Special Project

So this was something I have been wanting to do since I saw it but I did not want to announce it on here because it was in place of an Anniversary Card.  I thought it would be fitting on our 5th anniversary.
There where tons of these wall art state crafts that I have seen a lot of online.  But then I saw one with the combo of two states, with a heart over each partners hometown.  And I knew that would be good, this years gift being wood and all.  I did not like the idea of a heart so I chose to just do a circle instead, simpler is better in my book.  Now I went into this one not expecting it to be easy but I admit I did think it was of the easier project. Let me say I was a bit wrong on that part, the biggest error was the amount of time it took.
Step one is just getting all the supplies.  Needed a piece of wood, had plenty of those around, needed nails, needed string, and needed outlines of the states.  I had to pick up small nails, Thought they would have them at Michael's but alas no, but I did get two colors of floss, $2.39.  I had to run over to Home Depot to get nails, $2.79.  And I printed out the state outlines and I am off and ready.
Step two, cut out the state outlines and put them on the board.  I put a nail through a close approximation of where South Portland, ME and Cana, VA.  But the outlines did not sit still so I put down some tape under them then they stuck.
Step three, nail down the outlines small spacing between the nails.  I did start out nailing them down a little too close together. But as I went on they got a little bit farther apart. But some of the nails went in a little crooked. After I got them in I found out they could easily be straightened with a flat head screwdriver and needle nose pliers.  This is what the nails looked like.

After the nails went in the paper outlines could be pulled out, and even though some of the nails went through the outline they were easy enough to pull out.

Step four, start wrapping the string.  This is the area that took so awfully long.  Basically just wrapping the string around the nails coming into the circle, where the screw is.  The biggest challenge was the areas where the states overlap.  But I should have seen that coming.  Also the other thing I did that made it harder for me, I made it smaller scale.  It would have been easier had it been bigger, more room to maneuvers.  But it worked out in the end, just took me a couple hours to get it all wrapped up.  And guess what I forgot the Chesapeake peninsula.  But that was easy enough to wrap it up once it was done.

So I really like how it came out and I think Meghan did too.  Not as clean and neat as some of them I have seen online but good enough for me.  So I will not number this project it will just remain special, and maybe tomorrow I can get on to the shim wreath. Happy Anniversary to my lovely wife of 5 years.

Second Project

Chair Bench

OK so I have my next project, YAY.  So here is the catch though, not sure if this will end up in the house or not.  But I have seen these projects before and always thought it looked like a great project.  But who knows if there is a spot for it in the house, if not our loss is someone else's gain.

So I am between two different options of what I am going to do, I have a couple of pictures, both are not really using the same kind of chairs.  But I do think I can finagle a design of either that will work with these chairs.  So here are my inspiration pictures.

So the top bench takes three chairs and I have two, the second bench is two chairs but the ones I have do have the arms.  So maybe it will be a combination of the two.  Maybe a DIY compromise.  But these are the two chairs I got today from craigslist for $20, they actually came out of an old Bell Telephone warehouse.

I do really like them and I think that they work out well for this task.  But I am excited for this one too.  I also have a small decoration project too that I decided to do as well. It is a very simple and I have everything needed except one piece and I think I can get it at one of our local craft stores.  I want to do a wreath made out of wood shims.  We have had a bunch left over bopping around the house and I know from my Do It Yourself magazine there are plenty of crafts to do with them.  Last night while I was practicing guitar I was looking at them and I thought I should do something with them and so today I searched Pinterest and found something I want try and replicate, but with my own twist.

So maybe I should have called this post second and third project, but I am pretty sure the wreath will be finished first.  Much less step intensive.  And I will need to get more supplies and materials for the bench, and its a much more work.  But it will be done, or at least attempted.

So its seems like before I was complaining about not having any ideas or materials, and now it seems like I have an excess.  But hey I ain't complaining.  But I assume probably it will go in waves as such.  And who knows I might even get started on the wreath tomorrow if all goes well.  Feeling good and motivated for now.

Ideas

So I have several ideas now but I am finding it hard to settle on my next project.  I even stopped by our local thrift shop today looking for inspiration or supplies.  It did make me realize my lack of knowledge of local thrift stores.  Most of ours around Beverly carry mostly clothing.  But I guess its another thing for me to research along the way.  But I do know the Habit for Humanity store in Lawrence would be a great resource when I have a specific project looking for specific household items.  But I think I could spend days in there and dream of all the things I could do, but I need a clear plan, at least I know that about myself.
But I did pick up this birch log off our street today, came down off of one of our neighbors trees.  I do love the look of birch but not yet sure what I am going to do with it yet.  But I pledge to use it for something.  Just couldn't pass it up.

It may be three feet long and probably ten inches in diameter at its thickest.  I am sure there are tons of ideas on Pinterest, but if anyone has any bright ideas feel free to pass them along.

But so far I am excited about this little plan of many projects.  One could say I am a little obsessed right now.  But isn't that how we always start something out that we want to do? I am just hoping that I have the staying power to keep on going.  

I think my Pinterest interest has been boosted.  I am always going on looking for creative and unique projects.  The problem with it is there are way to many.  I can't decide, that's the hard part, deciding.  When I started this I thought the actual doing would be hard.  And even though I am only one project deep I am finding the deciding to be feeling that way for me right now.  Also I am cruising on craigslist free page and actually reading my freecycle e-mails to see what I can score.  But that's harder still without a clear idea of a project, because there is so much crap out there.

Ah well I think that's it for me, we will see what fun ideas pop into my head next, or I find on the web, or someone tells me.  Still excited.

Finished Mailbox

OK here it is the mailbox in its home.  I think it looks good only small issue is that it's a little high for Meghan has to get on the step to see in it.  But all in all a success, yay for that.

First Project

Mailbox

OK so we have been without a mailbox on our house since last April when we took off all the old siding from the house and started residing.  I spent many different directions of thoughts as far as what type of mailbox I wanted to do and it really bounced around for a long time but I think I have a clear direction now.  The one true thing is we do not want the mailbox the way it is now.

This is what stands now.

We want something back on the house so I have a few options I have been looking at for inspiration.  I am not planning on matching any of them but really just drawing from the existing ones to get my idea machine rolling. When the project is finished we will see if it shows any resemblance to these at all.

These are the mailboxes I drew inspiration from.

So I am trying to complete this project by just using scraps of wood and supplies around the house and in the shed.  I think I will be pretty close to being able to do this.  I may need to supplement some of the trim for the box but we will see.  Obviously I will need to pick up hinges for the top door because I don't have random hinges laying around.  I am hoping to try and match the look of the house somewhat but my one fear is that it will blend in too much, but only one way to find out.

OK so I started this project by finding scraps in the shed and pulling them out and cutting the rough outline.  Was simple enough once I found the pieces of wood I thought would fit my needs.  I had to pick up a hinge and trim for the box, so all in all I am in for $9 for materials and another $13 for paint because the last gallon left over from our house project died over the winter.  But once I got going the project went fairly smooth.

First steps of construction, pieces, then attached, and trim added.

This was the initial construction.  I used basic 1 by lumber for the body of the box.  I cut out a front and a back, and then the sides with a random angle along the top edge.  Then I cut the bottom and started screwing it all together with some left over drywall screws.  Then used some larger finish nails to shore up the construction getting it a little more firm.  Then I used the trim I picked up at the depot, 1/2" by 1 1/2" to try and similarly match the cut of the house.  I think it actually worked out well. I was struggling a bit finding the right width and girth for the trim, wanted to make sure it was not too big or to small for the siding that was to be added.

The addition of siding, trim painted, then top door hinged and attached.

The siding went on fairly easily.  I did cut it down to 3" tall.  If I was to keep it as the original height it would have looked funny, taking up way too much space the space that was available.  But I liked how it came out shortening it.  the angled top pieces on the sides were a little tough but I used scraps and tested the angles before cutting the siding, but I am glad I did because the same angle I cut the trim was slightly off, but that's why we measure twice and cut once.  I tend to like to test cut three to four time, then final cut once.

The top was a little tougher for me to figure out.  But after one, the two, and on the third try I got it with something that would work for me.  But the hinge that I used made it a little more difficult.  I used a door hinge when I should have used with no reveal so the top would open easier.  But the way it turned out it leaves some space on the sides around the top and around the rear of the top. But it works.

This is the final product, paint to match the house, now all that is left is to put it up.

All that was left was to paint it up.  That went pretty much without a hitch.  It took longer than I thought it would to take because I had to pause to watch the world cup final in the middle of it.  But I was still able to finish even if I had to bring it in and finish on the table once dark outside.

So that's that, project number 1 is a success if I do say so myself.  So this one is a officially a DIY, I did not let it get the best of me.  Tomorrow I will officially put it up on the house and it will be the true finish.  Well now that I have completed a project I think I am able to share this.  I will not be posting everyday but I hope to keep at least a regular presence on here, to keep me motivated for more and more projects.  Maybe it will help others as well.

Beginning

Motivation:

So I am planning to keep this blog to help me motivate myself to do all these little projects I have in my head but never seem to do.  Hopefully it will be motivating for me to get things done and get them up on my blog.  I have always wanted to try blogging and hopefully this will make it possible for me and be something that I am excited about in projects and building things.

Mission Statement:

I hereby strive to try anything that I am interested in building or crazy enough to think up and want to make a physical representation, and so be it the outcome.

Again this is a first try so we will see if the name holds true or not for my blog but as of day one here I am excited.  I have so many projects in mind to do that hopefully I can get them going.  But if anyone has any suggestions or encouraging words please feel free to pass them along.  Although even if no one reads or follows my blog as long as I am active on it I will feel like I myself am successful.

About Me:

I would be one of those people you categorize as someone who is good with their hands and that leads to a lot of my ability to build and fix things.  A lot of that comes from my up bringing and work in my father's wood shop in my younger years.  Also as a profession now I maintain apartment buildings so my education continues in that sense.  My supportive wife of almost five years is also a great factor in me building things and getting things done.  She is very good with ideas of what would be interesting or something we could use in our house.  We have grand ideas for renovations down the road but I am sure much of that will be beyond DIY.  But I am sure there will still be plenty for us to do as well.  

I am keeping this brief because this blog will hopefully be more about the projects and not about me, I will hopefully be the secondary character.  But I will definitely lend to the story how it goes for me

Well if you have gotten this far good for you and hopefully there will be more to come and actual projects and not just a statement.