Carving a Wooden Wall-Nut from Plants vs. Zombies

Wall-Nut’s oval body and large eyes make a compact character-carving project. This version uses basswood, with a yellow-brown finish and a small amount of carved texture below the face. Keep the broad form simple while giving the eyes room to project.

1. Draw the character

Sketch the outline and eyes on the front of a rectangular basswood blank. Use the drawing to establish the final width and height before removing wood.

2. Narrow the blank

Reduce the excess along the two sides, working toward the width of the drawing. How much you remove depends on the blank and the outline you have chosen. Keep the drawing visible.

Support the upright blank so it cannot tip or slide as you remove wood. Keep your steadying hand clear of the tool’s path.

3. Remove the upper waste

Use a saw for the larger waste above the head, leaving material outside the rounded outline for carving. The saw establishes the rough size; it does not need to finish the curve.

Secure the blank before sawing; keep your fingers clear of the blade and its follow-through. Use the saw and workholding setup guide to match the saw and support to the blank.

4. Turn the block into an oval form

Reduce the corners in stages so the rectangular blank becomes rounded. Check the width and thickness together as you work around the body. The animations show the progression from broad waste removal to smaller shavings.

Practice the basic whittling cuts if you need help controlling the change from broad shaping to small cuts.

5. Approach the outline carefully

Take smaller cuts near the drawn shape. Retain the material needed for the projecting eyes instead of rounding the entire front into one uninterrupted surface.

6. Add the eye and lower-face detail

Refine the oval form and define the eyes above the surrounding face. Add the recessed grooves and small raised areas toward the bottom. Their placement can vary, but keep the overall form balanced and the expression area clear.

7. Paint the body and expression

Use a dark yellow or light brown base color, reserving the eyes for white. Finish with dark pupils, eyebrows, and a mouth using a fine brush. The demonstration shows the colors being mixed and brushed onto the wood. The loaded brush leaves visible paint ridges; use less paint if you want the carved texture to remain visible.