How to Make Gingerbread Brackets for My Front Porch

Select or draw a scroll-work pattern for your bracket. The bracket pattern must have two adjacent perpendicular edges. If necessary, use a photocopying machine to adjust the size of the pattern.

Place a carpenter's square along the edge of the milled plank. Draw a cutting line across the plank, perpendicular to the long axis of the wood. Trim the board on the cutting line. Measure the horizontal width of the bracket. Measure, mark and trim the plank so the scroll-work pattern will fit on the trimmed plank.

Position the pattern on the plank so the pattern's perpendicular edges are aligned to the corresponding edges of the plank. Tape the pattern to the plank on one edge. The tape will act as a hinge, allowing you to position and move the graphite paper between the pattern and the plank as you transfer the pattern.

Lift the pattern. Place a sheet of graphite paper, shiny side down, on the plank. Reposition the pattern. Use a pencil to trace around the pattern lines using moderate pressure. Periodically lift the pattern and graphite paper to ensure that all of the pattern lines are transferred to the plank. Remove the pattern and graphite paper. Use a pencil to color in spaces that will be cut out with the scroll saw. While this step is not strictly necessary, it will help to simplify the cutting process.

Drill a hole in each area of the plank that will be cut out. Use a 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch drill bit. Remove the blade from the scroll saw. Lay the plank on the saw table with a drilled hole aligned to the blade arm. Pass the saw blade through the hole in the plank, then reattach the blade to the saw. Cut the plank on the transferred pattern cutting lines. Remove the saw blade and excess wood from the cutout. The blade is removed and reinstalled to cut each section of the bracket.

Cut out each inner section of the bracket. The last cut will be on the hypotenuse or side opposite the right angle of the bracket. Trim the last edge.