4 simple DIY projects - Using only wooden sticks [Video]

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The wooden plywood beading sticks have always been my favorite materials to work with. There are a multitude of things that can be made with these and I have personally used them for many projects. Be it a photo frame, or some parts of my lampshades, or frames for my wall clocks, they have always come in very handy. I believe these are good materials to start with for a beginner who is looking using wood for his / her craft projects. They are cheap, easy to work with and can be cut using hacksaw blades.

Here are 4 projects that can be easily made using wooden sticks (look for the video at the end of this post).

Easy DIY projects

1. A wooden coaster

This was an interesting project for me. Did this mostly as an experiment. Have always been awed by some of the cutting board projects I have seen on the net and so wanted to use the same concept. Stacked few wooden sticks together, joined them with glue, and cut them to the desired dimension. And viola ! My coaster was done.

Do it yourself wooden coaster

2. A Pen Stand

There are many ways to get this done. However, since I was only in an experiment mode, I used the same coaster to demonstrate this. Just few holes of required diameter and your pen stand is ready. Try it out. I really like the way it turned out.

3. Smartphone holder

This DIY was recently published in The Hindu Metroplus. But, only not had the time to write about it. Watch the video to know how you can make it too.

Smart Phone Holder

4. A Photo Stand

While I had already written about this DIY, I got around to doing a video too. Do check out.

DIY Photo frame / stand

And finally, don't be limited by these 4 options. There are many more things that you can do with wooden sticks. Given that it is easily available, can be easily cut and can be easily glued, you should certainly give it a shot. Start with these 4 and then give wings to your creativity to get more and more things done. Good luck.

Starting a new DIY project - A bedside table

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It is exciting when the desire to DIY is fueled by an actual requirement at home. There is now the need for a bedside table in our guest bedroom that is bare with only a cot and no other piece of furniture. The broadband modem, mobiles/other accessories have no designated space while in the room. As always, I want to explore the DIY route before looking at readily available products. Another functional necessity and am already so pepped up.

Recommended Reading : Using Google Sketchup to create 3D designs

The plan for the table is based on a simple thought process. Avoid perception of taking up space in an already small room by keeping all sides open. The design is not anything original and you can find similar ones on the internet.

Simple Side Table plan designed with Google Sketchup

For now, I have only bought the wooden legs from the local shop. My initial plan was to keep the budget low (less than Rs.300) and build a low cost table. On second thoughts, want to build a really sturdy one and so stretched it a bit. The teak wood legs you see below cost about Rs.25 per foot. 

Recommended Reading : Easiest DIY Center Table you can ever build

The design has the necessary approval at home. While I am starting with what you are seeing above, during the course of building it, I may improvise and deviate from the basic plan. The cot is brown and the wardrobe / wall is white which should explain the color combination. The dimensions are not frozen as yet.

Guest bedroom and the designated space for the side table

I will be making this as yet another simple and everyone-can-make-at-home kind of a project. I plan to put up the progress (dimensions, materials used, and the step by step process) of this DIY in a series of posts. So, watch this space if you think this assignment will be of interest to you.  

5 really easy DIY projects to spark your interest in Woodworking

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Have you ever been put off by the idea of doing something with wood because of the hard work that it involves? Have you been giving up on executing a thought because you didn't have the necessary tools? Do you like to explore woodworking as a hobby but don’t know where to begin? Here is a list of some simple and easy projects that you can do to give your interest a kick start. Why do I call them simple and easy? All these projects use easily available materials, requires a hack saw blade and don’t take much time to complete. 

Further reading: My 17 point recipe on how to start a woodworking hobby

Simple and easy DIY Woodworking projects

1. DIY Photo Stand (Beginner level)

If you have a display space at home, this is a really wonderful thing to own. Inspired by a menu card holder, this is one of the easiest projects I have ever done. Takes just a couple of wooden reapers and adhesive and you have your own photo stand.

Further reading: Learn to make a Photo stand yourself

2. A Smart phone holder (Beginner level)

Another very functional project. I was really glad that I made it. Makes watching Youtube much easier than ever. Again, just a couple of wooden sticks and some glue is all you need.

Further reading: An easy to you-can-yourself-build smart phone holder

3. A Photo frame (Beginner to intermediate level)

This serves the same function as the photo stand, except that it is a conventional photo frame. This DIY apparently is among the top 5 popular posts in Woodooz. Little bit of creativity and you can have personalized photo frames to hold all your memories together.

Further reading: How to make a photo frame at home

4. Wooden Wall clock (Beginner to intermediate level)

You can make a simple clock to a really fancy one and all that depend on the thought you put into the projects. However small / big your clock may be, the concept behind making one is just the same. You will need to get the clock mechanism, but beyond that, you can use pretty much any material to make your own clock.

Further reading: Making your own DIY wall clock explained [Video]

5. Broadband router holder (Beginner level)

This is the ugliest looking holder that you would have ever seen. But, what the heck, it really serves its purpose. The inspiration was a mobile phone charger holder that I saw at a duty free shop in the airport. The design is raw and rough, but it certainly saved us some floor space. Try it out if you think you have a similar need.

Further reading: A broadband modem holder you will love to make

Starting with smaller projects and then gravitating towards bigger and more complex ones can help sustain your newly found interest. And the sustenance is key to your interest growing into a passion that you most certainly love to indulge in. If you let non-availability of materials and tools to discourage you, these 5 projects will help get you back in track. Do you have any other small and easy projects in mind? Leave me your thoughts in the comments section.

- Somu