Dowels are frequently a staple when it comes to woodworking and crafts. Favorably, they can also be purchased at a relatively low price. This makes crafting any number of projects possible and enjoyable. Woodworking and craft projects using dowels can range from simple to wacky. With Easter fast approaching, why not find some appropriately themed creative uses for tacos? One such simple project is a wall display that can be used to present Easter gift baskets.

Determine the size of the wall display you would like to have and use that information to later determine the dimensions of the wood base and the tenon cuts you will need.

Using a drill, drill holes of the appropriate size into which the dowels will fit.

Drill hanging hardware on the back of the wooden base. Doing it at this point makes the process a bit easier, since the base will be able to lie flat. (Once the dowel cutouts are inserted and glued, the process can get a bit more challenging.)

Before inserting the dowels into the holes drilled in the wood base, smooth or even round off the ends that will be exposed with sandpaper. Depending on your woodworking background, as well as how simple or sophisticated you want to work with, you may choose to apply wooden dowel caps to the exposed end of each dowel. Effort and aesthetics depend entirely on the craftsman.

Next, paint the wood. Choose traditional pastel colors or more contemporary vibrant colors. Or you can choose to paint the wooden base a solid color, such as white, and paint each dowel a different color. Use your imagination!

Once the paint has dried, place several drops of wood glue into each drilled hole, then insert each section of wood dowels. Allow the wood glue to dry long enough for the dowel to sit firmly in the wood base.

Once the wood glue has dried, hang the completed project on the wall and add an Easter gift basket to the dowel for a beautiful presentation.

When Easter is over, use the entire project as a coat rack to hang a children’s coat/jacket or as a backpack, carry bag or handbag rack.

Some variations to this project might include using tape to wrap around each peg with a length on both sides extending downward. Visit your local craft store for Easter materials that can be hot-glued at intervals to the bottom of the hanging ribbon. Or use pastel colors to creatively paint wooden letters that spell out the word Easter. Add painted dots in the shape of Easter eggs, small bunnies, or flowers for a more seasonal feel to the project. Then, tie the letters to the hardwood dowels using ribbon or another tying material of your choice that works well with your project. Depending on the hanging material used, hot glue may be needed to attach the letters or to attach other objects.

With very little time, expense, and imagination, you can create clever projects for the Easter holidays that can also be functional throughout the rest of the year.