• Make these simple woodworking projects.birdhouse 4 image by Earl Robbins from Fotolia.com
  
  When taking up a new hobby, such as woodworking, it is best to start with smaller projects rather than larger ones. You do not want to begin your woodworking adventures with a huge and complicated project idea. Start with smaller ideas to learn how to work with wood and also to learn how to use different woodworking tools.
  
  

Folding Book Rack

• Build a folding book rack to put on top of a desk or table. This may sound like a complicated project, but it is rather simple. Use pine, since it is easy to work with and takes paint or stain well. Cut two pieces of wood that measure 4 inches by 6 inches. These are the ends of the book rack. Cut another piece of wood that measures 4 inches wide by 12 inches long. You will also need four 1-inch hinges. Lay the longer piece of wood on a flat surface. Set one of the book rack ends upright at the end of the long piece. Attach the hinges. Repeat with the other side. Make sure the hinges are on the inside of the book rack so the ends fold down on top of the shelf. Once you complete the book rack you can paint or stain it as desired. You can put a design on the ends of your book rack, either by carving or painting.
  
  

Bookends

• Make some simple bookends to help hold up books on a long shelf. This is a great project for the kids to help with. Cut four pieces of wood that measure 6 inches by 8 inches. Draw a design on two of the pieces. Use a hammer and a nail to trace over the design by making shallow holes. Hammer in the nail part way and then pull it back out and move to the next spot. Continue tracing all the way around the design. Use a rag and some stain to cover all four pieces of the wood. This is easier to do before you put the actual bookends together. Make sure you get both sides of the wood and the edges. When the stain is dry, lay one piece of the plain wood on a flat surface. Butt one of the designed pieces right up against it. Hammer in three, 2-inch nails along the edge to hold the two pieces together. Make sure to space the nails out evenly. Repeat with the other two pieces to complete your set of bookends.
  
  

Birdhouses

• Challenge your woodworking skills with this third project, although it is still fairly simple. There are many different types of birdhouses for the novice and the experienced woodworker. Figure out what types of birds you have in your yard or what types of birds you would like to attract. Purchase a birdhouse kit, in that style, that has everything you need. Follow the directions by first putting together the walls of the birdhouse. Set the completed walls on the base of the birdhouse and then add the roof. Make sure the joints of the house are fairly airtight to give the birds a good home and to protect the food and nests from moisture, which could cause rot or mold. Add a screw-in hanger to the top of the birdhouse and hang it in a nearby tree for your enjoyment.