Andrew — Father’s Day Cribbage Board

Andrew wanted something different for Father’s Day—something personal instead of predictable. A custom Father’s Day cribbage board seemed like the perfect fit, but once he shared the story behind it, the project took on a life of its own.

Andrew was looking for something different for Father’s Day. Rather than buying another tie, tool, or gift card, he wanted to create something personal—something that reflected who his father is and the memories that helped shape him.

During our conversations, Andrew shared that his father had spent countless hours playing cribbage with his own father, Ben. Like so many family traditions, the game became more than a way to pass the time. It was an opportunity to sit together, tell stories, share advice, enjoy a little friendly competition, and simply be present with one another. Those are the moments that often become our strongest memories.

That conversation immediately changed the direction of this project. Instead of simply building a cribbage board, the goal became creating something that honored those memories while giving Andrew’s father a reason to keep making new ones.

The centerpiece of the board is a laser-engraved portrait of Andrew’s grandfather, Ben. Rather than using a generic image, Andrew provided a family photograph taken during a trip to Italy. The photograph captures Ben standing in front of the Colosseum, surrounded by the history of one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks. Turning that treasured family photograph into a finely engraved wooden keepsake allowed a single moment from a family vacation to become part of a gift that will hopefully remain in the family for many years.

The back of every 3 Dogs Woodworking piece includes my evolving maker’s mark. Rather than remaining the same from project to project, it grows with each story I have the privilege of creating. For Andrew’s Father’s Day board, a classroom chalkboard honors his father’s years as a teacher, the Board of Directors proudly occupies the center, and Andrew himself appears on the right. It’s one more way every piece becomes as personal as the story behind it.

The board itself was designed with everyday use in mind. A hidden compartment stores a deck of cards and the scoring pegs, keeping everything together and ready for the next game. Hidden magnets securely hold the cover in place while maintaining a clean appearance without visible hardware. Every edge was carefully shaped and sanded by hand before receiving its finish, allowing the natural beauty of the wood to become part of the finished design.

I believe handcrafted gifts should invite people to use them, not worry about preserving them. My hope is that this board spends very little time sitting on a shelf. Instead, I hope it earns worn corners, tiny scratches, and countless games played around kitchen tables and living rooms. Those signs of use aren’t flaws—they’re evidence of memories continuing to be made.

Projects like this are the reason I created Stories Behind the Wood. Every custom piece that leaves my shop has a story, and those stories deserve to be told alongside the craftsmanship. While I take pride in precise machining, smooth finishes, and thoughtful design, the real reward comes from knowing a project represents something much larger than the materials themselves.

This Father’s Day cribbage board became a tribute to three generations of one family. It celebrates Andrew’s thoughtful gift to his father, honors the memory of Grandpa Ben through a cherished family photograph from Italy, and creates an opportunity for new games, new conversations, and new traditions to continue for years to come.

That is what Turning Sticks into Treasures means to me. It’s never just about building something beautiful. It’s about preserving the stories that make it worth keeping.