Need ideas for Christmas presents

[Al Launier]

I'm hoping some of you may be willing to offer some ideas for hobbyist size woodworking gifts for Christmas. I will have to either ship in advance or carry in my luggage when flying to relatives this Christmas, so size is definitely a factor.

Thanks for any ideas.

[Tom Bain]

Shaker Oval Boxes ... Can be made in various sizes depending on which forms you buy or build.

[lowell holmes]

Google "woodworking christmas gifts".

[Rod Sheridan]

Hi Al, last year I made 40 of these oven push sticks.

I made a template for pattern copying on the shaper, really makes them fast to produce. Of course you could copy them with a router and template as well.

https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread....12#post2641412

In that thread I have a sketch of the stick in case you want to make them.

It's amazing how popular they were........Rod.

[Laurie Brown]

I would give gift cards for Amazon, Woodcraft, or something similar so the woodworkers could get whatever tools they would like without you having to guess if it's something they will want or need. I would LOVE to get some of those for Christmas myself!

[Tony Leonard]

Spoons! (and other kitchen utensils) Small boxes (like those popular 'router' boxes that are fairly easy to make). Frames. Wood puzzles.

[Carl Beckett]

Frames have always been a hit for me. It keeps memories (and even better if you have a pic of the person in it to start with).

Or small boxes. Keepsakes.

[Mike Ontko]

How about a brooch or shawl pin (see pic below)? This is something I've been looking to make...just as soon as I work my way through the backlog of other projects I'm supposed to have made by now.

il_570xN.1159107511_8pje.jpg

[Doug Garson]

It would help to know what tools you have and what age range you are building for. I have made cutting boards, pizza peels and pizza cutters, a variety of boxes, baby rattles, childrens toys and puzzles, beer flights/ tea light candle holders, bandsaw vases, sushi serving boards (including chop sticks), salad servers, router bowls and cheese serving boards. I'll be watching this thread for more ideas, I like the shawl pin idea.

[keith wootton]

cutting boards. if you want wow factor, make boards with patterns of contrasting wood.or my favorite, the drunken cutting board (google.)

[Gary Ragatz]

Several years ago, my Dad and I made a bunch of waffle-pattern kitchen trivets as Christmas gifts - did them in cherry with an oil finish. They were quite popular: trivet plans . Fairly light weight and "packable."

@Rod Sheridan - thanks for the oven stick idea - I'm definitely going to give that a try.

[Gary Radice]

Earring racks are easy if you have people on your list who wear earrings. You can make them any size. Plenty of images of similar on the internet. A good use of scraps. They often have both slots and holes. My wife found that she liked the holes better on the one I made. This one was made to be wall mounted but of course you could make it free standing, and any other shape.
Earring rack - 1.jpg

[Bill Dufour]

You could make little open boxes to hold loose change and keys. Make them in graduated sizes so they stack inside each other and hand them out one by one. How about those Russian dolls that nest together.
Bill D.

[Stan Calow]

My plan is to make small trays using cutoffs. And turning some kitchen (mixing) spoons. I broke a couple of them this year and realize how flimsy the store-bought ones are. In the past Ive done batches of rolling pins and pizza cutters.

[Al Launier]

Your suggestions are all appreciated and all very good. I probably should have given a better idea of what I'd like to make. I've already made several different types of gifts, examples shown, and have basically run out of ideas. I'm trying to think of something that is a little different, yet would be well received. I have to make (6) gifts before Christmas. I'm limited to flat work as I don't have a lathe. Any additional ideas would be appreciated.
Thank you again for taking the time and for your suggestions.