Dremel Desk Owls

I just realized that I am doing another post on Owls! First it’s Porch Owls and Now Dremel Desk Owls! That’s a Hoot! We are having Owl Week here at Chaotically Creative. 

Years ago I had another brand (not mentioning names) of this type of tool. Okay, so I “called” it a Dremel, but it wasn’t really a Dremel. I didn’t realize that it REALLY wasn’t a Dremel until I tried this one. In other words, there is nothing like the real thing baby! Dremel offers a full line of versatile tool systems that provide the perfect solution for almost any craft, hobby or DIY project. I am just so excited! 

Wait! This is NOT what I made with the Dremel. This is my inspiration. My Brilliant Idea. I found this little guy at a Thrift Store and I have been enjoying him on my desk. It appears to be a souvenir type piece. You know, something you might have bought at Tweetsie Railroad or the Great Smoky Mountains gift store. He just looks like a Dremel project to me.

What follows is my attempt to make a version of this. Prepare yourself,  I am definitely no Dremel expert and I am considering this practice for greater things to come. I am remaining calm and pretending that I am doing a craft like at a workshop or maybe at a rehab facility. Did I just say that? Is there a rehab place for DIYers? There should be! 

So first things first. I wiggled the little owl shapes out and traced them onto a piece of very thin wood. 

Then I began to cut the shape out. I don’t have a scroll saw and a jig saw would be over kill (as in fingers cut off) so let’s see if I can some how cut out a shape with this Dremel. I actually purchased the little saw attachment shown above and used it in combination with others to cut out the shape.  

I have to say that I really enjoyed sitting down and working on this little project. I mean after stenciling an entire room with giant feathers, this was a welcome change. 

Now,  the shapes were not perfect, but if you follow this blog, you know that we are not about perfection, in fact I prefer the quirky, beat up, unique look. 

I was able to use the sanding wheel to smooth out the rough edges and give the shapes a “carved out” look. 

I have to say that this Dremel, the Micro 8050 is the most “brilliantly powerful” and precise cordless rotary tool that Dremel has ever produced. I am so impressed! 

For the base, I re-purposed a piece of the old tongue and groove porch floor saved from repairing the front porch. (I have stacks of it in the basement) I don’t own a router and this seemed like a good way to go. I carved out some little slots for the owls to sit in. 

Now let me just say that this tool is awesome. It was when I was doing this, that I realized the speed could be adjusted. When I turned up the speed, these little slots were done in a jiffy!  It is so easy to handle and control. Did you notice it has a light too?  

It is light and easy to handle in tight spaces, the Dremel® Micro™8050 is packed with features that have crafters, hobbyists and DIYers in mind: soft grip, LED front-end lighting to illuminate projects, a docking station that continually charges, and an 8V Max Lithium-ion battery.  I really appreciated the docking station. 

I made the very wise observation that the Owl eyes on my inspiration piece was a little above my skill set. So I rummaged through my collection of fasteners, nuts, bolts and found the perfect set of owl eyes and a little metal window triangle thing for the nose. Now for some finishing touches. Here goes some elementary Dremel Craving attempts…

This was really a lot of fun and with some practice it might look like an adult did it. But, I kinda like the childlike qualities as well. 

Now for my favorite part, distressing! I love to rough things up a bit. It hides the flaws and adds dimension and interest and now I have a new tool to do it with! The sanding disc is an awesome distress-er!

 Take a look at these cutie pies looking back at you! 

 It is so nice to have cute little faces to look at when you work, especially those from a Brilliant idea created by you and a Dremel.

You can purchase the Micro 8050 online at Amazon.com and HomeDepot.com for $89 USD. For more information on Dremel products, project ideas and problem-solving tips, visit www.dremel.com.

Dremel wants to celebrate its fans’ brilliant projects, work and ideas! Now through October 12, share, tweet or post photos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram that depict your brilliant ideas using the hashtag#MyBrilliantIdeaSweeps for the chance to win weekly prizes, including free tools and handmade gifts, or the grand prize: a custom-engraved Honda scooter and a Micro 8050. Visit www.facebook.com/dremel for rules and to learn more.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.