A Doll for all Seasons: How to make an easel for your doll:

I made this easel "doll-sized" but I also thought it could be used for a tabletop size easel, too!

The materials you will need are:

4 pieces of craft wood- 1/4"x 1/2" x 24"L - you may want to purchase extra wood if you are unsure of your measuring and cutting skills!

1 metal hinge- 5/8"W x 1/2"L- I used brass finish

1/2"L flat Head screws

3/8"L flat head screws

3/8"W grosgrain ribbon-

The tools you will need are:

wood glue

screwdriver

drill with 1/16" drill bit

pencil

clamps or large binder clips

ruler

scissors

4 pieces of 1/4"x1/2"x24" craft wood

You will need to cut the wood into the following lengths:

A= 18"( 2 pieces)

B= 15" (1 piece)

C= 1" (1 piece)

D= 2 1/2" ( 2 pieces)

E= 8" (4 pieces)

F= 1 3/4" (2 pieces)

I have labeled each piece with a letter for easy reference. You will see the photos labeled with these letters so that they are easier to understand.

Sand each cut edge.

Drill a pilot hole in C, centered lengthwise and 1/8" from one edge. place one 1/2" screw in the hole and screw in part way.

Drill a pilot hole in one end of B at the center, add a small amount of glue then line up the screw in C and tighten screw all the way. One edge of C should be flush with B.

Next line up the hinge on C so that the part of the hinge that bends is centered lengthwise and is flush with the same edge that is flush with B. Mark holes with a pencil.

Drill pilot holes where you marked with the pencil and attach hinge with two 3/8" screws to C.

Mark the placement for the remaining half of the hinge on D, placed centered lengthwise and flush with one edge as shown above.

Take three of E and glue as shown in the above two photos.Set aside to dry.

Next, mark with a pencil, 1/4" from each end of piece D centered and drill pilot holes.
Then mark 3" from one edge of both pieces of A, and drill pilot holes. Attach with two 1/2" screws. (see also below photo)

Measure 10 1/2" down on both pieces of A and mark with a pencil, then drill pilot holes. Next, take the remaining E piece and mark 1 1/2" from each end centered and drill pilot holes. Attach E to both A pieces, as shown above, with two 1/2" screws. Your easel should so far look like the above photo from the back.

Next, take a straight edge and mark straight across both A's and B at bottom edge. Cut along these lines.

I attached, with glue only, D to the front, as shown, to cover up the screws that came through to the front. This will add support and give it a more finished look.

This is another view of the top part of the easel from the back side.

This is a side view of the top. Here you can see the hinge placement clearly.

Next, I marked and drilled pilot holes in both pieces of F, centered lengthwise and 1/8" from one edge and 3/8" from the other end. See above photo.

Attach both F pieces with the edges that have the screw placement 1/8" from edge to piece E, as shown above, with glue and screw into place.

Here is another view showing placement of F pieces.

Here you can see a view from above how the placement of F pieces will look.

Next, I attached the 3 pieces of E's that were glued together to the two F pieces with glue and screw into place. I used binder clips to clamp them into place until they dry.

A view from above.

A view from underneath.

Next, cut a piece of 3/8" wide grosgrain ribbon 5 3/4" long. This is used to keep the easel in an open position and allows you to fold the easel up storage. Attach by first folding back one end of the ribbon 1/2". Take one screw and puncture a hole through both layers and screw the screw until the head is flush with the ribbon. Mark the center of the back of piece E and drill a pilot hole. Add a small amount of glue to the back of the ribbon only near the screw, and screw into place at the hole you have just drilled.

Then take the other end of the ribbon and fold back and attach screw like the other end. Mark and drill a pilot hole on piece B directly across from the other end of the ribbon. Add glue and screw into place the same way as the other end of the ribbon.

I also glued a small piece of ribbon to cover up the small point of the screw that comes through to the other side of piece B, so there is no rough edges. And on piece E where the screw comes through I glued a small piece of wood for a more finished look, but gluing a piece of ribbon like I did for the back of B will work just as well.

A few more views of the finished piece: