Honey-Do List DIY Wood Crafting Project (Part 1)

Another One of My Diabolical Plans

When your very old laptop starts to have problems, and you finally decide to upgrade to something new, and then choose a CPU tower rather than another laptop, you may have a problem like I did. My desk is made with a keyboard pull-out shelf, but has filing cabinets on both sides, so there really isn't room to stick a desktop computer tower. My timing is not great, with computer chip delays and very high prices on lumber, but I dreamt up a new DIY project for my honey-do list! 

My office/craft room space is full, since I try to not waste any space that could hold more of my crafty stash. 😉  I shoved furniture around a little, and made a 18-inch wide opening between my desk and wood stamp storage unit. I drew up a very rough sketch of my idea for a DIY wood shelf unit that would hold the new tower, plus have a space for the old laptop and my Silhouette Cameo. I will keep using that laptop as long as it lasts, to operate my Silhouette.

With the 3-day weekend Memorial Day quickly approaching, I got my husband to head to Menards with me and find the cheapest variety of hardwood we could buy. He was opposed to this method of wood choosing, but I am cheap. The grain, color and such didn't matter enough to me to spend a lot more. So, we found their selection of "random yellow birch" which came in varied and uneven cuts. This wasn't a problem for the hubby and all his DeWalt woodworking tools. woot woot

We crammed all the lumber into my van and headed home. As a side note, we really miss the work truck. A wheelchair accessible van is great for the purpose it was created, but not so good for long boards of lumber. By this time Chad had drawn more official "blueprints" with correct measurements, and I (not very patiently) waited for the weekend to come.

Memorial Day Weekend Is Finally Here

Chad spent most of Saturday cutting and gluing. I was hopeful that 3 days was long enough to get this project done (BOY, was I wrong!!)! We had our "kids" (28 and 30 years old) and his parents come for lunch and games on Monday. Chad and I always joke about carpenter time. He gives me an estimate of how long a job will take (at home DIY or concrete construction at work). Basically, whatever he says I can just double to get a better estimate! He told me this project wasn't going to be finished this weekend. Aww shucks!

Sunday, after church, I shoved Chad back into the garage to get to work. (Who cares if the grass needs cutting, right!??) Shelves are glued and ready for more sanding.

The hubby says he needs more tools! (Weird how this always happens) Guess a router table is on the wish list before the next project. He says doing it this way is much harder. 

....and we need some more clamps and other things too!

Starting to come together-

End of day 2, and it is about 75% done. Just the top shelf for the Silhouette left to add!

Monday marks the beginning of day 3, and I am hoping there is enough time to get it finished today. A little more to assemble, then stain and poly. I'm super impatient! More cutting, gluing and sanding today. He is working on the top, slightly wider, shelf that will be where the Silhouette Cameo sits. It needed enough clearance for the 12x12" mat that is cutting to freely travel in one side and out the other as the machine cuts the design.

Going To Take A Little LOT Longer

In the meantime, I choose a color of Minwax (Pickled Oak) stain that we didn't already have and bought a small container. Dug out previously used wood pre-stain conditioner and some poly/topcoat, along with rags and gloves to be ready to work on the finished shelving unit asap. Chad was on a job site that was going to start working 10-hour days, and Saturdays, which was really going to interfere with getting my honey-do list done, but he is awesome! He said he would work on it in the evenings, and get it done by the following weekend.

Tuesday evening he finished cutting and sanding the top shelf.  Wednesday was a day off, and Thursday was just a little more glue and sanding. 

Finally Time For Some Staining

Friday was the day I got to use the wood conditioner, and then apply the stain. I did want the wood to stay a natural, light color, but this stain didn't seem to do much. I like it though!

Board without stain (left) and stained shelf top (right)

Saturday morning I was able to add the topcoat, and that is when I read all the directions hahaha

Recommended 3 topcoat applications, with 12-24 hours of drying time between. Now, I expect we will finish putting it all together next weekend, since my annual family game day was Sunday, (June 3rd if you are counting). I came up with an idea for a matching wall shelf too, which will take a couple more days to glue, and sand, and stain, but the finished project will be amazing (I promise). (Keep an eye out for DIY Part 2)

Week Two (or is it really 3??)

Monday was spent doing some light sanding, and finishing the topcoat. I am hoping at this point, that the new unit will be finally assembled, and up in my craft room by Tuesday evening, assuming Chad isn't working too much. The matching wall shelf will be a few more days, because you really can't rush the staining process (Believe me, I would have, if I could have!)

Look at that nice satin shine!

Chad was able to finish the gluing, with Willow's help.  We got the unit upstairs late Monday evening, and I plugged everything in. 

Still need a little cord management, but here is the final project-

I happen to LOVE wood of all colors and varieties, but I needed a light color between my walnut cabinet with cherry stain, and the weathered grey desk. I am ready to create!

Look for Part 2 with the wall shelf soon, and I will be completely done with my craft room storage (for now haha). You can see other craft room storage solutions we did a couple years ago. Have a great week!

Until Next Time

~Shari