Inspiration
Build ideas
Project ideas to design yourself: a rough size, wood, and the tools and techniques to start from.
Making something for Thanksgiving? See Thanksgiving wood projects to make. Looking ahead to Christmas gifts? See Christmas gift projects to make and sell and laser engraver Christmas gift ideas.
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Main tool is the first tool each idea lists.
Thanksgiving and Christmas build ideas
Scrap Wood Wreath
A door or wall wreath made from short scrap blocks glued onto a plywood ring, so every block sits on solid backing. Swap the ribbon from rust and gold for Thanksgiving to red or plaid for Christmas.
About 16 in across and 1 1/2 in deep, with a 9 in open center
Hardwood napkin holder
A small cherry napkin holder for a Thanksgiving or holiday table: a flat base and three low walls make an open-front slot that keeps napkins flat. Cut the parts, ease the outer corners, glue up, sand and oil.
About 7 x 7 x 1 3/4 in
Wooden Fall Leaf Wall Hanging
A hangable fall leaf wall piece in hardwood or plywood, cut as a single silhouette or layered leaves. Keyhole hangers or D-rings on the back let it sit flat on the wall.
About 14 in tall x 10 in wide
Fence-picket porch turkey
A standing porch turkey from cedar fence pickets: a round body and head cut from glued-up pickets, with a fan of pointed pickets behind painted in fall colors. A back brace or two stakes keep it upright.
About 30 in tall x 30 in wide
Hardwood acorn mantel sitters
A set of three small turned or carved hardwood acorns that sit on a mantel for Thanksgiving. Shape the nut and cap from contrasting woods, sand smooth, and wipe on oil so the grain reads clearly.
About 2 to 3 in tall each
Laser-cut leaf napkin rings
Napkin rings from thin birch plywood strips with a laser-cut living hinge that bends into a ring, plus a maple leaf cut through the front. Glue the ends with a small overlap; cut four or eight from one sheet.
About 2 in across x 1 1/2 in wide each
Maple leaf trivet
A hardwood maple-leaf silhouette about 8 inches across, with three short feet so air moves underneath on a dining table. Trace a leaf template, cut it on a bandsaw or scroll saw, ease the edges and wipe on clear oil.
About 8 in across
Thanksgiving centerpiece riser
A low freestanding hardwood riser about 14 inches long that lifts a decorative Thanksgiving centerpiece off the table. Glue a solid top plank to four short legs, square the corners, sand through the grits, and finish with a clear oil.
About 14 x 6 x 4 in
Walnut place card holders
Small walnut blocks with one saw kerf along the top to hold a name card at each place setting. Rip one long strip, cut the kerf down its length, then crosscut the strip into matching blocks and ease the edges.
About 3 x 1 x 3/4 in each
Stacked wood-slice pumpkins
Rustic porch pumpkins from three log rounds of shrinking diameter, glued in a stack with a short branch stem and a twist of grapevine on top. Cut a few heights from one log for a step or mantel set.
About 5 to 8 in tall and 5 to 7 in across each
Aromatic cedar drawer blocks
Small unfinished blocks of aromatic red cedar for a sweater drawer or closet, some with a twine loop through one end. Rip one long strip, drill the twine holes, then crosscut the blocks to length against a stop block. Leave them bare so the scent comes out, and a light sanding later brings it back.
About 3 x 1 1/2 x 3/4 in
Laser-engraved walnut luggage tags
Walnut-veneer plywood luggage tags with rounded corners, a strap slot near one end and a simple engraved mountain motif, finished with a leather strap. Engrave the motif first, then cut the slot and outline in the same job, so nothing shifts between the two. The cross plies keep the wood around the slot strong, and the back has room to engrave a name.
About 4 x 2 1/2 x 1/4 in
Walnut and maple key fobs
Small walnut and maple key fobs with rounded corners and one drilled hole for a steel split ring, a quick stocking stuffer made from offcuts. Drill all the holes along one long strip first, then crosscut the fobs to the same length against a stop block, so every hole sits the same distance from the end. Run the grain the long way so the end with the hole stays strong, then ease the edges and wipe on oil.
About 3 x 1 x 3/8 in
Cherry pencil holder block
A solid cherry block with a few pencil holes drilled straight down into the top, a desk gift for a teacher, coworker or anyone who still writes things down. Lay the holes out in two rows with plenty of wood between them and around the edges, then drill them at the drill press with a Forstner bit and the depth stop set so none come out the bottom. Chamfer the top edges lightly, sand and oil it.
About 4 x 3 x 3 in
Laser-engraved wood bookmarks
Thin walnut and maple bookmarks with one laser-engraved holiday motif and a twine loop, a quick stocking stuffer for readers. Run the grain the long way so the strip stays stiff, and engrave before you cut the outlines free. Several fit on one sheet, so a small batch takes about one laser session.
About 6 x 2 x 1/8 in
Compound-cut Christmas tree ornaments
Small 3D tree ornaments sawn from a square block. Cut the same stepped tree outline on two adjacent faces, taping the first offcuts back on before the second cut. Crosscut each tree free, sand, add a screw eye and twine.
About 4 in tall x 1 1/4 in square each
Laser-cut gift card holder
A slim walnut sleeve that turns a gift card into a keepsake: three thin laser-cut layers, a card-sized slot in the middle one, and a thumb notch and engraved snowflake or tree in front. Keep glue away from the slot.
About 4 1/4 x 3 x 3/8 in
DIY Christmas Village General Store
A laser or CNC general store in tab-and-slot Baltic birch, at the same tabletop scale as the village church and covered bridge. It lifts off over a battery LED so the windows glow; rough size, wood and tools below.
About 6 in wide, 4 in deep and 5 in tall
DIY Gingerbread House Porch Silhouette
A flat plywood or fence-picket gingerbread-house silhouette for the porch or yard, with a stake or back brace so it stands as drawn. Optional paint for candy-trim colors.
About 36 in tall x 28 in wide
Laser-cut walnut gift tags
Thin solid walnut gift tags with a laser-engraved holiday motif, a hang hole and a twine loop, for presents or market stock. Lay out several per sheet, engrave, cut the outlines free, sand lightly, oil and add twine.
About 3 x 1 1/2 in, thin stock
DIY Wooden Sled Ornaments
A set of small hangable sled ornaments from scrap hardwood—two thin runners, a flat cargo deck, and a twine loop. Cut a simple batch for the tree or gift tags.
About 3 in long, 1 1/4 in wide and 3/4 in tall each
Scrap Wood Christmas Tree Wall Art
A hangable Christmas tree plaque from layered scrap triangles or short staggered boards glued to a thin backer. Keyhole hangers or D-rings keep it flat on the wall.
About 12 in wide x 18 in tall x 1 in deep
Wooden Sleigh Mantel Centerpiece
A freestanding hardwood or scrap sleigh for the mantel, with deep runners and a flat cargo bed for greenery or small ornaments. The wide, low stance keeps it stable on the mantel.
About 12 in long, 5 in wide and 5 in tall
Cedar picket Christmas star
A five-pointed porch star from cedar fence pickets, about 24 inches across, with overlapping slats meeting in the center. Cut matching points from a template, fasten with exterior screws or nails, and hang it on a covered porch wall.
About 24 in across
Cherry holiday keepsake box
A small cherry keepsake box with a lift-off lid, about 6 inches wide, for notes, photos or small gifts under the tree. Miter or butt the corners, glue up, sand through the grits and wipe on a grain-showing oil.
About 6 x 4 x 3 in
Christmas village church
A tab-and-slot village church with a square bell tower, pointed steeple and arched windows, laser-cut from thin Baltic birch plywood on a diode or CO2 laser. It lifts off over a battery LED so the windows glow.
About 4 in wide, 6 in deep and 7 in tall
Christmas village covered bridge
A small covered bridge for the village, laser-cut from thin Baltic birch plywood: arched portals, slatted side walls, a scored shingle roof and a gently arched deck. Set it over white felt as a snowy creek.
About 10 in long, 3 in wide and 5 in tall
Christmas village display riser
A three-step pine riser for a sideboard or mantel so each row of village pieces sits higher than the one in front. Two stepped side panels carry three long boards, with room behind for the LED light switches.
About 24 in wide, 12 in deep and 9 in tall
Laser-cut Christmas village
Three tab-and-slot houses and two small trees cut from thin Baltic birch plywood on a diode or CO2 laser. Each house lifts off over a small battery LED light so the windows glow.
About 3 to 4 in wide and up to 5 1/2 in tall per house
Layered walnut and maple star tree topper
A five-point star made from three thin layers, walnut, maple and a small walnut center, glued with a slight offset so each layer shows. A short sleeve glued to the back slips over the top branch of the tree.
About 8 in across
Layered walnut and maple snowflake ornaments
Two-layer ornaments: a light maple snowflake glued onto a dark walnut disc, with room for a name or year engraved on the back. They are cut on a diode or CO2 laser, a batch at a time.
About 3 in across, 1/4 in thick
Log reindeer
A rustic porch reindeer made from firewood-size logs and branches: a body log on four splayed branch legs, a neck and head joined with oak dowels, and branch antlers. It needs only a handsaw or bow saw and a drill.
About 23 to 24 in long x 36 to 40 in tall
Fence-picket porch snowman
A standing porch snowman from fence pickets cut into three stacked rounded shapes and painted white, with a board top hat, painted nose and fabric scarf. Back cleats join the pickets; a back brace keeps it upright.
About 36 in tall x 14 in wide
Scrap-wood mantel trees
A set of small tiered evergreen silhouettes from pine or poplar scrap, each glued to a short base so they stand on a mantel. Trace one cardboard template, cut on a bandsaw or scroll saw, sand and oil.
About 8 to 12 in tall each
Scroll-saw nativity silhouette
A flat nativity scene scroll-sawn from one piece of plywood: a stable roofline, a kneeling figure, a standing figure with a staff and a small manger under a cut-out star. It stands in a slotted wooden base.
About 16 in wide x 10 in tall
Wall stocking holder
A wall-mounted poplar peg rail for stockings, with 4, 6 or 8 hardwood pegs on 8 in centers. The pegs are laid out so every screw lands in a wall stud.
About 32, 48 or 64 in long
Walnut holiday card stand
A low walnut block with shallow angled kerfs that hold greeting cards upright on a desk or entry table. Rip and crosscut one blank, cut the grooves on a table saw with a stop for even spacing, then oil.
About 10 x 3 x 1 1/4 in
Personalized laser-engraved walnut ornaments
Thin walnut disc ornaments with an engraved motif, a scored border ring and space for a name or year, hung from a twine loop. A diode or CO2 laser engraves, scores and cuts several per sheet of thin walnut.
About 3 1/4 in across, 1/8 in thick
More build ideas
Balancing wine bottle holder
A single walnut board with a 45-degree foot and a hole near the top that holds a sealed wine bottle at an angle, so the pair seems to float. The hole must put the combined weight over the foot.
About 6 1/2 in long, 4 to 5 in wide, 13/16 in thick
Cedar planter
A raised outdoor planter built from untreated western red cedar fence pickets around 2x2 corner posts, with stainless screws. A slatted floor with drain holes and a fabric liner let water out and keep soil in.
About 24 in long x 11 in wide x 12 1/2 in tall
CNC cribbage board
A long two-player walnut cribbage board with two tracks of peg holes running up and back, plus a game hole and start holes. A hobby CNC router drills the holes from an SVG file.
About 20 1/2 in long x 3 1/2 in wide x 3/4 in thick
Small wall shelf with key hooks
A small red oak entryway wall shelf with a front lip that holds a few envelopes and four double key hooks along the back board below. Glued and screwed from three boards, it screws into the wall studs.
About 18 in wide x 7 in tall x 4 1/4 in deep
Laser-cut wood earrings
Three pairs of geometric walnut earrings: an open teardrop, a split diamond, and a fan with scored lines. They are cut from thin solid walnut on a diode or CO2 laser and hung on ear hooks.
About 1 in wide x 1 1/2 in long x 1/8 in thick each
Laser-engraved coaster set with holder
Four engraved round Baltic birch coasters that stack in a small glued tab-and-slot holder. Everything is cut from 1/4 in plywood on a diode or CO2 laser.
About 4 in across per coaster; holder about 5 1/4 in square x 1 3/4 in tall
Magnetic bottle opener
A walnut wall-mounted bottle opener with a cast-iron opener near the top. Rare-earth magnets set in epoxy behind the face catch the caps so they stick to the board instead of hitting the floor.
About 11 in tall x 3 1/2 in wide x 3/4 in thick
Mid-century walnut coffee table
A walnut coffee table with splayed, tapered legs wedged through thick cleats under the top, and a lower shelf. The solid top and shelf are fixed with slotted screw holes so both can shrink and swell.
About 44 in long x 20 in wide x 16 in tall
Roubo-style workbench
A massive workbench with a laminated top, legs flush to the front edge, through-tenons and a leg vise. It is built from construction lumber.
About 84 in long x 22 in deep x 34 in tall
Shaker peg coat rack
A wall-mounted peg rail with five glued-in hardwood pegs, screwed into the wall studs through plugged counterbores. One 6-ft 1x4 makes two rails.
About 35 in long x 3 1/2 in tall x 3/4 in thick
Shaker-style side table
A plain side table with legs tapered on their inside faces, mortise-and-tenon aprons, and a top that floats on wood buttons. It suits cherry, walnut, red oak or maple.
About 18 in square x 26 in tall
Picture frame with splined miters
A red oak frame for an 8 x 10 picture, with contrasting walnut keys crossing the mitered corners. The key slots are cut after glue-up with a shop-made jig that rides the table-saw fence.
About 11 3/8 in wide x 13 3/8 in tall x 3/4 in thick
Splined walnut desk valet
A low walnut desk valet for keys, pens and loose change, with mitered corners and thin maple splines showing at each corner. It follows on from a picture frame: the same splined miters, plus a bottom.
About 12 x 8 in, 2 in tall
Splined walnut keepsake box
A small mitered walnut keepsake box with maple corner splines and a lift-off lid engraved with a name or date on a laser. It is built from thin stock on the table saw; the laser only engraves.
About 5 1/2 in long x 3 1/2 in wide x 2 3/8 in tall
V-carved name sign
A poplar house or family name sign with V-carved, paint-filled lettering and a carved border. A hobby CNC router cuts it from a 1x8.
About 12 in wide x 6 in tall x 3/4 in thick
Walnut LED tealight holder
A walnut bar with three pockets sized for battery-powered LED tealights, drilled with a Forstner bit. It is meant for LED tealights only.
About 12 in long x 3 1/2 in wide x 1 5/16 in thick
Narrow white oak console table
A narrow white oak console table for entryways and behind sofas: square legs, doweled aprons and stretchers, a lower shelf, and a solid top on wood buttons. Gaps are sized so the top and shelf can both shrink and swell.
About 42 in long x 10 in deep x 30 in tall
Cedar tabletop planter
A small cedar succulent box for a patio table, with top trim and short feet to lift it off the surface. It scales down our full planter and cuts from a couple of cedar fence boards with a circular saw.
About 14 in long, 5 in wide, 5 in tall
Laser-engraved hex wall tiles
A set of small hexagon tiles cut and engraved on a laser, each with a simple line pattern of leaves and triangles. Hang them as a light cluster on a wall and add tiles over time.
About 4 in across each tile
CNC phone and tablet stand
A red oak stand that holds a phone or small tablet tipped back, with room for the charging cable underneath. A hobby CNC router cuts two side profiles, a backrest and a front groove from one board; cross-laps join them.
About 5 1/2 in deep x 6 in tall x 6 in wide
Walnut bookends with contrasting splines
A pair of L-shaped walnut bookends, each mitered from one piece so the grain wraps the corner. Two thin maple keys cross each miter as a contrasting detail, and cork pads go under the base.
About 5 1/2 in wide x 6 1/2 in tall x 5 in deep, each of a pair