Guitar Strap Project

[JD Alan]

I'm in the process of making a guitar strap for a member of our worship team. I made the mistake of asking her what she would want on the strap, and she said a rose. I've been making some practice carvings, working on various roses, and also some leaves.

I figured if I posted this project, it would help me keep on track. I've started the real thing, which is pictured below. I'm using a combination of Craftaids and some freehand drawing. The shading on the examples below aren't too hot, but I've done a few since then that are a little better. I've tried some background stamping, but I've not cared for the results. I don't know what I'm going to do with the rest of the strap. I may border stamp it, but I'm not going to try to carve lots of roses.

I'm not sure yet how I'm going to finish this thing, but I would like to have the roses and leaves a lighter color than the rest of the strap, so I'll be using some sort of resist. I will try various finishes on some of my practice carvings.

If anyone has any suggestions on any aspect of this project, I am sure interested in hearing them. Thanks.    

[Arizona Cattleman]

Really nice examples, this will make a great guitar strap.  Great Job JD.  That is one of the things I don't seem to grasp very well.  Practice practice practice....

AZ Cattleman

[Gun Butcher]

JD roses are tough,but it looks like you are gettin a handle on them. I really like your leaf treatment on the example on the left. My biggest problem with carving is remembering which part should be worked first to keep the piece looking natural.

[cowboy316]

lookin sweet JD
my friend youve come a long way since i joined up in this great group keep up the great work pard
Cowboy316

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

    Nice JD, she's going to love it, my Mom is crazy about roses too, everything I make for her has to have roses on it, you're doing good Pard, keep it up, flowers aren't easy to make, I have to use craft aids, my freehand isn't worth a hoot.


          Regards

       tEN wOLVES 

[GunClick Rick]

I'm with Gun Butcher,i like that first one,but they all look excelent to me..I'll take mine with buffalo heads,rifles,revolvers,a couple of turquoise and silver conchos and scalloped edges..Mighty fine JD She's gonna end up with a keeper,5 bucks she tears up..

[Marshal Will Wingam]

That'll look good with the roses, JD. Be sure to post the finished item.

[Johnny McCrae]

Great start! Look forward to seeing the finished strap.

[JD Alan]

I've got the carving and stamp work done. I seriously doubt that an additional 10 or 20 practice roses would improve the finished product that much at this point with my current skill level. I should have done a better job centering the bottom rose, and I goofed up the top leaves, and got an extra oddball in  there, but oh well. I know she will be happy with it, so I guess that's what really counts.

I'm not sure about adding a background stamp to it. I'm not good at all with the backgrounding

Now I need to decide where to go from here, finish wise. I've tried what I learned at Chan Geer's class with practice pieces: Oil it, then after it's dried coat it with a resist, in this case Neat Lac. Then apply a Sheridan Brown Antique finish to the cuts and surrounding area, wiping it off quickly.

In Chan's class we washed the project off with some water after antiquing it, and then applied Tan Kote over everything. I want the carving to have some dye in the cuts, but then I want the rest of the strap darker.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

[GunClick Rick]

Are you gonna color the roses and leaves?

[JD Alan]

Thanks for all the encouraging words guys, I appreciate it

Rick, I discussed coloring the roses with the gal who's getting the strap, and she said no. I've never tried it, so I'd need to do some practice before I tried that. I'm not sure what I'm going to do!

[Kid Terico]

JD its looking darn nice. To darken a certain spot , strap , leaf, ect,You can oil it a little heavier and rub or work it in with your thumb. It will darken the spot you are putting preasure on. Try it on a sample piece. Apply oil and rub small spot and see how much darker it gets. KT

[JD Alan]

I want to do the opposite; I want the roses to have antique, but I want the rest of the strap to be stained darker. That's a good looking holster and belt though!