"Pocket" Projects - Snowman Pin

What I mean by "pocket" projects are those very small pieces that are whittled with only a pocket knife, and can be carried in your pocket.  To me, this is the very essence of whittling.  Just one tool and pieces of wood that can be carried in your pocket.  With this arrangement one can whittle dang near anywhere and any time.  This is even better when the piece to be whittled is a very simple and fast whittle.  With the winter season and Christmas approaching I have found that most kids and many adults like the snowman pin or ornament.  This little pocket project is a pin.

Start with cutting the blank out of 1/4 to 3/8 inch Basswood.  Notice that I like to leave a "handle" attached to the blank.

  Since the blank is so small this handle gives added safety when holding the wood to whittle.  After whittling, just cut the handle off, and paint the snowman and add the pin back.  Whittling consists off just rounding over the edges of the snowman, and his hat.

The pipe is merely a section of tooth pick glued into a section of 3/16 inch dowel.  The nose is another section of the tooth pick, painted orange.

Here's the finished snowman.  I do 5 or 6 at the same sitting.  These are fast and simple, but very well liked when gifted.....