Bear Family Lights The Way

I would like to share with you my bear family.  I was at a craft sale years ago and came across a bear box.  I bought it thinking how cute it would be to hold magazines in the bathroom  (What can I say....we like to read....anywhere)  and I thought I could maybe make a few for gifts. Guess I got carried away.....they kinda look like they are watching me....creepy.....

This picture is our unfinished kitchen that hubby and I built....I will look for some photos and do a post in the near future.  It will take much scanning (back in the day,  before we owned a digital camera)

  I decided to use the bear theme and came up with a solar light holder for my driveway.    I have made about ten of these lovelies for craft sales and gifts.  I will not kid you,  they are a lot of work.  I made a few flubs on the tutorial as it has been a while since I made them.  Hope you will bear with me "snicker snicker." You will probably notice a few screw holes in my boards as they were shelving at one point in their life.  I recycled them, and as you will see at the end, it really didn't matter. 

I am guessing that a picture tutorial is best.  You really don't need me blabbing to see what I have done.  The pattern is pretty straight forward, and I am sure you will be able to create your own.  I clear coated the entire project with a latex sealer, as it will likely be used outdoors.  I used 2 lag bolts to attach the post, and screws to attach the bears.  One thing though; you have to attach the blocks of wood to the base.  Then attach the bears to the blocks of wood, and then attach the feet, screwing  from the back.  That way you will not see any screws, as everything is prepainted.  The nose may be attached before bears are screwed to the base.  I forgot about this step and had glue on the feet already.  No big deal, but a little messy.  Also, I forgot to paint the ears as you will see.  But I did fix the problem (bearly lol) ok, no more.  One last step.  After all parts are painted, go back to the edges of each piece, sand them to expose the OVER sanded edges.  I put an antique medium into the bare (bear wood).  This helps add a rustic touch to the bears.  I forgot to do this before assembly and had to to it with a hand sander.  Well that's all I can really say.  It is pretty straightforward.  If anybody makes these, I would love to see them.  Also one last tip.   I remove the scarves in the summer, and tie ribbons around their necks.  This makes them a year round item. Here we go!

Material List:

2 - 1x6 spruce or pine board 5 feet (some is wasted)

1 4x4 post 30" long

1- 2x10 - 24 to 30" long
12" of 2x2 cut into three 4 inch pieces

Paint brush

Black paint

Tan paint

Blush (optional)

Protective clear coat

antique medium

solar light

2- 5" Lag bolts

6- 2 1/2" screws

18-1 1/2" screws

$ store scarf (cut into 3 scarves)

wood glue

scroll saw or band saw 

or a jig saw(if you are really motivated)

sander and sand paper
drill bit for solar light and drill

Bear heights are 24" 20" and 16"  

I cut the bear bodies from 1 board and the feet from the other.  There is a little bit of left over board.

 

Sand all pieces; "over" sanding the edges.  This helps add a rustic element to the bears.

Base piece and bear supports.

Light post

Paint all the details on the feet, nose, and bear body.

Paint the ears too!  OOPS  I forgot here!

I use real blush to give the bears a glow.

Attach the nose, screwing from the back. 

All the screws are invisible from the front.  I attach the bear to the base block from the front, and then attach the feet from the back.  The feet cover the screws that attached the bear bodies  to the base block.

Where are their ears? OOPS!!

Here they are.

Paint the lines in the ears too.

After distressing the bears and post, you might want to add some stain to the distressed areas to darken them.  Also, another boo boo here.  You will want to distress the post and the bears prior to assembly.  I forgot to do this.                    See Rule # 22!

Clear coat the bears with your choice of sealer.  I used a water base sealer.

Measure the diameter of your solar light holder and drill a tight fitting hole on the top and center of the lamp post.  I like to drill at least 4 inches in for good support.  I have used the lights that you stake into the ground.  They look very nice too.  If hole is drilled slightly big, fill with glue to hold stake in.

Solar light is installed, and the bears are suited up for the outdoors.  Winter is coming!

Don't stare at the bears cuz it makes them nervous,  Hmmmmm....maybe it makes me nervous.
Hope you like them!
Cheers!
FREE GIVE AWAY
I am redrawing for my feather wreath giveaway for  my followers.  If you would like to win these 5 beauties, please leave a comment and I will contact you and post the winner.  I will do the draw on November 16th, 2011.  I will also be throwing in some skeletonized leaves for the draw.  One 10 pack of green, cream and black.  30 leaves in total.  Just in time for the Christmas crafting season.  Good Luck!

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