15 Simple Projects to do for World Gratitude Day

Simple Step Stool

Here’s a great gift idea that will draw raves. The joints for this simple step stool are accurately made in seconds with a plate jointer, but don’t tell your admirers. You’ll also need a power saw to crosscut the boards and a jigsaw to cut the half-circles in the risers. Get the complete project directions here.

Easy Knife Block

If your spices are jammed into a drawer with only the tops visible, this nifty rack that slips neatly into the drawer will solve the problem. And it only takes an hour to build. Make it with scraps of 1/4-in. and 1/2-in. plywood. Or build a two-tier drawer spice rack.

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.

Rustic Shelf

Bring a bit of nature indoors with this simple branch-supported shelf. You’ll have to find two forked branches about 1 in. in diameter, with one relatively straight side that will sit flush to the wall. Find all of the simple how-to instructions for building this shelf here. And for lots of hints and tips on hanging shelves, check out our guide.

Thyme Saver

If your spices are jammed into a drawer with only the tops visible, this nifty rack that slips neatly into the drawer will solve the pantry storage problem. And it only takes an hour to build. Make it with scraps of 1/4-in. and 1/2-in. plywood. Or build a two-tier drawer spice rack.

Season’s Greetings Spice Rack

This spice rack will keep your favorite 18 seasonings on ready alert. It’s quick and fun to make and, using our dimensions, will fit inside a standard kitchen cabinet. You’ll need:

• 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.

Build a Hat Rack

Vertical storage ideas are often overlooked, but with the right design—such as our great hat rack—you can organize a lot of items with just a little bit of wall space. Click here for instructions on how to build this hat rack.

Make Magazine Storage Containers

Need a good way to archive magazines? Build these simple wood storage bins and have all of your favorites at your fingertips instead of lost in a towering pile. You can build four bins from one 2 x 4-ft. sheet of 1/4-in. plywood and two 6-ft.-long 1x4s. And cutting the wood is easy with a jigsaw or band saw.

Build a Small Bench

Give your back and knees a break with this portable, easy-to-build seat/step stool/tool box/work surface. It only takes a couple of hours to build and you’ll find dozens of uses for it. Check out the easy-to-follow instructions here. If you’re looking for a small bench/step stool that’s a little cuter than this one, here’s one for you to consider.

Modern-Style Birdhouse

Make this minimalist birdhouse on a Saturday morning, and learn some tricks to matching tough angles in the process. Plus, there’s a video tutorial to take you through the project, step-by-step!

Cornhole Boards

This classic backyard game is easy and inexpensive to make yourself. And with legs that fold up, it’s easy to tote along for tailgating, camping and more. Plus, watch the video tutorial for a quick how-to!

Build a Chalkboard

Floating Bookshelves

Artist Light Box

Make this perfect light box for sketching in an afternoon. The best part is you don’t have to do any electrical work because it works with off-the-shelf LED strips. See the full video and project plans here.

Taco Holder

This easy-to-make taco holder features the same materials as a cutting board: hardwood, food-safe glue and a natural oil finish. Make one for yourself today!

Industrial Bookends

The industrial style has blown up in recent year and it is a really easy trend to follow with the right hardware. Build these industrial bookends to spice up your bookshelf or desk and learn a cool hardware “aging” tip. See all the amazing tricks and tips for this project here.