DIY: Etched Wooden Spoons. No paint, so they're food safe! | Design Mom | Etched Wooden Spoons tutorial featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Gabrielle of Design Mom

Text and images by Amy Christie for Design Mom.

It’s getting to be that time of year again: handmade gift-making season! This year, we thought it would be fun to try a new creative tool, a dremel (or you could call it a wood burner), a heated tool used for etching and drawing on wooden surfaces. For the next three days, I’ll be sharing cool and easy projects using this one tool (find the second project here).

ETCHED WOODEN SPOONS TUTORIAL

First up, mixing spoons! Inspired by this project, I thought it would be interesting to see what super simple designs — dots, plaids and hatched arrows — looked like on etched wooden spoons. And they turned out so great, I thought they’d make a gorgeous gift!

DIY: Etched Wooden Spoons. No paint, so they're food safe! | Design Mom| Etched Wooden Spoons tutorial featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Gabrielle of Design Mom

Since I had never tried one before, I found it fascinating to work with the etcher — it’s a whole different way to alter an object. And you guys are lucky, because after my experience with these projects I can offer some advice. As a warning, it does get crazy hot and can 1) burn skin, 2) burn a whole through clothing and 3) make burn marks on anything it comes into contact with. Only two of these items are inspired by personal experience and I’m embarrassed enough not to tell you which two. : ) So please be careful!

DIY: Etched Wooden Spoons. No paint, so they're food safe! | Design Mom | Etched Wooden Spoons tutorial featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Gabrielle of Design Mom

That said, don’t be intimidated. It was actually really easy to work with. Just be careful, and when you aren’t actively using it, rest it on a surface that won’t burn. And of course, make sure to unplug it when you have finished your etched wooden spoons.

DIY: Etched Wooden Spoons. No paint, so they're food safe! | Design Mom | Etched Wooden Spoons tutorial featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Gabrielle of Design Mom

Also, there is a good chance that when you finish, you will smell like what I imagine Smoky the Bear smells like — burned wood. So crack a window, turn on a fan and pretend you’re enjoying a bonfire. The result is well worth it.

DIY: Etched Wooden Spoons. No paint, so they're food safe! | Design Mom | Etched Wooden Spoons tutorial featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Gabrielle of Design Mom

Plug in the Dremel and let’s get going!

DIY: Etched Wooden Spoons. No paint, so they're food safe! | Design Mom | Etched Wooden Spoons tutorial featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Gabrielle of Design Mom

Supplies to Make your Etched Wooden Spoons:

– Wooden spoons. I bought a cheap-o pack from the store and ordered a little nicer set online for about a dollar each.
– Etching tool. I know. A 20 dollar investment, but it gets great reviews and I think I’ll be able to use it ton. You could even share it among your crafty friends.

DIY: Etched Wooden Spoons. No paint, so they're food safe! | Design Mom | Etched Wooden Spoons tutorial featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Gabrielle of Design Mom

Heat up the etching tool and get to burning. Any design will do.

The best part of it is, you can doodle anywhere you want! Unlike with paint (which isn’t typically food safe), the design can continue onto the the parts of the utensil that will come in contact with food. Draw on the handle. Draw on the head. Draw on the whole thing! Dots, lines, hatch marks. The sky is the limit.

There isn’t much to direct here, and no templates needed. It’s that simple. You can use my designs as a reference, or free hand a design from your imagination. If you are more comfortable, you can trace a design or use a pencil to sketch on the spoon what you intend to do first. Then put the tool to the wood and make it come true.

DIY: Etched Wooden Spoons. No paint, so they're food safe! | Design Mom | Etched Wooden Spoons tutorial featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Gabrielle of Design Mom

If you want, make a little symbol, like an artist’s signature, somewhere on the spoon (I used my signature heart), because it’s a piece of art! Then tie them up with a ribbon and the gift is ready.

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THESE ETCHED WOODEN SPOONS WOULD ALSO BE GREAT FOR:

– A house warming gift.
– A birthday gift for a baker.
– A Mother’s Day gift topper.
– Party favors for a kitchen-themed party or shower.

P.S. — Like to make gifts? Check out our Perfect Gift series.

DIY: Etched Wooden Spoons. No paint, so they're food safe! | Design Mom | Etched Wooden Spoons tutorial featured by popular lifestyle blogger, Gabrielle of Design Mom