Wood Carving Projects and Ideas for Beginners [Video Tutorial]

Back in time, when I was only stepping into the world of woodcarving, I was struggling with design ideas. At first, I had to learn a lot about the tools and woods. It seemed simple, but there’s a lot of details you need to know, learning either from other people or your own experience. But once I felt safe with the whittling knife in my hand, the next question was: what to carve?

Like many of us did, I began with the spoon. It’s one of the simplest wood carving designs, and if you are into woodcarving, your turn to do it will come sooner or later. It’s a convenient object to carve, not only because you can actually use it afterwards, but because it makes you practice the hand for both whittling and scooping.

Now that I am an experienced woodcarver, I felt the need to write some carving ideas I would like to have had when I was a beginner. Because of that, in this article, I compiled a list of 20 design ideas with detailed video tutorials for carvers to be. The list starts with the simplest one – the spoon and moves towards more complex but therefore more exciting compositions. It’s up to you and your imagination which of them you are going to choose, if not all of them!

Before we get to carving, we need to supply our workshop with the appropriate wood and tools. Let’s quickly check these topics before moving on with the tutorials.

The Wood

I already wrote about the best types of wood for carving, and discussed the most common wood types, their characteristics, and busted some myths about particular sorts. So in case you want more details, you can find them in that article. Here I will mention only the very essentials that I found important for the following tutorials.

Basswood is an absolute star among the wood carving woods. It’s the most common wood you will find in the market, and most beginners are advised to start with it. It’s because it’s easily cut, fairly durable, and generally convenient to work with. Although you will see that in some tutorials people use some hardwoods as well, it would require some additional skill and tools to carve in such a wood.

In case you don’t have any basswood at your disposal, softwoods such as pine, apple, juniper, cedar, or balsa are good and affordable alternatives for beginners as well.

Tools

The variety of woodcarving tools is huge, however, there are two basic groups:

• hand tools
• power tools

Hand tools are powered only by your hands, and you can use them without any electricity. These tools are often also called whittling tools and refer to several groups of tools. I will describe each of them briefly.

Knives are the absolute basic equipment for carving. Regardless of your skill level, your aspirations, or the design you are working on, it’s hard to do anything without a whittling knife. They are usually razor-sharp, and can have either long or short blades. If it’s long, it means that they are best for rough work and outlining your work. On the other hand, if you see a knife with a short blade, you know that it’s meant to be very precise and to carve out details in your project.

Unlike knives, chisels have a cutting edge at the top of the blade, not on the side. You cut with a chisel by pressing it strongly against the wood. This can be done either by hand or by hitting the chisel with a hammer (in case of a deeper cut or a harder type of wood). They come in different sizes, which are marked differently depending on the manufacturer. 

Gouges are very similar to chisels, the only difference is in that their cutting edge is bent. It can be either curved or V-shaped. Each gouge profile is usually marked by a number, depending on the brand.

Hook knives are very special tools, used for making holes in the wood, such as in spoons for example. Their blade is bent and looks like a hook, hence the name. They can have cutting edges on one or both sides of the blade. With the hook knives, the dominant carving hand of the carver is important, as they have to be specially manufactured for the lefthanded.

As for the power tools, the variety is endless. Depending on your budget and aspirations, the diversity of design they provide is almost unlimited. Most commonly, the term power tool refers to some kind of Dremel rotary tool or flex shaft. These devices have a motor that spins the interchangeable burrs. The secret of the design diversity is actually in these burrs: they provide you with different textures and sizes, which you will use for cutting, sanding or smoothing of the wood surface.

Other than Dremel rotary tools, there are different lathes, saws, drills, and many other electrical machines which you can use. However, these are usually bigger and require some investments.

Supplies

Last but not least, there are some necessary supplies you will need for carving. By supplies I mean all those little accessories which we always think last about, but they make our lives much easier if we have them around. 

First of all, I would like to stress the protection. We are working with very sharp and powerful devices, and thinking about safety is necessary by all means. It’s good to have any kind of work gloves, and there are special gloves for carving, which protect you from being cut. 

Working with the wood is messy, so try to have some kind of protective glasses to protect your eyes, and masks so as to prevent inhaling the wood dust into your lungs.

In the end, to successfully follow most of the tutorials you will find in this article, you will need some additional accessories as well. For example, a pencil, an eraser, and a piece of paper to experiment with different designs.

Now that we know what we need, let’s see what we can do with the tools available.

Carving Wooden Spoon

Estimated Time Needed: 45 minutes

Tools and supplies used:

• hand saw
• carving hatchet
• carving knife
• wood carving sloyd knife
• hook knife
• linseed oil

As I previously mentioned, making a spoon is kind of a rite of passage for woodcarvers. I have already written on how to make spoons in wood, so for a more detailed tutorial, take a look at that article. We make them to practice and use them in the kitchen afterward! It takes only a careful drawing on a piece of softwood and removing the extra wood with a saw to start the project. The rest is the careful use of chisels to shape the handle, and the spoon knife to shape the head of this kitchenware. To finish your spoon carving project, simply use some sandpaper and rub some oil on it.

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Carving a Penguin out Wood

Estimated Time Needed: 60 minutes

Tools and supplies used:

• basswood block
• semicircular gouge
• chip carving knife
• whittling knife
• sandpaper 120 grit
• flat chisel

As the winter is coming, I think a penguin is a great choice to start with this wood carving tutorials article. It’s a nice little design you can make with a couple of knives and chisels. The tutorial is in real-time, so you will be able to see the step-by-step process of outlining, shaping, and finishing the project.

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How to Carve a Bear out Wood

Estimated Time Needed: 40 minutes

Tools and supplies used:

• roughout knife
• basswood block

If you’re up for some simple old-school whittling, this is the tutorial for you. All you need to carve out this cute little cub is a sharp knife and some spare time. The suggested size of the figure in the video is roughly 2,5’’, but it’s up to you to decide on the actual size of your design. 
A little hand-made wooden bear is a great toy for a baby or a birthday gift for a child. In case you wish to see other examples as well, we have a photo gallery of other bear wood carving projects you can check out.

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Giraffe Wood Carving Project

Estimated Time Needed: 50 minutes

Tools and supplies used:

• basswood block
• detail wood carving knife
• straight rounded chisel

If you would like some savannah ambiance in your house, here’s how you can make a giraffe. To make this long-necked animal in wood, you will need only a carving knife and a couple of chisels. It’s best to print a picture or clipart of a giraffe and paste it on the wood before carving. However, if you feel comfortable with drawing, then you can outline your own design which you will carve afterward. You are invited to visit our photo gallery to get some more inspiration for giraffe wood carving projects.

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Goldfish Wood Carving Tutorial

Estimated Time Needed: 45 minutes

Tools and supplies used:

• chip carving knife
• detail wood carving knife
• straight V-profile chisel
• straight rounded chisel

Make a wish, because after this tutorial you will have your own personal goldfish! Using only several knives and chisels, you will be able to carve out this fish in a few hours. Beginners might struggle a bit with the details around the scales, but if you look at the final design, it is definitely worth the effort. Remember you can also spray or paint the fish, so that it shines just like the actual fish do. Apart from this video tutorial, we have some more fish wood carving projects suggestions you can explore as well.

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How To Carve A Little Man

Estimated Time Needed: 60 minutes

Tools and supplies used:

• piece of basswood
• acrylic paint
• roughout knife
• V gouge

Here we are in good old whittling again. In this tutorial, you will actually get several carving ideas on how to depict charming guys from the countryside. Once again, you won’t need much, just a whittling knife, a piece of wood, and some goodwill. In the end, you can also paint the figure in vivid colors, to make them even more appealing.

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Eagle Head Wood Carving Project

Estimated Time Needed: 30 minutes

Tools and supplies used:

• piece of Juniper
• dremel flex shaft
• kutzall carving burrs
• merlin 2 carve

For those of you in favor of more feral and delicate designs, this one is for you. The carver in the video shows how you can make a fierce eagle head out of a coarse piece of juniper. He does this with a Dremel flex shaft, a carver, and several carving burrs. So, you will need some power tools here, but the output design looks stunning, especially with two pieces of blue-shining shells in place of the bird’s eyes. Eagles are fascinating beings that regularly inspire woodcarvers, so here are photos of some other amazing eagle wood carving projects to explore.

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Flower Power Wood Carving

Estimated Time Needed: 40 minutes

Tools and supplies used:

• cherry wood
• dremel 4300 flex shaft
• kutzall carving burs

For carving out this gentle flower, you will need some softwood and power tools. As you will see in the video, the carver recommends having a flex shaft and several burrs at your disposal. At first, you will outline the design with a pen or a marker. After that, you will carve the petals and leaves, adding some depth and texture to them. In case you found this inspiring, find more lively carving ideas in our flowers wood carving projects gallery.

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Kuksa Wood Carving Project

Estimated Time Needed: 50 minutes

If you are wondering what is Kuksa, it is a name for a traditional wooden cup from Lapland (the Scandinavian peninsula, Europe). Sámi, the people who live there, have to endure very low temperatures, so this hand-made wooden cup is what they use to keep their drinks hot and to collect berries and fruits. What is characteristic about this traditional cup is the handle, which gives it a very steady hold, which is important in situations when your fingers are ice-cold, and you want to make sure it doesn’t drop out of your hands. For making a Kuksa wooden cup, you will need several knives, chisels, a rotary tool, and some sandpaper.

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Spirit Wood Carving Ideas

Estimated Time Needed: 25 minutes

Tools and supplies used:

• rotary tool
• taper bit
• flame bit
• cylinder bit

We carvers work with the wood on a daily basis, and therefore forest spirits are our major inspiration. If you would like to have a little forest spirit or a Druid in your workshop, then you will need a rotary tool kit and a set of burrs with quite some variety. If you would like to appease the spirits and make them favorable to your workshop, you will find additional ideas in our wood spirit carving projects gallery.

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Carving Wooden Bird

Estimated Time Needed: 2 hours

Tools and supplies used:

• block of tupelo wood
• roughout knife
• rotary tool
• flame bit
• cylinder bit
• V gouge
• burning pen
• acrylic paint

Unlike the eagle head we previously discussed, this bird is as tender as it can be. Using a whittling knife and a Dremel rotary tool and some drum sanders, you can make this design in no time. Also, in this tutorial, you will see how we use clay models before carving out a project in wood. A great bird wood carving project to boast with your carving skills, but also an amazing gift for a baby or a loved one.

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Relief Carving Icon of Virgin Mary

Estimated Time Needed: 2 hours

Tools and supplies used:

• U gouge
• flat wood carving chisels
• micro chisels
• carving knife

East European countries have a rich tradition of woodcarving. If you would like to explore some new styles, here’s a great example of the Virgin Mary icon in a characteristic Byzantine style. To make it, you will need different sizes of carving knives and a lot of precision in making the gentle curves around the face. Be sure to draw the image of the Virgin Mary on the wood before you start carving. For more relief ideas, check out our relief carving projects.

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Dragon Head Wood Carving Project

Estimated Time Needed: 3 hours

Tools and supplies used:

• bandsaw
• dremel flex shaft
• merlin 2 carve
• sanding drum
• fine diamond bur
• liberon finishing oil

If you are a fan of Game of Thrones or video games such as World of Warcraft, then this one is for you. This design looks very powerful, but it has a lot of details, so I would recommend it to experienced carvers. You will need a Dremel rotary tool and several burr types, a bandsaw and a mini grinder. If you liked this one and would like to equip your room or workshop with another fire-disgorging mythical creature, here are some more dragon wood carving project ideas for you.

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Carving Owl out Wood

Estimated Time Needed: 35 minutes

Tools and supplies used:

• rotary tool
• taper bit
• flame bit
• cylinder bit
• ball bit

Owls are fascinating creatures. These nocturnal birds can turn their head for almost 360 degrees, which is probably why they are considered to be symbols of wisdom – they never need to turn their back to the truth. Making one out of wood requires a rotation tool and several types of burrs. To make your owl wood carving projects even more stunning, you can finish it up with some kind of oil or burning.

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Native Indian Power Wood Carving

Estimated Time Needed: 45 minutes

Tools and supplies used:

• cedar wood
• danish oil
• rotary tool
• taper bit
• flame bit
• cylinder bit
• ball bit
• disc bit

Cowboys and Indians are a great inspiration for both movie makers and wood carvers. Using the standard power tools equipment (Dremel flex shaft and a variety burr set), you can make a wise chief portrait of any size you like. To make it look even more impressive, finish it up with a Danish oil.

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Wolf Wood Carving Project

Estimated Time Needed: 4 hours

Tools and supplies used:

• fishtail gouge
• hand saw
• semicircular gouge
• U gouge
• flat wood carving chisels
• V gouge

In many European cultures, wolves are considered to be powerful spiritual animals and totems. Mighty and graceful at the same time, they are symbols of wilderness unavailable to man. Due to extensive hunt in the present, these animals are often endangered species. If you would like to have a wolf’s head on your wall, without ever killing one, then carving it out of wood is a much more creative and sustainable alternative. Apart from petting a dog in the breaks between carving (like the carver in the video), you can use our wolf carving project design gallery to spark your imagination.

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Wood Carving Horse

Estimated Time Needed: 4 hours

Tools and supplies used:

• chainsaw
• rotary tool
• ball bit
• flame bit
• V gouge
• semicircular gouge
• flat wood carving chisels
• sander

Famous for their beautiful eyes and elegance, horses often inspire carvers to make them out of wood. On the other hand, if you ask people who like to draw, they will tell you how hard it is to reproduce the fine proportions of a horse’s body. So keep in mind that this horse wood carving project requires advanced wood carving skills and a variety of both power and hand tools, for both coarse and detailed work.

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Spider-Man Wood Carving Project

Estimated Time Needed: 5 hours

Tools and supplies used:

• chainsaw
• rotary tool
• ball bit
• flame bit
• V gouge
• semicircular gouge
• flat wood carving chisels
• micro chisels

We continue with demanding, but remarkable designs. For fully depicting a Spider-Man, you might want to use some reddish woods, and a perfect choice would be redwood or mahogany. The first step is to find a suitable picture online, print it out, and paste it to the piece of wood you wish to carve. After that, using a combination of hand and power tools will help you achieve the design. Remember that you don’t necessarily have to be as virtuosic as the carver in the video. Feel free to decide on your own how detailed you want to be.

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Rose Wood Carving Project

Estimated Time Needed: 5 hours

Tools and supplies used:

• semicircular gouge
• fishtail gouge
• rotary Tool
• flame bit
• taper bit
• ball bit
• flat wood carving chisels

Another tutorial for the professionals (or those willing to accept challenges and become one eventually!). Roses, the universal symbol of love and beauty, are as dazzling as they are hard to carve. For doing that, except a wide variety of power and hand tools, you will need a strong feeling for depth, perspective, and details. You can carve out the relief of roses from the tutorial, or opt for some easier rose wood carving projects.

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Wood Carved Alligator

Estimated Time Needed: 4 hours

Tools and supplies used:

• hand saw
• rotary tool
• cylinder bit
• flame bit
• disc bit
• taper bit
• rasp
• acrylic paint

The alligator made by a carver in this video is truly a masterpiece of wood carving. Behind this amazing design are excellent power tools, and many, many years of experience. However, don’t get discouraged by the complexity of the design, which requires several consecutive rounds of drawing and carving. If you are into carving some water predators, you can always find a simpler version online, print it on the wood, and start cutting. Having good company while working, as the carver in the video, is highly recommended!

Final Thought

Finishing wood carving projects is the closing stage of wood carving. Once you put away or turn off your cutting tools, you will start preparing your design for the final touch. In most cases, finishing a carving project means painting it and applying the protective coating. 

However, to do either of those, you need to prepare your design first. To prepare it mostly means to clean it from any remaining dust or visible pencil marks. Use a cloth and a toothbrush to remove the dust, and an eraser to remove the pencil. 

The next step is sanding. You will use sandpaper to make the surface smooth and remove any visible traces of a chisel. It’s important not to press the sandpaper too hard, as this can disturb the original shape of the design. 

Once sanding is done, the work is prepared for coating. 

What you will use to coat a wood carving project depends on what you are working on and what you want to achieve. If you want to only cover the surface in order to make it glow a bit or to change its color, you will use varnishes and paints. On the other hand, if you are working on some projects which will be used by people (such as spoons or toys), you might want to use some antiseptic coatings and compositions. These will protect the wood, but also prevent microbes from growing on the object, and thus infect people using them.

For additional gloss and protection of tools that are meant to be in contact with water, use oil products that impregnate deep into the wood and enhance its durability. 

Have fun carving!