DIY Wood Shim Bookcase

 

 
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Whether it’s shiplap or pallet wood, rustic farmhouse-inspired accents and furnishings are on trend. But before you head out to find expensive aged wood, try this wood shim tutorial instead. You’ll find out how to incorporate that farmhouse signature look without breaking the bank with this simple, inexpensive and removable DIY for any bookcase.

 

You’ll only need one tool, a handful of materials and a couple of hours to elevate a plain bookcase into something so much more. Stacked alternating wood shims provide the texture, and a plywood base gives you the option to attach the panels using tape, making this DIY removable and commitment-free.

 

Supplies

For this project, you’ll need:

 

  • A bookcase (We choose one in a modern style, but you can use one that matches your home’s decor)
  • (1) 1/4”x 2 x 4 sanded plywood sheet
  • 2-4 packages of 15” cedar shims
  • Wood glue
  • Grey tone wood stain
  • Paintbrush
  • Mounting tape
  • Jigsaw
  • C-clamps
  • Tape measure
  • Pencil

 

Step One: Pick Up a Modern Bookcase

 
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Finding the right bookcase for this project is all about maintaining visual balance. The clean, modern shape of this bookcase is the perfect backdrop to showcase the natural, rustic quality of the cedar shims.

 

Since this project involves attaching wood panels to your bookcase, you’ll want to make sure that the bookcase you buy can support the amount of wood you want to add without becoming too heavy. It helps to start out with a lightweight bookcase and limit the wood shims to just the back panels of the bookshelf. Assemble your bookcase and measure the size of the space you want to cover using your tape measure.

 

Step Two: Cut the Wood to Size

 
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Take that measurement and trace it onto the plywood sheet twice. Cut out both rectangles using the jigsaw and set aside.

 

Next, you’ll need to determine the pattern you want for the wood shim accent panels. You can choose a classic brick pattern, basket weaving pattern or a simple alternating stacked pattern. I chose the latter because it followed the lines of the bookcase and provided a higher-quality finish. Mark and cut each cedar shim to match the width of the cut plywood rectangles. You’ll want to alternate thick and thin sides when stacking to maximize the play on texture and the farmhouse feel. You may need to cut the last wood shim lengthways to finish out the space. Go slow when cutting with the jigsaw to reduce any wood splitting or chipping.

 

Step Three: Glue and Stain

 
Image 4

 

Once you cut all of your wood shims, you can begin adhering them to the cut plywood pieces. Brush a light coating of wood glue onto the back of the shims and press them down onto the wood backing. Be sure to immediately clean up any excess glue that leaks out, as it can affect how the wood stain reacts with the wood. Clamp another piece of wood to the top of the wood panel to provide consistent, even pressure while the glue dries overnight. An optional improvement is to use small finishing nails to secure the wood shims to the plywood base.

 
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The next day, you can start applying the wood stain to the wood panels in light, even coats. Let the stain sit and penetrate the wood for a few minutes before wiping up the excess stain. I used about two coats to achieve my look. Allowing some of the natural cedar tones to show underneath will give the wood that authentic farmhouse quality. The stain will need to dry for a few hours before you can resume handling.

 

Step Four: Attach the Accent Panels

 
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Image 7Cut several strips of mounting tape and apply them directly to the bookcase section where the wood panels will sit. Pop in your wood panels and press firmly for a few minutes to ensure a tight bond. Add a few books or decor items, and your farmhouse-inspired bookcase is done!

 

 

Mateo Londono is a longtime contributor to the Krrb blog who also writes for The Home Depot. He likes to create DIY projects and provide step-by-step instructions like he did in this article. To find a bookcase that you can add your own personal touch to, visit The Home Depot to see their selection of bookcases.

 

DIY WOOD SHIM BOOKCASE

 

DIY Industrial Reclaimed Wood Coffee Table

DIY fence board coffee table WM

We needed a coffee table, and I found the perfect-ish plan on Ana White’s website. I used her Factory Cart Coffee Table Plan, with some size adjustments that I will explain. I wanted my table longer and not as wide as hers. You will also learn how to make the less expensive casters with plastic wheels look like the more expensive versions with some spray paint. This project cost less than $50!

DIY Industrial Coffee Table Woodworking Plans @savedbyloves

I am in love with how the table came out. So, where Ana’s plan shows 23.5 inches, I used 23 inches. Where she used 44 inches, I used 49 inches, and where she used 45.5, I used 51.5.

DIY Coffee Table Woodworking Plans

For the top planks, I used 1×4 cedar fence planks I found on craigslist for free! 14 of them fit in the frame I made, with a tiny gap (less than 1/8 inch) in between each plank. I eyeballed the space. You could use a wood shim, or some other uniform object that is the same width as your desired space.

Kreg jig pocket holes

This shows the 4 support 1×2 boards, and how I attached the 1×6 23 inch boards using Kreg jig pocket holes.

Minwax Wood Conditioner

I attached the top planks to the supports below using my Ryobi Cordless Air Nailer and 2 inch nails. This nailer is a life saver and second only to my Kreg jig in terms of my favorite tools!

I filled the nail holes and any other defects with wood puddy and let that dry over night. I then sanded the table down with my orbital sander and applied Minwax Wood Conditioner. I love to use this before staining, particularly in projects with a combo of new and old wood like this one. It makes the wood take the stain beautifully and evenly. So glad I used it here!

Classic Grey Minwax Wood Stain

After the wood conditioner penetrated for 15 minutes, I stained the piece with my current favorite color, Minwax Classic Grey. This post is not sponsored by Minwax, btw! I just love their wood finishing products!

DIY fence board coffee table WM

I sealed the piece with Minwax Satin Polyurethane, three coats, per the instructions on the can.

Spray Paint Wheels on Casters

I couldn’t find the exact casters  I wanted, so I bought these 5 inch diameter casters with grey rubber wheels. I removed the wheels from the metal bracket and spray painted them with Krylon Dual in Black Hammered. It bonds to plastic and requires no primer. Just my kind of spray paint!

free Woodworking plans WM

I love the warm tone of the cedar with the Classic Grey stain!

DIY reclaimed wood industrial coffee table WM

This is just what I wanted for the space. So happy with the result, and the low cost was a bonus.

DIY Industrial Coffee Table Woodworking Plans FB @savedbyloves

Let me know if you have questions!

How to Build a Dog Feeding Station

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of DAP Products Inc. for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

How to Build a Dog Feeding Station

Today you get free woodworking plans and distressed painting instructions to build this custom dog feeding station. All of the wood in this project was scored in the Craigslist free section. I literally stalk this section daily, which has paid off in spades over the years!

Saint Bernarnd Puppy

This project is for our friend’s irresistibly adorable Saint Bernard puppy, Willy (above). You can easily adjust the height to fit your animal just right. This was my first time using DAP® RapidFuse™ Wood Adhesive, which I am excited about for many reasons. You will be too! Let’s get started.

Tools and Materials list:

Identical food and water bowls (They don’t have to be the same size as ours, but need to fit in the space                               dictated by the width of the wood you are using for the top).

DAP® RapidFuse™ Wood Adhesive

¾ inch finished-one-side plywood – 10 feet

Kreg Jig and 1.5 inch Kreg screws

1.5 inch x 0.25 inch trim strips (Or desired wood for trim)

Glue, Pencil, paper, Scissors

Table saw and Jig Saw

Nail gun

Drill

Craigslist free section gave us a section of ¾ quarter inch finished plywood in perfect shape. The piece was dry, flat, hole-free, and large enough to cut out all the pieces.

  1. The first thing to do is to build the basic box using the ¾ plywood. Here are the dimension for each piece:

(2 Pieces) Front/Back – 12” x 23”

(2 Pieces) Sides – 12” x 12”

(1 Piece) Top – 12” x 21.5”

  1. Cut Bowl opening in Top.

Willy’s bowls were the stainless steel, slightly tapered ones with a little ¼ inch lip around the top edge. The trick is to cut the opening so that it is large enough that the bowl slips all the way down in but small enough that it catches the lip of the bowl. Seems simple but because of the slight taper it is a little tricky. Here’s the way I found easiest.

Woodworking project plansGet the bowl into position. For mine each bowl opening ended up being 3.25 inches apart in the center and 7.5 inches in diameter. You can set them however you want visually. Once in place, trace a line around the upside down bowls.

Drill hole for Jig Saw

Use your drill and drill a hole inside the circle large enough for your jig saw blade to pass through.

Insert Jigsaw blade

Using your jig saw cut out the circle you traced on to the top. The trick is to cut the opening so that it is large enough that the bowl slips all the way down in but small enough that it catches the lip of the bowl. If you prefer not to eyeball it, draw a circle inside the traced circle. If you’re like me, I had to do a little finishing touch with the saw and the sandpaper, in order to get the bowls to sit down nicely in the hole. BE CAREFUL don’t get happy with the cutting and make the hole too big. You don’t want the bowl to fall through!

  1. Drill Kreg holes into each piece as follows:

          TopKreg Hole Placement for Top Piece
                                                                                  SidesKreg Hole Placement for sides of holder

Use Kreg Jig to Join Wood

For more info on using this jig, see my previous post: How to Make a Pallet Sign Using a Kreg Jig

  1. Assembly – Time to put it all together and talk about wood glue!

Wood Glue Tips

I had the opportunity to try out DAP® RapidFuse™ Wood Adhesive, and I won’t go back to other wood glues! After just 30 minutes, you can plane, sand and stain wood. No more waiting 24 hours. No more not being able to stain. The stuff is also water resistant, so it’s great for indoor and outdoor projects. The joint is stronger than with yellow glue or polyurethane glue, and doesn’t swell, shrink or crack! There is no other glue like it. Seriously.

Wood Glue Application

Apply a line of glue on the side piece.

Attach with Kreg Jig

Attach the side pieces to the front piece first using the 1.5 inch Kreg screws.

Next, attach the TOP piece so that it sits inside the sides and flush with the top edge of the front piece. Also attach the top to the side pieces.

Lastly, attach the back piece in the same way you did the front piece.
Attach top last

Now you have a box that is extra sturdy, with a recessed top that has holes in it to sit the bowls.

Attach Mitered Trim

    1. Trim – We decided to cut mitered trim pieces around the perimeter of the Top to cover the little seam and just add a little “finished” look. It’s totally optional. We make our own trim board by using the table saw with the fence set to about ¼ inch and then we rip 1.5 wide boards. You can buy trim board already cut if you prefer. We also mitered the corners but you can butt them if you don’t have confidence in your mitering skill. Just do it like you’re cutting a picture frame and attach it to the box with glue and then small brads in the nail gun.

Sand edgesBefore painting, sand any uneven areas.How to Chalk Paint Distress Wood

    1. Paint – We wanted a distressed look, and decided to go with a stained top, painted bottom. This is a super easy paint distressing technique that you can apply to any project.

Stain top

I stained the top with Wood Finishing Cloths. These are super convenient as they aren’t as messy as using stain from a can, and they contain sealant!

Dry Brush for DIY Weathered Wood Finish
Tape off the top (pictured below). Apply your first base coat color randomly on all sides. This is fun because you paint in every which way, quickly and messily!

Dry Brush on Second Color

Once the first color is dry, apply the second color in the same fashion. I realized at this point I needed to tape off the top so I wouldn’t get paint on the stained area.

Apply Final Paint Color with Wooden Block

A block of wood is a great tool for creating a chippy paint look. You can use a piece of scrap wood, or this fancy distressing tool with a handle. Just get a glob of paint on the wood, and drag it across your surface, repeating until you are happy with the result.

Create Stencil with Cricut and Paint Name

Finally, I created a stencil with my cricut machine and cut it out of white contact paper. I used a dark gray/black chalk paint for this part, applying it with a paint dauber.

DIY Dog Feeding Station Tutorial

Seal as desired and you are finished!

How to Make a Dog Feeding Station FB

Thanks to DAP for the great new woodworking product. I will be keeping up with them here: DAP Facebook, and for sure using RapidFuse in my future builds!

Visit Sponsors Site

DIY Repurposed Shelf to Jewelry Display

DIY Jewelry Display

I don’t know what your earring situation is like, but mine was pretty sad until I took action. Today, I am sharing how I turned a piece of metal shelving from Habitat Restore into a cool earring display, with a little spray paint and some reclaimed wood.

Shelf

Here is the wire shelving section I used. Pictured is black chalkboard spray paint I used initially. I decided I didn’t love it, and went with metallic silver Krylon spray paint instead. Just spray evenly over a protected surface, in a space with good ventilation (preferably outdoors). Let dry completely. I let mine sit overnight.

How to Make a Repurposed Jewelry Display

Next it was time to build the frame. I used old wood that I found in the free section on Craiglist. This is by far my favorite source for free wood. My second favorite way to acquire free wood is to drive around alleyways near businesses or behind strip malls, looking for piles of pallets. I always make sure I ask, and most people are happy to have help getting rid of them. I have only been told “no” once.

Mark the wood with a pencil, using the shelf for measuring. Cut to 45° angles on each end of the wood, going in opposite directions. Cut two for the sides and two for the top and bottom. I used Kreg Jig pocket holes to connect the pieces at each corner to form a frame. For more details, see my post on How to Use a Kreg Jig and DIY Barnwood Frames.

DIY Shelving to Jewelry Display @savedbyloves

If you like this project, you will love our round-up of 50+ Creative DIY Jewelry Organizers:

Over 50 Creative DIY Jewelry Organizers to Make

DIY Reclaimed Wood Headboard Under $25

How to make a headboard from reclaimed fence boardsWant a beautiful rustic headboard that’s easy to build and easy on the wallet? Stick with this plan and you can have one in about 4 hours (if you have already prepared the “aging solution”… more on that later). The one we built was made to fit a queen size bed frame but this can easily be modified to fit your particular bed size. Let’s do this!

 

Step 1.

Decide on the size. As I said earlier we made ours to fit a standard queen size frame. The distance between the attachment points on a frame that size is about 60 inches. So we made the over- all width to be about 3 inches wider than that. This allows the two main upright legs to fall right on the frame so it can be attached with a couple screws.

The height of the headboard is also a personal preference. We chose to make ours about 56 tall. I wouldn’t go any shorter than 40 and not too much taller unless you have an unusually tall mattress and box springs. Otherwise it looks a little overwhelming.

Step 2.

Obtain the lumber. We found some old weathered barn and scrap wood on the free craigslist site. The following boards were used for this particular size head board. The dimensions are approximate because reclaimed stuff comes in various sizes. So long as you keep the main leg rails and the back boards straight and the same thickness, you can use whatever you like.

For ours:

Main leg rails: (2) 2×4 x 56 inches

Back boards: (5) 5/8” x 5.5 “ x 6 ‘ and (3) 5/8” x 3” x 6 ‘ rough sawn cedar or pine dogged eared fencing boards.

Top mantel board: (1) ¾” x 3” x 6’ rough pine or cedar board. (cut to length after assembly)

Trim Board: (1) 5/8 x 1” x 6’ board (cut to length after assembly)

If you end up buying these form a big box place pick out the gnarly, rough looking ones that nobody else wants. They are super cheap (less than a buck and a half a board) and the take up the “aging solution” very well.

 

How to Weather Wood

Aging solution: To put a darker, weathered look on any new wood that you may have to use in the construction of your piece, here is a kind of a neat and cheap way to do it.

In a plastic bucket mix 1 part water and 1 part white vinegar. Place three or four steel wool pads that you have teased apart a little bit into wispy strands. Make sure the steel wool is submerged in the solution. Put the lid on the bucket and allow it to stand for about 4 days.

Distress wood with vinegar

When its ready to go, use a brush or a cheap roller to apply it to the boards that you want or age or darken. When you first put it on it will want to “bead” up on the wood. After a few seconds the grain opens and it pulls in to the wood and it evens out to a nice “wet” look. The only tip I have is to make sure you don’t leave a big drop or a splash on the surface. Make sure you roll or brush it out so that it the entire surface is evenly wet. It’s a fooler because it’s like painting with water. You don’t think it’s doing anything at first except wetting the surface…but in about an hour you will see what happens. Try some on a practice piece to get comfortable with how to apply it and how many coats. The more you do it the darker it gets. Less is more. Do this to all of your boards before you cut and assemble.

Rip the 2x4

Saw Cuts: The only cut that you have to make that is just a little out of the ordinary cross-cut style is the rabbit cut on the leg rails. Don’t worry they are simple too, but it does require a table saw or a radial arm saw if you want to do it right. I used our table saw so that’s what I’ll explain.

How to Rip wood with table saw

After you have cross cut the 2×4 leg rails to the right length of 56 inches, you are going to perform a rip –cut down the center of the 2×4 with the blade depth set such that it will only go half way through the thickness of the board. So that means the fence is set to 1.75 inches from the blade and the depth of the blade is set to ¾ inches. Rip the entire length of the board. Then do the other leg the same way. Now reset the fence to ¾ inch from blade and the blade depth to 1.75 inches. Fli the board 90 degrees and rip the length of the board. Repeat with other board.

What you should have now is two boards that have a rabbit or lap that runs the entire length. This is where the back boards will sit and what creates the finished hidden edge when you look from the front of the headboard.

Back of the headboard

Next cut your back boards to exactly the same length. They can be whatever length your bed frame demands, and they don’t have to be exactly 60 inches for example, but it is critical that they are all the same. So cut the 5 wide backboards and the three narrower backboards all the same.

Assembly:

Determine layout of boards

Lay the leg rails down on a flat surface ( garage floor?) and then lay the back boards face down between them so they span from one rail horizontally to the other. We decided to run a couple of the narrower ones in between the wider ones to give it a little less uniform look . You can do whatever. If you actually prepared 5 wide and three narrow boards for this you have plenty run down below where a typical mattress and box spring will sit. The idea is that you don’t see a huge gap above the mattress for the pillow to fall down in and that just looks silly. So measure your bed from floor to top of mattress and make sure you attach enough back boards to go all the way down past where the top of the mattress will be.

Kreg jig pocket holes

After you have laid the boards out and checked them for length and fit , you can actually fasten them into the leg rails. There are a number of ways to do this, we like to use Kreg jig screws. They provide secure, quick fastening. We put two holes in the end of each of the back boards to keep the board from cupping. We also used glue under the edge for added measure. For the top board, we used the Kreg jig to drill pocket holes facing up for the attachment of the top “shelf” board.

After you have secured all of the back boards the headboard assembly is pretty much complete. It should be strong enough to stand it up and measure the final length of the top finish piece and the trim piece. We like to run the top “mantel” all the way from the outside leg rail edge to the other. Flush. The width of this top board will dictate the over hang you achieve. You can let it hang over the back and the front if you like. We allowed ¾ inch over hang in the back.

DIY Reclaimed wood headboard

Secure it to the top board using the kreg pocket holes you drilled along the top edge.

The ¾ inch over hang of the top mantel board in the back allowed us to run a ¾ inch board down the back (perpendicular) to each of the horizontal back boards. We then screwed it into each of the back boards from the back so none of it shows (see photo above). This kept all of the horizontal boards even when viewed from the front and will tie them together as on unit so they don’t warp or bend apart from one another and create an unsightly gap over time.

Reclaimed wood furniture

The last piece to put on is the trim board that goes between the legrails and right up under the top mantel piece. This just finished the look of the whole thing in my opinion. Attach with small finish nails and glue.

DIY Headboard

Final finish

Touch up anything you need to with some more aging solution and then seal with your favorite wax or varnish!

50 Plus Awesome DIY Storage Ideas

50 Plus Awesome DIY Storage Ideas @savedbylovesIt is time for spring cleaning, and I am here to help you with 50+ awesome DIY storage ideas. You can get organized on a budget with this week’s collection. As always, if we missed your awesome DIY storage tutorial, send us the link or comment after this post. Enjoy!

Wood Pallet Cross Tutorial

Wood Pallet Cross DIY @savedbyloves

Today’s project is a great way to use up those wood scraps leftover from previous projects. I will show you how to make this sturdy wood cross using pallet scraps and pocket holes. You will also learn how to easily create the chippy, distressed paint look seen here.

Wood Pallet Cross DIY

To start, I cut one scrap wood piece (2×4) to 18 inches and two pieces to 5 inches long.

I attached the 5 inch pieces to the 18 inch piece using pocket holes with my Kreg Jig (see How to Use Kreg Jig). The pocket holes are circled in the photo.

*Place a pocket hole on the bottom of the 18 inch piece for attaching the finished cross to a base. You want to do this before attaching the patchwork pieces in the next steps.

Folk Art Home Decor Chalk

I used Folk Art Home Decor Chalk to create the distressed paint look. It is super easy!

How to Distress Wood

I brushed base coat on thin pallet wood pieces and let that dry.

Create Chippy Paint Look

Using the Layering Block, I added more colors.

Create Weathered Wood Look with Paint

Lightly dragging the block across the dry painted board adds color in a chippy, random distressed fashion. Layer as many colors as you want, drying between each layer.

Patchwork Wood Cross

Once I had all the boardws painted, I cut them into random sized pieces and placed them on the cross. I made necessary cuts to the patchwork pieces with my mitre saw until everything fit into place.

Reclaimed Wood Projects

I glued the pieces into place and used my Ryobi AirStrike Nailer with one inch brads to secure them.

Reclaimed Wood Cross Tutorial

To finish, I centered the cross on a 2×4 rectangle and attached it with a pocket hole on the back of the cross and wood glue.

For more inspiration, visit our 50+ Scrap Wood Projects:

And our 50+ Wood Pallet Projects:

DIY Christmas Sign and Chalky Finish Paint Giveaway

DIY Christmas Wood Sign Chalky Finish

Today I am sharing how to make this easy Christmas sign on birch wood with Chalky Finish Paint. Have you ever used this paint? It is amazing. I am hooked! It comes in so many gorgeous colors and is easy to use without having to sand and prime the surface.  That’s my kind of paint. You have a chance to win 8 colors of your choice and more, but we will get to that later!

DIY Christmas Wood Sign

I scored this birch wood plaque from Michaels.

DIY Chalkboard

The paint color I used is Relic. It is beautiful!

Chalky Finish Birch Wood Christmas Sign

I used a foam brush to apply the paint.

DIY Chalkboard wood sign

Initially I planned to paint the letters on, but I decided to use chalk instead. Now I can change it with the seasons!

DIY Christmas Decor

I used my Cricut make a stencil out of clear contact paper. I love to use contact paper for stencils because it is way cheaper than adhesive vinyl. You can download the image file here: Joy and Holly Berries. If you don’t have a cutting machine, you can print and transfer the image using transfer paper like I showed you here: DIY Reclaimed Wood Sign.

Chalky Finish Birch Wood SignTo finish, I added twine to hang the sign.  I love it!

Remember when we painted our kitchen cabinets? We used Everlasting Chalky Finish paint. It was a huge time saver to not have to sand/prime the cabinets and we are thrilled with them.

Americana Decor Chalky Finish paint is available in Michaels in the wood and finishes aisle. Visit the DecoArt Chalky Finish website for more chalk paint ideas and inspiration.

Chalky Finish Giveaway

UPDATE: CONTEST OVER; THE WINNER IS ERIN B.!!

Now for the giveaway! Enter for a chance to win 8 colors of your choice, clear and dark creme waxes, Soft Touch varnish, waxing brush and 2 stencils of your choice *.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

* The items pictured are representations only. The stencils and paint will be selected by the winner. 

Disclosure: I received product and compensation from DecoArt in exchange for my campaign.  All opinions are honest and mine, as always!

 

Psalm 93 DIY Wood Pallet Nursery Sign

DIY Nursery Decor Wood Pallet Sign Psalm 93 @savedbylovesMy friend Jordan will be a momma any day now. I wondered if I would end up delivering the little guy the day she came over to make this nursery wall art, but he is not here yet! Today I am sharing how we created this lovely Psalm 93:4 sign for next to nothing out of pallet wood. It is so perfect in her nautical themed nursery! Download the cut file below and follow the steps to make your very own!

SUPPLIES:

Five pallet wood planks (Here is my video: How to Break Down Wood Pallets)

White chalky paint

Blue acrylic or chalky paint

Black vinyl for your die cut machine and transfer tape if you are die cutting the letters (if you don’t have a die cut machine, you could download the phrase below and transfer the letters to the sign to hand paint it like I showed you here: DIY Hand Painted Rustic Wood Signs)

Die Cut machine and software to trace jpg file provided below (this is not needed if you are hand-painting the sign as shown in the previous link)

Drill and 1/2 inch hole saw bit

Rope

Kreg jig

1 1/4 inch Pocket Hole Screws

2 inch flat paint brush and round stencil brush

Psalm 93:4 text download

Free Anchor Clip Art

Mod Podge Matte Finish

TUTORIAL:

DIY Nursery Decor

Cut your boards to about 45 inches wide and attach them with pocket holes, staggered as shown – (Here is How to Use a Kreg Jig).

DIY Nursery Decor2

Paint the sign white with chalky paint (we used Folk Art Home Decor Chalk).

Let that dry, then dry brush blue randomly as shown.  We used a round stencil brush for this.

Let dry and cut or print and transfer text and anchor.  We used a 12×24 inch mat  and filled the entire area with the text.  We sized the anchor to 5 inches and cut everything in black vinyl.

DIY Nursery Decor3

Center and adhere vinyl letters and anchor using transfer tape. Seal letters and sign with Mod Podge Matte or desired finish.

DIY Nursery Decor6

Mark desired placement of holes and drill with spade bit to fit diameter of rope you are using. (We have the letters covered in this image because the Mod Podge wasn’t dry and the saw dust would stick in it.  Don’t judge, we were in a hurry)!

DIY Nursery Decor8We inserted the rope and hung it from a cool anchor hardware piece that Jordan found at Hobby Lobby for just $3!

DIY Nursery Decor Ideas

We LOVE it!! Jordan did a fantastic job with this nursery, and our sign tops it off perfectly.

We hope you are inspired to create your own!

DIY Wood Pallet Hanging Planters

Wood Pallet ProjectKreg Jig K4 Pocket Hole System

I love decorating with mums in the fall, and it is well know that I am a wood pallet upcycling kind of DIY blogger. Today’s project combines the two for some easy, inexpensive wood pallet hanging planters. This is a great way to use up your scrap wood, and is a perfect project for those new to woodworking since it doesn’t require any fancy techniques. The metal chain and hardware with the wood give these planters a rustic, industrial feel that I adore.  Let’s get started!

Cut List

4 – 2×2 pieces 6 inches long for the side posts

8 – 1×3 pieces 8 inches long for the side panels

1 – 1×6 piece 1o inches long for the bottom (this doesn’t have to be exact – you can use whatever scrap wood you have on hand to make the bottom)

Materials

Metal chain and eye screws

Kreg screws 1 inch and 1.25 inches

Wood Glue

Kreg jig

Instructions

I made my planter to fit the plants I had on hand.  You can adjust the size to fit your plant.

Make Wood Pallet Home Decor

*I always use wood glue!

Begin by assembling the side panels with two pocket holes (I show you how to use the Kreg Jig here).  Set the depth of the jig to match with thickness of your pallet wood.  My pieces were 1×3 (which is really .75 inches thick) so I set the depth to 0.75 inches.  Use 2 – 1.25 inch screws to connect the sides.  Drill pocket holes one both sides of each side panel for attaching to 2×2 posts later.

Wood Planter Free Woodworking Plan

Next, attach the four posts to 2 of the side panels as shown.  I made the posts by cutting 2×4 to 6 inch pieces, then ripping those in half, all with my mitre saw.

Attach the bottom piece to the remaining 2 side panels with 2 pocket holes in each end.  Knowing what size kreg screw to use can be a process of elimination, but a general way to gauge pretty closely is to add the widths of the two pieces you are attaching and subtracting 0.25 from that to get your screw length.  So in this case 0.75 for the bottom piece + 0.75 for the side panel thickness – 0.25 equals 1.25 inch screws.

Free Woodworking Plans Hanging Planter

Finish the planter using the side panel pocket holes you drilled for the side post to attach the three pieces you assembled.

DIY Wood Pallet Hanging Planters @savedbyloves

Add eye screws into the 4 posts for chain and enjoy!

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