Here is a chess board for my daughter. Built with maple, walnut with an red oak trim.  Found the plans on line, but I do not know who. Found two ways of doing this and the easiest way was to glue up the maple and walnut strips, then cross cut and flip every other one.  Perfect!  Used rub on polyurathane, 

The Daughter needed a Step stool and I just happen to have gotten one from EZINE Woodworkers journal.  Made with all walnut and yes, I stepped up on it to insure it would not break.  

Thanks for looking.  Merry Christmas.