Make Wood Shims From Reclaimed Wood and Resurface a Coffee Table

 

 

 

 

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Reclaimed Wood Coffee Table Revamp

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What is better than revamping a garage sale find?  Revamping a $5 garage sale find that you got in 2006 a second time, that is what!  Today I am sharing how I did just that to create this reclaimed wood resurfaced, chalk painted coffee table.  I am super proud of this bad boy.  With some old deck wood I inherited when my mom demolished her deck and my table saw, I created wood shims, attached them to the table top, framed them in with the same deck wood, and stained them with Minwax Wood Finishing Cloths.  The result is exactly what I was going for, and I am loving it with the decor where it landed.  Wanna see how you can make your own?  Let’s do this!

Make a Coffee Table

TUTORIAL:

Paint your table base as desired.  I used gray chalk paint.

Rip thin “wood shims” from reclaimed wood with your table saw, or buy wood shims!

Resurface a table

Place your shims with excess stick over both edges.

Attach Wood Shims with Air Nailer

Use wood glue and Air Nailer to secure wood shims into place.

Mark straight edge and cut with Jigsaw

Draw straight edge and cut off excess wood with jigsaw.

Frame in and fill in gaps with wood putty

Frame in by measuring length and width of table and cutting wood at 45° with short edge the same length and width as your table.  Attach with glue and nail gun.  Fill in gaps and holes from nailer with stainable wood putty.

How to use orbital sander

When wood putty dries, sand with orbital sander to smooth out surface.

Minwax wood finishing cloths

If you have been around here long, you know I am a huge fan of Minwax Wood Finishing ClothsMinwax 30820 Wood Finishing Cloths, Natural Oak.  They are super awesome.  Stain and seal with just a swipe.  Here I used Natural Oak and went over that while still wet with Dark Mahogany for a custom color.

Reclaimed wood table tutorial

That is it!

The inspiration for this project came from the recent 50+ Wood Shim DIY Projects we shared:

Check it out for tons more inspiration!  Enjoy.

50 Plus DIY Outdoor Project Tutorials to Make

[pinit]50 Best DIY Outdoor Projects @savedbyloves #outdoorliving[pinit]

Don’t you just love the arrival of spring and summer?!  It is especially welcome after a long harsh winter like the one we have endured, and decorating outdoors is a privilege!  Today I am sharing over 50 of the best DIY Outdoor LIving Projects from around the creative globe.  You will find DIY outdoor furniture, lighting, upcycle projects, decor and more.  If you have a stellar project that we missed, send us a link so we can include you.  Happy outdoor decorating!


DIY $45 Five Piece Outdoor Adirondack Furniture Set

[pinit]DIY Adirondack Outdoor Furniture Plan @savedbyloves Chalk Paint[pinit]

There is nothing quite like relaxing in a nice adirondack chair on a gorgeous day.  That is why I decided to tackle this DIY Adirondack Chair Woodworking Plan from Ana White for Home Depot.  Once we finished the chairs, we had to have the DIY Footstools to go with them!  For the table, I loosely based the design on this DIY side table I shared with you in the fall.  I had to wing it some to make the scrap wood I had on hand work for the project and I love its rustic look.  Read on to see how I finished my 5 piece set using my new paint line obsession; Chalky Finish Paint From DecoArt Americana Home Decor.

DIY Outdoor Furniture Woodworking plan

Let’s talk about the table first.  Check out the above link for the plan details.  This wood was super rustic and scrappy, so I wanted the paint to be as well.  I went for “Cameo” color from DecoArt Chalky Finish line.  LOVE.  It looks kinda coral, kinda barn red, 100% lovely.

DecoArt Cameo Chalky Finish Paint Project

I love that you have to do zero prep with this paint.  Even if you are painting an already finished surface, no sanding, no priming… just go for it, and have a gorgeous outcome.

How to use Chalk Paint

I recommend painting the individual table to slats before attaching them.  It is easier to get to the sides and bottom when they are individual.  You can still countersink your screws, fill the holes in with wood putty, sand away the excess and paint over just that area to touch it up after attaching.How to seal outdoor furniture

Since this project will live outdoors, my first choice of finish (Clear Creme Wax and Aging Wax) isn’t recommended since it won’t stand up to the harsh elements over time.  That’s why we sealed the entire set of furniture with Americana Decor Soft-Touch Varnish, two coats!  It is approved for outdoor use, and we want our pieces to last a long time.

How to finish outdoor furniture

At first we were going to do the whole set using Cameo, but decided to do the chairs and foot stools in “Timeless.  Before I get into that, I want to save you some headache…

Adirondack Chair Woodworking Plan

On page 5 of the Adirondack chair plan from Ana and Home Depot (linked in the first paragraph), the red circled area says 1/2 inch, which is totally not what it means to say.  That measurement should be 1 1/2 inch, like it says in the text below the diagram.  If you are a visual kinda builder, and don’t read the text (like me), you will be super frustrated.  Let’s just say that these chairs almost didn’t happen!  Finally dear husband realized the typo and the rest of the build went smoothly.

DecoArt Chalky Finish Paint Timeless

I had already painted Cameo on the chairs before deciding to go with Timeless.  We just went over the red with the cream and one coat did it!

The other point I want to make sure I share is that using scrap cuts from your local hardware store cuts the price of this project way down, like more than in half.  We went to Menards where they had 1×4 and 2×4 in various lengths from 12-36 inches from cuts they had made in store, for just $0.49 each!!  This is less than half of what it would have cost to buy full length boards and cut them at home.  Just take a tape measurer with you, your cut list and be ready to inspect and dig through the scrap stock.  It is totally worth it!

I found the outdoor pillows at Menards, and don’t they look like they were made for this set?!?!  I was planning to make my own, but come on.

DIY Adirondack Outdoor Furniture Plan @savedbyloves

Big thank you to DecoArt for providing the paint for this project.  I am so in love with this line, and my new outdoor furniture!

What are you working on for your outdoor space?  Have you tried Chalky Finish Paint yet?

Make a Stenciled Planter Box From Reclaimed Wood

*This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Blue Print Social for Ed Roth Stencil1 Stencils and FolkArt Multi-Surface Paint by Plaid Crafts.  All opinions are 100% mine and honest.

[pinit]Easy Rustic Planter DIY with @PlaidCrafts @savedbyloves[pinit]

Today’s project is a simple, inexpensive stenciled planter box made from reclaimed wood .  Use this rustic crate for house plants, flower bouquets, to display vintage bottles, candles and more!  I used FolkArt Multi-Surface Paint and an Ed Roth Stencil1 stencil with some scrap wood and chicken wire I had on hand to build this versatile rustic home accent.  Read on to find out how you can make your own version!

Rustic Home Decor Ideas

SUPPLIES:

Ed Roth Stencils @PlaidCrafts

Scrap Wood

Chicken Wire

Metal Snips

Wood glue

Ed Roth Stencils

FolkArt Multi-Surface Paint

FolkArt Antiquing Medium

Foam Brush

Lint Free Cloth

Stencil brush

Masking Tape

Table Saw

Nailer or hammer and nails

TUTORIAL:

How to build a scrap wood vintage crate

Cut wood for the bottom, 2 ends and divider of your crate.  I these all from the same piece of pallet wood.The two ends should be the same height, and the middle divider should be that height minus the thickness of the bottom piece.

Ryobi Airstrike Nailer

Attach the ends to the bottom as pictured, placing a strip of wood glue at the contact point before nailing together.  I used one inch brad nails with my nail gun.

How to make a reclaimed wood planter box

Attach the divider by flipping box over so that the bottom is up and nailing through the bottom into the divider so you are left with the above image.

Reclaimed wood projects to make

For the sides of the crate, I used a wood shim like scrap piece from my stash.  You could use paint stirrers or vintage yard sticks here too.  Cut four of them (2 for each side) the same length.  To get the length just hold the wood up to the crate with one edge flush and mark the other edge to cut.

How to use Nail Gun

Cut chicken wire with metal snips to same length and height as crate.  Put the wire in place and secure by nailing side planks in place over the top of the wire.

Ryobi Nailer

Repeat with the remaining side plank at the top, then flip the crate over and repeat on the other side.

Folk Art Antiquing Medium

Since all of my wood was random and mismatched, I decided to pull it together with FolkArt Antiquing Medium.  This stuff is super easy to use and I love the aged effect, on top of how it unifies the various wood pieces.

How to created aged wood effect

Apply the medium with a sponge brush in a few inch sections at a time, then wipe back with a lint free cloth until you get the desired effect.

Wipe back antiquing medium

If you find it too dark, use a damp cloth to remove more of the stain.

How to use stencils

Once that is dry, tape your stencil into place and apply the FolkArt Muti-Surface Paint using a stencil brush.

I found the stencil I tried easy to use.  The lines were crisp and there was no bleeding.

 The Ed Roth Stencil1 Stencils come in large formats that are ideal for walls, floors and furniture, and are made of durable, reusable mylar that is super easy to clean.  These stencils will be available at Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft stores soon.
As for the paints, they work on any surface, are dishwasher safe and can be used indoor and outdoor.  I personally can’t wait to try them on glass so I am sure you will be seeing that around here in the near future!

Build a Rustic Planter Box

Once that is dry, you are ready to use your awesome handbuilt crate!  I went with ferns, but the customization options are endless.  Make it all you.

If you loved this project, you may want to fcheck out Plaid Crafts on FacebookTwitterYouTubePinterest, and Instagram or visit their blog, The Plaid Palette.

Want more projects with Ed Roth Stencil1 Stencils and FolkArt Multi-Surface Paint from your favorite bloggers?  Here you go…

 

Easy Side Table from Wooden Crate

[pinit]Make a side table that doubles as storage from a crate in this easy upcycle DIY @savedbyloves[pinit]

Hi, I am Loren from Pandora’s Craft Box and I don’t know about you but I hate having my magazine lying around everywhere in my home. All of us have subscription that my wonderful mother in-law has gotten us, so I really needed to find a place for our magazine where they could be displayed nicely. I like to keep my magazine at hand because I love using them as inspiration.

mud-room-storage-out-of-crates

The first thing that came to mind was using a crate that I had lying around the apartment.

Repurpose a crate into rolling end table and storage with this easy DIY @savedbyloves

I love the color of dark wood and decided to stain the crate a dark mahogany. The funny thing about staining is it has to be perfect weather. It can’t be too humid or cold because it will take that much longer for the stain to dry. I used a brush to apply the stain to the crate.

Remember to wipe any extra stain off the crate as you stain. The crate will dry faster if you do.

After the crate has dried overnight, I took a little trip to the hardware store and got wheels to attach to the bottom of the crate. Now I am able to move the crate with ease anywhere I wanted to go in my home.
Now the crate can be used as a side table and magazine storage to keep all of my HGTV magazines ready at hand for when I need inspiration!

What will you be using your crate side table for?

Stay Crafty!

Loren

Don’t miss our 50+ Repurposed Crates for more creative upcycle ideas!

The 50 Best DIY Mirror Projects Ever Made

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50 Best DIY Mirros Upcycled Recycled and Eco Friendly Decor with Mirrors @savedbyloves[pinit]

Have you ever been to a house with no mirrors? Yep, we all use them. Today I am sharing my favorite DIY mirrors, upcycles, hacks and revamps from the most creative people gracing the blog world.  You will be amazed.  It helps you look good, so help it do the same.  If breaking it brings bad luck, maybe beautifying it will land you that winning lottery ticket!  If not, you are left with a cool mirror that you made.  Everyone wins.  Enjoy!


DIY Rustic Coffee Table from The Handbuilt Home

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DIY Woodworking plan for coffee table

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You may have heard me mention Ana White one or a million times and if so, you know that I am a big fan of her woodworking plans.  Reading her blog convinced me that I could build, and that turned out to be true.  I was hooked immediately with my first project;  DIY Chalkboard Crates:

ChalkboardCrates10

That was in may (5 months prior to the writing of this post), and since then, I have built:

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DIY Rustic Coffee Table

 

This table is from Ana’s book The Handbuilt Home, and can be found on page 64.  The plans in the book are detailed with shopping list, tools, cut list, step by step instructions and “Notes” or tips.  I particularly love the fact that each project is labeled with icons so you can quickly see the skill level, cost and time for completion.

I completed the build in about 2 hours, twice as long as Whitney from shanty2chic took according to the book, and I am thrilled with that!  I have watched her build in person, and she wastes no time.

I finished with Chalk Country Paint.  I found it on Amazon and hadn’t used it before.  Since it was considerably cheaper than Annie Sloan and CeCe Caldwell, and I had some Amazon Credit, I thought I would give it a go.  Not bad, but it is no CeCe.:

DIY Chalk Paint Table

To finish I sand distressed the edges and sealed with CeCe Caldwell Clear wax and Aging cream.  So happy with this.  Stay tuned for more projects from The Handbuilt Home.  Order your copy and while you are waiting, visit Ana White’s website for tons of free woodworking plans, tips and tricks.  You will find everything you need to get stared.  You can build!!

Flea Market Vintage Table and Chairs Revamp

[pinit]Flea Market Vintage Table Makeover[pinit]

There’s not much better than a good flea market find revamping, which is what I am sharing with you today.  This fantastic formica topped, chrome legged vintage table cost a whopping $19 at a local flea market.  Why such a steal?  There was some work to be done to reveal the beauty you see before you!

Removing rust from metal table legs

This was the state of the legs to start.  I had never tried to remove rust from chrome.  Off to the hardware store I went.

How to Remove Rust from Chrome

I found this Rust Stain Remover by Whink.  It worked like a charm, and was just a few bucks.  I just wiped the legs to get rid of any loose dirt with a damp cloth.  I squirted a small amount of the Whink on the yellow side of the sponge, which I had dampened with water.  Wipe it on the legs and scrub with green scouring side.  Watch the rust vanish!

How to Get Rust off of Table Legs

I cleaned the top of the table with countertop cleaner and the table was good to go.  Now I needed seating.

Remove Seat Pads

I found these junky gold-ish metal chairs with perfect aqua, sparkly seat pads that would accent my red/aqua kitchen color scheme.  I decided to spray paint them to match the chrome table legs.  First step was removing the seat pads, which was simple with a pair of pliers.  Phew!

Rustoleum Metallic Spray Paint and Metal Primer

Now time to prime and paint.  I went with Clean Metal Primer and Metallic Silver Rustoleum Sprays.

Primer for Metal Chairs

I wiped the chairs down with a damp cloth and sprayed with primer.

How to Revamp Flea Market Chairs

After primer dried (about 15 minutes) I sprayed with the metallic silver, 3 light coats.  When that dried, I replaced the pads to finish.

Formica and Chrome Vintage Table Restoration

I am a little smitten on my flea market mix n’ match dinette set.  It is perfect in my new kitchen, with all of its vintage charm.  All off this cost about $60, spray paint included!  Never bypass a good deal because of rust, or the wrong color.  Use your imagination, and you can make it exactly what you want.

How to Distress Furniture With Vasoline

[pinit]Distressed Painted Table
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Did you know that Vasoline petroleum jelly is a fantastic ingredient for distressing furniture?  It is true.  The technique is simple and fast.  Today I am sharing how I took this chevron painted table I shared with you in a previous tutorial, and used Vasoline to create a chippy, funky distressed piece to go with my new living room.

Distressed Furniture Tutorials

I needed a coffee table to go with my urban-modern-distressed-vintage-eclectic decor style in progress.  You will be seeing reveals as I decorate in my new home.  I am into yellow, gray, orange poppy, turqouise, emerald green, navy blue and vintage white these days.  My living room kinda has a little of all of these, with yellow, gray and turquoise dominating the stage.

Paint a Chevron Coffee Table with @DecoArt_Inc @savedbyloves

I revamped this roadside find last week, thinking it would be the perfect coffee table for the living room.  Well, it wasn’t.

Pantone Emerald Green Valspar

I decided to apply Vasoline to the areas of the table I wanted to look “chippy”, then paint with homemade chalk finish paint (see how to make chalk paint yourself in my barnwood frame tutorial).  Valspar’s Pantone Emerald was the perfect color!  I picked it up at Lowe’s.

Distressing Furniture Tutorial

Once the paint dried, I just took my scraper to the areas where I had applied the Vasoline and the it peeled right off, revealing the colors in the chevron stripes.  I love the effect!  It looks so cool with the random colors.

Martha Stewart Decoupage copyOnce I was happy with the amount of scraping, I sealed the piece with Martha Stewart’s Antique Finish Decoupage Medium.  It was my first time using the stuff and it gives a subtle warm antique feel to the piece.

Distressing a Table

Stay tuned for more DIY home decor as I settle into my new place!

DIY Reclaimed Wood Headboard

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How to Make a Reclaimed Wood DIY Headboard @savedbyloves

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 If you have shipping pallets or other reclaimed wood you would like to make great furniture with, this DIY headboard project is a great place to start.  The plan is from Ana White’s Reclaimed Wood Queen Size Headboard, with a little tweaking to fit the wood I had on hand.  My version is made using fence board, old deck board from my mom’s deck demolition, and pallet wood.  The finish is what I am most excited about, and you will see why.  It is a new (to me at least) product from Minwax that makes staining and finishing as simple as the wipe of a cloth.  You are going to want to use this stuff.

Pallet Wood Furniture Plans @savedbyloves

HOW I DID IT:

Make Legs for Headboard using table saw

 

Instead of attaching a 1×2 and 1×3 for the legs like Ana shows in her plan (linked above), I used my table saw to notch out a segment from 2×3 pieces of wood I ripped from 2×8 reclaimed lumber.  I did this by adjusting the height of the saw blade and making perpendicular cuts down the length of each leg to remove that segment.

How to build your own headboard

I nailed a supporting piece to the back of the planks to stabilize them in the center.

Ryobi Air Strike Brad Nailer

Here is my favorite tool these days; Ryobi Air Strike Brad Nailer.  I have talked about it before, but I will say it again.  This thing is super handy.  It is lightweight, requires no air compressor, is cordless and works like a charm.  The price can’t be beat.  Worth every penny.

DIY Pallet wood furniture plans

This picture shows pallet wood clamped to the base of the headboard for trim.  I put 2 pieces of pallet wood at the bottom to make it all the way across the width of the headboard.  I hid the seam with wood putty before staining, and you can’t see it.  Make do with what you have.  It is cheaper, more sustainable and presents a fun challenge!

Pallet wood Headboard Tutorial

Here is the sneak peek I showed you before staining.  I sanded with my orbital sander; 60 grit, 120 grit, 180 grit, then stained with the awesome new product I eluded to earlier…

Minwax Wood Finish Cloths

I was at Lowes and saw these Minwax Wood Finishing Cloths.  I was highly skeptical when I read “Wipe on Stain and Finish in One Easy Step… Dries in One Hour”.  I used Walnut for this project, and was completely amazed by how easy it was to apply.  The stain looks great!  I finished the piece in 15 minutes.  Stained and sealed.  I may never use anything else.  Seriously awesome.

How to Make a Headboard

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