Easy woodworking gifts you can make this weekend
12 handmade gift ideas for beginners, with the skill level, the time it really takes and what you need. Start early: glue and finishes need time to dry before you wrap anything.
The 12 gifts at a glance
| Gift | Skill | Time | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cutting board | Beginner | An afternoon | One hardwood board (maple or walnut), sander, food-safe finish such as mineral oil. |
| Wall spice rack | Beginner | An afternoon | 1x4 pine, dowels or a front rail, glue, screws. |
| Set of coasters | Beginner | 1 to 2 hours | Offcuts, sander, a water-resistant finish. |
| Phone or tablet stand | Beginner | 1 to 2 hours | A short piece of hardwood, saw, drill or chisel for the slot. |
| Floating wall shelf | Beginner | A weekend | 1x8 board, hidden shelf brackets, level. |
| Wooden bookends | Beginner | An afternoon | 2x4 or hardwood offcuts, felt pads. |
| Planter box | Beginner | A weekend | Cedar boards (rot resistant), exterior screws, drill for drainage holes. |
| Birdhouse or bird feeder | Beginner | An afternoon | Untreated pine or cedar, exterior glue, screws. |
| Serving tray with handles | Beginner to intermediate | A weekend | Thin hardwood boards, two handles, food-safe finish. |
| Picture frame | Intermediate | A weekend | Hardwood molding, miter saw or miter box, clamps. |
| Keepsake box | Intermediate | A weekend or two | Hardwood, small hinges, router or table saw helps. |
| Wooden ornaments | Beginner | 1 to 2 hours | Scrap wood, scroll saw or coping saw, drill, twine. |
Tips for each project
- 1. Cutting board. The classic. Finish it with mineral oil or a board butter, never with varnish.
- 2. Wall spice rack. Measure the person's spice jars first so they actually fit.
- 3. Set of coasters. A great use for scrap from bigger projects. Make 4 or 6 and tie them with twine.
- 4. Phone or tablet stand. Test the angle with the actual phone before you glue anything.
- 5. Floating wall shelf. Ask what it will hold. Heavy books need stronger brackets and wall anchors.
- 6. Wooden bookends. Simple shapes look best. A contrasting wood species makes them pop.
- 7. Planter box. Line the inside or leave gaps for drainage so it lasts outdoors.
- 8. Birdhouse or bird feeder. A good project to build with kids. Check the entry hole size for local birds.
- 9. Serving tray with handles. Use a food-safe finish if food will touch the wood.
- 10. Picture frame. Clean 45-degree miters are the whole trick. Cut a test frame first.
- 11. Keepsake box. Simple butt joints work. Splines or dovetails make it special.
- 12. Wooden ornaments. Stars, trees and slices of a small log are fast to make in batches.
Before you start: 3 quick rules
- Get a cut list first. Buying lumber without exact lengths is how small gifts get expensive.
- Leave drying time. Many finishes need a day or more before they are ready to handle. Plan backwards from the day you give the gift.
- Use food-safe finishes on anything that touches food: cutting boards, trays, spoons.
New to the shop? Our free beginner workshop checklist covers the safety gear and tools to have first.
Do you need a paid plan?
For one simple gift, no. Free plans exist for most of the projects above. A paid plan library starts to make sense when you want to make several different gifts and would rather not hunt for a clear plan for each one.
The library we reviewed for this is Ted's Woodworking: a large digital collection of plans with cut lists and materials lists, from small gifts to furniture. It costs $67 one-time through ClickBank with a 60-day refund. We could not verify its claim of 16,000 plans, and its countdown timer is a sales tactic, so read our full review before you decide.
Images supplied by Ted's Woodworking.
The beginner workshop checklist
Safety gear, measuring tools and the questions to ask before you buy any plan pack. One page you can print and keep at the bench.
Read it now, no signup needed