It’s that time when we’re all looking for that special gift for someone. Why not make a gift instead? If you’re able to make something special with your own hands, that gift has a much stronger personal connection. You may be thinking that there isn’t time or that you don’t have the skills needed, but there are some great projects that you can get done quickly. And no one needs to know that you didn’t slave over them for weeks.
Pendants – Wooden pendants are easier to make than you might think. A simple pendant is basically an interesting shape with a hole in it. Thread a chain or leather necklace through the hole and presto – you have a pendant. There are no rules or limitations on the design but you do want it to hang properly and be small enough to be comfortable to wear. Just use files, rasps and sandpaper to get an interesting, non-linear shape.
Trivets – All you need is an interesting board that is about ½” thick. Cut three or four trivets of varying sizes. Once you have them cut, you can ease the edges with a router or with sandpaper and then sand them smooth. After finish sanding, I find the best finish to be Butcher Block Oil – you just wipe on a couple of coats and you are good to go.
Clocks – Making a clock is nowhere near as complicated as it sounds. You literally just need to put the right size hole in an attractive object and you have a clock. The best part is that the body of the clock can be anything you want; a piece of driftwood, a favorite photo laminated to a board or you can construct something as complicated as a miniature grandfather clock. Let your imagination run wild.
Salt and Pepper Shakers – They are just small boxes with holes. You can be creative with the size and shape. Take a small block of wood, drill out the center with a large bit and then add small holes on one end. To seal the bottom, pick up a cork or rubber stopper from the hardware store. Seal them with a food safe finish like butcher block oil or salad bowl finish.
Cutting Boards – As the name implies, it’s just a board. Usually they are glued up from maple or contrasting woods to make them more stable and visually interesting. You will want a hard wood to resist cuts and be aware that some species are more toxic than others – lighter woods usually are better. Smooth the surface and coat it with butcher block oil.
You can please the most discriminating person on your list with your woodworking. People are always impressed by a talent they don’t possess so your woodworking will be both useful and amazing.
You still have time to make someone’s Christmas special. But the holidays are coming up fast – don’t put it off any longer.
