Yes Shed Plan

Tips for making last minute Christmas gifts

Dont stress over making wood presents. Theres plenty of time!

This is a very busy time of year for woodworkers as we scramble to make Christmas presents for friends and family. A wise craftsman would have begun right after Halloween, but most of us tend to procrastinate well into December.

Everyone loves your hand-made gifts: some have probably even come to expect them. It makes sense because each gift is one-of-a-kind and people love to have things no one else has.

Stress not. Here are a few tips to relieve a little of the gift-building anxiety you may be feeling as we near December 25th.

1. Make simple projects that you can complete in a day or two. Keep assemblies small and manageable. You cant go wrong with picture frames, for instance. They are easy to make and you can make multiples at the same time. You can let your imagination soar with unique profiles and include a special photo in the frame.

2. Make projects that people will actually use. Ask yourself, "If I didnt make this, would the recipient still like it?" Heres another thought: a step stool. Most can be cranked out with a few boards in a couple hours. Everyone needs a step stool.

3. Skip the toys. There are exceptions, but in general young children  do not care for handmade toys. At least not since 1950. People who like and appreciate handmade wood toys are adults. I actually have a book on making super nice toys. Beautiful, intricate toys that probably end up on a "look but dont touch" display shelf in the childs room. Face it, we cant compete with electronics.

4. Dont waste time trying to impress people with your woodworking prowess. Unfortunately, the only people who really care about your hand-cut dovetails are other woodworkers. Use basic techniques that you are comfortable with and let the overall project speak for itself. You might consider an exotic wood though. Most people do marvel at unusual wood.

These are just a few ideas off the top of my head. There are certainly times when we enjoy working on something truly special for someone truly special and will put days or weeks into it. But if you enjoy woodworking — duh, you are reading this blog — dont let Christmas gift-making become a chore and ruin the joy of woodworking. Keep things simple and think about the recipient while you are building in the shop. Not a lot of people take the time to make gifts anymore. Watching someones face light up when you give him or her something truly unique is priceless.

Here are a few simple projects that can be made very quickly and will be well received: