Looking for some fun and functional projects to use up that scrap wood lying around? These 4 projects were created by Elena Makes, and they can all be completed in an afternoon!
Materials Needed:
- Scrap wood (Poplar and Pine are used in this guide)
- Twine
- Wood glue
- Acrylic paint (optional)
- Glass vials (for the propagator)
Tools Required:
- Jigsaw
- Drill with spade bits
- File
- Sandpaper
- Square ruler
- Pencil
Step 1: Making a Hanging Plant Propagator
Start with a piece of scrap Poplar wood. Cut it in half lengthwise, then cut those pieces in half again.
Next, take the two best pieces and mark the spots where you’ll drill holes for the glass vials. Make sure they are spaced out correctly. The holes should be big enough for the vial body but small enough for the lip to catch.
Once all the holes are drilled, sand the piece to smooth it out. Then, drill holes on either side of both boards for twine. If you have trouble threading the twine, a piece of tape on the end can help.
After knotting the twine behind each board, check to ensure that both boards are even. You can finish the wood or hang it up in an indirect sunny spot.
Step 2: Creating a Simple Phone Holder
For this project, I used scrap wood from an old winery box. The size will differ based on your phone, but here are the measurements for an iPhone 13 Pro.
Use your jigsaw to create the rectangles and slots. It’s a good idea to drill a hole first for a cleaner cut when making the slot.
After cutting, use a file to clean up the slot and sand down the whole piece.
This phone holder can be used for recipes, FaceTiming, or watching videos. It’s simple, functional, and a great way to repurpose scrap wood!
Step 3: Building a Mountain-Themed Napkin Holder
Using the same winery box, I decided to make a napkin holder with a mountain range silhouette. Start by tracing the mountain peaks using a square ruler, then cut them out with a jigsaw.
Once you have one side cut, place it on another scrap piece to trace the other side. Make sure to keep your lines straight!
After cutting both sides, sand down the edges and cut a piece for the bottom, gluing it on with wood glue. Use clamps or other scrap wood to hold it together while it dries.
Finally, sand the corners to align with the angles of the sides, and you have a stylish napkin holder!
Step 4: Making a Small Jewelry Box
For the jewelry box, cut four equal-sized rectangles from leftover Poplar. Glue the sides together, using a pencil to mark where to apply the glue.
After the sides dry, cut out a bottom for the box and glue it on. Clamp everything together while it sets.
Once dry, cut a top piece and find a small scrap for a handle. Sand everything down and paint it for a fun finish!
And there you have it! Four creative projects to make the most out of your scrap wood. I hope you found this tutorial useful and inspiring.