How to Create House-Shaped Cutting Boards

Bob Vila
by Bob Vila
15 Materials
$13.50
Easy
This season, wow your guests with your cutting skills—no, we're not just talking the slicing and dicing in the kitchen! Craft handmade, custom-shape cutting boards to aid in meal prep and serve up snacks.
If you plan to host (or are looking for the perfect gift for the do-it-all host and hostess in your life), personalize the holiday get-together with a custom cutting board.
To make a cutting board durable enough to handle food prep, it’s best to choose a hardwood, like oak. Avoid pine wood all together, which will quickly become damaged by the slicing and dicing of your blades.


Cut a piece of lumber to 8 inches wide and 15 inches long; this length will be enough material for one cutting board.
Measure to find the center along the top of your wood plank. From this point, use your protractor to draw two straight lines at 45-degree angles—your roofline. If you’d like, you can even draw a chimney; just add a rectangular shape to one of the slants.


Cut along the penciled lines.
Outline the top and bottom of cutting board in strips of painter’s tape, so that no brushstrokes will touch the cutting side when you go to paint the edges of the board.


Since this woodworking project will be used for meal prep and serving snacks, it’s important to select a food-safe acrylic paint. Double-check the paint’s label for an AP non-­toxic seal (issued by the Art and Creative Materials Institute, Inc.) before you get started. Once you have picked appropriate paints, apply a coat around the edge with a small foam brush. Lay the board flat to dry.
After the sides of your board have totally dried, peel away the painter’s tape. Then, rub a food-safe mineral oil over the top and bottom surfaces of the cutting board, working in the direction of the wood grain with a clean cloth. (Note: Choose mineral or linseed oil over vegetable ones like olive or corn, which can turn rancid and will leave an unpleasant taste on your food.)


An even coat of oil every six months of use will prevent your handiwork from drying out and cracking.
Glue a rubber pad at each corner on whichever side will be the bottom of your cutting board; these will help keep your cutting board to slipping around while you’re wielding a knife.
Then, set out on the counter for immediate use serving up celebratory wine and cheese!


More photos and detail—including how to cut out the heart—can be found at the website's tutorial, linked below.
Suggested materials:
  • Hardwood
  • Protractor
  • Ruler
See all materials
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
3 of 7 questions
  • Ross Sanders Ross Sanders on Apr 21, 2018

    So if you say not to use pine wood, why are you using pine?

  • Ross Sanders Ross Sanders on Apr 21, 2018

    So if you say not to use pine wood, why are you using pine?

  • Ross Sanders Ross Sanders on Apr 21, 2018

    So if you say not to use pine wood, why are you using pine?

Comments
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  • Lisa House Lisa House on Nov 29, 2016
    I would think my hubby should make these for all of his siblings....last name is House!
  • Ann Ann on Dec 02, 2019
    Was going to buy one for my son and daughter in law,but saw this,so will give it a go.They like to entertain so will make them more than one. Have already got linseed oil and brushes etc only need some wood,um will sweet talk my other son in law. Thanks for a great idea with instructioms x
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