wooden BB-8 push toy

Tools and Supplies

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

The following items are the tools and supplies you’ll need to build the BB-8 push toy.

Tools

Something to cut circles with (I used my trim router with a circle jig)
Orbital Sander
Handsaw
Drill
1/2″ Forstner bit
9/16″ Forstner bit
1/16″ Drill bit
Router with 1/4″ roundover bit
Printer
Paint brush

Project supplies

Supplies

Scrap wood (1×8 – 24″)
1/2″ Wooden dowel rod (48″ long)
1″ Dowel cap for a 1/2″ dowel
1″ Split ball
1/16″ wooden dowel (2)
Wood glue
Triple Thick Gloss Glaze
Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium
Mod Podge Dimensional Magic
Spray primer
Acrylic Paints (black, white, orange, gray)
Black marker
BB-8 Coloring page (page 2, print 2 copies at 125%)

How to build a BB-8 Push Toy

DIY BB-8 Push Toy

Step 1: Cut four circles

Cut 4 circles from your scrap piece of lumber. You will need two 6″ circles and two 3.5″ circles.

Cutting 3.5″ circles with a hole saw

Cutting 6″ circle with Makita trim router and Rockler trim router circle jig

I used a 3.5″ hole saw to cut out my circles. I don’t recommend this method. However if you do decide to use a hole saw, please handle with care. For the larger 6″ circles, I used my trim router equipped with a circle jig. I own a Rockler circle jig. It’s not compatible with my Makita trim router out of the box. I just needed to make a quick mod to make it work.

Step 2: Drill holes for the axle

Drilling holes for axle

Find the center of the 6″ circles. Drill a 1/2″ wide hole no more than 1/2″ deep at the center point of each large circle.

Drilling hole for axle

Find the center on one of the 3.5″ circles. Drill a 9/16″ hole through the entire circle.

Step 3: Drill holes for BB-8’s head

Drilling hole in BB-8’s head

On each 3.5″ circle drill a 1/2″ deep hole with the 1/2″ bit.

Step 4: Drill a hole for the handle

Find the 3.5″ circle with a hole for the axle. Drill another 1/2″ deep hole with the 1/2″ bit 45 degrees from the hole for BB-8’s head.

Step 5: Drill two tiny holes for antennas

Find the 3.5″ circle with one hole. Drill two 1/16″ holes on the opposite end of the existing hole.

Step 6: Cut the dowels

I recommend cutting the dowels to fit. BB-8’s head should be slightly covered by the body. You will need a short dowel (~ 1 1/2″) piece for connecting the head to the body and another short piece for connecting the two wheels (~ 1 3/4″). What’s remaining will be the handle for the toy.

Also cut two pieces of 1/8″ dowel (BB-8’s antennas). My tiny dowel pieces were about 1 1/2″ and 1″ long.

Step 7: Tidy up the circles

Circle edges are rounded over

Round over the edges of each circle with a 1/4″ roundover router bit. Sand the surface of each circle.

Step 8: Prep the surface for paint

Spray priming

Prime each circle with white spray primer.

Step 9: Transfer BB-8 pattern onto the circles

Instead of freehand drawing BB-8’s pattern onto the circles, I cheated. I found an activity pack that contained several coloring book pages from The Force Awakens one of which is BB-8 (it’s on page 2). Print two copies enlarged at 125%.

I used Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium to transfer the coloring page outline onto the circles. Follow the instructions here on how to use it. Now here’s where I made a really awful mistake. I ran out of normal copy paper, but I had some colored copy paper. I mistakenly believed that the medium would only transfer my laser printer toner ink, but it also transferred pigments in the paper. Oops!

Trouble with the transfer

Step 10: Paint in the lines

Fill in BB-8’s colors. Be careful to stay between the lines. I used a black marker to touch up in areas where I painted over the line.

Painting BB-8’s body

Paint the 1″ split ball black, the 1/2″ dowel cap orange, and 1/16″ dowels gray.

Split ball and dowel end cap

Step 11: Add a layer of dimension

Once the paint has dried, coat the 1″ split ball with triple thick gloss glaze. Cover the small black dot on BB-8’s head with a few drops of the Mod Podge Dimensional Glaze. The glazes give BB-8’s eyes a glass-like look.

Adding Mod Podge Dimensional Magic to one of BB-8’s “eyes”

Step 12: Seal

Apply your favorite sealer to protect the paint.

Step 13: Assemble and enjoy!

Assembling BB-8

With wood glue and clamps, assemble BB-8.

Start with gluing in dowel in one of the 6″ circles. Once the glue has tried, thread the 3.5″ axel circle and glue the dowel to the remaining 6″ circle.

Attach BB-8’s head and handle with glue as well.

DIY BB-8 Push Toy

If you build the push toy, please leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @handmadewithashley or Twitter @handmadewithash. I’d love to see your pictures!

DIY BB-8 Push Toy

Check out my other Star Wars projects here!

The post DIY BB-8 Push Toy (Tutorial) appeared first on Handmade with Ashley.

DIY Star Wars Marquee Wall Art Tutorial

Ashley — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 04:30:53 +0000

Make this DIY Star Wars Marquee sign for a fraction of the cost of purchasing it.

DIY Star Wars Marquee Wall Art Sign

I love Star Wars, and I love making things. Combine the two and we have this homemade Star Wars Marquee sign! Follow along for steps on how to make one for yourself, or the Star Wars fan in your life!

Star Wars Marquee Sign with lights off

(For sneak peeks on upcoming projects follow me on Facebook and Instagram!)

If you like this DIY, check out my tutorial on how to make a Star Wars TIE Fighter bookshelf!

Build a Star Wars TIE Fighter Bookshelf

Or this tutorial on how to make a BB-8 push toy!

BB-8 Push Toy in action!

Inspiration for this DIY comes from Pottery Barn Kids. I was browsing their catalog and spotted this beauty!

Pottery Barn Kids Star Wars Marquee Sign | Source

Unfortunately, the price tag on the sign is $300 and thus way out of my price range.

I made my version of the sign over the course of a weekend, and I was able to make my version for a tenth of the price!

What You Will Need

The following items are some of the tools and supplies I gathered to create the Star Wars marquee:

Tools

Circular Saw
Brad Nailer
Silhouette (for creating the Star Wars stencil)
Drill (equipped with a 3/4 inch wood spade bit)
Staple Gun
Parallel clamps
Sander
Ruler
Pencil

Supplies

String Globe Lights (I purchased them here!)
2 – 6″ long cedar fence picket* (~ $2.50 each)
2 – 8″ long 1×2 furring strips (~ $1.25 each)
Black Spray paint
ECOS Paints Woodshield Stain (Golden Oak)
ECOS Paints Woodshield Varnish (Satin)
Contact Paper (for Silhouette stencil)
Wood glue

*Version 2 of the sign I made use of some scrap 1×6 whitewood boards. The first version of the marquee sign, I used cedar fence pickets that have been sitting in my garage for a few months. They were nice and dry. Unfortunately, while I was in the home stretch for finishing this project my son managed to destroy the sign. I visited my local hardware store to purchase some more cedar fence pickets, but the boards in their stock were very damp.

*You could save a few steps and use a piece of plywood or MDF (33″ x 22″). I glued up boards to create a wood panel because I wanted to make use of lumber from my scrap wood pile.

How to Make a Star Wars Marquee

Step 1: Cut the fence pickets in half and create a panel from the four boards.

If you are not using cedar picket fences, cut 4 – 36 inches long 1×6 pieces.

Cedar pickets cut in half

Otherwise, cut each cedar fence picket in half. Edge glue the boards together. Wait for the glue to dry before moving onto the next step.

Edge glue joints with the Damstom 38″ panel clamp

Gluing up the boards for version two

Step 2: Trim the edges of the wood panel.

Panel with uneven ends

Trim about an inch off the ends of the panel to create a straight edge. The length of the panel should be about 33″ inches long.

Using the Rockwell Versa Cut saw (with track guide) to trim up the boards

Step 3: Cut the furring strips and attach strips to each side of the wood panel.

Make 4 cuts from the 1×2 furring strips. Each piece will cover a side of the wood panel. Attach the pieces to the panel with a brad nailer and wood glue.

I recommend that you cut the trim to size. My measurements were:

33 inches (2x)
23.5 inches (2x)

The trim measured and cut

Trim attached to the four sides of the panel

Step 4: Sand the surface of the panel.

I recently witness the ill effects of not wearing a mask while sanding (it wasn’t pretty). Wear a dust mask and sand the panel until the surface is smooth. Clear the panel of sawdust before starting the next step.

I used my belt sander for the rough sanding and followed up with my orbital sander.

Sanding the surface of the panel with a Ryobi Belt Sander

Step 5: Stain the surface of the wood panel.

Stain the top surface of the wood panel. I used ECOS Paints Woodshield in Golden Oak. You will want to pick a color that contrasts well with your second color.

Staining wood with ECOS Paints Woodshield – Golden Oak

Step 6: Create a Star Wars stencil.

Creating the Star Wars stencil with the Silhouette Studio Editor

I created a Star Wars stencil with my Silhouette. I imported an image of the Star Wars logo into Silhouette Studio editor and used the trace tool to capture the outline. I used Contact paper to create the stencil. I followed the Shanty sister’s tutorial on creating a stencil with contact paper to get the perfect cut setting on my Silhouette.

You can download the Silhouette cut file I created here!

Star Wars logo stencil from Contact paper

Step 7: Attach the Star Wars logo stencil and spray paint the sign.

I carefully transferred each letter to the board, and applied a couple of coats of black spray paint.

Spray painting the sign black

Step 8: Seal the Star Wars sign with varnish.

Next, I applied two coats of ECOS Paints Woodshield Satin Varnish.

The sign is pretty large and a little heavy.

Varnish applied and dried

Step 9: Drill holes for the globe light sockets.

Before drilling holes for the globe light sockets, take care and plan where to position each hole. The lights I purchased came with 25 sockets. I planned for each letter to have 3 bulbs.

I equipped my drill with a 3/4″ wood spade drill bit and drilled 24 holes. (Heh, I missed one.)

Drilling 3/4″ holes

Step 10: Install the string globe lights.

Push each socket into the holes and secure the wire with a staple gun. Take great care during this step and avoid stapling the wire.

Secured the lights with a staple gun

Flip over the sign and install the light bulbs.

Screwed in the globe lights

Attach hardware to hang the sign or lean on a wall.

DIY Star Wars Marquee Wall Art

I am really happy with how the sign turned out. The lights give off a really nice, warm glow. If you build the this Star Wars Marquee sign, please leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @handmadewithashley or Twitter @handmadewithash. I’d love to see your pictures!

Marquee lights off

Star Wars Marquee Wall Art Sign

Check out my other Star Wars projects here!

Pin it!

FOLLOW ME on Pinterest.

DIY Star Wars Marquee Sign Tutorial

I’m linking up to:

Reader Projects <3

Vintage style Star Wars Marquee sign by @crouch17

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How to build a Star Wars TIE Fighter Bookshelf (Tutorial)

Ashley — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 04:55:44 +0000

Step by step tutorial on how to build a Star Wars TIE fighter bookshelf. This geeky woodworking project will make the perfect gift for the Star Wars fan in your life. It is a great beginner project that can be completed within a day.

Build a Star Wars TIE Fighter Bookshelf

Since the release of The Force Awakens, whenever I brainstorm new project ideas a Star Wars related idea always comes up! Today’s project just so happens to be another Star Wars themed project; it’s a TIE fighter bookshelf! I was able to make use of some scrap lumber I already owned. Paint was the only item I purchased for the project. Everything else I had on hand. Follow along and build one for yourself or the Star Wars fan in your life.

And, if you like this DIY, check out my tutorial for a Star Wars Marquee Wall Art Sign!

DIY Star Wars Marquee Wall Art Sign

Or this tutorial on how to make a BB-8 push toy!

BB-8 Push Toy in action!

A TIE fighter bookshelf

TIE Fighter Bookshelf

Star Wars Bookshelf

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Tools and Supplies

The following items are some of the tools and supplies I gathered to create the TIE fighter bookshelf.

Tools

Circular saw
Jigsaw
Kreg Jig (for joining boards, love this tool)
JawHorse (for securing the lumber for cutting, it’s an awesome 2nd pair of hands)
Ruler / Straight edge
Orbital Sander

Supplies

Scrap lumber
- 3/4 thick plywood 13 inches x 26 inches
- 1×8 board 48 inches long
Gray paint (1 pint)
Black paint (1 pint)
1″ thick painter’s tape
1/2″ thick washi tape (I used this in place of painter’s tape)
Wood glue
Wood filler
1 1/4 inch pocket hole screws

How to build a TIE Fighter Bookshelf

One of my goals for 2016 is to learn how to use SketchUp so I can share pretty woodworking plans and diagrams.

Step 1: Cut the wood to the appropriate sizes

First up, take the piece of plywood and cut it in half. You should have two 13 inch squares. I used my mini circular with a track guide to cut the plywood down to the appropriate lengths.

You will also cut the 1×8 board in half. This will leave you with two pieces at 24 inches long.

Cutting the plywood in half

Step 2: Cut out the TIE fighter wing shape

The TIE fighter wings are shaped sorta like a hexagon. I used a jigsaw to cut out the shape. Draw a few lines on the pieces of plywood to mark where the jigsaw blade should follow along.

Draw a line from the mid-point of each side
Measure 2 inches from a corner, and create a line from that point to a mid-point

Cutting out the TIE fighter wings with a jigsaw

Step 3: Drill pocket holes.

I really like pocket hole joints. They’re really easy to make and very sturdy. I used my Kreg Jig to create several pocket holes.

I created 3 pocket holes on the length of one of the 1×8 boards.
I created 2 pocket holes on each side of the 1×8 boards.

Creating pocket holes with my Kreg Jig

Step 4: Sand the lumber!

Spend some time cycling through different grits of sand paper. I used my orbital sander equiped with sandpaper grits of 60, 80, 100, 120, and 220.

Step 5: Paint the bookshelf

Once sanding is complete, prime the bookshelf. Once the primer is dry, paint the shelf with a base coat of gray.

Painting the TIE Fighter Wings

With the 1 inch painter’s tape, tape the border of the TIE fighter wing.
Use the tape to connect opposing corners
Use the tape to create a small hexagon-like shape at the intersection of all the tape lines
Cover the uncovered areas with black paint

Repeat these steps for each side of the wings.

Painting the TIE Fighter Cockpit

Draw the shape of a semi-circle in the center of the 1×8 boards.
- Imagine the boards are joined at 90 degrees, the circle’s midpoint is at the center of the joint
- When the boards are joined, one side will be 3/4 longer than the other
- On the board that does not have pocket holes lengthwise, offset the semi-circle by 3/4 inch.
Draw the shape of a octagon in the center of the previously drawn circle
- On the board that does not have pocket holes lengthwise, offset the octagon by 3/4 inch as well.
With 1/2 thick painter’s tape (I actually used some washi tape) mask off from each point on the octagon to the outer circle. (See picture below)
Paint the uncovered areas within the circle with black paint

The diameter of the outer circle is 10″. The width of the inner octagon is 4 1/4″ and the length of each side is 1 5/8″.

You could skip this step because books will probably cover the cockpit, but I think it adds a really nice touch.

Painting the TIE fighter bookshelf

Step 6: Assemble the shelf

You can assemble the shelf before painting. I painted half, then assembled and painted the remaining half.

Join the 1×8 boards at 90 degrees. Attach the shelf to each wing. I winged it on joining the shelf to wings.

I covered my pocket holes with wood filler, but pocket holes are not visible from the front.

Joining the shelf to the TIE fighter wings

Step 7: Seal the project

Finally, coat the shelf with your favorite sealer.

The TIE Fighter Bookshelf

The bookshelf cost me roughly 7 bucks! That was the cost of the paint. This was great use of some leftover lumber and it’s bringing a bit of much needed order to my son’s book collection.

If you build a TIE fighter bookshelf, please leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @handmadewithashley or Twitter @handmadewithash. I’d love to see your pictures!

DIY TIE Fighter Bookshelf

Build a TIE Fighter bookshelf

TIE Fighter Bookshelf

Star Wars TIE Fighter Bookshelf

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DIY Star Wars Bookshelf Tutorial

Check out my other Star Wars themed projects!

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Reader Projects

Tie Fighter bookshelves are perfect for DVD storage. Made enough pieces for 2 more, just saying….. Visit @handmadewithash for tutorial. #265design #starwars #tiefighter

A photo posted by J.Cammarata (@265design) on Sep 9, 2016 at 6:16pm PDT

The post How to build a Star Wars TIE Fighter Bookshelf (Tutorial) appeared first on Handmade with Ashley.

DIY Star Wars Salt Dough Ornaments

Ashley — Sat, 26 Dec 2015 04:00:37 +0000

DIY Star Wars Salt Dough Ornaments

I wish you all a very merry Christmas! In today’s post, I want to share steps on how to make a set of Star Wars salt dough ornaments. This is a really easy project and would be a nice homemade gift for the Star Wars fan in you life.

Star Wars salt dough ornaments

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Tools and Supplies

Here’s a list of items you’ll need to gather to create the Star Wars salt dough ornaments:

Star Wars Gingerbread Cookie Cutters
1 cup of flour
1/4 cup of salt
3 fluid ounces of water
Acrylic paints
Mod Podge Super Gloss Brilliant
Ribbon

Star Wars Gingerbread Cookie Cutters

The Star Wars gingerbread cookie cutter set includes cutters for:

Darth Vader
Chewbacca
Yoda
Boba Fett
3CPO
a Stormtrooper

How to Make Salt Dough Ornaments

I tweaked a salt dough recipe I found on AllRecipes.com. I made the following modifications:

Reduced the amount of ingredients to a fourth
Baked at 300 degrees instead of 325 degrees
Baked for 1.5 hours instead of 1 hour. (This was actually a mistake, but worked out pretty well for the batch of ornaments!)

With the modified recipe, you will have enough dough to make 7 ornaments.

Salt dough recipe ingredients

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2. Mix together flour, salt and water forming a dough.

Step 3. Flatten the dough to 1/8 thickness and cut out the Star Wars gingerbread shapes.

Use a straw to poke a hole in the dough so the ornament can be hung with a string later. Transfer the shapes to a cookie baking sheet.

Cutting out the Star Wars Gingerbread men

Step 4. Bake the salt dough ornaments for 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Once the salt dough ornaments cool off the real fun begins!

Baked salt dough ornaments

Step 5. Apply a base coat of paint to each ornament.

Work in layers to decorate the Star Wars ornaments.

Applying a base coat of paint to each ornaments

Step 6. Paint details in details

Once I finished painting in layers, I applied a black wash over each ornament to add a bit of depth.

Painted salt dough ornaments

Step 7: Seal the ornaments

I wanted a super glossy finish, so I applied one coat of Mod Podge Super Gloss-Brilliant.

Mod Podge Super Gloss-Brilliant

Step 8: Add a ribbon and decorate the tree!

For the final step, string the ornament with ribbon and now it’s ready to hang on tree.

Star Wars Salt Dough Ornaments

Stormtrooper salt dough ornament

Boba Fett salt dough ornament

DIY Star Wars Salt Dough Ornaments

The post DIY Star Wars Salt Dough Ornaments appeared first on Handmade with Ashley.

DIY Star Wars Jewelry: Darth Vader Necklace Tutorial

Ashley — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 04:56:50 +0000

DIY Star Wars Jewelry: Darth Vader Necklace

We are just 2 days away from the release of Star Wars Force Awakens, and today I’m continuing my “Countdown to Star Wars” series with a tutorial on how to make your own Star Wars jewelry!

(For sneak peaks on upcoming projects follow me on Facebook and Instagram!)

DIY Darth Vader Necklace

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Tools and Supplies

Here’s a list of items you’ll need to gather to create the Darth Vader necklaces:

Darth Vader Ice Mold

How to Make a Resin Darth Vader Necklace

Step 1: Mix together equal parts of resin and hardener.

This step may vary depending upon which brand of resin you choose. (My personal preference is Ice Resin, but EasyCast has worked well for me most of the time, and it’s cheaper.) Follow the box instructions and take the recommended safety precautions. I purchased a bag of disposable medicine cups and use the cups for both measuring and mixing together the resin.

It’s critical that you take care and ensure the resin is measured at the correct amounts. Also make sure the two parts are thoroughly mixed together. (I have ruined several pendants because the resin never hardened because of a misstep at this step.)

Once the resin is mixed, add in color. You can use resin dyes, but I think simple acrylic craft paint works very well. You do want to be careful. A little paint can go a long way for coloring the resin.

Mixing together resin

Step 2: Add in glitter.

To add a nice bit of sparkle, sprinkle in a bit of glitter.

Glitter

It is tempting to become very generous with glitter as you sprinkle it into the resin. A little glitter can go a long way as well. Too much glitter and you may end up with something like this:

Too much glitter

Although, it may be just the look you’re going for.

Step 3: Pour the resin into the mold.

Pour the resin mix into your silicon mold. Once your ice mold has come into contact with resin, it must never be used for food consumption again.

Pouring resin into a Darth Vader ice mold

Step 4: Remove air bubbles.

As you mixed your resin, you might have noticed air bubbles forming. You can remove the bubbles with heat. I used my Martha Stewart heat tool to remove all the air bubbles from my pendants.

Heat tool for removing air bubbles

Once you’ve removed the last air bubble, set the mold aside for 24 hours to allow for the resin to cure.

Step 5: De-mold the resin Darth Vader pendants.

After 24 hours have passed, your resin pendants should be cured. The cure times may vary depending upon which resin you use. Remove the pendants from the silicon mold.

Lots of Darth Vaders

At this point you may want to sand the edges down. Do this in a well ventilated room wearing a dust mask.

Step 6: Attach a leaf bail and string the pendant with a necklace chain.

Attach a leaf bail to the Darth Vader pendant with E6000 glue and allow it to dry. Now you ready to wear your piece of jewelry!

DIY Darth Vader Necklace

For sneak peaks on upcoming projects follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

To the theater!

Check out my other Star Wars themed projects!

The post DIY Star Wars Jewelry: Darth Vader Necklace Tutorial appeared first on Handmade with Ashley.

Crochet Princess Leia Hat

Ashley — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 07:21:36 +0000

Crochet Princess Leia HatWe are just 3 days away from the release of Star Wars Force Awakens! I am incredibly excited about the movie’s release. Today I’m kicking off a “Countdown to Star Wars” series. Each day leading up to the release of Force Awakens (and a few days following it), I’ll be sharing a Star Wars themed project. I have some fun projects in the works, but let’s start off with something that will keep you toasty as you journey to the movie theatre this week: a crochet Princess Leia Hat.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

To create the Leia hat, I followed AdairToCrochet’s Princess Leia Hat pattern. The pattern is very well written with lots of pictures. The project is easy and can be completed within a day.

To the theater!

There are some free versions of a crochet Princess Leia hat, but I really liked the finished look of AdairToCrochet’s version.