5 Beginner Wood Projects You Can Make Between Christmas and New Year’s

There’s a strange, quiet stretch of time between Christmas and New Year’s.

The big meals are over. The gifts are unwrapped. The calendar hasn’t quite flipped yet. Time feels softer—less urgent, less scheduled. For many of us, it’s the first moment all year where nothing is immediately expected.

And that’s exactly why it’s such a perfect time to build.

Not big projects. Not ambitious, deadline-driven builds.Just small, beginner-friendly wood projects that let you move your hands, use what you have, and ease yourself into the new year with intention.

If you’re new to woodworking—or if you’ve stepped away for a while—these five projects are approachable, satisfying, and realistic to complete in that in-between week. No pressure. No perfection. Just progress.

Why This Week Is Ideal for Beginner Woodworking

From a woodworker’s perspective, this week has a few advantages that the rest of the year doesn’t:

• Fewer commitments

• No looming deadlines

• Leftover scrap wood from holiday builds

• A natural desire to reset and reflect

You’re not building to impress.You’re building to reconnect—with your tools, your space, and yourself.

That mindset matters more than the project itself.

Project 1: Simple Wooden Catch-All Tray

This is one of the best beginner projects there is—hands down.

A catch-all tray is practical, forgiving, and endlessly customizable. It also teaches foundational skills you’ll use over and over again.

What you’ll practice:

• Measuring and marking

• Straight cuts

• Basic assembly

• Sanding and finishing

Materials:

• Scrap boards (pine, cedar, hardwood offcuts)

• Wood glue

• Optional brad nails or screws

You can keep it flat and minimal, or add small sides. Either way, the goal isn’t complexity—it’s completion.

Why it’s perfect this week:

You can build it in an afternoon, use it immediately, and feel that “I made this” satisfaction before the year ends.

Project 2: Wooden Bookmarks or Page Holders

If you’re easing into woodworking—or easing back into it—small projects matter.

Wooden bookmarks are excellent for:

• Using thin scraps

• Practicing sanding and shaping

• Gifting later without pressure

You can keep them rectangular, add a notch, drill a small hole for twine, or burn initials into the surface.

Tools required:

• Saw (or even a jigsaw)

• Drill (optional)

• Sandpaper

That’s it.

Woodworker’s note:

Projects like this teach restraint. Clean lines and smooth edges matter more than fancy details.

Project 3: Rustic Wooden Shelf (One Board, Two Brackets)

This is a step up—but still beginner-friendly.

A simple wall shelf teaches you how wood interacts with space. It’s functional, visible, and deeply satisfying once installed.

What makes it beginner-safe:

• Straight cuts only

• Minimal joinery

• Flexible sizing

• Forgiving tolerances

Use:

• One solid board

• Store-bought brackets or simple wooden supports

Finish it lightly. Let the grain show.

Why this works between holidays:

It’s substantial enough to feel like “real woodworking” without becoming overwhelming.

Project 4: Wooden Spoon Rest or Utensil Holder

Kitchen projects are underrated for beginners.

They’re small, useful, and give you immediate feedback in daily life. A wooden spoon rest or utensil holder also introduces you to food-safe finishing—a skill worth learning early.

Skills you’ll practice:

• Shaping

• Edge softening

• Applying oil finishes

• Paying attention to feel, not just looks

You don’t need perfection here. Slight curves, subtle asymmetry, and visible grain all add character.

From experience:

Projects that live in the kitchen tend to get used—and appreciated—far more than decorative ones.

Project 5: Small Scrap-Wood Organizer or Tool Caddy

This project quietly builds confidence.

A small organizer—whether for your desk, entryway, or workshop—teaches you how pieces work together. It also forces you to think in terms of function, not just form.

Beginner-friendly approach:

• Keep it boxy

• Use glue and clamps

• Let dimensions be flexible

You’re not aiming for perfection. You’re learning how to plan, adjust, and adapt.

Why it’s perfect for year-end:

Organizers feel symbolic. They help you start the new year with less clutter—physically and mentally.

A Word on Tools (You Don’t Need More)

Between Christmas and New Year’s, it’s tempting to think:

If I just had one more tool, I’d really get started.

Here’s the truth from years in the shop:

You can build all five of these projects with:

• A saw

• A drill

• Sandpaper

• Clamps (even makeshift ones)

More tools don’t create momentum.

Finished projects do.

How to Choose Which Project to Start

If you’re feeling stuck, ask yourself:

• Do I want quick wins? → Bookmarks or trays

• Do I want something visible? → Shelf

• Do I want something practical? → Spoon rest or organizer

• Do I want to use scraps? → All of them

There’s no wrong answer—just different starting points.

Why Small Builds Matter More Than Big Resolutions

Woodworking, like life, doesn’t actually change because the calendar does.

What changes things is consistency. Showing up. Touching the tools. Making something—even if it’s small.

These projects aren’t about mastering woodworking before January 1st. They’re about carrying a sense of calm, capability, and creativity into the new year.

You don’t need a clean shop.You don’t need a full plan.You just need to begin.

A Final Thought Before the Year Turns

The space between Christmas and New Year’s isn’t empty.

It’s a pause.

And pauses are where intention lives.

If you build something during this quiet week—anything at all—you’re choosing to end the year with your hands engaged and your mind present. That matters more than checking off resolutions ever will.

Start small.

Build slowly.

Carry that rhythm forward.

The new year will meet you where you are.