"EXCEPT THE LORD BUILD THE HOUSE, THEY LABOR IN VAIN THAT BUILD IT"......Ps.127:1a
Showing posts with label Pallets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pallets. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Apple Ladders Made From Pallets

I love to decorate with ladders.
My grandpa gave me one from his farm, and I love it.
I have a feed sack hanging from it that also came from his farm.
You can see the feed sack and part of the ladder in this photo.
About 10 or more years ago I bought this little apple ladder at a craft store in Lancaster, Pa.
I have always wanted to make my own.
After I tore apart a set of pallets, I was left with these thick main boards.  I guess they are the frame for the pallet boards.  I thought these would be perfect for my apple ladders.
Below is the ladder that I bought long ago.
I used this ladder as a template for cutting the rungs for my "new" ladders.
So here are a set of rungs--just straight cut blocks from the pallet boards--no need to cut angles.
Now for the nails.  
I tried to save as many of the nails that I could when I tore apart the pallets.
They were awful rusty things--I love 'em :)
Okay, now for nailing it together--try not to get distracted by my antique stove in the background.
I tried to measure the distance between rungs, but I found it better to just put the rung in between the two boards and tap it with a hammer towards the top of the ladder until it looked okay.
A lot of guess work going on here.
I was so excited that it worked out!
Two "new" apple ladders.
Remember when I was tearing apart the pallets and I hammered my shin in the same spot twice.
Well, of course I couldn't finish a pallet project without hammering some part of my body again, could I?
OUCH!  Tears....sniffle...sniffle....sip some coffee....deep breath....okay, finish the project.
I thought I would stain them with dark walnut--I won't do that again.
They turned out too dark for me.
I did sand them after staining, but they are still too dark for me.  
I don't like it when it looks almost black--too fake.
These boards really had some character of their own.
I am very happy with the way they turned out for my first try.
You can see the older ladder in the back holding a logging tool.


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Tip Junkie handmade projectsPhotobucket

Thursday, April 19, 2012

I Made a Sign

We are so close to the end of our school year.  Eight more days to go.
Research papers are soon due.  My house looks like a library threw up--books everywhere!

I am itching to get to the many many projects I have lying around our house and our garage.
One small project was to make a sign for our bedroom.
I wanted a verse that would encourage me.
I came across this one:
"Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him:...." Ps.37:7
I knew that this would be too long for the board I chose, but the first four words were perfect for me.
I have a huge problem with worry, so I thought this would be a good verse to see when I go to bed after making so many decisions during the day.  It would also be good to remind myself every morning when I start my day.

I used one of the boards from a pallet.
I painted it with my sample paint I had for my walls in our bedroom--a stone color.
I copied the verse in a font I liked--sorry, I can't remember which font.
The words were too big, but that was a good mistake.
I thought I could make the words "in the" smaller and with a different font.
To transfer the lettering I colored on the back of the letters with a charcoal pencil.
I positioned it on the board where I wanted it and then tacked it with some painter's blue tape.
I then traced around the letters like this.
See, I told you I was a visual person.
 This is what it looks like underneath the paper after you trace over the letters.
It transfers the charcoal onto the board.
Using my Sharpie Paint Marker I traced and colored painted in the letters.
I let it dry but not long enough and sanded over the lettering to make it look worn.
I wanted to mention that when I painted the stone color on, I did NOT go all the way to the edges.  I wanted to get that sanded -worn look without actually having to sand like crazy.
I stained it with dark walnut stain to age it.
It is perfect!
I want you all to know that I used a level when hanging my sign.
I hammered in the nails, hung up the sign, and it look crooked.
Apparently the guy who built the closet didn't level off things.
I had to mess with the nails so the sign didn't crooked with the ceiling nor the closet.

I also sewed some new Linen curtains.
I am loving the change in our bedroom.


Any new projects for you?

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Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Pallet Project #1

At our church's work party my oldest son was put in charge of throwing away some pallets.
My son knew how much I was wanting to try some projects using pallets and saw an opportunity for me to get some trash treasure.
Hubby and I drove in separate cars that night.
He went home first before my treasures were known to him.
Hubby wasn't too thrilled when he was trying to get them out of our van after three men strategically stuffed placed 3 pallets in my van.
At least I could still fit all the kiddos in the van, and we got home safely :)

Today I wanted to make some raised garden beds for my little garden.
The nails were very rusty.
The boards did NOT come off easy.
In fact, I ended up hitting my shin with a hammer twice in the same spot.
What crazy person does that and still insists on completing a project?
ME :)
I had my famous helper getting nails out of the boards.
Guess who?
Yep, my little buddy--always ready to work.
I know I did this all wrong, but I nailed the boards together.  
I probably should have used screws to attach them
It works for me.
We planted some onions and peas in them that a friend gave me.
Today was so lovely.
We have a total of 18 days of school left.

I love this pic of their boots.
The bars remind me of a sort of prison that the kiddos have with school work, yet they want to be outside in the dirt.