The Palette Desk Project - Part 5, finishing details

~ The Palette Desk Project ~

(all parts to date here)

Part 1 - defining the need 

Part 2 - gathering materials 

Part 3 - preparing the materials and design

Part 4 - sink that monitor!

Part 5 - finishing details

Part 6 - the big reveal! 

Today

 Part 5 - finishing details

I received an email from my artist friend Dan. He thought the table was cool, but enticed me to use random screws for attaching the palette boards to the ladder.

I thought of hiding the screws, gluing the boards, all kinds of options that were discussed with the Facebook crew. (thanks all!) And in the end, I resorted to not only the easy way, but the funkier way. Dan was right. Let's go to town! And that's when I dropped the perfectionism and hit the hardware store, bought a handful of this and that, and went crazy.

Remember the nail holes from when I pulled the nails out? I even put 'pretend' working nails and screws into them for added bling. :)

Tip: predrilling the holes created a much cleaner look, otherwise the wood tended to splinter abit

I had another windfall in the past week. I had been wishing I had all kinds of crazy giant bots and washers on hand so I could decorate the desk top even more. And this bucket is what I found at my fav palette shopping mall the very next day! Oy... I giggled the rest of the way home.

See?!? Tell me this isn't cool! Right then, I knew what I needed this desk top to look like. So I started drilling random holes slightly bigger than the screws, and simply dropped them in place.

And found other weird stuff in the bucket like that thing on the left. No idea what it is but it's staying! In case you're curious... I installed all the fancy stuff away from work zones and legs so they won't be in the way. And if they are, I can just pull them out for the timebeing.

 Next up was deciding how to decorate the boards via paint. The bolts, rustic boards and random screws just told me to leave the look as random planks nailed together. They resembled railway ties in a round about way, hence, the logo.

I was mildly inspired by this crate I found on the net, but wanted more colour than shown here. So I revamped the design to suit.

I created 2 toned decals. 

 The black went on first, then after it was dry (nearly), I applied another layer with white. 

FYI: I own pro signmaking equipment for my day job - CorelDraw, Signlab, and a 20" vinyl cutter and simply used old vinyl on hand 

Simple acrylic craft paint was all that was used. And I used a stipple motion for application so it left a mottled appearance from the get go.

Once I stenciled the design on the boards, I changed my mind on placement. Doh!!! After mild panic subsided, I simply unscrewed the boards and moved them where I desired. Now THAT was a brilliant move those screws were...

I then distressed the paint with a palm sander, proving to be effortless compared to doing it by hand. And had more fun with paint in other areas.

Once all the designwork was painted on, it was easy to see where embellishments would work, so I kept adding and adding.

What? The boy's hungry? Yeah, I got him to cook. I was busy workin' after all! :)

 Another detail I had already thought of but Dan also suggested was to not line the board edges up so perfect. He simply confirmed that it was a good idea. Remember the pic of my cat sitting on the  boards here? If you look along the edge, that's what I did although abit more subtle than what you see. I wanted it slightly random looking without a comical aspect.

Reveal time! Today as well!

Wow. We're finally down to reveal time! So I have a treat for ya. I've also got a Part 6 that will follow right after this post, so be sure to look for it. Not only did I want you to wait any longer, I also wanted to be a part of a blog party on "Where I Blog" so that little deadline really pushed me to get this all done. There is NOTHING like a deadline, folks! :)

See ya shortly over at:

Part 6 - the BIG reveal! (link is up HERE)

Thanks to the Facebookers that offered their helpful opinions during this project!
And they get teases sneak peeks too!

The Palette Desk Project ~ Part 1

I don't often take you through all the (somewhat agonizing) steps of a biggish project. My general style has been to show you the before, lightly touch on the build, then revealing the after, sparing you much grief along the way. :)

However, I get asked alot:

Don't you ever mess up?
How do you come up with your ideas?!?
How do you get so much done?
How does your mind work when you dream up stuff?

So I thought, since I'm such a photo and word fanatic, what better way to tell you than to take you along for the entire ride this round?

Ready for a many parter series on a current project? Hop along and sweat learn along with me on this one! It'll be wordy, thought provoking, loaded with indecision, mistakes and troubleshooting along the way. And hopefully a few successes thrown in for good measure too.

Because quite simply, NO. Things don't always go as planned here either. But that's all part of the fun of learning, isn't it? :)

You'll be able to use all these tips for any given project you tackle, so... real wood workers, pop that popcorn and prepare yourself with a  good 'ol hearty laugh. Cuz I'm gonna build me this from scratch!

~ The Palette Desk Project ~

(all parts to date here)

Part 1 - defining the need 

Part 2 - gathering materials 

Part 3 - preparing the materials and design


Part 4 - sink that monitor!

Part 5 - finishing details


Part 6 - the big reveal! 

Today: Part 1 - defining the need

My house is only so big. While I'd love the opportunity to build whatever pops into my head, where would I put the stuff?!? I flat out don't have room for extras, so unless I go on a fun junk hunt and find something I can't live without, 9 times outta 10 I base my projects out of need first.

a) Be receptive to changing needs

I've shown you all the changes this little office area as gone through over the past couple years in THIS post. So what's the problem again?!?

Remember I said I really liked the newest changes? And I still do! Except...

... getting this to die for system has set me back temporarily in the health sense. See that lovely farm table the iMac is sitting on?

I went to alot of work stripping the paint off the top and repainting the thing to better match the new shelving unit behind it. So what's the problem again?!?

The size of the screen is messin' with my neck by having to look up. Got a similar problem? Then say this with me loud and clear...

Dear large screen computer people... 

surely there's a way to have an adjustment setting applied to big screen monitors. Please think about it! Unless of course, you're also selling strange custom built computer tables so the monitor can be lower than the table surface. Thank-you. 

From, the sore neck people.

Some of you on Facebook suggested I simply cut the legs shorter and call it a day. Well, my world doesn't work that easily because I need to:

 b) Tweak to accompany other recently done design changes

I admit, there's another reason I wish to change it. I want a bigger table. Actually, I always have. However the final straw was when I put up that big wall unit thing, I gasped at how it minimized the size of the table.

 Check it out. This is what I mean.

The table looks HUGE here.

And it looks really tiny here. 

Amazing and stunning effect is this not?!?

(&^%^%&EGFT&RTKJHGKG)

Plus, I think I'd still have to lower the monitor and I don't want to hack this table up to bits. It can be used elsewhere. Plus I want something more funky anyway. I have alot of reasons I'm pushing myself on this one. So, on with the new plan we go!

Oh. And let's slide in the new obstacle as of just this Friday. My neck adjusting guy wants me to get THIS for a chair instead. WHAAAAA?????

How is this done you ask?!? 

Easy. Apparently you just need an apple for enticement.

Oh my word... I think I'll take a Facebook friend Angela's suggestion and skirt the table to hide the offending non rusty wrong colour design component! :)

It just gets better after this. Facebook friend Becky showed me THIS link. Check it out! This would solve pet hair issues for certain! Or would it? Anyone try one of these?!? Crazy. This is just crazy talk. But I admit, I'm somewhat amused and curious.

 And so there you have it. I need a new table for 101 made up reasons. Because I want a new table. I want to challenge myself to build. To create another first. Because it's what I do. I, Funky Junk Donna, cause more stress and anxiety on myself. And have too much fun along the way. :)

I have to tell you something. Coming this fall I'm going to involve a real carpenter with one of my projects. However, this round, I just desire to use junk so this one's all mine. But that real deal project is going to be geared for you to follow along as well! Cool huh?

Part 2 coming soon!

How about you? 

Does your current desk and computer combo work well for you?
Ever try a horse exercise ball chair?!? (groan...)

Wanna keep up with the rants in real time? See ya there. :)

SNS #28 brings you - an old dresser dressed up

Intro

Welcome to Saturday Nite Special #28!

If you're new here, join in! There are two categories to link to, Home Decor as well as Crafts, Sewing, Recipes, so feel free to post your DIY project in the applicable area below.

Party starts at Fri night and ends Sunday 11pm, so you have all weekend to join!

I LOVE to highlight inspiring posts during the event on the sidebar, so make sure you check in several times over the weekend. You may be next. :)

~ DIY Feature~
A dresser gets dressed up

Remember when I told you about my big junkin' day awhile back?

I found this old vintage dresser among my treasures and had to have it. Why?

Quite simply because the features and patina were amazing! Look at the layers of trim in this one corner! And TRY and crackle a finish like this! I fell instantly in love.

And just take a look at the hardware. Why the handles were all different is beyond me! But my goodness... could it have been any more made for the way I personally decorate?!? :) Aren't they amazing?

But a dresser is only a dresser if it's just a dresser. So I had an idea. If you've been following me long enough, you know I love to mix oddities together for an interesting look.

I took one of my rusty old gates (oops sorry, this is a) headboard from my junkin' day, cleaned it up, then sprayed on a clear coat...

... then added some ivory paint on the rust, to further mimic the fading original white patchy paint patina.  Using ivory acrylic craft paint, I dabbed it on quite dry with a stencil brush. I wanted abit of lightness to tie in with the dresser.

Juuuust right! And below is how I used it.

Tadaaa! The headboard offers extra interest to this dresser, creating a unique frame around the mismatched mirror. I love how the rusty tones of the headboard tie in with the dresser hardware and mirror frame.

The top of the dresser got a clear coat (from a spray can) which brought out the original oak tone through the crackled paint surface. I love the two toned effect it has, that was achieved with no effort! The white pillowcase on the left is from my mom's stash.

And that's not all. This lovely teapot was my mom's wedding gift! I'm not generally one for shiny gold but...

... in this case, the gold just works on everything! I found the lamp, oval mirror, and old clock at a thrift and they all share the same gold trim. And that white jewelry box? My mom's. :) And it's chock full of her costume jewelry just the way she had it, which I LOVE browsing through on occasion. Because it's her. :)

Curious about that lampshade, aren't you? I'll tell you how I did it in an upcoming post as this one's long enough. :)

~ Surprise themed link below! ~

 Many of you in the big Link Critique post said you preferred themed linkups. If you look below at the links, you'll see the two we normally have. PLUS a new one. This weekend it's called Dressers Dressers Dressers! because of the dresser feature of course. :) 

~ What will it be next week? Lampshades! ~

For the themed link,  feel free to link up an older post so you can join in! Or better yet, get to work on that lampshade this week you've wanted to tweak forever anyway. I can't wait to see what you come up with. :)

Let me know in comments what you think on that ever changing EXTRA themed linkup idea! Let's give it a whirl this weekend and see what happens.

~ SNS blah blah linkup rules ~

1. Please link up your intended post, NOT your blog homepage url. (post, then click the title of your post, cut and paste that url)

2. Please put a link in your post that leads back to the party so others can see what's up! (scroll button on sidebar if you wish)

 3. This party is geared for DIY type projects we can all attempt to make ourselves. Items for sale may be linked up IF your entry is posted on your blog and in tutorial style (unless making the item is self explanatory).

5. Please link projects up that are new to SNS and within 1 month old. (*the NEW 3rd themed link can be an older post) If you can't decide which category to enter yours in, please just pick ONE and go with it. It's all good!

Happy party and weekend inspiration to all!

Junkin' TV stand for So You Think - wk 8

I've always wanted to make a coffee table out of an old wood palette.

However when our big screen TV died and I brought in our little flat screen from the travel trailer, I knew we needed a new stand for it.

I had this wood palette sitting in my garage I found only a few short weeks ago just begging for the right treatment. And it was the perfect size for what was needed.  So thanks to So You Think - Junk Edition, the build began!

~ The Build ~

First, I had to create a place for the components to sit on. I used all old palette wood I had sitting around  and filled in the gaps, enclosing the 'box'. I also predrilled most holes so the wood wouldn't split. I'm good at splitting wood. Like in the top right pic. :)

The wood was pretty rough, so sanding it like crazy with a palm sander was a must!

Do you like my workshop? I loooove working outside!

And then absolute panic set in. I had no idea how to build LEGS. I am not a builder! I grabbed every single piece of scrap wood I had and paced. And worried. And propped. And failed. And then snapped this mayhem kind of picture to try and forget my crazed mind frame.

Dear real woodworkers: this is the time to stop reading. Skip WAAAY down to the reveal. Thank-you. :)

And then when I found two chunks of wood nailed together (top left pic), the light bulb came on!  I cut legs, attaching them to a board on their own, THEN screwed the leg/board combo onto the bottom of the palette.

Like so. Well I'll be... it worked! I'm now a builder. :)

And then I funked up the side and back supports with three different treatments on the legs. :) Funkalicious!

 We aren't done yet! There's something special about this particular palette. The top is actually sunken in, allowing for...

~ The Reveal ~

... a display case out of the top! I already had a piece of glass in my storage stash that fit PERFECTLY.

The weight of the TV is supported by pieces of 2x4's placed underneath the glass. Sneaky, eh?

The leg height was designed so the authentic crates underneath could be used for movie storage bins.

How fun is that display case anyway?!? To be able to theme it on a whim makes me giddy. :)

And there she is! The old palette TV stand.

I decided to leave the wood in it's natural state.  I love the different hues and textures as is. Very crate-ish. :)

And the two openings under the top? They were the perfect size for the TVand DVD components. Amazing.

Right side.

Left side.

My $0.00 cost unique little TV stand is right cozy in it's new home. :)

Thanks for the visit! Click on the button above to check the other fabulous entries and to cast your vote!