A Carpenter Christmas: Ten Ways Your Carpenter Skills Can Delight at Christmas

If you are a carpenter, or handy man at best, and enjoy making things, why not use your skill to delight friends and loved ones this holiday season? The following ten ideas will help get your creative juices flowing.

One: A hope chest. These items are fairly simple to make, and are many times cherished and passed down from one generation to the next. We have a nice cedar chest that a friend of ours made in our home, and I intend to pass it along to my little girl some day. It is just an extraordinarily wonderful piece that emotes comfort. Creating one lovingly from your own hands could make the perfect gift for the spouse, mom, grandma, niece, aunt, or even a daughter in the family.

Two: Does someone in the family have a baby coming? If so, a handmade cradle can be the perfect present. You can buy a template kit that gives you step by step instructions and the results are astounding. The gift is sure to be one that pleases, and does so immensely.

Three: A corner curio cabinet can be a splendid touch to a room. Create one for the lady in your life and she will cherish it as a place to put her most treasured knick knacks, photos, or dishes.

Four: If you have a book lover in your circle of loved ones, and know they would enjoy bookshelves, why not create a freestanding book shelf out of a really marvelous wood? A practical and beautiful gift, it is one that is sure to be remembered and enjoyed for years to come.

Five: Do you know someone who has a lot of cookbooks and no good place to store them? Create a shelf or cabinet (depending on the preference of the person you are making the gift for) on the kitchen wall, designated just for cooking literature. If you opt for the shelf, add end pieces for beauty and function. They look great and will keep books from sliding off at the ends.

Six: A microwave cabinet. If you know someone who does not have a wall mounted microwave and they have mentioned the appliance as being in the way on their countertop, consider creating a microwave stand for them. You can use the bottom portion to add a cabinet for more space, or make shelves there for more storage. Don't forget the top...you can a decorative shelf at the top as well.

Seven: If you have a person in your life who likes to work in the garage on projects but does not have an adequate table or counter top to work on, consider making a solid and gorgeous work bench for them. You can make it to any size specification and it is sure to be a valued piece for the new owner.

Eight: A toy chest can be a perfect addition to a family room, den, or bedroom for a child who has a lot of things to play with but no adequate storage piece to put them in. You can make a traditional box and paint or inscribe their name on it, you can make a plain wood or painted piece, or you can make a bench seat box for a dual functioning piece.

Nine: If you are particularly good at engraving, why not consider a gorgeous wooden plaque with the recipient's favorite words posed on the front to hang on the wall? A friend of mine made my grandmother a plaque with the Lord's Prayer on it and it was on her wall from the time she got it (many, many years ago) until the day she passed. It was just something that she really, really loved, not only because it was beautiful, but also because of the caring and thoughtfulness that went into making it.

Ten: A final idea is to create a jewelry box for a loved one. You can make it for a child, teen, or adult and it is bound to be appreciated at any age. You can make it any size, color, or style. Add glass doors to the front or hooks, or both, for an upright version. Or make a traditional box style. Any version is sure to be treasured.

These ideas offer you great ideas for creating that something special for that someone special in your life this holiday season. Or, use them to inspire ideas of your own. Happy Building!