Erin Freuchtel-Dearing - Natural Wooden Toys: 75 Projects You Can Make in A Day That Will Last Forever

To Kerri, my amazing editor, whose patience and knowledge made the road to becoming an author a wonderful experience. I would also like to thank all the other creative minds at Fox Chapel for their enthusiasm for this project.

To my dear friends and family, thank you for cheering me on and being such great listeners.

To my parents, Barbara and Marc, thank you for believing in me and always encouraging my creativity. Also Mom, thank you for teaching me to sew. I bet you never foresaw where that skill would take me.

To the source of my inspiration and joymy children, Stella and Elliot. Without their boundless creativity and curiosity, I might have never found my love of toy making.

To my wonderful husband, Nick, thank you for patiently listening to my dreams and helping me to make them our reality. With your support as a partner and best friend, I have been able to accomplish so much in these last few amazing years.

Erin Freuchtel-Dearing, a longtime crafter and mother of two, is a relative newcomer to the world of woodworking. After the recent scares with toxic and unsafe mass-market toys, Erin decided to turn her attention to making safe wooden toys that also promote creativity. Erin purchased her first scroll saw from Craigslist on a whim, even though she had no prior woodworking experience. With a bit of practice and some help from her husband, Erin was soon able to fill her home with colorful toysmuch to the delight of her daughter, Stella, and her son, Elliot. Erin credits her years of experience using a sewing machine for her ability to pick up scrolling so quicklyusing the two machines is surprisingly similar. Soon after making that first scroll saw purchase, Imagination Kids Toys was born. Erin and her husband, Nick, design and hand-make toys at their home in Greenwood, Indiana. Their toys have been featured on such outlets as Ohdeedoh, Etsy, iVillage, and Babble. Visit www.ImaginationKidsToys.com for more information.

This book is filled with an array of toys that are sure to delight your little ones. Creatures from the forest, the ocean, the farm, and elsewhere dwell in these pages, merely awaiting your decision to create themthey are quick to cut and can be painted simply or with lots of detail, depending on your style.
With the use of some simple toolsa scroll saw, band saw, or coping saw, and some sandpaperyoull be able to create these straightforward toys in a snap. Youll find here all the knowledge required to create simple but handsome toys that will encourage your childs imagination, with the added plus of knowing the toys are safe and will not be recalled by the manufacturer!

1. Attach or trace the patterns onto the wood.

2. Cut along the pattern lines using a scroll saw, coping saw, or band saw.

3. Sand all edges and faces of the toy using a palm sander or sandpaper.

4. Add color, using non-toxic paints or natural dyes.

5. Add details with a woodburner or non-toxic paint.

6. When the pieces have dried, gently sand to smooth any raised grain.

7. Apply wood polish. Wipe away any excess.

A WORD ABOUT TOY SAFETY

Please use your best parental wisdom when deciding which toys are safe for your child. If you have concerns about your child choking on a small toy, remember that all the toys in this book can be enlarged to whatever size you like. Also keep in mind that toys with parts such as wheels and axles could come apart if not constructed properly and attached with plenty of glue. If you are worried about this, remember that any wheels and axles can be omitted as you create the toys. Use your best judgment and knowledge of your childs behaviors to make the safest choices for your family.

animals

Foxes

Rabbits

Squirrels

Bears

Hedgehogs

Chickens

Horses

Cows

Pigs

Seahorse

Whales

Crabs

Fish

Dolphins

Turtles

people

Fairytale royalty

fantasy creatures

Dragons

Unicorn

Mermaids

stackers

Cave

Hill

Nature

Haystack

Volcano

Sand dune

Wave

Fountain

vehicles

Tractor

Truck

Sailboat

Car

Helicopter

Airplane

Train

buildings

Castle

Treehouse

Barn

City skyline

plants

Season tree

Mushrooms

Seaweed

Hay bales

Cornstalks

Trees

wands

When a toy has no set purpose, children can use it over and over throughout childhood; this type of toy is called an open-ended toy. To illustrate the point, consider the difference between a traditional board game and a wooden animal, such as those found in this book. The board game has certain rules that must be followed in order for the game play to function properlythere is no room for children to make their own rules or exercise their imagination. However, the wooden animal creates endless play opportunitythe animal could be traipsing through the woods, or be the pet of the princess of some far-away land, or be a game piece in an original game the children create themselves, etc. Open-ended toys inspire children to think and play creatively. Encouraging the development of imagination is one of the best gifts you can give your child.

Simple open-ended toys can be used in countless ways during play. Because a childs imagination is the only limit, an open-ended toy can be an engaging companion throughout a childs early years.

For example, take simple wooden blocks. Babies can enjoy blocks by using them to mouth and chew. Unfinished, well-sanded wood makes for a great natural teething toy. As babies grow, stacking and knocking down blocks can help them to learn about cause and effect. Those same blocks can be used to build castles, cities, or anything else your childs imagination can conjure up as childhood progresses.

Stackers (such as the one featured on ) are another wonderful example of an open-ended toy that will grow with your child. At its most basic, a stacker can be used as a simple puzzle that lays flat on the ground. As the child grows, it can become a standing puzzle that helps develop fine motor skills. Finally, as the childs imagination starts to bloom, the stacker will take on a variety of usestunnels, caves, hills, haystacks, and morethe possibilities are endless!