Deer antlers are a fun material to use in craft projects, and they lend a rustic air to any room. If you don't live in an area where naturally-shed antlers are easy to find, you can purchase deer antlers online. Resin deer antler replicas are a durable substitute for the real thing and are also easy to purchase online and from crafts, outdoors and home-decor shops.
Ceiling Fan Pull Chain
A 3-inch to 4-inch antler tip, whether resin or real, makes an excellent grip for a ceiling fan's pull chain. In the fatter end of the antler tip drill a hole large enough to accommodate a short section of the pull chain. Fill the hole with epoxy and secure the chain in place inside the antler tip. When the epoxy is dry, attach the chain to the ceiling fan. The antler tip should hang vertically, as an easier-to-grip extension of the chain.
Hat or Coat Rack
Cut the tips of your antlers into 3- or 4-inch pieces --- these will be the "hooks" for your hat or coat rack. Stain a simple wooden board to the color of your liking; when it's dry, drill a series of holes through board along its length. The holes should be evenly spaced and in a straight line. Then, drill holes of the same size into the flat ends of the antlers. Use screws slightly larger than the size of the holes drilled in the board and in the antlers to secure the antler tips to the board. Be sure to angle the tips of the antlers upward so that they resemble hooks and can hold coats or hats well.
Letter Opener Handle
Stag-horn handled knives and letter openers are classic and elegant. Cut a piece of resin antler to a size of your liking --- it should fit comfortably in your hand. On the cut end, drill a slot into which the intended blade for your letter opener can be fitted. Carefully apply a bit of epoxy to secure the blade in the antler. When the epoxy is dry, the letter opener is ready to use.
Antler Fork Bookends
Deer antlers can dress up metal bookends. Affix antler forks to store-bought metal bookends using epoxy or small screws to secure one fork to each folded-up side --- it will appear as though the fanned-out portions of the antler forks are holding up the books. Or start from scratch by cutting two matching pieces of sheet metal that are large enough to slide under a few books. You can cut the pieces as rectangles or triangles. On each piece of metal, measure in 1 inch from the outside edge, and bend up the metal at this mark so it is at a right angle; if you've cut triangles, do this on the pointed ends of the sheets. Next, drill matching holes through each piece of metal, centered and near the bend in the material. Drill holes in both antler forks. Secure the forks to the metal sheets using small screws; the antlers should be standing upright and curving in toward the books.
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