Spring is here, and if your garage workbench has been collecting dust since the holidays, this is the nudge you have been waiting for. Family Handyman magazine is turning 75 this year, and to celebrate, they are running a contest that has DIY families buzzing from coast to coast. The One-Sheet Plywood Challenge asks you to build a piece of household furniture using nothing more than a single 4x8 sheet of plywood. That is it. One sheet, one great project, and a real shot at winning.

As parents, we know that some of the best family memories happen in the garage or the backyard, sawdust on our shoes and a kid handing us the tape measure. This contest is exactly that kind of opportunity. Whether your teen has been watching woodworking videos for months or your spouse has a running wish list of furniture the house needs, the One-Sheet Plywood Challenge gives everyone a reason to finally get building.

Here is how it works. The contest opens on March 16, 2026, and runs through June 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. To enter, you visit the official contest page at familyhandyman.com/article/plywood-challenge/ and follow the instructions there. There is no purchase required to enter, which means the only thing standing between your family and this challenge is finding the right project idea.

The rules are refreshingly simple. Your finished piece must come from a single 4x8 sheet of plywood or MDF in either 3/4-inch, 1/2-inch, or 1/4-inch thickness. One sheet, one thickness. That constraint is actually part of the fun. Here’s what I tell my own kids when they take on a project with limits: restrictions force creativity. When you cannot just keep adding materials, you have to think smarter.

To submit your entry, you will need a few things. First, one or more photos of your completed project. Second, at least one photo of you, the builder, standing with your finished piece. Third, a cut list showing the dimensions of every component you cut. Fourth, a sketch or diagram showing how all your pieces nested inside the original 4x8 sheet. Videos of your build process are welcome but not required.

Winners will be judged on craftsmanship, creativity, and how well they used their materials. A beautifully built little side table can absolutely compete with an ambitious bookshelf if the joinery is clean and the design is thoughtful. The research backs up what moms have known for years: kids who work with their hands build confidence that carries into every other part of their lives. A contest like this is a chance to make that happen before summer schedules take over.

The contest is open to U.S. residents 18 and older, so this one is really for the grown-ups to lead. But there is nothing stopping you from making it a family build where the kids help measure, sketch, or sand. Some of the most meaningful projects are the ones where everybody pitches in, even if only one name goes on the entry form.

Think about what your home actually needs right now. A mudroom bench? A set of floating shelves for the playroom? A simple coffee table for the back porch? Any of those could start with one sheet of plywood and end up as a genuine piece your family uses every day.

Our kids grow up fast, and the summers fill up before we know it. This is the kind of project worth putting on the calendar now, while spring is still fresh and the garage does not feel like a sauna. Block off a weekend, grab a sheet of plywood from your local home improvement store, and see what your family can build together.

For full contest rules and entry details, head over to familyhandyman.com/article/plywood-challenge/. The deadline is June 30, 2026, so you have plenty of time to plan, but not so much that you want to keep putting it off. Get building.