DIY Gifts and Woodworking Projects

The best gifts are handmade. This video and article includes some of the best DIY handmade gifts for everyone on your list. These ten free project plans include a wide range of woodworking projects. Most of these projects can be built by a beginning woodworker. You can find even more free woodworking project plans and ideas at our Handmade Gift Guide.

You're sure to find a woodworking project that is perfect for just about anyone on your list!

If you have a woodworker on your gift giving list, check out our Woodworking Tools Gift Guide to find the top gifts for woodworkers.

Top Handmade Gift Project Ideas and Plans

Wireless Speaker

Our new AM/FM Stereo Wireless Speaker Kit and popular Single Wireless Speaker Kit and Stereo Speaker Kit make it easy to turn any enclosure into a wireless speaker that will connect to any Bluetooth device.

Free Wireless Speaker Kit Plans

Blanket Chest

This blanket chest is designed with clean lines and few ornate details. It features box joint corners that are structurally strong and beautiful. Box joints are easy to form with a router table and a Router Table Box Joint Jig.

Serving and Cutting Boards

Beautiful wood cutting boards and serving boards will take food presentation to the next level. Choose your own Individual cutting board strips or a complete kit with preselected strips. Or, select an attractive board or small live-edge slab and shape and finish it as you like. You could also add decorative details, such as a handle, a decorative routed edge or add bow tie inlays.

Free Cutting Board Plans and Building Tips

Holiday Ornaments

Handmade holiday ornaments are a sentimental gift that the recipients will remember every year. All you need to make these turned tree ornaments is a mini lathe, a set of turning tools and wood or acrylic turning blanks. Even a small scrap of wood can be made into a beautiful a miniature tree ornament.

The epoxy-filled holiday pattern ornaments are a twist on scroll saw holiday ornaments you may have seen. Cut out the pattern and fill the voids with Table Top Epoxy. You can color the epoxy with a rainbow of pigment colors and metallics. Choose your own pattern or use one of the five we provide in the plan or as CNC design files.

Custom Signs

Making custom signs is easy with the Rockler Interlock Signmaker’s Kits. We’ve also got these fun emoji templates to add expression to your sign.

Free Custom Sign Project Plans

Jewelry Boxes

Few woodworking projects are as classic as a keepsake or jewelry box. They are a great way to show off a highly figured piece of wood or interesting joinery.

Free Ring Box and Keepsake Box Project Plans

Knives and Knife Blocks

Making custom knives is easy with one of the Rockler Knife Hardware Kits. Choose from our variety of knife hardware kits and scales. Rockler's new kitchen knife hardware kits (picturedd above) include a Chef's Knife, Sontoku Knife, Paring Knife, and Filet Knife. All of these kitchen knife kits are machined from top-quality AUS-10 Japanese stainless steel, and hardened to HRC 57-59. You get to choose the handle material, then attach and shape the handle.

You can choose from Rockler's many wood and acrylic knife scales (the two pieces that make the handle), or make your own handle blanks. Making knife handles is also a great project for beginning woodworkers because it doesn’t require a shop full of tools.

Another related project is to build a knife block to store kitchen knives. We offer free plans that show how to make an in-drawer knife block (top right photo) and a creative countertop knife block (bottom right photo).

Free Plan: In-Drawer Knife and Silverware Organizers

Free Plan: Countertop Bamboo Stick Knife Block

Turned Handles

Turning a handle for one of the Rockler Turning kits is a quick and easy way to create a useful and unique gift.

Learn How to Turn Handles

Cribbage Boards

Cribbage is a fun card game and it's also easy to make a custom cribbage board. You can also choose your own piece of wood and drill the tracks with one of the Rockler Cribbage Board Drilling Templates . The acrylic cribbage templates let you drill hundreds of neat, precisely spaced holes in just minutes—making it easy to churn out cribbage boards for gifts or personal use. Just select the wood species of your choice and attach the templates.

Free Cribbage Board Plans

Wood Totes

A wood tote can be used to store or carry everything from tools to craft supplies or napkins and flatware.

Free Wood Tote Project Plan

Wood and Acrylic Rings

Make a stunning one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry from one of our wood or acrylic ring blanks and ring making tools

Learn How to Turn a Ring - Ring Turning Tools, Materials and Maker Tips

Picture Frames

Create a beautiful frame for a favorite photo, print or even a masterpiece made by a grandchild. You'll find the best picture framing tools and materials to make the perfect frame.

Best Handmade Gift Projects