Wooden Angel Wings

Create these wooden Angel wings as a keepsake decor piece for Christmas (or all year long) to commemorate the loss of a loved one. 

Someone I love lost someone they love in 2018.  I searched and searched to try to come up with a  heartfelt gift to commemorate their loss and let them know they are in my thoughts – especially during this emotional time of year.

I found a beautiful Swarovski ornament that would have been a sentimental tribute – but it was sold out, and really, might have become lost on a tree full of decorations.

I tried looking up Angel art – and while I found tons of talented artists and beautiful pieces – art really is in the eye of the beholder, and my tastes might have been forced on her.

I finally settled on making something myself and decided to go with wooden Angel wings – simple enough to be left out all year, but Seasonal enough to be considered a Christmas decor piece.

I started with 1″ x 12″ select pine and drew an outline of Angel wings.  If you aren’t a stellar artist (like me), use printer paper to trace an image from online, or create one wing and then trace the second so that they match

My wooden Angel wings are 12″ wide by 16″ tall (30.5cm by 40.6cm).  I cut the outline on my scroll saw and then played around with creating cut outs that looked like feathers.

I cut these by first drilling a hole in the top of each feather shape and then threading my scrollsaw blade through each hole to cut the shape.  Everything was sanded smooth with 220 grit sandpaper.

Because I wanted a rustic look for these wooden Angel wings, I applied a coat of dark walnut stain – front, back and in every hole – and let dry.

This was followed with two coats of white paint over top.

While my Angel wings were drying, I cut a 3/8″ dowel to 15″ (38cm) long, gave it a light sanding and then coated with a matte black paint.

The stand for my Angel wings is a 4.5″ by 6.5″ (11.4cm by 16.5cm) piece of 3/4″ (2cm) wood.  I attempted (very poorly) to router the edges to give it a more finished look, and sanded them smooth before applying the dark walnut stain.

In the centre of each base, and the centre of the wooden Angel wings, I drilled a 3/8″ hole to fit the dowel stand.  Once the stain was completely dry, I painted the base in the same white as the Angel wings.

I have a bit of a dilemma with “rustic”…  when I cut, build, sand and paint a project, scuffing it all up again bugs me.  Seems like a waste of effort – but I sucked it up for this project because I wanted the warmth and patina that a rustic look brings.  (I think) perfect Angel wings would have looked cold and sterile, where lightly worn ones look like they’ve been loved and have weathered time – totally symbolic of the person they are meant to commemorate:  loved for a very long time.

I sanded off areas of my white finish with 150 grit sandpaper to let some of the dark stain peek through.

The dowel fits snugly in the wooden Angel wings and into the base so that it is as easily displayed as it is tucked away (flat).

I wonder if, instead of cutting feather shapes, you could actually glue white feathers to the wooden Angel wings outline?  Then you might be able to get away with cutting using a jigsaw instead of a scrollsaw?

The person I made these wooden Angel wings for hasn’t received them yet – but just in case she knows whom I’m writing about – this Holiday Season will seem a little less sparkly and bright, but know that you are no less loved by everyone here and by your loved ones in heaven.

XOXO  Shel.

Linked to:  Between Naps on the Porch