15 Simple Projects for Do Something Nice Day
Do Something Nice Day will be celebrated Oct. 5 across the country and here are some simple ways you can do something nice for someone. From woodworking projects to cleaning up outside, we’ve got ideas on how you can do something nice.
Plant a tree for Do Something Nice Day
Clean Out Your Gutters
Plus: Gutter Repair
Trim Problem Bushes and Trees
Plus: Tree Pruning Techniques
How to Make a Wooden Chopping Board and Serving Tray
Shoe Storage Booster Stool
Don’t have floor space to spare? Build these super simple wall-mounted shoe organizers instead!
Build a Shoe Organizer
For wet shoes and boots, we recommend this attractive, simple-to-make tray.
Build a Wooden Bench for Less
Have you ever wondered if you can stain pressure-treated wood? The answer is, yes. Here’s how!
How to Build a Small Bench
How to Make Magazine Storage Containers
Build a Hat Rack
Season’s Greetings Spice Rack
- an 11-1/2- and a 7-1/4-in.-dia. wood disc
- 9-in. lazy Susan hardware
- four 1-5/8- x 5/8-in. dowels for legs
- one 5-1/4-in. x 5/8-in. dowel handle
- a 1-7/8-in. Forstner drill bit
- a 5/8-in. spade or brad point drill bit
- a 1-1/2-in. wood ball or other knob.
With a pencil and a protractor, divide the larger disc into 30-degree wedges to create 12 center lines for the bottle indents. Center and trace the smaller disc on top of the larger disc. Next, with a drill press, drill 3/8-in.-deep holes on the 12 center lines with the 1-7/8-in. Forstner bit, spacing them between the disc’s outer edge and the traced circle. Next, divide the smaller disc into 60-degree wedges and drill six more 3/8-in.-deep holes with the Forstner bit.
Drill four 5/8-in.-dia. 1/2-in.-deep holes on the large disc—inside the traced circle—then use 5/8-in. dowel centers to transfer the hole locations to the underside of the small disc. Drill four 1/2-in.-deep holes on the underside of the small disc and a 1/2-in.-deep hole in the center of the top for the dowel handle. Glue in the dowels to join the discs, and glue in the handle. We drilled a wood ball for a handle knob, but a screw-on ceramic knob also provides a comfortable, attractive grip.
Apply a finish to match your cabinets, then center and screw the lazy Susan bearing under the large disc and play spin the bottle.
Pantry Storage Thyme Saver
Rustic Shelf
Easy Knife Block
To build one, you only need a 3/4-in. x 8-in. x 4-ft. hardwood board and a 6-in. x 6-1/2-in. piece of 1/4-in. hardwood plywood to match.
Begin by cutting off a 10-in. length of the board and setting it aside. Rip the remaining 38-in. board to 6 in. wide and cut five evenly spaced saw kerfs 5/8 in. deep along one face. Crosscut the slotted board into four 9-in. pieces and glue them into a block, being careful not to slop glue into the saw kerfs (you can clean them out with a knife before the glue dries). Saw a 15-degree angle on one end and screw the plywood piece under the angled end of the block.
Cut the 6-1/2-in. x 3-in. lid from the leftover board, and slice the remaining piece into 1/4-in.-thick pieces for the sides and end of the box. Glue them around the plywood floor. Cut a rabbet on three sides of the lid so it fits snugly on the box and drill a 5/8-in. hole for a finger pull. Then just add a finish and you’ve got a beautiful, useful gift. If you don’t have time to make a gift this year, consider offering to do something for the person. You could offer to sharpen their knives! Here’s how.