Beginner Wood Carving Projects And Ideas (Quick Guide)

Have you ever been watching a movie and come across a scene in which someone was carving something out of wood and thought to yourself, “I wish I could do that!”?

For me, that film was Troy, and to tell you the truth, it appeared to be complicated.

Carving wood is not only one of the most enjoyable abilities you can acquire but also one of the easiest to pick up.

So if you want to start retailing wooden products on Etsy, this is one of the best-selling woodworking projects you can make, and it also has an intrinsic value in the sense that it is an excellent stress reliever.

Whether you want to learn wood carving for your enjoyment or eventually turn it into a source of income, we have some easy beginner wood carving projects and ideas that you will adore.

VIDEO: Wood Carving Beginner Projects

13 Simple Carving Ideas to Get You Started With Wood

The act of beginning to carve wood can appear to be a complex undertaking. Because there is such a wide variety of work to be done and skills to be mastered, it can take time to determine where to begin.

The good news is that this article will cover the fundamentals of wood carving for beginners and offer some advice. But for the time being, let’s begin with some straightforward concepts for carving wood.

Wooden Spoon Carving

If you are sick of waiting in lengthy lines at IKEA or looking for something one-of-a-kind, a fun alternative would be to make your spoon. Spoons are not only one of the most straightforward projects to carve out of wood, but they also have a lot of practical applications.

It is easy to carve a spoon because there are no strict guidelines to follow about the dimensions and shape of the finished product. For instance, the spoon’s bowl can take on various shapes, including round, oval, or even square. Likewise, the handle can be thick or thin, straight or curved, or any combination.

You can keep it for yourself, give it to your significant other, or give it to a friend who will find it amusing. You’ll always enjoy whittling wooden spoons because there are so many different designs and embellishments you may try out as your skill with little wood carving ideas improves.

Carving a wooden spoon can take a couple of hours to a few days, depending on the tools and the type of wood used. Applying a food-safe wood finish is an excellent method for preserving a job that has been completed.

Carving using Chips

The art of chip carving may not be widely discussed in modern times, but those knowledgeable about it consider it quite famous.

As its name suggests, this technique for carving entails making successively smaller incisions or chips in the material as the process progresses. As a result, this is arguably the one concept on our list that requires the fewest amount of different kinds of tools.

You will only need two cutting knives for this whittling procedure, yet it is incredible what you can create with just those two knives.

In contrast to the example seen in the preceding picture, Chip carving is rarely exhibited on its own but instead serves to add detail to other wood carving work.

Chip carving is one technique that may be used to spruce up the handles of wooden spoons and other kitchen implements. It can also be used to customize a wooden clock, chopping block, tray, bowls, bracelets, or pendants made of wood.

One of the primary advantages of working on specific whittling projects before moving on to more complicated designs is that doing so teaches you how to operate a carving knife properly.

These knives are incredibly sharp; therefore, you should use extreme caution if you attempt something more challenging.

Carving in the Spirit (Wood Spirits)

This simple project is perfect for beginners if they want to carve wood directly on a tree. The versatility of wood spirit carvings lies in their suitability for greenwood, live trees, and timber; as such, they are an excellent skill to develop in wood carving.

When troglodytes weren’t busy hunting boar or tinkering with fire, our best guess is that they were experimenting with conjuring up wood ghosts. They have been considered mysterious by many religions and traditions over time, which is one reason why they continue to enjoy such widespread use even in the modern day.

The variety of possible outcomes contributes significantly to the enjoyable nature of wood whittling. As a novice, you should concentrate on creating designs that are only on one side. However, as your expertise grows, you will eventually be able to sculpt spirits that are just as lifelike as the Ents in Lord of the Rings.

Your first spirit carving project can be finished within an hour, although the time it takes depends on how complex the design is. But after that, there’s a good chance you won’t be pleased with it, so you’ll keep going.

However, once you get the hang of it, you’ll find that knocking them out is relatively simple.

Wooden Gnome

This should be up your alley if you’re seeking a challenging project while whittling wood. Gnome carving is where the real action is at. Sure, spoon carving and relief carving can increase your heart rate, but gnomes are the real deal.

There was a time when garden gnomes could be found in virtually every garden, but in recent times, their prevalence in outdoor spaces has decreased. Nevertheless, there is a robust market for gnomes in certain regions, and those who trade them can profit quickly.

Even if you don’t have a garden, you may still enjoy the charming look of a wooden gnome on your window sill, in your garage, or at your workplace desk. Learning how to carve gnomes out of wood provides several benefits, one of which is the opportunity to evaluate and improve your carving talents.

Certainly, you are able to accomplish that with spoon carving, but there is a limit to how far you can take it. On the other hand, if you have a garden gnome, you’ll note that the design, depth, and detail have all been improved.

For instance, after your first week on the job, if you come up with this design, that would be a fantastic accomplishment. But that is nothing compared to the first picture, which is light years ahead of everything else.

Wooden Rabbit

Next, a design that is not quite as detailed but still has a lot of visual punch. Carving wooden rabbits or any other animal makes for an enjoyable first project in woodworking. They are similar to gnomes in that they can assist you in keeping track of how far your carving abilities have progressed.

One of the many beautiful things about whittling a bunny is that even if you are starting, you can complete a simple project in less than an hour. Your self-assurance will increase, allowing you to tackle more challenging responsibilities.

It is also a straightforward animal-themed woodcarving project that will assist you in becoming familiar with a variety of carving tools and techniques. When you are finished, you can put it on your desk as a statue, use it as a key holder, or give it away.

You could also paint it or cover your first bunny with woodworking epoxy to make it last a lifetime and remind you how far your skills have come. This would be a great way to show off your progress. Finally, start your first wood carving project with a flat design, so you only need to cut one side of the wood. This will make the process much easier.

You won’t need any gouging tools if you use only the very best wood carving knives to accomplish this. You can use a penetrating finish such as linseed or tung oil instead of epoxy if you don’t want to use the adhesive.

The Making of a Pawn

Carving your very own set of chess pieces is a fun project to take on if you enjoy playing board games. However, even if you are not a chess player, it is still a wonderful present in high demand. Besides, how many people do you see with custom chess sets?

The first step for most beginners is the pawn. One of the advantages of making this as a beginner is learning how to make rounded edges. Most of the listed projects require curves of some sort, but the head of a pawn should be a perfect oval.

You might need to get it right with your first pass, but you can keep going until you accomplish it. However, if you continue to fine-tune, you will eventually be able to create a level of depth and smoothness that appears to have been achieved by a professional.

When you have to construct 16 identical chess pawns – eight black and eight white – this task becomes significantly more difficult. This aspect, however, sets it apart from other woodcarving crafts, such as spoons or rabbits, because the finished product never appears precisely the same twice.

Carving a Flower with a Knife

I’m sure that you have never presented someone with a Valentine’s Day gift that was more romantic than a flower made of wood. But, even if you have done it before, you should still give it a shot.

Making wooden flowers together as a family is a fun way to get some exercise and adds a touch of romance to the project. You can get your children to color the flowers for you if you have some. And because there are so many unique plants to imitate, your skills will continue to advance as time goes on.

Flowers, unlike chess pieces, are optional to look exactly alike. You also have discretion over how you choose to carry out this task. Either carve a flower out of an existing surface (much like how wood spirit carvings are done) or make it into a three-dimensional image (like garden gnomes).

Wood carving flowers are also popular among professionals, likely because this pattern is one of the most commonly requested for usage on ornaments and furniture. In other words, acquiring the abilities necessary for woodworking can result in substantial financial gain.

Chopsticks

If you get Chinese food delivered frequently, there is a reasonable probability that your cutlery drawer is stuffed with wooden chopsticks. But, on the other hand, they are typically disposable and, to be honest, too dull. Alternatively, you might make your pair of chopsticks and imbue them with artistic flair.

I understand that carving chopsticks might not sound like a fascinating woodworking job, but trust me when I say that it is a fantastic experience and more complicated than you might anticipate. The most challenging part of using chopsticks is making sure they are completely round.

You need to ensure that both sticks look the same, just like you would with chess pawns. It is a challenging task but a good beginning for those just starting. Making the chopsticks such that they are flat on all sides is the more straightforward approach.

In contrast to some of the other novice wood carving projects on this page, you will need sandpaper with various grits to smooth it.

Of course, it is acceptable for a spirit woodcarving illustrated or even a bunny to not be precisely smooth; nevertheless, chopsticks must be perfectly smooth, which indicates that this wood carving pattern will require some patience.

Remember that sanding can remove the same amount of wood in a matter of seconds as a carving knife would, so you need to be careful with the amount of pressure you apply. After you are finished, you will need to apply a coating to the chopsticks that are non-toxic.

After they have fully cured, which takes at least 21 days for water-based finishes and 30 days for oil-based finishes, all soft wood treatments can be considered technically acceptable for food preparation.

You can therefore use a polyurethane that can be wiped on.

Owl

So, let’s get back to the more challenging puzzle parts. Owls, in particular, are fantastic models for novices because of the remarkable characteristics that they possess. Birds, in general, make for quite exciting designs overall.

Most individuals cannot differentiate between a carved robin and a carved finch, although owls are easily identifiable. Keep in mind that the purpose of these simple projects is to boost your confidence; consequently, easy wood carving items that are easy to recognize are a plus.

Likewise adorable as presents are owls. You can present them to adults and children in their natural state or add a little color to them.

You only need a wood carving knife and a pencil to carve a simple owl out of wood, as the one demonstrated in the YouTube tutorial below, which is the best thing about this type of woodworking project. It is not necessary to paint or apply a wood finish to the furniture.

You will be pleased with the result even though the process will only take about half an hour to complete. It is up to you whether or not your design will include wings and feathers.

Carve a kitty cat.

Carving animal shapes out of wood can be an extremely enjoyable hobby. The strategies you implement for one can easily be adapted for use in another or several others.

I realize that people who adore dogs would have preferred to see their canine companion on the list, but, sorry to tell you; dogs aren’t as simple to make as cats.

Cats, like owls, have distinct features that allow them to be easily recognized in a wood carving, even when the carving is done by someone inexperienced. Because they require fewer details and there is no need to worry about fur, they are more straightforward to create than owls.

A straightforward cat design for a wood carving can be completed in approximately forty-five minutes, which is just enough time to endure the entirety of a television program you are being made to watch.

This wood carving project can be carried virtually anywhere, including your bedroom or living room, as you only require two tools to complete it.

You can apply finish on the result if it’s a gift or something you want to display in your home.

Heart

While you’re working on some of the larger beginner carving projects, chances are you’ll have a lot of spare wood lying around. A wooden heart is one of the simple beginner whittling projects you can make with scraps.

A simple wood carving template for a heart takes 30 – 45 minutes. Following that, the only thing you’ll need is a carving knife. A rectangular block would simplify the task for you, but if you don’t have one, you can always make do with parts that aren’t the right shape.

You will need to apply a durable finish to your heart-shaped whittling product to transform it into a pendant.

Epoxy is a material that I recommend because it is long-lasting and can be colored easily to give the appearance of being store-bought. However, you might also use something less spectacular, such as Danish oil.

Whistle

This is a beautiful endeavor if you enjoy hiking, camping, or being outside (pun intended). One can create a wooden whistle in various methods, but the willow whistle is the most straightforward method.

Carving a functional whistle can be difficult because there is no assurance that it will blow and produce a sound. However, the acoustic properties of willow branches make this one of the most effective do-it-yourself woodworking projects for children.

You will need a knife to make a functional whistle, and the process will only take a few minutes. The only drawback is that you have to wait until late spring or early summer before you can easily peel off the bark of the tree.

In addition to that, you’ll need access to some fresh willow in the area. There are additional methods for fashioning a whistle out of ordinary wood, but these methods require a more significant number of tools and a higher level of precision.

Bowls

Carving a spoon was the first project on our list of novice wood carving tasks, and it seems only fitting that we finish with a project that complements the first.

Because of the poor heat conductivity of wood, bowls and plates made of wood are only sometimes the most popular choice for eating utensils, but they do make lovely decorations.

Naturally, you can also use it for salads or other cold items as long as a protective coating such as polyurethane is first placed on the surface.

 Since wooden bowls may also be used to contain potpourri, the possibilities are virtually limitless for something that is so straightforward. In addition, you have the option of making a bowl of a standard or a large size when you are first starting.

You can utilize power tools, an advantage of working with a vast bowl. This helps to speed up the procedure. On the other hand, it might not be as convenient as a smaller dish. In any scenario, you will be happy with the result of your efforts.

FAQ on Beginner Wood Carving Project and Ideas