A wall map with a DIY frame

I have another project that I did for the boys' room and completed before baby, but am just getting around to posting it now. To see the last project, which was also for their room (window valances) click here. As much as I love sharing these projects, I love snuggling with a newborn even more!

I wanted to hang a wall map in the boys room and asked my 3rd grader if he wanted a world map or a US map. We have a globe in their room, so he chose a US map to hang on the wall. I ordered one from Swift Maps. It is a plain old fashioned paper map measuring 24 in X 36 in. This is the map I ordered.

Here it is on the wall.

Want to do this yourself (including building the frame)? Keep reading for all the supplies needed and how-to:

Supplies:
Wall Map
Thin plywood (to adhere the map to)
1 X 4 in choice of wood (quality you buy depends if you stain or paint it)
Stain (or paint)
Kreg jig and bit
Wood Glue
Mod Podge (I used matte)
Hammer and Nails
.....and that is it...... Keep reading for instructions.....

I started by cutting my 1X4's. I cut them 1" bigger than the map outline, because I wanted 1/2" around all the edges. That was the plan anyways. Measure Twice, Cut Once. Let me repeat; Measure Twice, Cut Once. I usually adhere to this rule, and when I don't, I mess up!

My cut was 1" too short, so I did not have the extra 1/2" I wanted, but did not have enough wood to scrap that piece, and did not have enough time or patience to drive 20 minutes to Home Depot for more wood. So if you look closely, you will notice that there is not an even 1/2" reveal of map around all edges.....

Oh, you didn't notice? Even better!!

Okay, moving on. I used my miter saw to cut the edges at 45 degrees. Once I had all 4 pieces cut, I got out my itty bitty little cheapo Kreg jig. I had never used this before and was excited to try it.

I read all the directions (highly unusual for me....), which tell you how close to the edge to place it, based on your wood dimensions. I don't have any Kreg accessories so I just used my regular clamps. The kit came with the special drill bit and I used that in my drill.

Here it is set up.

And here it is done. I am in LOVE with this little blue jig!

When I was done I dry fitted my frame and laid it by the map, just to make sure again before screwing my frame together.

Okay, so other than my poor measurement, it fits. I then used screws in the pocket holes to attach the 1 x 4's together. That was easy! Did I mention that I LOVE MY KREG JIG..... (yes, I am yelling that, that's how much I love it!)

Once it was a frame I sanded and stained it. I used a gel stain that I have used on other projects. It is American General in the color JAVA. I did not bother to stain the back. After staining, I waxed it with a clear wax.

Meanwhile.......I used Mod Podge to adhere the map to the thin plywood. Originally I was planning on going over the front surface with Mod Podge too, but changed my mind. If you look very closely, you can just see the Mod Podge jar on the right of the photo below....

Once the map was dry, I nailed the board the map was glued to, to the back of the frame. Make certain to have it aligned correctly from the front.

I used 2 eye hooks spaced about 5 inches apart on the back to hang it. I used picture wire between the two eye hooks and a nail in the wall. Here it is on the wall. Now my 3rd grader should get all his state tests correct!

I hope you liked this project. Please comment with any questions. Thank you for visiting and come back!!

Sharing at: Thrifty Decor Chick

Adding a shelf in Laundry Room for storage and function

My laundry room is right off my kitchen and is also the way to the garage. There is a small pantry closet in there..did I mention it is small????

I liked to keep extra laundry soap, juices, cereals etc. close by the kitchen and not in the garage. This spot in the laundry room became the place to put these items (because my pantry closet is small). The problem was that it did not look pretty and there was so much wasted space in this little spot.



The photo below shows the after of the same space.



THE DETAILS:
I decided to build a small shelf to hold my laundry soap and also to serve as a hiding spot for all those items on the floor. A large tub of laundry soap is heavy and this would be much stronger than the shelves on the wall were!

I assembled all my scrap wood and built a 3 sided frame with one side attached to the wall and the corner of the other 2 sides attached to a 2x4 for a leg. I had planned on using a decorative spindle for the leg, but wanted the strength of a bigger piece of wood and it was going to be hidden by a "skirt" anyways.



This shows the trim. I just used what I had and what fit and what I thought looked good when I held it up.



I used leftover MDF from my board and batten project for the top of the shelf. I liked the planked look.



I rounded the front corner with my jigsaw to ease it back to the wall.



I kept the edge several inches away from the washing machine for more space to move the washing machine if needed for maintenance, or for a new machine - which of course I have been putting off for years.......

I made the skirt from some material that was once on an upholstered bench and I just love. I gathered the top some and then sewed a strip of velcro on the back of the gathered top. I stapled the other side of the velcro just under the trim I added. This way I can remove the skirt for cleaning if needed.




Now if the door from the kitchen to laundry is open I don't cringe at what I see :)







Thank you so much for visiting me today!

Quick chair update: (from my last post) I have painted it and LOVE it. I used a total of FOUR paints! I have the foam and batting attached to the seat. I found a fabric that I want to stencil - but....... - I can't find a stencil I like. I will show the chair once I completely finish the fabric.


Linking to:
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Hookin Up with House of Hepworths
Miss Mustard Seed

Shutter turned Jewelry Organizer

Happy Tuesday!

This project came out of necessity. I have several jewelry boxes, but the problem is that all my jewelry got jumbled in there and I could never find what I was looking for. I wanted a way to display my options so there was less searching and more time for other things! This is what I came up with. It will only work if you wear dangling earrings, which most of mine are. I can put most my earrings here, my bracelets and my necklaces (not the good stuff, of course).



It started as a $3.00 shutter from the ReStore (LOVE this place). I hung it outside to spray it green since I wanted a white topcoat and was planning on sanding it and wanted a little green to show through. I get many strange looks from passing cars when I have items hanging from the front tree as I am spraying and drying!



This next picture shows that I added trim to the top to hide the shape. Just not the look I was going for. I used chair rail and mitered the corners and used my nail gun and wood glue on edges.
*** Update: this is not chair rail. I think it is left over door frame trim. Whatever it is...it was a scrap piece from my pile that I grabbed because it fit!!





I added a monogram that I painted on the bottom.



I had to purchase some "S" hooks from the hardware store to hang some earrings that did not fit and a necklace that was too bulky for the bottom.





The hooks on the bottom are just simple cup hooks that I screwed in to hang bracelets and necklaces. I also added a little scrap of cove moulding to the bottom.



There you have it. A really easy idea for a jewelry organizer.

Thanks for visiting!



Linking up to:
Not Just a Housewife
Home Stories A to Z


Savy Southern Style
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Miss Mustard Seed
Someday Crafts

Funky Junk Interiors: Old Shutters

New Headboards for 2 Twin Beds

This project became a necessity when I decided to move my boys into the same bedroom. They had been sleeping together in a single twin bed for several months, so I figured now was the time to make the change. (This was TOTALLY their choice! My little one had his own toddler bed in his own room) Of course that required new headboards! My oldest never had a headboard, and the little one needed something special for his new big boy bed as he moved into his brother's room. That is how I rationalize it anyways.......
I have been loving Ana White's website and fell in love with the farmhouse bed. I made the headboard only, as the room is a little small for a footboard too. I had to tweak the plans based on the bed size but with some planning it was all very easy to accomplish. I have to say I purchased her book, The Handbuilt Home when I could pre-order it on Amazon. I used the book as well as directions from her blog, when building the bed.
The paint is Clark + Kensington paint and primer in one and Black Abyss is the color. My usual paint is Benjamin Moore, but I could not pass up a FREE can from ACE (with coupon found in local circular). I 'purchased' it long ago with some vague intent of using it on this very yet to be thought of, project!

I used a little bit of glaze on top of paint and then rubbed most off. I wanted dimension between the boards and in all the nooks and cracks since this was not perfect wood. It is perfect for what I wanted. After all, two boys live here and everything gets ruined slightly damaged in time.

Their room is small, roughly 12 X 11, so across this wall the beds fit with the cubbies between. I don't mind having a smaller room for both of them. I have found that by having them in one bedroom and gaining a dedicated play area, the bedroom stays neater. In the past they had a lot of toys in their bedrooms which meant they were always a mess. Now most the toys are in the play room and I don't mind if that is a mess at night! And I can sneak into their bedroom at night for kisses and not impale my foot on a lego piece! I am currently working on a new paint treatment for the small dresser that is in this room. It was in the nursery, but now needs to be changed for this room. I will show that when I am done.
Thanks for visiting on my first ever post!

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Sawdust Girl