Everywhere I look, stores are promoting a farmhouse Christmas. I see burlap, Buffalo plaid, red barns, wooden signs and these lovely red pick-up trucks.
I was scrolling through facebook the other day and an ad for this Lego set came across my feed.
I immediately went online to see if it was available, how big it was and how much it cost. I haven’t been excited about a Lego set in a long time. After seeing the $169.99 price tag, I got to thinking that instead of paying well over $100 for something I would use as a seasonal decoration, I could use scrap wood from our garage and make one pretty much the same size.
I will pre-empt by saying this truck’s wheels will not roll. It is meant as a standing decoration.
Materials
1X4 – 12” (base)
2X4 – 5 3/4” (hood)
2X4 – 2 3/4” (cab)
2 @ 5 5/8 long X 3/8” thick X 1 1/4” high(box sides)
1 @ 3 3/8 long X 3/8” thick X 1 1/4” high (tailgate)
1X4 – 2 X 1/2” (axles)
4 wood slices (wheels) You choose how big
scrap 1/2” thick (wheel bumper)
band saw or chop saw (hand saw would work in a pinch except for the wheel bumpers)
sand paper
wood glue
acrylic paint and brushes
Directions
I started with a 1X4 cutting it to 12”. For the hood I needed a piece of 2X4 @ 5 3/4” long. On top of that was the cab, another piece of 2X4 @ 2 3/4”. I sanded the hood and cab rounding the corners a bit.
To create the sides of the box and tailgate, I used some scrap that was a bit thicker than a paint stick. The sides were 5 5/8” and tailgate 3 3/8”. I placed the hood onto the base 1/4” from the end. I wood glued all these pieces together. Once dry, I added some 1/2 ” slices of 1X4 for the two wheel axles and glued them on.
The wheel bumper was a bit tricky. I traced the top half of the wood slice I was going to use as a wheel then made another curve 1/2” out. I used some scrap 1/2” spruce and cut four of them out with the band saw.
I glued the wheel bumper and wheels on one side letting it dry before adding wheels on the other side. I lined up the bottom of each bumper so it was at the bottom of the 1X4 in hopes that would make the wheels level.
My moment of truth was when I tried to stand the truck right side up. The wheels were not even because the wood slice wheels were not exactly the same. I ended up sanding two of the “wheels” for quite a while to get it balanced and level.
Here is the truck before painting.
I just used acrylic paint, the paint you find at Dollarama or Michaels. Painting is so relaxing.
The truck could be used as fall decor.
It could sit in front of a small Christmas tree loaded with mini presents.
Here it is carrying some pinecone trees I made and a tree made out of jingle bells.
Some small toys could be incorporated as well like these mini Lego trees and plastic gingerbread figures.
I am thinking about toy flowers for spring and mini plastic eggs at Easter.
It brings as smile to my face when I enter the room as see it sitting there.
I am not sure exactly where I will put it to add to my Christmas decor but it will need to be somewhere I pass by often.
Very versatile!