Quick links to projects on this page:
License Plate Sign
This sign could not be easier to make. I got my letters at Hobby Lobby, and ever other week (literally) they are on sale for $1. Once you get your letters, Arrange them and figure out how big of a board you need. If you don't have a saw, just have Home Depot cut the pine board for you.
If you want the weathered look, just start hitting it with anything you have. Make sure to hit it with blunt items (like a hammer) and sharp items (like a knife or ice pick).
Because the letters are covering most of the board, it's okay to over do the "weathering." Look at mine-alone it doesn't look that great, but it does once the letters are on.
After you're done hitting it, wipe it down and then apply the stain. Use whatever stain you like, I love Old Master's "Natural Walnut," which I get at my local Ben Moore. (See the stain on my side table) Staining a weathered piece of board is easy, because you don't need to worry about it being consistent and perfect. Get an old rag, dip it in the stain, and wipe it all over the board, making sure to get plenty of stain in the "weathered" parts. Then take a clean rag, and wipe all the excess off. Let it air dry for a day or two. Because it is a piece of decor, and not something that will be taking on stains, I did not polyurethane it. I like the natural, matte look of wood. Make sure you leave your rags out to properly dry, rags soaked in stain can spontaneously heat up and have caused fires.
This sign makes an awesome personalized gift for someone with a lake house, cabin, man cave, workshop-the possibilities are endless!
Paddle Decor
Materials to make 3 full sized paddles:
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3 pine boards 8" x 6'
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4 colors of the same tone. I got sample sized "flat" behr paint (colors: Dark Denim, Rainy Afternoon, Allure, & Beacon Yellow)
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Frog tape (for painting clean lines)
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Satin poly urethane
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Sandpaper
Tools used:
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Band saw or jig saw
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Router
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Hand sander
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Paint brush
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I wanted to make paddles to go above the master bed in our rental lake house. I didn't have a wooden paddle to trace, so I looked up the dimensions of a full sized paddle and found this helpful diagram on leevalley.com. I marked the outline on a 8" x 6' piece of pine board, and used a compass to create the rounded top.
I was pleased with how the rough paddles came out, but wish I had been a little more careful cutting, my lines were slightly wonky. It didn't help that I was slapping mosquitos away while trying to saw. Once I was done with the band saw-I moved onto the router table.
Using a rounded bit, I rounded the edges of both sides of the paddles. Look at the difference a quick pass with the router makes!
< Rough Edge
< Routered Edge
After sanding the paddles .and cleaning them thoroughly (I vacuumed them then ran tacky cloth over them to get the finer bits of dust up) I was ready for paint. I researched patterns I liked on pinterest, and then tried to recreate them using Frog Tape. You can see the first layer:
End Result:
Pencil Holder
This is the easiest project ever. Just take a thick piece of wood, and drill holes into it. That's it! I used my drill press, but you can easily use a drill with a circular bit on it. I did mostly deep holes, but some holes I made really shallow, knowing I was going to put short things in it.
I used a 1.5" diameter circular bit
Vase Frame
This project was inspired by a small
vase set I bought at Jo Anne Fabrics.
I knew I wanted something a little bigger, so I looked around and found these beautiful vases in the clearance section of Hobby Lobby. So I'm not going to give specifics on measurements, because I doubt you'll be able to find my exact vase. But you'll be able to adapt this project to any vases you find.
Step #1: Find your materials.
Shopping List:​​
1. Vases
2. 3/4" board(s) that will accomodate 2x the length of your vases together 2x and the height of your vases
3. Wood glue
4. 6 insert nuts #8
5. #8 1.5" machine screws
6. Drill or drill press with a circular bit just slightly bigger than the diameter of your vase tops
Step #2: Cut your lumber, drill your holes.
I cut my lumber to size, then drilled the middle hole, see figure A. I then figured out the other holes after arranging the vases exactly how I wanted them spaced.
A
Step #3: Pre-drill your holes
Glue your bottom corners together, clamp them for stability, then pre-drill. Run some screws in, tightly securing the bottom half of your frame.
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Clamp your top corners, and pre-drill to the size of your insert nuts. **Note: I put insert nuts in the top half of the frame so I could easily screw/unscrew the top (without stripping the wood) to wash the vases. Carefully (using a flathead screw driver) screw the insert nuts in. Put the top of the frame on, thread the machine screws through the top and into the insert nuts. TIP: I spray pained the machine screw tops to give the piece a more industrial look.
Blanket Ladder
Truly, this project could not be more simple, and you can have Home Depot make all your cuts for you.
The entire thing is made out of 2x2 lumber. Leave a little space at the top, a big space at the bottom, and the rungs evenly spaced. Lay it on the floor exactly how you want it, drill holes, and zip in screws.
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For more detailed instructions, click here. This website features easy plans for a $10 knock off of a pottery barn ladder
Brook Trout
Most of my projects are easy and straight forward...this was NOT. I wanted to make my husband a special 10th anniversary gift, and he loves brooke trout (the predominate fish at our lake house).
I could NOT believe how many dowels this took, and how long it took to place them. But it was worth it, my husband absolutely loved the end product. Even though I can't imagine anyone taking on the scope of this project, I'll give you the basic details!
Step One: find a proper picture of the fish you want to immitate, and print it off (tiled) the size you want it. My fish was approximately 11"x35".
Step Two: tape the fish down to loan plywood, and pressing down with a ballpoint pen, trace the edges of it. Fill in the imprint with pencil on the wood, so you can better see the outline.
Step Three: cut out the fish with a bandsaw, jig saw, or scroll saw (I used a scroll saw).
Step four: create a basic barn-board frame using pocket screws. Don't worry about imperfections- it's supposed to be rustic. Attach the fish using two screws.
Step five: cut dowels of all different diameters with a band saw.
Step six: sand the tiny pieces (see the video on how I came up with a way to sand several at the same time).
Step seven: paint dowels. I threw them in paint, then rubbed off the excess with paper towels. I used an orange, red, light blue, black, white, yellow, and at least 7 different types of green.
Step eight: strategically place the dowels...good luck, this takes FOREVER! I also created the little worm like pieces characteristic of the brook trout on my scroll saw.
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