Organize My Weirdness, Mr. Bookshelf

Hubby and I enjoy garage sales. In fact, I rubberneck quite often when I see the notoriously illegible sign indicating a sale is happening somewhere in the general area. I think I enjoy seeing other peoples’ craziness on display more than anything.

It makes me feel normal for owning a Metamucil coffee mug.

I made this beauty you see here for only $10. And that’s because I didn’t haggle. The garage sale was benefitting the Boy Scouts. Which I call ‘Boy’s Scouts’. But I also call the big box bookstore ‘Barnes & Nobles’….

Anywho, my $10 bookshelf looked like this but had been used vertically instead of horizontally. So, take your computer and tilt it 90 degrees. Ok, return your computer to its full and upright position. Thank you for flying with Rebekah.
What you’ll need for this project:
One ugly bookshelf

You’ll also need:
Scrap Plywood for new shelving (if needed)
A 2’ level
Painter’s Caulk and Caulk Gun
Skill Saw
Drill with Phillips drill bit & a drill bit smaller than your wooden
shelving pegs
2” drywall screws
Wooden Pegs to hold in your new shelves
Palm Sander and 80 grit sandpaper (unless your wood is in bad
shape, then you’ll want to start with a 40 grit and work your way
up)
Tape Measure
Speed Square (if you have one)
Hammer & 2” brad nails
Primer, Leftover Oops paint-sassy color preferably…(I had a deep red on hand. Hello, sass!) and a Paintbrush

I hoped to fit my shelving right above my desk. I wanted it to basically go wall to wall in my barren office. My new $10 bookshelf was a little too long, so I broke out the skill saw.

Using my tape measure and speed square, I determined the amount I needed to cut off of one side to fit on my wall. I then used my skill saw to cut that sucker down to size. Don’t mess with me, Mr. Bookshelf.

Using my tape measure and speed square, I determined the amount I needed to cut off of one side to fit on my wall. I then used my skill saw to cut that sucker down to size. Don’t mess with me, Mr. Bookshelf.

I decided that I only needed one shelf each for the other two cavities. I determined where I wanted the shelves to sit, and drilled out two holes on each side and then inserted my wooden pegs into the hole, lightly tapping them with a hammer. These pegs will hold up the shelf.
I then took this opportunity to sand down any burrs or rough edges on the shelf.

I caulked up all of the seams within the shelf to make it have that ‘built-in’ look.

Next came priming and painting. Which was fun considering it was at least 95 degrees at this point.
I love sweating into my paint.

I used my level and my Hubby to hang the new shelf at an appropriate height. We screwed it straight into the wall with drywall screws, hitting the studs. I touched up the screw heads with my Oops red paint.

After all was dry, I pulled my aptly named ‘Craft Bin’ from the closet and begin organizing things into jars, bins and tins. Feathers, glitter, glue sticks and beads were flying everywhere.

It was one of the most entertaining nights that Cowboy and I have had in awhile.

PS-Do you think I should add doors to my bookshelf? I can’t decide.

My Lamp, My Lamp, My Lovely Leftovers Lamp

Check it out!
While Biceps and I were on a romantic date at Habitat for Humanity, I scored a swag light down rod and a trash can cover for $1. He always takes me to the coolest places. I knew I could make something from them, and he couldn’t argue with the price.

You may already know that I have an affinity for log-inspired pieces around my home. (Check out my Mod Log Table). While passing by one of my rent houses, I saw a felled tree and grabbed a chunk of it from an old pal’s front yard. With my two Habitat pieces in hand and now my chunk o’ log, history was about to be made.
Or at least a ‘Lovely Leftovers Lamp’.

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own ‘Lovely Leftover Lamp’.
A drill with a paddle bit (I used a 1”)
Router or a Skill Saw
Belt or Palm Sander with 40 & 80 grit paper
Polyurethane and Foamy Brush
Tape Measure
Chunk o’ Log with the cross-cuts parallel to each other (mine is 3 1/2” tall and 7” in diameter)

You’ll also need:
Trash Can Cover (mine was 8 1/2” in diameter-you could use fancy tin cans, or learn how to make your own Cutey Cans)
Swag Down Rod
Additional Wiring, wire nuts & Switch (if the old wiring is sketchy looking)
Spray Paint that matches your trash can cover
3” Threaded Rods
3/16” Threaded Aluminum Posts

I sprayed my 3” Threaded Rods and 3/16” Threaded Aluminum Posts GOLD to match the rest of my lamp.
These little buggers will attach the trash can cover to the down rod.

I sanded my log to be baby smooth, starting with a 40 grit and then moving up to an 80 grit.

After your log is smooth on both sides, measure the diameter of your log and mark the center.
Easy enough.

I used a 1” paddle bit to drill through the center of my log which accommodated the 1” diamater of my down rod. Adjust the size of your bit to the size of your down rod.
If your down rod is bigger than 1”, you may need to use a hole saw (which also attaches to your drill).

Drill all the way through, allowing your drill to rest periodically when the bit gets too hot. A hot drill bit and a lot of sawdust tends to have a weird reaction that I like to call ‘Fire’.

Next, we’ll make a channel on the bottom of our log for the wiring to come through.
It would be best to use a router, but since I didn’t have one, I went with a skill saw that I depth set to 1”. You aren’t cutting through the whole log, just making a channel for your wiring.

I know this channel for my wiring isn’t that pretty, but since it’s the undercarriage of my log (weird) and I will be covering it with some sort of soft feltiness in the long run, I was alright with it. Now that all of the sanding and cutting is done, wipe off your log thoroughly with a microfiber cloth.

Break out the poly and your foamy brush. Apply a thin layer of poly to your log. Let dry according to your manufacturer’s directions. Once the log is dry, use a steel wool to lightly sand the top and bottom, removing any air bubbles.

Re-apply a second coat if you desire. I usually desire.

I needed a longer run of wire, and decided to tie in some white wire that I had leftover from another project, using two wire nuts that didn’t match and one of which was covered in a sticky substance.
Don’t judge. I’m going for cheap here.

Line up the tips of your exposed copper wire which should be about a 1/4” long, and place the wire nut on top of the two wires (Connect the ribbed wire-it will feel like it has ribs on it, to the other ribbed wire. Connect your smooth wire to your smooth wire).

Screw down the wire nut as far as possible and pull the wires away from the wire nut, making sure they are firmly attached. I used electrical tape around the nuts and wires, just as an added precaution.

Place your down rod through the hole you drilled in your log, feeding the wire through the channel on the bottom of your log. You can cover the bottom of your log with felt or fabric using a hot glue gun.
I know you guys like your glue guns. Get crazy.

I wanted a switch on my lamp, and since they are super easy and cheap, I went for it. I like cheap and easy.
Follow the instructions on the package. It took me less than a minute to do this.

Flip your log over. Attach your trash can cover to your down rod by using your spray painted threaded posts and rods. Feed the 3” threaded rods from the outside in, threading it into the top of the down rod where a globe is usually attached. Use your threaded posts to cap the end of the threaded rods on the outside of your trash can cover. If you have a solid cover, you may need to drill out tiny holes for your threaded rods to go through.

Let’s plug it in!

Isn’t it just so purty? I love my new ‘Lovely Leftovers Lamp’!

Vintage Apron Skirt for the Sassy Girl

When life (Grandma) gave me aprons-lots of aprons…
I decided to make a skirt!
And I also believe that my stack of aprons are pro-creating with my original four. I keep finding more. Creepy.
I decided something must be done.
And this skirt popped in my crazy brain while I was sawing today.
This is super easy to make! And because it is a one of a kind, you will never be bummed at another church picnic because you are wearing the same exact thing Sister Susie is wearing.
Oh, isn’t that just the worst?

Here’s what you’ll need:
Iron & & Ironing Board
Scissors
Tape Measure
Seam Ripper
Straight Pins (although mine are a bit curvy)
Thread to match
Three aprons of similar length
Button Covers (if desired), or buttons-cute ones, please!

I chose these three adorable aprons because of the different patterns-gingham, stripes and floral print.
And they were pretty much the same length, too.
I decided that stripey would be my front of the skirt (the apron on the right), floral would go underneath the front as an accent (the apron on the left) and gingham (center apron) would be the back of the skirt.

Using a seam ripper, remove any pockets on the aprons that will be on the back of your skirt or is the accent pattern on your skirt.
Try not to poke your finger. Ouch.

Next, cut the apron strings (tee hee) from the aprons that will be the back of the skirt and the accent pattern. Keep these little suckers for later.

Make sure your apron is good and wrinkly.
Next, measure the center of the apron that will be the front of your skirt. Cut from the bottom of your apron towards the top, stopping at where the waist band is.

After you have made your cut, flip your front over and iron a seam allowance of about 1/4”.

Pin the apron strings that you had cut off of your accent pattern apron to the front of your skirt. Fold a 1/4” under for your seam and iron the strings into place.
Sew your strings to the front of your skirt.

Place the front of your skirt right side down. Center and pin to it, with the right side down, the accent pattern apron. Sew into place.

This is how the front of your skirt should look by now. See the peekaboo accent pattern? Isn’t it precious?
Moving on.

On the right side of the skirt, pin the front of your skirt to the back of your skirt, using a 2” seam allowance. Place a pin 4” below the waistband.
Sew into place, stopping at the 4” pin. Slip on your almost done skirt and pin the left side into place, top to bottom.

Sew from the bottom to the top on the left side of your skirt.

I made my own buttons using the material leftover from the apron strings. But you can use any ol button your heart desires. I made one real button hole on the right side and attached a matching button on the left side of the skirt, just to bring symmetry to the situation.
I also added a hook and eye on my right side, for more concealing power. But you can use a second button, or forgo the whole button thing and throw in a zipper.
Get crazy! I dare ya!

And here’s the finished front of the skirt, once more. Isn’t it cute, sassy and vintage all rolled into one? I think so, and I think I will wear it tomorrow night.
And below is my backside.

My very wrinkly backside. Please ignore the fact that I did not iron this apron. I wanted cheddar whales, hubby and a little snuggle time.

Let me know if you make an Apron Skirt. I would love to see it!

Can You? I can, I CAN!

This isn’t a new idea-this is just my take on it.
I wanted a little panache on the back porch for the summer season.
This super easy to make lantern casts a warm glow; without being too frilly. I mean, I am married to a man. A man with an opinion. And his opinion is usually ‘sans frills’.

The best part, I was able to make these lanterns for next to nothing.
And I mean nothing. The cans were given to me by Grandma during the mass divesture of her life’s collections, the lights were $1 clearance item from ‘Tar-zhay’ years ago and my elbow grease costs me nothing other than yet another round of the Arnica gel.

What you’ll need:
Power Drill with different sizes of drill bits (I used 1/8”, 7/32”, & 1/2”)
Light Socket with Cord (I found mine at Target, but I also found these online at Ikea for $3.99)
Sharpee
Large Tin Can
Clamp (not pictured)
Metal snips (also not pictured-I am bad, I know.)

Start off by making a pattern using a sharpee and a little whimsy.
I placed my sharpee dots about 1” apart to accomodate the 7/32” drill bit I used. (The hole from this bit is about the size of a hole punch.)
Cover your work area with paper-the little metal bits are a bugger to clean up, trust me.
Securely fasten your can to a solid surface using your clamp.
Now, drill out all the whimsical sharpee dots.

Use a large drill bit to make a large hole at the top of your can for your light socket to come through. I used a 1/2” drill bit for this, drilling two holes side by side.

Make sure that the cord fits through the hole that you drilled in the top of the can.
If it doesn’t, don’t panic. Just drill another hole, or cut a little here and there with metal snips until the cord does fit.

Here are my Holy cans. You can see where my drill slipped and left a trail and where I didn’t quite ‘hit the mark’. But, I’m ok with it.

These peaceful lanterns are sweet, but not frilly, mind you.
Not frilly in the least.
Ok, maybe a little, but don’t tell the hubby.