My Newest Obsession: Wood Projects.

Hi blog. It's been awhile. Usually when school starts that's what happens, and I'm really sorry. But I thought since I have just a few days left I would give a little update.

Recently I have found a new hobby that I love much more than I EVER thought I would. After I had to stop dancing I was in a little bit of a rut trying to find what my next "thing" would be, and it was hard. Boy, it was hard. Just ask my dear husband you had to witness a few too many tears on the particular matter. BUT. I think I have found it.

I have always had this odd obsession with wood. I love the smell, look, feel, etc of something so natural. Isn't that really strange? I know. But I love what wood can do and what it creates! When I first told Zach I wanted to make a bed frame that I had found on Pinterest I didn't quite know if I was serious. Ha. But Zach was excited and helped me believe that I could do it! So we sat down and talked with Zach's dad about the project. Mark (Zach's dad) is so great. I really love the guy. As soon as I told him about my idea, he was right on board. He told me the wood I would need, how much of it, and took Zach and I to home depot. This place is now one of my favorite places. We got the wood and spent the new few  (like two I think? It was a pretty quick project) Saturdays working on our bed. 

My favorite part of the process is the staining. Mark has this tool that sprays the stain which makes the process much faster (and way more fun). (You can tell I'm still learning because I still use terms like "spray stainer", "that one kind of saw", "the thing that makes pocket holes" haha. Good thing we have Mark!) Zach once asked what I have learned the most about this "new world" of wood and my response was "I had no idea there were so many different ways to cut things!" And it's true. There are a lot of different ways. Anyways. Here are some pictures of the process of our bed. I should have been better and actually taken my camera with me but I didn't. I'll do better on the next project.

We got the idea from someone using bookcases from IKEA for bed frames. I really wanted the wood look and so that's what we did! We made three "cases" and sectioned off the sides so that they have 3 cubbie things and the end has 2 (as you'll see in the pictures). It cost us just above $180 I think. (We did it in like July so I can't really remember.) But it was worth it. Looking at how much I would have had to spend getting the shelves at IKEA it would have been around $300. We don't have a head board (I'm still trying to decide on what I want it to actually look like) but I absolutely love how they have turned out. We have put books, shoes, my camera bag, etc without making it look like everything is just stuffed in there. I just really love them.

How it all starts.

The "boxes" that go along the side of the bed.

Staining with the cool strain gun.

Please ignore the fact that I totally didn't make the bed to get this picture. Ha. But this is essentially what it all looks like!

Our next project was to do some bedside tables. My parents have had these two that used to sit in the basement for forever. They had drawings, scratches, dings, and dents but we decided to sand them down and re-stain them and they turned out beautiful! The sanding took quite a long time on these because we had to sand around every grove and the drawers but they turned out perfect. We used the same stain color as we did the bed so they go together really well. I want to get some different knobs for them but haven't looked into it too much yet. I get carried away with the next project in mind and kind of forget that stuff.. ha.

Sanding the bedside tables.

Staining the tables now that they have been totally sanded.

Worst picture of me ever? yes. But this is what they looked like all done!

Our latest project was a coffee table. We didn't really need one of these but I saw the design online and after talking with Mark about it we just decided to go for it! I'm so glad we did. We looked for casters (the wheels) online and every where was like $30.00 at least! I didn't really want to spend that much per wheel so Mark suggested cutting them himself. He has a plasma cutter so he did the spoke parts of the wheel on that and then used 7" pipe that is about 1/4" thick and cut them to the width we wanted the wheels to be. He's a genius. Looking back we probably would have done 8" pipe but all is well. We also did a walnut inlay around the top that I really love. To add a little more of a rustic look to it we also put on metal corners that were also cut on the plasma cutter. We had to bead blast and paint them (same with the wheels) but it really adds to the rustic feel.

How the coffee table looked when we first got started! 

The top all done. Another thing I learned is that you have to clamp everything very tightly or else the wood warps and then you hate life. 

How the under part looks. 

With the wheels attached.

Getting ready to stain.

After we use the really cool stain gun thing we use rags to make sure it is all even. This is after the first coat. We ended up doing two coats.

All done!

Zach jokes that we will never be able to have a house with a basement because the coffee table and bed "boxes" are so heavy and our ideas for upcoming project will probably be ten times heavier (the table we are wanting to make is TO DIE FOR but will weigh more than an elephant I'm sure) but I think it will hold up just fine. ;)

Our next project is a crib for my brother and sister-in-law. We are so excited! It's going to be a little different because we will need to create the plans for it but that's what also makes it more exciting!

Zach's parents have been so kind to let us use their shop and have helped us and encouraged us so much! I truly feel so blessed!

My family (and Zach for that matter) have no realized that a Home Depot gift card is the best gift I could get and is definitely the way to my heart. Grateful for that too.

Anyways. I'll have to do better about taking pictures and doing more of a tutorial for the crib since we will be making the plans ourselves and such so stayed tuned! Maybe one day Zach and I will sell some of these things. ;)