Im in fear if I post my amateurish ways anymore, the powers that be might close my access.
Why throw out any wood?
Im not destitute, not poor, but I dont throw out any wood since I started this hobby couple years back.
Got 3, 4 , 5 inch cutoffs, hey no problem.
Got some time, nothing to do, make a gift.
I know its above the real pros here, but I have the advantage of no talent to help me come up with my ideas.
Mark, everyone has that one person we want to give a little gag gift too now and then.
Take a few pieces, mitre the ends, make a box, rabbet out the back,find some old glass, (I buy cheap, cheap at garage sales, like 25 cents each, just for some glass), dado out the thickness of the glass, glue it up, take some of those strips of hardwood, like the 1/4 inch strips, whatever, or poplar that you normally chuck in the garbage or use for the fire place.
Make a mitred faceframe, and boom, get a paint pen, a stencil, make a gift.
Heres one Im in the middle of, too many things going on, too little time.
For the guy who has everything. Sometimes, Id put a Bud bottle in there, a lone cigarette, a pack of cigs, adult themes, anything like I put a pack of twinkies in one for someone I knew who had a twinkie fetish and was on a strict diet.(so Im mean, they laughed alot)
If I have a piece of small chain, I make a tiny looking hammer and attach it, kinda makes it look a bit nicer.
Maybe it costs me 50 cents for the glass and chain.
If theres only 3 inch strips, make the same box,but longer and wider, put some dados for shelves, put a faceframe around, great if you have some scrap hardwood for faceframe, only need 1/8 or 1//4 inch, and boom, its a curio box for someone.
Stain, paint, dont matter. I use whats laying around.
I know this all sounds silly, but I have yet had anyone laugh or not enjoy the gift, especially since I made it for them.
(I put a phony Amex gold card in one, for a girl who spends too much, she put it in her office)
Always best to make the item look suspended in air by attaching it to the back.
Again, I apologize if this is out of line, I just wanted to show how I use all the ply scraps.