Are you interested in using your talents and skills for building things to make some extra cash this Holiday season - and delight shoppers? We've put together some ideas to get you started with crafting up some cash!
Here's just a few quick things to consider before investing time and materials:
1. What's Hot? Research Trends
- Identify Popular Items: Research what small woodworking items are popular at craft fairs and on the marketplace. Common items include cutting boards, serving trays, caddy's, picture frames, small shelves, planter boxes, seasonal and home decor items.
- Target Audience: Understand the demographics and preferences of the potential buyers. Tailor your products to meet their needs and tastes, along with current trends.
2. Unique - Design and Creativity
- Unique Designs: Create unique and appealing designs that stand out from other vendors. Personalization options, like stenciling, woodburning, vinyl lettering with names or special dates, can attract more customers.
- Functional and Decorative: Balance between functional items (e.g., kitchen organization, small furniture) and purely decorative items (e.g., seasonal, wall art).
3. Quality - Materials and Workmanship
- High-Quality Materials: Use durable materials and avoid materials that can warp or crack easily.
- Workmanship: Details like a nice finish, good sanding, and quality craftsmanship ensure the buyer they are purchasing a quality item.
4. Pricing and Cost Management
- Cost Calculation: Calculate the cost of materials, time, and overheads to set a fair price that ensures a profit.
- Competitive Pricing: Research the prices of similar items sold by other vendors to ensure your prices are competitive.
- Skill Level: The better and more polished your woodworking skills, the higher the price you can set for your creations. Quality craftsmanship plays a crucial role in determining the value of handmade wood products.
5. Efficiency in Building - Tools and Workshop Setup
- Essential Tools: Ensure you have the necessary woodworking tools, such as saws, sanders, drills, and clamps, to create your items efficiently (Think about production cutting and finishing).
- Workspace: Set up an organized and safe workspace with adequate lighting and ventilation.
6. It's an Experience! Marketing and Presentation
- Branding: Develop a brand for your woodworking items, including a logo, business cards, and consistent packaging.
- Display: Create an attractive and organized display for your craft fair booth. Use props, signage, and lighting to showcase your products effectively.
- Online Presence: Promote your products online through social media, a website, or an online marketplace to reach a broader audience - this will help you to sell excess inventory!
1. Ottoman Tray
Image Credit: Ana White
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Nailer, Sander, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 1x material and T&G boards |
This beautiful ottoman tray is solid wood and can be painted or stained any color. This project cost less than $20 to build. This is a gorgeous and functional addition to ottomans or as a serving tray.
2. Folding Lap Desk
Image Credit: Jaime Costiglio
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Drill, Sander, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 1x material, plywood, nuts, bolts and washers and a handle |
This little lap desk is perfect for creativity, playing school, family movie night, or tea parties in bed. We love that it's easy to customize and you may even have enough scraps to build a few right now!
3. Step Stool
Image Credit: Ana White
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Drill, Kreg Jig, Sander, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 1x material |
A step stool is a great addition for any home! This plan features angled legs for added durability and stability. Solid wood design is easy to stain or paint and will last and last (ours is still going half a decade later). Add cute handles and different finishes to give each a unique look!
4. Blanket Ladder
Image Credit: Ana White
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Drill, Sander, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 1x material |
Here's the easiest blanket ladder tutorial ever! You'll just need some 1x3 furring strips and a drill to assemble - no pocket holes, no nails.
5. Modern Dollhouse
Image Credit: Ana White
| Skill Level: | Intermediate |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Drill, Jig Saw, Nailer, Sander, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | Plywood |
This doll house is a blank slate to encourage creative play. Instead of following out the set things a store-bought playset does, let their imaginations bloom.
6. Simple Book Rack
Image Credit: Ana White
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Drill, Sander, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 2x material and cedar fence pickets |
This simple bookrack or bin stores books face forward, can be placed on a floor, nightstand or shelf, is large sized for lots of books. Easy to modify for size and add custom sayings!
7. Wood Lanterns
Image Credit: Ana White
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Drill, Sander, Jig Saw, Nailer, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 1x material, square dowels |
Like a frame for a picture, this wood lantern frames a candle, creating a beautiful decor piece for your outdoor space. We love wood lanterns as wedding centerpieces and home decor items. Easy to build and people love them, great for a craft fair item!
8. Wine Caddy
Image Credit: Reader Build via Ana White
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Drill, Sander, Jig Saw, Nailer, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 1x material |
This little wood wine holder stacks, stores, and you can use the top to serve! It works as a gift box too for the wine lover. Quick and easy DIY project that you can build with off the shelf pine boards and nail together.
9. Corn Hole Boards
Image Credit: Ana White
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Drill, Sander, Jig Saw, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 2x material, plywood, nuts, bolts, washers |
Everybody loves playing outdoor games, here's a simple project that would be fun to leave raw for the buyer to finish or come up with some fun paint designs to create that custom look!
10. Simple Open Toybox
Image Credit: Ana White
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Drill, Sander, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 2x material, plywood, cedar pickets, casters |
Have fun with this one, it's easy to modify for size and customize the finish! Anybody with kids would appreciate more toy storage! This is a quick and easy project.
11. Wood Crate K- Cup Holder
Image Credit: Ana White
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Drill, Nailer, Kreg Jig, Sander, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 1x material and plywood |
For the coffee lovers, here's a beautiful wood crate that holds your beloved Keurig and stores all the coffees!
12. Charcuterie Board
Image Credit: Ana White
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Drill, Sander, Nailer, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 1x and 2x material |
Build this amazing and unique grazing board or charcuterie board with scrap wood! This is a SIMPLE DIY project that you can tackle in a couple hours.
13. Beer or Cider Caddy
Image Credit: Ana White
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Drill, Sander, Nailer, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 1x material and wood dowel |
Many times people are shopping for gifts at craft fairs, here's a nice handmade carrier for specialty beer or ciders.
14. Lighted Table Runner
Image Credit: Ana White
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Drill, Sander, Nailer, Kreg Jig, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 1x material, led lights |
This wood riser adds a beautiful wood texture to a dining space, separates out the centerpiece decor, AND it's lighted, adding a glimmer of glamour. A quick easy build for around the holdays!
15. Farm Fresh Egg Holder
Image Credit: Ana White
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Drill, Sander, Nailer, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 1x material |
EASY DIY wooden egg holder for those who have farm fresh eggs!
16. Craftsman Frame
Image Credit: Ana White
| Skill Level: | Beginner Intermediate Advanced |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Drill, Sander, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 1x material |
Build craftsman style frame in different sizes and finishes, add hooks or a chalkboard for easy customization - no angle cuts and easy to build.
17. Furniture for 18" Dolls
Image Credit: Ana White
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Drill, Sander, Nailer, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 1x and 2x material, plywood |
Build custom doll furniture for 18" dolls. We have many free plans to choose from, check out THIS POST!
18. DIY Pumpkin Decor
Image Credit: Ana White
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Sander, Nailer, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 1x material and fence pickets |
Perfect for craft fairs and the marketplace in the fall season, here are more easy projects perfect for fall!
19. Christmas Tree Shelf
Image Credit: Jaime Costiglio
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Drill, Sander, Nailer, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 1x material, hooks |
These will be sure to sell at holiday bazaars. We have more Christmas decor plans HERE!
2o. Laundry Basket Holder
Image Credit: Ana White
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Drill, Sander, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 2x material, laundry baskets |
We love this simple 2x4 frame that is easy to modify for any size laundry basket. Paint or stain, stack or set side by side. These are a quick easy project for anybody who does laundry!
21. DIY Stocking Stand
Image Credit: Ana White
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Drill, Sander, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 2x material, hooks |
Perfect for homes to hang the stockings without a fireplace or drilling holes in the wall! This is a quick and easy project.
22. Milk Crate with Cedar Fence Pickets
Image Credit: Ana White
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Sander, Nailer, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 1x material, cedar fence pickets |
Crates are a great home addition and have many uses. This plan makes it easy to modify for different sizes. Finish with paint or stain and add differing handles to customize the look!
23. Wood Organizer Caddy
Image Credit: Ana White
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Nailer, Sander, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | Cedar Fence Picket |
Use one fence picket to make an organizer caddy beautiful enough for a countertop. This wood organizer features three compartments, and is perfect for utensils, office supplies, as a beauty organizer, and more.
24. Three Month Rotating Wall Calendar Shelf
Image Credit: Ana White
| Skill Level: | Beginner |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Drill, Sander, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 1x material |
The must make calendar project for organized households, this shelf is designed to three fit standard 14" x 14" dry erase calendars, so you can stay organized three months out! Rotate calendars upward as months pass, for easy transitioning between months.
25. Wood Christmas Tree Decor
Image Credit: Family DIYnamic
| Skill Level: | Intermediate Advanced |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Saw, Miter Drill, Brad Nailer, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 1x boards (can be furring strips), brad nails |
For about $2 you can build your own wooden Christmas tree decorations - and easily sell for quite a bit more! Build a nesting set for easy storage with these free plans.
26. Wood Christmas Tree Tray
Image Credit: Family DIYnamic
| Skill Level: | Intermediate |
|---|---|
| Tools Needed: | Tape Measure, Miter Saw, Jig Saw, Brad Nailer, Safety Glasses |
| Materials: | 1x2 furring strips, 1/4" plywood, brad nails, wood glue |
At under $5 to make, this beautiful wood Christmas tree tray makes the perfect hostess gift, cookie tray, or decor item! Super fast and simple, sure to make anything more presentable and festive!
