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Every piece here comes from one 1/2" x 5-1/2" x 6' cedar fence picket, which makes this the kind of project you can finish an entire desk-organizer set from a single offcut. The trade-off for that efficiency is that the cut list reads almost like a woodworking puzzle: pieces get roughed to an oversized length first, then trimmed down to their final size in a second pass, so read each cut-list line as two steps, not one.
Because every part is small and the stock is thin, a stop block on your miter saw is worth setting up before you start — it makes repeat cuts (there are a lot of them, especially on the mini crate's six side slats) far more consistent than eyeballing a tape measure each time. Glue does more of the work than nails on parts this small; use the nails mainly to hold pieces in place while the glue sets, not as the primary joint.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Cedar fence picket, 1/2" x 5-1/2" x 6 ftThe entire set comes from this one board. | 1 each |
| Wood glue | 1 oz |
| Finish nails, 1" | 1 box |
| Finishing suppliesWhatever finish you'd like — clear coat lets the cedar grain and color show. | 1 each |
Overall cost: $. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Pencil cup front/backCedar | 2 | 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 3 1/2" |
| Pencil cup sidesCedar | 2 | 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 1 5/8" |
| Pencil cup bottomCedar | 1 | 1/2" × 2 5/8" × 3 1/2" |
| Business card holder frontCedar | 1 | 1/2" × 1 1/4" × 4" |
| Business card holder bottomCedar | 1 | 1/2" × 1" × 4" |
| Business card holder backCedar | 1 | 1/2" × 2 1/4" × 4" |
| Mini crate endsCedar | 3 | 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 3 1/2" |
| Mini crate slatsCedar | 6 | 1/2" × 1" × 4 1/2" |
| Paper clip tray front/backCedar | 2 | 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 4" |
| Paper clip tray sidesCedar | 2 | 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 3" |
| Paper clip tray bottomCedar | 1 | 1/2" × 3" × 3" |
Buy 7 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
1 board
1 board
1 board
1 board
1 board
1 board
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Cut the front, back, and side pieces, roughing each to its first listed length before trimming to final width. Glue and tack the four sides together into a box, then glue and nail the bottom in place. Sand the top rim smooth — this is what your hand feels every time you reach for a pencil.
Cut the front, back, side, and bottom pieces. Glue and nail the four sides into a shallow open box, then attach the bottom. Keep the corners square — a shallow tray shows any racking more than a tall box would.
Cut the front, bottom, and back pieces. Glue and nail the back and bottom together at an angle so cards lean back slightly and stay visible, then attach the front lip.
Cut the three end pieces and six side slats. Assemble the two end frames first, then glue and nail the slats across both ends, spacing them evenly to leave gaps between — this is a crate, not a solid box, so the gaps are intentional. Sand every piece in the set and apply your chosen finish.
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