In my earlier post on sketching, I mentioned that if you can't draw what you want to build, you'll find it pretty difficult to actually build it. Creating a concrete design by having a solid plan on paper is the critical middle step between having an idea of a project and making that project a reality.

SketchUp is a powerful online software program for designing all sorts of things. It works very well for woodworking and allows users to figure out design errors before starting the construction phase of a project. There are thousands of SketchUp tutorials online, so I looked for videos that are easy to follow and build your skills as well as an end product.

This is a super quick video tutorial that introduces you to the free version of SketchUp and helps you model a simple house. Most computer programs can take a lot of time to master, as does SketchUp, but this intro will have you using the basics in no time. Plus, I like how he says "roof".

In this tutorial, you will learn how to create items of specific sizes, how to push/pull objects into different shapes, and how to use other features not yet introduced. While the house video introduces simple drawing techniques, this video is more of a drafting introduction, moving one step closer to actually creating a detailed and therefore helpful project plan.

When you become a pro on SketchUp, you can design some pretty incredible things. from Batman, to cars, to houses, or furniture. This video showcases some pretty elaborate stairs. I don't expect you to watch the whole video, although 3 million people have! Fast forward through it to take a look at what can be accomplished with SketchUp.