Christmas crafts don't have to mean glitter and glue sticks. Some of the best decorations in a house are simple wooden pieces somebody made in the garage, the kind that come out of the box every December for thirty years. Here are eight projects for grown-up hands, each with real sizes.
Quick size reminder: board names aren't actual sizes. A 1x4 is 3/4 x 3 1/2 inches, a 1x8 is 3/4 x 7 1/4, a 2x2 is 1 1/2 x 1 1/2, and a 2x4 is 1 1/2 x 3 1/2, per the USDA Forest Products Laboratory's standard sizes.
1. A stacked 2x4 tabletop tree
Cut a 2x4 into five pieces: 12, 10, 8, 6, and 4 inches. That's about 40 1/2 inches with saw cuts, so one 4 foot 2x4 is enough. Stack them flat from longest to shortest, centered, and glue and screw each layer to the one below. The tree stands 7 1/2 inches tall (five layers at 1 1/2 inches). Paint it green or white, or leave it natural, and add a small wooden star on top.
2. A two-block date calendar
Cut two 1 1/2 inch cubes from a 2x2. Paint or burn numbers on the six faces:
- Block 1: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Block 2: 0, 1, 2, 6, 7, 8
The trick: turn the 6 upside down to make a 9. With these two blocks you can show every date from 01 to 31. (We checked every date.) Set them on a small 1x4 base and turn them each morning in December.
3. A rustic twig star
Gather five straight, dry sticks the same length, about 12 inches. Lay them into a five-point star, overlapping at each crossing, and lash every crossing tightly with twine or thin wire. Hang it on a door or wall.
The University of Minnesota Extension notes that insects can come indoors in untreated wood and decorations. Use sticks that have been dry for a while, and check them before they come inside.
4. A pallet wood sign
Pallet boards make great rustic signs, but check the stamp first. The USDA explains that pallets meeting the international ISPM 15 standard carry a mark with the treatment code: "HT" for heat treated or "MB" for methyl bromide fumigation. For indoor crafts, the cautious choice is HT-marked pallets only. Skip unmarked pallets and any that are stained, oily, or smell of chemicals.
Cut three pallet boards to 18 inches, lay them side by side, and nail or screw two scrap cleats across the back. Sand the face, then stencil or paint "Merry Christmas" or your family name.
5. A Christmas card holder
Cut a 1x4 to 24 inches. Glue six wooden clothespins along the face, starting 2 inches from one end and every 4 inches after that (at 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, and 22 inches). Add two sawtooth hangers on the back. Clip the cards as they arrive.
6. JOY letters for the mantel
Draw or print the letters J, O, Y about 7 inches tall and trace them onto a 1x8 (7 1/4 inches wide). Cut them out with a jigsaw, drilling a starter hole inside the O. Sand the edges, paint them, and stand them on the mantel or screw them to a long board.
7. A small serving board
Use leftover hardwood from a cutting board build. Eight strips glued on edge make a board 6 inches wide (8 x 3/4 inch). Cut it to 12 inches long and finish it with food-grade mineral oil. Our cutting board guide has the full glue-up steps and the food-safe glue to use.
8. A candle box centerpiece
| Part | Qty | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Bottom | 1 | 1x4, 16 1/2 in long |
| Ends | 2 | 1x4, 3 1/2 in long |
| Sides | 2 | 1x4, 18 in long |
The bottom fits between the ends (16 1/2 + 3/4 + 3/4 = 18 inches), and the sides cover the ends and the bottom's edges, so the box is 5 inches wide outside. Fill it with greenery, pine cones, and battery candles. Real flames and dry greens don't belong together.
Safety in the shop
- Wear eye protection for every cut and hearing protection with power saws, as OSHA recommends.
- Use a push stick and keep guards in place when cutting small pieces. Cut small parts from a longer board, then cut them free.
- Never burn pallet scraps or treated wood in the stove.
Grandpa's Christmas decorations were often whatever he could make from the scrap pile, and they lasted for decades. Make a few of these, sign and date the bottoms, and they'll be the ones your grandkids fight over someday.