Make · Grown-ups
DIY projects for adults
Woodworking with real cut lists, wall art, candles, furniture and things worth selling. From a first afternoon project to a proper weekend build.
100 projects · 50 beginner · 35 intermediate · 15 advanced
Textured plaster canvas art
Raised, sculptural wall art in soft neutral tones, made with joint compound and a putty knife, that looks like a gallery piece.
Large abstract canvas painting
A big, gallery-style abstract painting for over the couch, made with 3 colors, a wide brush and zero art training.
Cedar birdhouse
A classic cedar birdhouse sized for wrens and chickadees, with a side door that swings open for cleaning.
Pallet wood wall art
Weathered pallet boards joined into a rustic panel, then painted with a mountain scene or bold stripes for a big piece of art.
Macrame wall hanging
A soft cotton wall hanging built from 3 basic knots, about 20 in wide, with a fringe you trim at the end.
Nail and string art sign
A wood board, a pile of small nails and some embroidery floss turn into a bold word or shape that looks great on any wall.
Chunky hand-knit blanket
A squishy oversized throw knit with your hands, no needles, in one long movie night.
Rolled beeswax candles
Honey-scented candles rolled from honeycomb beeswax sheets, no melting, no heat and no mess.
Wood-burned slice ornaments
Rustic wood slice ornaments with names, snowflakes or dates burned in, the kind people bring out every year.
Board and batten accent wall
Classic vertical trim on one wall, painted in a bold color, that makes a plain room look custom built.
Hand-dipped beeswax tapers
A pair of tall honey-gold taper candles built up one dip at a time, the old way, slow and oddly calming.
Soy wax jar candles
Clean-burning soy candles in glass jars, scented the way you like, for about a third of the price of boutique ones.
Cedar raised garden bed
A 4 x 8 ft cedar raised bed, 11 in deep, that keeps weeds down, warms up early in spring and saves your back.
Dadoed pine bookcase
A 4 ft solid pine bookcase with routed dado joints, the kind of joinery that holds heavy books for decades.
Peel-and-stick tile backsplash
A kitchen backsplash refresh with stick-on tiles in an afternoon, with no grout, no mortar and no tile saw.
Mason jar herb garden
A row of fresh basil, parsley and chives on the windowsill in glass jars, set up so the roots never drown.
Honeycomb hexagon shelves
A cluster of 3 wooden hexagon shelves that nest together on the wall like honeycomb, built with precise 30 degree miters.
2x4 wood pumpkins
Chunky little pumpkins cut from a single 2x4, painted in fall colors and topped with real twig stems.
Picture ledge shelf
A slim 36 in ledge with a lip that holds framed photos and art, so you can swap the display without new nail holes.
Stenciled farmhouse wood sign
A stained pine sign with crisp painted lettering, the kind that sells for $40 at craft fairs, made for under $30.
Dried flower fall wreath
A grapevine wreath tucked with dried wheat, eucalyptus and strawflowers that looks good from September through Thanksgiving.
Floating shelf with a hidden bracket
A thick wood shelf that seems to grow out of the wall, held up by a steel rod bracket you'll never see.
Hardwood charcuterie board
A walnut or maple serving board with a rounded handle, finished food-safe and ready for cheese night or a gift table.
Velvet fabric pumpkins
Plush velvet pumpkins with real dried stems, the high-end fall decor look for a few dollars each.
Entryway key holder
A stained pine board with 4 sturdy hooks by the door, so keys, leashes and bags stop vanishing.
Paper bag star lanterns
Big, glowing Scandinavian-style paper stars made from white lunch bags, the cheapest dramatic Christmas decor there is.
Woven paper heart baskets
Danish-style woven paper hearts that open into little baskets, a cozy tree ornament or a sweet valentine holder.
Envelope pillow covers
Zipper-free throw pillow covers with an overlapping back, so you can swap your couch look every season for a few dollars.
Cast concrete planters
Modern, chunky concrete pots cast in plastic food containers, with a real drain hole for healthy plants.
Photo transfer on wood
A favorite photo printed straight onto a wood plank so the grain shows through, a gift that feels like an heirloom.
Saddle-stitched leather card wallet
A slim leather card holder hand-stitched with waxed thread, a gift that looks like it came from a high-end leather shop.
Plywood shoe cubby bench
An 18 in tall entryway bench with 6 shoe cubbies, cut from a single sheet of birch plywood.
Open when letters
Sealed letters for specific moments, like a bad day or a long trip, for someone you love to open when they need them.
Faux stained glass panel
A thrifted picture frame turned into a glowing stained glass panel with liquid leading and glass paint.
Moss ball kokedama
A houseplant wrapped in a ball of soil and moss, tied with string, to hang in a window or sit on a dish.
Melt and pour soap bars
Pretty, scented bars of soap with no lye and no chemistry, ready to use or wrap as gifts the same afternoon.
Regulation cornhole boards
A matched pair of 2 x 4 ft cornhole boards built to standard size, painted your way and ready for every cookout.
Hot cocoa mix gift jars
Layered jars of rich homemade cocoa mix and mini marshmallows, with a tag that says exactly how to make a mug.
Leaf-printed cloth napkins
Plain cotton napkins printed with real fall leaves for a Thanksgiving table that looks pulled together.
Pallet wood headboard
A wall-mounted queen headboard made from reclaimed pallet boards, warm and rustic for almost nothing.
Giant tumble tower game
A 54-block yard game cut from 2x4s that stands 27 in tall before the first pull and crashes with a satisfying thud.
Painted terracotta pots
Plain clay pots painted with color blocks or simple patterns, sealed so the paint doesn't peel, with a little plant tucked inside.
Homemade bath bombs
Fizzy, scented bath bombs pressed in round molds, cheaper than store ones and fun to wrap in a gift basket.
Brown sugar body scrub
A rich, sweet-smelling sugar scrub mixed in 10 minutes and packed in jars for a spa-style gift.
Wooden 6-bottle caddy
A sturdy carry caddy with a dowel handle and a built-in bottle opener, made for picnics, sodas or a favorite craft beer.
Memory shadow box
A deep frame that holds ticket stubs, shells and photos from a trip or a big day, arranged like a little museum display.
Painted kitchen cabinets
Dated wood cabinets transformed with bonding primer and a hard cabinet enamel, a whole-kitchen change for a fraction of new doors.
Alcohol ink tile coasters
Swirly, marble-looking coasters made from cheap white tiles and alcohol ink, sealed so they handle sweaty glasses.
Homemade vanilla extract
Real vanilla extract made from split beans and vodka, bottled up as a gift that bakers use all year.
Stamped leather keychain
A rugged leather key fob with stamped initials and a brass rivet, a quick personal gift that ages well.
Pallet vertical planter
An upright pallet lined with landscape fabric and packed with flowers or succulents, a living wall for a fence or patio.
Crepe paper flower bouquet
A bouquet of paper tulips and ranunculus that look real from across the room and never wilt.
Peppermint bark
Layers of dark and white chocolate topped with crushed candy canes, a holiday gift that tastes like the expensive tins.
Natural-dyed Easter eggs
Soft blue, golden yellow and rusty orange eggs dyed with red cabbage, turmeric and onion skins from your kitchen.
Painted arch accent wall
A big painted arch behind a bed or desk that adds color and shape to a room with a single quart of paint.
Lathe-turned wood bowl
A smooth hardwood bowl turned on a lathe from a single block, a deeply satisfying advanced project for anyone with lathe access.
Scented cinnamon pinecones
Foraged pinecones baked clean and scented with cinnamon, for bowls and baskets that smell like the holidays.
Linocut greeting cards
Hand-carved block print cards with that crisp, slightly imperfect printed look, enough for a whole holiday list.
Hand-carved wooden spoon
A one-of-a-kind cooking spoon whittled from a basswood blank with 2 knives, slow and satisfying.
Hand-cut dovetail keepsake box
A small hardwood box joined with hand-cut through dovetails, the classic woodworker's rite of passage.
4x4 tealight candle holders
A trio of chunky wood blocks drilled to hold tea lights, a quick rustic centerpiece that sells well at fairs.
Live-edge resin river board
A walnut serving board split by a glassy blue resin river, an advanced build that combines casting, flattening and fine sanding.
Dried orange slice garland
Glowing, stained-glass orange slices strung with cinnamon sticks and bay leaves, the classic old-fashioned Christmas garland.
Punched tin can lanterns
Recycled cans punched with star and dot patterns that throw sparkly light across a patio table at night.
Farmhouse wood serving tray
A sturdy 18 x 12 in pine tray with metal handles for coffee tables, ottomans and breakfast in bed.
Rustic blanket ladder
A 6 ft leaning ladder with dowel rungs for throws and quilts, with real drilled joints that stay tight.
Closed jar terrarium
A tiny green world in a lidded jar that waters itself, built in layers with ferns and moss.
Teacup bird feeder
A thrifted teacup and saucer turned into a charming garden bird feeder on a stake or a hanging chain.
Fresh evergreen wreath
A full, fragrant wreath built from bundles of real fir, cedar and pine, better than store wreaths at a fraction of the price.
Shibori indigo napkins
Deep blue folded-and-clamped indigo napkins with crisp geometric patterns, an old Japanese dye technique that's fun with friends.
Hand-bound long stitch journal
A soft-cover notebook with 5 sewn signatures and an exposed stitched spine, a gift that writers and sketchers love.
Air-dry clay trinket dishes
Little shaped dishes with gold edges for rings, keys and earrings, made with no kiln and no oven.
Beeswax lip balm
Smooth, nourishing lip balm made from 3 ingredients in equal parts, enough for about 20 tubes.
Cedar mason bee house
A small cedar box filled with paper nesting tubes for gentle mason bees, the hard-working early pollinators of fruit trees.
Painted wine glasses
Stemless glasses painted with dots, initials or florals and baked so the design survives the top rack of the dishwasher.
Chalk paint dresser makeover
A tired thrift-store dresser turned into a statement piece with chalk-style paint, a protective topcoat and new hardware.
Soy wax melts
Scented wax melts in snap-apart clamshells, one of the fastest candle-adjacent products to make and sell.
Farmhouse 2x4 coffee table
A chunky 48 x 22 in farmhouse coffee table with 4x4 legs and a slatted lower shelf, built with pocket screws.
Mug cake gift kit
A mug packed with a bag of chocolate cake mix and a recipe card, so someone can bake a warm cake in 90 seconds.
Routed house number plaque
A cedar plaque with a classic routed edge and metal house numbers, the first thing guests and delivery drivers see.
Scrap wood Christmas tree
A wall-hung Christmas tree made from stepped 1x2 branches on a center trunk, simple to make in batches for gifts or a market stall.
Halloween apothecary jars
Thrift-store jars aged and labeled like a witch's pantry, filled with spooky ingredients for a shelf or mantel.
Lined canvas tote bag
A roomy boxed-bottom canvas tote with a cotton lining and strong webbing straps, sturdy enough for groceries and pretty enough to sell.
Embroidery hoop wildflowers
A small hoop of stitched wildflowers using 3 beginner stitches, ready to hang the moment you finish.
Wine cork board
A framed pin board made from saved wine corks laid in a herringbone pattern, handy and good looking by the desk.
Sewn fabric scrunchies
Soft fabric scrunchies made from scraps in about 15 minutes each, a top seller at markets and online.
Sturdy 2x4 bench
A solid 45 in bench built from three 2x4s and screws, perfect for an entryway, a mudroom or the end of the garden.
End-grain checkerboard cutting board
A heavy maple and walnut checkerboard cutting board, the kind that's gentle on knives and lasts for decades.
Pressed flower floating frame
Garden flowers pressed flat and arranged between 2 panes of glass, a frame that looks like a botanical print.
Cold process soap from scratch
Real handmade soap made from oils and lye, the traditional way, cured into gentle bars that last.
Cedar potting bench
A 36 in tall cedar potting bench with a solid slatted work surface and a full lower shelf for bags of soil and stacked pots.
Plywood Halloween yard silhouettes
Big black cats, bats and witches cut from plywood that stand in the yard and look eerie with a light behind them.
Watercolor botanical cards
Loose, leafy watercolor greeting cards you can paint in an evening, even if you haven't held a brush since school.
Wood bead tassel garland
A natural wood bead garland with cotton tassels that drapes over shelves, mirrors and trays for an easygoing boho look.
Cedar garden arbor
A freestanding cedar arbor with a 4 ft wide walkway and slatted sides, ready for climbing roses or clematis.
Polymer clay statement earrings
Lightweight, colorful clay earrings in arches, terrazzo or marble, one of the most popular handmade items to sell.
Acrylic pour painting
Swirling, marbled abstract art made by pouring layered paint from a cup, no brush skills needed.
Scrap wood phone stand
A heavy little wood block with an angled slot that holds your phone up for video calls and recipes.
Mosaic stepping stones
Concrete garden stepping stones with a tile mosaic pressed in the face, sturdy enough to walk on and pretty enough to gift.
Two-step wooden step stool
A solid pine step stool with housed dado joints and arched feet, sturdy enough for the top kitchen cupboard.
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