Hello everyone, and welcome back! As promised in the previous article (which I’m sure you didn’t miss 😉 because it covered such an important topic… The Toxicity of Wood), here we are at the most awaited time of the year: the Christmas project! This year, I’m proud to present “The Big Reveal: The 2024 Christmas Diorama You Can’t Miss.” A woodcarving project, but with a 2.0 twist! It’s directly tied to last year’s project, yet it stands on its own. And the centerpiece this time… Rudolph’s Great Fall!

Do you remember? Last year, poor Santa Claus slipped out of the chimney, ending up face down, legs in the air, and completely buried under a pile of gifts. Well, I couldn’t ignore such a mystery, so I dug deep to uncover what really happened that night!

I’ll admit—it wasn’t easy. I questioned Santa multiple times, but he kept dodging the topic, vaguely mumbling something about a cold night and possibly ice on the chimney being to blame.

And Rudolph? Well, last year he claimed he was “busy with other commitments” (highly suspicious, even then!) and wasn’t present at the disaster. I never imagined that excuse would lead me into such a tangled investigation…

No witnesses, no footage, and, as always, the gift deliveries had been carried out in the utmost secrecy. If it weren’t for the home’s surveillance cameras, the accident might have remained a mystery!

Then, in the middle of summer, an anonymous source reached out to me in strict confidence. They needed help repairing Santa’s sleigh. My curiosity got the better of me, so I agreed. And—unbelievable as it sounds—the sleigh was in terrible shape: a hole in the front, feathers everywhere, the reindeer’s harness ropes tangled and even torn! Something big had definitely gone down that night…

My source seemed like a character out of a movie—disguised appearance, distorted voice. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have trusted them, but by then, I was neck-deep in this story. While making repairs, I asked some “casual” questions to gather info, but nothing. Not a single concrete answer… until I found an onboard system: the sleigh’s black box!

At that point, they couldn’t deny it any longer! It was time for a change in tactics: I dropped the “good cop” act and went full “bad cop”! And there they were, red-faced with shame, finally confessing the truth. Santa decided it was time to spill the beans…

“Yes, we were running late. We prioritized the gifts and made do with a quick setup—no safety checks, everything rushed… and then it happened! For a while, things went smoothly, we were making up for lost time and almost relaxing. Rudolph was flying amazingly well, better than ever! But…”

Wait! Rudolph?! Wasn’t he supposed to be “busy”? 😳 Santa lowered his gaze, admitting they’d agreed on that version of the story beforehand. Shocking revelation! 🤯

“It all happened so fast… I was preparing to land when I noticed strange movements among the reindeer, and then feathers tickled my nose… and suddenly—nothing! I lost my balance and fell straight onto the floor!”

At that point, our dear Rudolph finally stepped forward and, with a tone of regret, confessed:

“We were flying low, and for a moment, I got distracted because my jingle bell collar was coming loose… I didn’t see the duck flying toward us!”

Yes, a collision with a duck!!! The impact caused complete chaos: Rudolph lost his collar, the reindeer scattered, and the sleigh became uncontrollable. Santa and the gifts came crashing down! 😳🤯😱😱

So, there you have it—the truth at last, confirmed by a rare photo of the event.

Now you’re official witnesses to this Christmas drama! Santa, Rudolph, and the duck (who I later learned is named Gwen van Kwak) all overcame the trauma thanks to months of therapy.

Gwen has fully regrown her feathers and made a significant investment in a pair of flight goggles to avoid future accidents. She says this Christmas, she’ll stick to walking to keep things peaceful. 😂

If you want to see this crazy adventure come to life and catch a quick glimpse behind the scenes, check out the video below! 🎥✨ Then come back here, because there’s so much more to discover about how it was all created! 😉

Behind the Scenes of the Diorama

This story inspired the Christmas 2024 diorama, created to document the incident! I didn’t prepare a specific tutorial for it because, as I worked, I kept adding details as the story unfolded. It’s as if the project grew on its own, one piece at a time, just like a story expanding with its details.

Creating a diorama isn’t as hard as it might seem. You just need an idea to start with, then let inspiration guide you, adding elements to bring the scene to life. This year, I used some seasoned basswood I’ve been drying for over a year. I’m learning to handle the drying process, but unfortunately, I’ve only had access to branches, not trunks. The core of the branches is quite delicate and prone to crumbling, making it harder to work with.

In fact, there were several breaks during this project, and I had to glue legs and ears back together. Frustrating, but nothing a bit of wood glue couldn’t fix! Wood glue was essential for repairs: it dries quickly, becomes almost invisible, can be painted over, and holds everything securely. With some patience, each part was restored, and the project came together smoothly!

To make the scene more dynamic and realistic, I had to think about suspending the sleigh and gifts. I wanted a “magical” effect to make it seem like everything was flying, so I used clear fishing line.

It was a bit of invisible engineering: the sleigh is suspended by transparent line that “disappears,” holding it as if it’s truly soaring through the night sky. Another line supports the falling gifts, making it look like the accident is happening in real time. This effect added a sense of movement and realism to the scene, as if chaos was exploding in an instant.

My main tools included a band saw to shape Rudolph, the sleigh, and the gifts; my trusty M-Stein No. 2 carving knife; and a mini drill to create the hole that attaches Rudolph to the sleigh. I used standard wood glue for repairs, acrylic paints for finishing, and linseed oil for a smooth, even finish.

While having a band saw (or scroll saw) can make things much easier, it’s by no means essential. With a bit more patience, you can achieve the same result using just a carving knife for shaping and finishing the details. The trick is in paying attention to the details and dedicating yourself to the project without rushing.

Every approach is valid, whether you’re using professional equipment or relying on simpler tools. The important thing is to have fun and let your imagination run wild, without being afraid to experiment or add new details. My advice is to start with an idea but don’t hesitate to adapt it as the project takes shape. Every little change is part of the creative process!

That’s it for now! Your turn! I can’t wait to see all your Christmas projects! Tag me on Instagram (@whittled.lovelies) so I don’t miss any of your creations, or use the hashtag #whittledlovelies. You can also share your work in our Facebook group (click the pink link to join! 😉). I can’t wait to see what you create!

If this diorama hasn’t satisfied your holiday spirit yet, don’t worry! You can check out projects from past years! Every year brings a new Christmas adventure to discover! Take a look and get inspired by more festive stories and creations! 🎄✨

See you soon, happy crafting, and most importantly, I wish you plenty of great ideas for your Christmas gifts or creations! Let’s meet back here in a month! Bye!! 🤗😘