Simple DIY Cookbook Stand: 2 Easy Styles
Make this simple DIY cookbook stand with just a few tools, the perfect gift for Mother’s Day or for yourself
This project is sponsored by WORKPRO® Tools & EverBrite Lighting see our policies here
Has anyone else ever bought a cookbook because the cover was really cute & you just knew it would look great in the kitchen?
I am guilty of this…
I know I can’t make anything in the book, it’s just not my jam, I literally set the microwave on fire 3 days ago.
But what I can do is make a really beautiful stand for it to sit on, & with Mother’s Day coming up I thought I would make my mom one too!
Let me show you how you can make 2 simple cookbook stand versions with just a few of my favorite WORKPRO Tools.
Scrap Wood Rustic Version-
Supplies:
- Scrap Pieces of 1×3 or 1×4 or (1) 1x3x8 pine board
- Piece of 2×2 Board
- Wood Glue
- 16 AWG Wire
- Hinge
- EverBrite LED Under Cabinet Lighting Bar
Tools:
- WORKPRO®
- WORKPRO® 20V Pink Cordless Drill
- WORKPRO® Pink Hot Glue Gun
- Pliers
- WORKPRO® Clamps
Scrap Wood Cutting Board Stand:
For the first cutting board stand I used a bunch of scrap wood I already had for a really fun rustic vibe.
I started by cutting all (4) boards to 11″, this will be the height of the stand.
Next, I sanded the individual boards with a medium sanding block.
Just enough to take off all the rough edges & smooth the boards.
After they were all sanded I applied wood glue & attached them all together.
Once they were attached I used clamps on both ends to secure them together while they dried.
Wipe off any excess glue that seeps through the cracks.
While the glue was drying I measured across the boards for the total width.
This is the length the 2×2 will be cut to, it’s going to be the ledge that the cookbook actually sits on.
Once the 2×2 was cut to size, I used my WORKPRO drill to make two holes at each end of the board.
This is where we will be installing the front bar later.
I didn’t drill all the way through the 2×2, just about 1/2 way in.
After the holes were drilled I used wood glue to attach the 2×2 to the bottom of the board with clamps.
Make sure the holes are facing up… I may or may not have accidentally glued it the wrong way at first 😅
While the 2×2 was still clamped, I flipped the board over & added two 1-1/4″ wood screws to the back for extra security.
Cookbooks can be heavy y’all & they need to be extra reinforced!
Finishing
After everything was dry & attached I chose a stain color.
Ebony stain is perfect for the rustic vibe I am going for, you can tell I am a huge fan of this stain based on
My little trick for getting stuck on lids off is to use my WORKPRO Utility Knife opener attachment!
It saves me from ruining all my butter knives & makes it so much easier.
I applied the stain with a regular brush, wiping off the excess stain.
To make the cookbook stand actually a stand, I decided to use this 8″ hinge.
I mounted it to the bottom back of the stand using small screws.
The actual hinge is sitting on the bottom of the board, so the stand will be resting on top of it.
This is the side view of the cookbook stand.
I am so excited about it so far!
Now it’s time to add the front bar, for this we are gonna use 16 AWG wire.
I measured & cut the wire to length.
Bend the ends of the wire with pliers.
I did have to use my new utility
Once I did the dry fit, I added a small bit of hot glue to each hole & reinserted the wire into the holes.
I love the modern, rustic vibes this stand is giving off!
Paint Panel Modern Version-
Supplies:
- Paint Panel
- Piece of 2×2
- 2×4 Piece
- Wood Glue
- 16 AWG Wire
Paint Panel Cookbook Stand:
For the second stand I thought I would do a lighter more modern version!
I started with a piece of paint panel board that was 15 1/2″ wide.
It is definitely larger than the first one & will be perfect for the chunky cookbooks!
The panels are already pretty smooth, so I just lightly went over it with a fine grit sanding block.
Next, I measured the width & cut a piece of 2×2 to that length.
Just like the first 2×2, I drilled holes into it & then attached it with wood glue & clamps.
While it was still clamped I added wood screws from the back into the 2×2.
Finishing
I wasn’t exactly sure how I wanted this cookbook to “stand” yet so I went ahead & stained it with Golden Pecan Wood stain.
Instead of using a hinge to hold this stand up I used a 2×4.
I cut the 2×4 at 35 degrees on each end using a miter saw.
Next, I propped the 2×4 on the back of the stand & predrilled a small hole into the top.
Once the hole was predrilled I used my multi-tools flat head screwdriver to drive in a wood screw.
Now that the stand is standing freely, I used the same 16 AWG wire for the front of the cookbook stand.
The size of this cookbook stand is perfect for larger cookbooks, tablets, or I Pads!
I am big puffy heart in love with this lighter color & how well it pairs with the wire.
Under Cabinet Lighting With EverBrite
If you give a DIY-er a cookbook stand she will want to display it proudly & with extra light of course 😉
So to properly showcase these new DIY’s I added an EverBrite Under Cabinet Light Bar under the cabinet!
This light bar is cordless, rechargeable, & turns on when it detects motion, what more could you want!
They are so easy to install, just remove the sticky backing & apply it under the cabinet.
The lightbar is magnetic, that makes it super easy to remove from the metal mounts for charging!
The extra light is exactly what these cookbook stands needed to be properly showcased!
Even the brightness can be adjusted on these EverBrite light bars by holding your hand 4” under the sensor, how cool is that!
I am absolutely in love with how both of these cookbooks holders turned out.
They are a perfect gift for Mother’s Day & would go great with a new cookbook or a collection of family recipes!
Another option is to pair it with a pink WORKPRO Tool Set of her own!
Let me know which version is your favorite & any cookbooks you recommend for the cooking hopeless 😅
