Quick & easy pedestals add a spooky touch to any treat
By Paul Meisel
Display candy, cookies, a bowl of Halloween treats, or even a candle on one of these friendly ghost pedestals. Both projects are similar in construction and assembly.
Getting Started
The bat, hand, and base are identical for both ghosts. However, they are included twice on the pattern pages so you have all of the patterns you need when printing or making copies. In the parts list, they are grouped under “Parts Common to Both Ghosts.”
The noses can be fragile and the irregular shape is a challenge to clamp securely. To make it easier to position them correctly, the patterns have a 3/16″ (5mm)-diameter hole that matches the hole in the wooden knob for the attachment screw. These holes allow you to use a 3/16″ (5mm)-diameter dowel to attach the nose to the face.
You could eliminate the dowel and glue the nose directly to the face.
The patterns have holes on the top of the body and underside of the tray for 1/4″ (6mm)-diameter dowels to permanently attach the trays to the body. To make the ghosts easier to store, eliminate the holes and use flat-head wood screws to attach the tray to the body.
Making the Goodie Holders
Cut the pieces. Use a router with a chamfer bit to soften the top and bottom corners of the tray and base. Glue and clamp the head, hands, and feet to the body. Paint the assembly white (leave small areas of bare wood to attach the eyes, nose, and bats).
Paint the eyes and bats black with white face details. Paint the nose orange, again leaving bare wood for gluing. Let the paint dry. Glue and clamp the pieces to the ghost. Paint the cheeks purple, and add the other facial features with a paint marker. Apply a clear satin varnish to all of the pieces.
Use wood screws to attach the body to the base. Use dowels or screws to attach the trays to the hands.
Materials:
• Pine 1×12: 8‘ (2.43m) long
• Dowels: 3/16″ (5mm), 1/4″ (6mm) dia.
• Sandpaper: 80, 220 grits
• Baltic birch plywood, 1/4″ thick: 12″ x 12″ (30.5cm x 30.5cm) (#9560)*
• Wooden ball knob, 1 1/4″ (3.2cm) dia.: 1 each per ghost
• Round top screw hole plugs, 1/2″ (1.3cm) dia.: 2 each per ghost
• Wood screws, #8: 2 to 4 each per ghost, 1 5/8″ (4.1cm) long (#1410)*
• Acrylic paints, such as Delta Ceramcoat: white (#02505)*, black (#02506)*, purple (#02091)*, orange (#02042)*
• Varnish, such Delta Ceramcoat: clear satin (#07003)*
• Paint marker: black (#3261)*
• Temporary-bond spray adhesive (#1447)*
Tools:
• Scroll saw blades, #2 skip-tooth, such as Olson #443-F*
• Drill press with twist bits: 3/16″ (5mm), 1/4″ (6mm) dia.
• Router with bit, 1/8″ (3mm)-radius chamfer
• Paintbrushes
The author used these products for the project. Substitute your choice of brands, tools, and materials as desired.
Special Sources: The items above marked with an asterisk (*) are available from Meisel Hardware Specialties. Call 1-800-441-9870 or visit their website, www.meiselwoodhobby.com.
Parts List
| Part | Quantity | Materials | Dimensions | Presentation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ghost #1 Foot | 2 | Pine, 3/4″ (1.9cm) thick |
2-3/4″ x 4″ (7cm x 10.2cm) |
Pattern |
| Ghost #1 Head | 1 |
Pine, 3/4″ (1.9cm) thick |
5″ x 5-3/4″ (12.7cm x 14.6cm) |
Pattern |
| Ghost #1 Body | 1 |
Pine, 3/4″ (1.9cm) thick |
8-1/4″ x 10″ (21cm x 25.4cm) |
Pattern |
| Ghost #1 Tray | 1 |
Pine, 3/4″ (1.9cm) thick |
5-1/2″ (14cm) square |
Pattern |
| Ghost #2 Face | 1 |
Pine, 3/4″ (1.9cm) thick |
5″ x 5-3/4″ (12.7cm x 14.6cm) |
Pattern |
| Ghost #2 Foot | 2 |
Pine, 3/4″ (1.9cm) thick |
2-1/4″ x 3-1/4″ (5.7cm x 8.3cm) |
Pattern |
| Ghost #2 Head | 1 |
Pine, 3/4″ (1.9cm) thick |
7″ x 8-1/2″ (17.8cm x 21.6cm) |
Pattern |
| Ghost #2 Body | 1 |
Pine, 3/4″ (1.9cm) thick |
10-1/4″ x 10-3/4″ (26cm x 27.3cm) |
Pattern |
| Ghost #2 Tray | 1 |
Pine, 3/4″ (1.9cm) thick |
9-1/4″ (23.5cm) square |
Pattern |
Parts Common to Both Ghosts
| Part | Quantity | Materials | Dimensions | Presentation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nose pin (optional) |
1 |
Dowel, 1/4″ (6mm) dia. |
1″ (2.5cm) long |
Dimensions |
|
Hand |
1 |
Pine, 3/4″ (1.9cm) thick |
1-1/4″ x 3-1/4″ (3.2cm x 8.3cm) |
Pattern |
|
Bat |
1 |
Plywood, 1/4″ (6mm) thick |
1-3/4″ x 3-1/4″ (4.4cm x 8.3cm) |
Pattern |
|
Base |
1 |
Pine, 3/4″ (1.9cm) thick |
5-1/2″ x 12″ (14cm x 30.5cm) |
Pattern |
|
Tray pin (optional) |
1 |
Dowel, 3/16″ (5mm) dia. |
1″ (2.5cm) long |
Dimensions |
|
Ghost eyes |
2 |
Round top screw hole plug |
1/2″ (1.3cm) dia. |
Dimensions |
|
Ghost nose |
1 |
Wooden ball knob |
1-1/4″ (3.2cm) dia. |
Dimensions |
|
Tray screws (optional) |
2 |
Wood screw, #8 |
1 5/8″ (4.1cm) long |
Dimensions |
Patterns
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CLICK HERE to download page 1 of pattern 1.
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CLICK HERE to download page 2 of pattern 1.
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CLICK HERE to download page 3 of pattern 1.
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CLICK HERE to download page 1 of pattern 2.
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CLICK HERE to download page 2 of pattern 2.
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CLICK HERE to download page 3 of pattern 2.
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CLICK HERE to download page 4 of pattern 2.
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CLICK HERE to download page 5 of pattern 2.
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About the Author
Paul Meisel and his team at Meisel Hardware Specialties have designed over 3,500 projects and plans for the home hobbyist woodworker. More than 30 projects from his collection have appeared in Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts magazine.
For more fun scroll saw projects, subscribe to Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts magazine. CLICK HERE for more information.
