Decorate For Christmas With Sleigh And Reindeer

Here are two simple, versatile, inexpensive and attractive projects just in time for the holidays. Both the tabletop sleigh and the trio of reindeer planters (the smallest of the three is pictured here) can be adorned with poinsettias, gifts, ornaments or figurines. Building them requires only easy-to-find materials: standard pine lumber, wooden balls and buttons, nails, wood putty, glue and varnish. Both projects can be left natural or painted in holiday colors like green, red, silver and gold.

The sleigh has only seven pieces and requires only five cuts. All of the parts are traced from full-size patterns, except the sleigh bottom, which is a simple rectangle.

Each reindeer has 14 pieces, and each is built following the same steps: trace the parts onto wood, saw, sand, assemble and finish. All curved cuts are traced from full-size patterns.

The finished sleigh measures 27 inches long by 11 inches wide by 15 inches tall. The small reindeer measures 16 inches tall by 14 inches long by 7 inches wide, the medium is 24 inches tall by 22 inches long by 10 inches wide and the largest measures 32 inches tall by 30 inches long by 13 inches wide.

The Tabletop Sleigh plan, No. 848, is 6.95. The Reindeer Planter trio plan, No. 745, is also $6.95.

A pull-apart Santa and Mrs. Claus plan, No. 862, is available for $7.95 and features interlocking construction requiring no nails or glue. In addition, a catalog picturing hundreds of do-it-yourself projects is $3.95, and a free holiday brochure is available on request. Prices include postage and handling (for first-class mail, add $1 per item up to $3 maximum).

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