Colorful Rustic Table

I have decided during this shelter at home I am building whatever I FEEL like building, not worrying about piece of furniture might sell best or what I need for my booth. I have also approached this time in the workshop as a free-for-all--no plans, just let the material I have inspire me. So when I found four thicker 42" long pallet boards that were in good shape, i decided to make a table.

I found four pallet 2" x 4"s or runner boards to use as legs. I cut these 31" tall. I added a 12" brace across from a pallet 2" x 4" at the bottom, using two same sized boards to hold it up. This is an easy way to hold a brace in place and make sure they are at the same height. i screwed through the outside of the legs to secure the bottom brace.

I added a 1" x 4" board across the tops of the legs. The legs are approximately 14 1/2" apart on the outside. I made two sets of legs. FYI , these are the same shape I built for the jelly cupboard I made HERE.

I painted the boards for the table top and when they were dry, I turned them upside down on my workbench. I secured the leg pieces to the top, screwing through the board at the top of the legs. I also added a board across the middle of the underside of the table. 

I used pallet boards for the outside edges or apron of the table top, securing it with the nail gun.

Pallet boards across the bottom, screwed into the braces created a bottom shelf and makes this table more sturdy.

I stained everything with Early American stain by Minwax and finished with clear coat.

I love this size table for a sofa table. But, it also makes a great entry table or a console table for a flat screen TV. 

For more detailed instructions on building with pallets, check out my pallet books on Amazon-- Crafting with Wood Pallets or Wood Pallet Wonders by Becky Lamb.

Rustic Farmhouse Jelly Cupboard

Sometimes (okay, often times) I have no idea what I am building. And let me tell you, this drives my hubby crazy. But, it seems to work out okay for me. And, with extra time at home, I have plenty of time to play. So, when I put together some pallet wood to make a little barn style door, I had no idea what I was going to do with it.

I could have painted it and used it for porch decor or on a mantle. I could have turned it on its side, added hooks and a shelf for a cute entry piece. It would make a cute headboard for a twin bed. But, I finally decided to use it as a door, building a cupboard "around" it.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! A social distancing drive earlier in the week led us closer to the mountains. The freshly fallen snow and the close proximity to the mountains made a local landscape feature, the broken heart, easier to see (do you see it?).  Many of us are currently experiencing fears, worries, sadness, depression, and broken hearts that we are hiding and hoping that others do not see. I understand wanting to put on a brave face and wanting to appear to be strong and holding it all together. But, we need to know that God sees our brokenness. We need to let him in and allow ourselves to be vulnerable with Him. He doesn't need to get closer to us to see our pain and discouragement, he is already near. Whatever you are feeling and experiencing right now in life, trust that God is close by. He is holding you, He is hearing you, He sees, He knows. Rest in Him, let him give you HIS hope and peace. 

Bike Sign

I am looking forward to sunny days and riding my little cruiser bike up our country road.

If you know and follow Donna at Funky Junk Interiors and Funky Junk Old Sign Stencils, you know that she loves her bike too. She loves it so much, it inspired her to create this fun, new bike stencil.

(For your convenience, this post contains affiliate links. What does that mean? If you chose to purchase something through my link, I may receive a small compensation, BUT it cost you nothing extra 😉. ALSO, please note, prices for stencils that you see are in Canadian and convert to less in US dollars.)

I couldn't wait to play with it. I decided I wanted to create something a little more modern looking so I decided to stencil the bike three times in a row, leaving the cute basket off.

You can get the stencil HERE!

I started with a piece of plywood I painted grey. I drew horizontal lines with chalk so that i could place the tires on the line for straight bikes.

The lines and stenciling spaces are small, so use a small detail paintbrush to paint the different colors. Let the paint dry before stenciling the next color.

I added a wood frame using my nail gun to attach it to the plywood. I sanded the sign a bit and then stained everything. Simple, clean, easy!

Pallet Wood Coffee Crate

More pallet wood means more crates! I know, really, another crate?

 But, they are quick, pallet wood is perfect for them, they are super useful, and they sell.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! What a week it has been. My emotions and opinions about the Covid19 pandemic have been all over the map, and that has included my feelings as to where is God in all of this craziness. The truth is, God is where he has always been, He has not abandoned the boat (i.e. left us in our socially distant homes). Jesus is with us--in our fear and worry, in our anger and frustration, in our disbelief and despair. He may be letting the storm rage for a time, but he hasn't jumped ship. Fix your eyes on Jesus, rest knowing that He has power over this storm and He has not left us alone. Jesus is right beside you, right beside me, hold on to Him in faith during this storm.

Stray Drawers Made From Pallet Wood

Oh, the creating that is going to happen while social distancing. Today I am sharing more pallet wood play.

Using three 5 1/2" wide pallet boards and three scrap 1" x 8" boards I made these fun, scrap, stray "drawers".

Using one pallet board and one 1" x 8" scrap board per box, I put these together quickly. I cut two long sides about 12 1/2" and the two short sides about 8" long.

I assembled the boxes with wood glue and the nail gun, making assembly easy and quick.

Even though I used the same pallet board on each individual box, the boards were not the same width the entire length so I did a little sanding and on the yellow box the short sides are not as tall. 

I painted just one side of each box so that they would look more like a drawer and then stained them.

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I bought these fun label handles HERE. If you follow me, you know I like to throw things in the fire to help age them and rust them. Um, apparently zinc alloy (what these are made of) melts in the fire. I have a little metal basket that I put small things in to put in the fire. They melted in the bottom, oops!

So, to age the handles I dabbed some cream paint on them and sprinkled cinnamon on the wet paint.

These are such a great size for: toilet paper on the back of the toilet, toiletries on the bathroom vanity, herb planting, books and a plant, photos, a coffee station, salt and pepper and oils on the kitchen counter, tissues and books and reading glasses on the nightstand, craft supplies, cards and other small games, cloth napkins, and oh so many more things!!

Where would you use one?

Vintage Style Farm Stand Sign

Raise your hand if you were a Gilligan's Island fan? It was one of my favorites as a kid and my favorite episode was the one where they plant the radioactive seeds and grow BIG vegetables that give them super powers.

I am not sure if that is what inspired this GIANT carrot, but I love a big, cut-out sign--it has such a vintage feel.

I used a scrap piece of plywood I had and quickly drew out a carrot shape. I cut the carrot top out separately with my hand held jigsaw.

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I painted it and stenciled it with this stencil from Folk Art Stencils (HERE).

I then sanded it and stained it and cleared coated it. It reminds me a sign that you would have found on a roadside farm stand in days gone by. 

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! I never thought I would use toilet paper for my Sunday Verses photo, but after this week I am sure it evokes something in most of us. It has been a trying week as we are experiencing something that is unprecedented in most of our lifetimes. This pandemic has brought out the worst in some, but it also has brought out beauty in others. In a time when it is easy to be frustrated, impatient, angry, fearful let us remember to practice love--to be patient and kind. Check on an elderly neighbor, don't hoard or take more than you really need, compliment, use polite words--please and thank you, support a local business, be compassionate, don't argue with someone who thinks differently than you. Love, patience, kindness--they don't have to be complicated or elaborate. Kindness may simply be a roll of toilet paper for someone in need.

Reclaimed Pallet Wood Seed Crate Storage Bench

Something about a new pile of pallet wood that inspires me.

I liked this aged appearance that is on a lot of this pallet wood so I decided I wanted to make a crate that looked old. But, not just a crate--a crate that became a storage bench or coffee table.

I started with four 5.5" pallet boards and four 18" pallet 2" x 4"'s (also known as the runners on pallets). I just chose a random length to cut the long sides of the pallet boards. They ended up being 31" long and the side boards are 17" long. I started by making the short sides, securing them to the legs.

After making the two short sides, I added the 31" front and back boards to the short side panels. Don't be afraid to use a clamp to help square things up.

I found a piece of plywood to use for the inside bottom of the crate. This particular piece happened to be something that the high school drama department was sending to the dump. It said Aunt Emily's General Store. I kept that on the inside because I thought it was fun.

I cut the corners out of the plywood with a jigsaw to fit around the legs.

I added braces to the inside bottom edge for the plywood to rest on.

I secured a narrower pallet board to top of the back of the crate for the hinges.

I made a wood top from three 5.5" pallet boards, joining them together with pallet boars on the inside. Be sure to place these towards the middle and leave some room in the front and back so they will fit around the legs and inside the crate edges.

I aged the hinges by throwing them in the fire and then soaking them in some hydrogen peroxide and salt.

(For your convenience, this post contains affiliate links. What does that mean? If you chose to purchase something through my link, I may receive a small compensation, BUT it cost you nothing extra 😉. ALSO, please note, prices for stencils that you see are in Canadian and convert to less in US dollars.)

I then used Funky Junk's Old Sign Stencils to make the crate look like a see crate. I used the wildflower seeds stencil and the shipping crate stencil to achieve the look I wanted. You can get them HERE.

 I placed them off the edge to look like they might have hastily been stamped at the seed factory. I put them on the back as well in case someone decides to use this piece as a coffee table. I sanded them for a faded look.

A clear coat of poly inside and out sealed everything well.

I like the rustic look and that it looks like a crate that has been repurposed into something new and useful.

 The shelf above was made from pallets too. You can get the directions in my book Wood Pallet Wonders--you can get it HERE.