A Cat Tree, & A Christmas Tree.

I have a good project for you, but it’s one I did a while back and didn’t take photos during the process, so I will do some explaining, and hopefully it will be easy to understand.
While I’m here, I will say “Merry Christmas to you!” and include a picture of my Tree.

Once the lights were on, (ugh) I actually had fun decorating it.

I should really show you the adorable ones that use the Cat Tree I'm going to explain to you.
This is Phish (He's in love with me)

And this is Chip (He's in love with Phish)

I joke that we should get a solid white cat and name her Vinny. If I do get a third cat… ask me “What were you thinking?”

And this is the Cat Tree I made for them.

I used 2x4’s, ¼” MDF, and ½” MDF.
I built two tray shapes from MDF. On the side that would be against the wall, I didn’t bother to add the edge. On the bottom one I cut out a half circle by which the cat’s would climb in. Then I used 2x2 in the corners to connect the top and bottom trays. I painted everything the same color as the wall so it would blend in, as opposed to calling extra attention.

The main body of the tree (the trunk) is built with 2x4’s. The shelves/steps are sandwiched between the 2x4’s. I screwed each shelf into the 2x4 it rested on before putting another 2x4 above it, and screwing that 2x4 to the 2x4 on the other half of the “trunk”. Ignore carpet right now.

This might make more sense… I started by using two boards different heights at the bottom, screwing them to each other. Then I screwed the first shelf/step into the top of the shorter board, and then put a 2x4 on top of it, screwing it to the other half of the trunk.

There are three 2x4’s the same length working their way up to the top, and then there is a short one to finish off the one side. (I realize this is hard to see in my photos, but it’s actually a very simple concept.)

Then I built a collar around the top of the trunk to give a larger base for the top of the tree to be screwed into it.
Another thing to mention… I made this fit the exact height from floor to ceiling so that it could not tip or tilt… so measurements are vital, accounting for every thickness of wood used.
I also attached the trunk to a flat board at the bottom for sturdiness.

Then I painted the whole thing, and covered the bottom section in carpet scraps so they could use it as a scratching post. (they don’t, but it was a great idea.)

Lastly, I cut a remnant of carpet into pieces that I could cover the steps with. I cut out the notches for the trunk, and wrapped the carpet around them, stapling it onto the bottom with a staple gun.

This is a rough example of how I cut the carpet. I did staple it in a few places on top, while I cut the edges how I wanted them on the bottom; fitting together neatly. (A mean pair of scissors is needed to cut carpet if you aren’t using a box cutter. Like those kind you cut through aluminum can’s with… Kitchen scissors that will go through chicken bones….. you know what I mean.)

I also cut some carpet to fit inside the top, so they have something nice to lay on. Before stapling this down, I screwed the top onto the trunk.

And that’s it. They love getting up above everyone, especially if kids come over.

Hope I remembered everything. It’s a super easy idea, you just have to be exact with your measurements.
TFL

I got me an Etsy store.

Seriously!
I know everyone has them now a days, but I decided I need one.
http://www.getscatty.etsy.com/
I'm selling things that I don't tend to mention much here on my blog, like my jewelry and photography. Eventually a book I've written.

I don't have much on there yet, but it's something to look at.
Here are a few of my "Photo Paintings" I have listed on Etsy.
(these are photos that look like a photo from a distance, but like a painting up close)
If you are a regular to my blog you might remember one I put in my laundry room behind an antique window frame ;)

TFL

If you're a local and want to buy one, email me and we can work out you collecting it instead of having to pay shipping. ;)

A Chair to Match!

I know its crazy late in the year for yard sales, but there are still some lingering, and I just bought these three chairs for $1 each. Not kidding.
"Bargain of the day!" I will often say to my husband with a find like this. "You don't need those chairs no more than...." husband wanders off complaining... (ya, he knows better ;)

I like their shape, and I’m sure if you are familiar with my blog you are seeing their potential too!!
I decided I would do something different to each of them, and give them homes in bedrooms. I currently have a wooden bench I made in my room for sitting when putting on shoes, but I don’t feel it matches or fits where it is… So The first chair (today’s post) will match the piece of furniture I did in my post Love It, Love It, Love It on August 28th, and it will live in my room.

Because I’m making the chair match that funny piece of furniture (it really needs a name), I don’t need to get all specific in the how to, since I did the same for this chair.

I removed the cushion by unscrewing the four screws that held it in place. I took the chair outside and sanded it down.

I also sanded the metal pieces on the front legs since they looked old and haggard too.
Then I washed the whole thing off with a damp rag.

I taped up the metal pieces on the feet and painted it.

Then I recovered the cushion, adding a piece of 1.5” foam to the top of it. I used the scrap of fabric left over from my headboard project posted on June 5th.

When the paint was dry I used walnut stain over the top of the paint, and wiped off all the excess. To a fairly smooth finish. (working in small areas, not allowing the stain to dry)

Once it was all dry, I screwed the cushion back on.
I’m quite pleased with this easy little beauty.

And no, I won’t leave it sitting here in the middle of nowhere. :)

TFL

May as well be new clothes!

I've been neglecting my closet for ages because I've wanted to create an organized system of something more than one shelf and one long hanger. Once I decide I'm not happy with something, I kinda treat it badly by ignoring it, and not keeping it in a organized or clean fashion.... sound familiar? Well typical for me! (My kitchen floor is also in this category --Moving along.)
Also... Aren't closet "systems" totally expensive??? Ya... Start looking at all the shelving and you soon feel like you can't afford to have your clothes all organized.
I was talking to the sweet Jennifer Gallacher about closets and "systems" a while back, and she told me that she has the racking type of organizers that yes looks all perfect and customizable, but she doesn't like how nothing is sitting on a flat surface, and clothes have "grill marks". (That's not how she put it :)
Those systems are in every DIY store... so I had thought that would be the route I'd take, until she told me she didn't like them!!

This first photo is taken as I partially emptied it for my big ol' Make-Over. I think it's easier to see the closet w/o all the mess. So here's the mess.

And don't think this isn't tidy mess... I'm not gunna share a true pic of how bad it was!

This is what had to go... partially painted white walls, a shelf that wrapped around the closet in a U shape, and one long sagging rail. I fully expected the rail to give way before I ever got to this point, so I consider myself pretty lucky.

I decided that I wanted to build a system of movable shelves, a long time ago, so I've been collecting supplies as I found them. It was at the beginning of the summer I found a box of 24 shelf supports at a yard sale. They were old, I could see by the stickers on them, but they seemed unused. When the lady told me the box was 50 cents... I said something along the lines of "sold". Not questioning her craziness.

Then at another yard sale... A REALLY good one with all hardware supplies like a hardware store in a driveway... I found 6 foot uprights for my shelf supports... and the guy wanted like a dollar and a quarter each!!! Also new!!! I bought six, not knowing anything more than I had 6 studs in that wall, and I would be on my way to my a tidy closet.

So... here we are, stuck into the project before I remembered to take a photo. I got out the post-it's and painters tape after painting the walls and ceiling white. With my stud finder I marked all of the studs, and planned where my upright supports were going to go. Then I screwed them into the wall using a spirit level.

These plastic beauties are what I found at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. They don't really give you a breakdown of prices when you go there, so I don't know what exactly I paid, but it was pennies, not dollars.... I got a bunch of them so I would have enough to play with.

This photo shows the original length, and the length I had to cut them to to fit perfectly. I just used a hand saw.

Then I stuck in some shelf supports, and started cutting shelves to length! The plastic rail supports I screwed into the bottom of the shelves, and then used L brackets to hold the shelves in place. Which needs more explanation actually..... You can't put a rail and clothes under a shelf at the shelves edge without the back of the shelf tipping from the weight. So, with an L bracket, I put one edge on top of the back of the shelf, and the other edge against the wall, and screwed it in to the wall -at a stud. This stops the back of the shelf from going anywhere when clothes get hung near the front edge. Clear as mud?

Oh ya, must mention the rails...... LOL Yes, from yet another yard sale!!

And yes... I attract these things to me by planning my projects in my head and on paper before I ever start. Knowing what I need, and "putting it out there" means I come across bargains like this one!!! Yes 75 cents for a rail that is NOT bent. I totally could have used the one I took down, but if I don't have to use bent, I won't. And it was the same length as the one I had... so just what I needed!

I cut it to length with a pipe cutter. These baby's are super cheap, they just take some work on the part of your hands. I'd love one that was ergonomic.

Shelves going up... nearing completion...... You can't believe my excitement!

Oh... shelf cost... I didn't buy all my shelves at once... see planning... you don't want to over buy either. (These were by far the most expensive part of the project.) An 8 foot length of white malamine board, which is basically laminated chipboard costs $12 each. A 4 foot length is $7 each. Plan well, and use less board. Look at my one long board... It's a rail holder and a shelf on the right... Eh? Wink wink!

And this is why I say it's like having new clothes. They're all where I want them... Not getting neglected now.

TFL

Where do you put your bed pillows?

The decorative ones you don't sleep on? For years mine have lived on the floor! And because I only make my bed when someone is coming over, the pillows have lived on the floor for the majority of their lives.
So I had an idea... I need a Pillow Cupboard!
Once I decided this, I found a part of a TV console in the clearance furniture at IM HOME in Provo. It was in clearance because it was only the top part, and discontinued... plus it had a scratch on the top. Then I found these green doors at a cabinet maker's workshop... (amazing guy, long story)

The doors were slightly too tall for the cupboard, but perfect in width, so I attached feet to the cupboard, and connected the doors to the cupboard with hinges. Then I drilled holes and attached knobs I got at home depot for $1.29 each... (I'm such a cheapskate I know.)

Then I attached a catch for each door too!

Then I went looking for a design for my doors... I'm good at ideas, but not good at designs... and I found something I liked online and this is it....

I then opened it in photoshop and converted it to B&W. Then printed it.

Then I inverted it, realizing it would be easier to work with and printed it again.

Then I drew lines through the image after deciding the scale I wanted it to be on the door. This is a hard process to explain, but an easy one to conceptualize.... So I'm sure you get it.

Then I drew the corresponding lines on the doors, and drew on my design... Trying to decide how much and where as you can see... lots of eraser marks. :D

Then I took it out in the garage and cut out the shapes with my drill and jigsaw. Drilling multiple holes makes lining up the blade of the jigsaw much easier.

Also, if you have some narrow places, support those narrow places when you are cutting near them... after you have cut them... they are thin enough you want to baby them a bit.

Then I took the doors outside and spray painted them with 4 colors... each in tern. I wanted a mottled uneven look.

Then I got out my trusty Walnut Stain, (that I use on like everything -huh?) and I stained the inside cut out edges on the whole design. Then I stained over the paint and made it even more mottled.

Then I bought some adorable upholstery fabric... on sale so I paid just over $5 for what I needed, and I cut it out to cover my shapes, and I hot glued it to the door, making sure I glued in between all the cut out pieces, not just around the edges. I would like to find something thin and large like a big sheet of chipboard so I can paint it and cover this fabric... protecting it really. But I need to find that.

Then I reattached my doors! I'm super happy with it, and think it's a cute design.

No more pillows on the floor in my room!

Love it, love it, love it!

For once I have a project that needs very little explanation, and I have lots of photos.
This was such a fun project that it has jumped the queue of projects for my blog... which is why I'm so late in posting a project this month... I had to do this one!
I found this funny piece of furniture at my new favorite place.... The Park City recycle center!!
You can recycle almost everything there, and they have a shed with stuff you can purchase. I found this interesting beauty for $10... You read that right -ten smackers!

It's a very strange piece... it seems to be made from a bunch of pieces that were once other things. See those holes in the middle top of that side... they are holes where there was once hinges.... The top piece on the right is solid with the bottom, and the top left piece is attached.

No real handles to speak of on the drawers, and they didn't all seem to fit.

The back was 5 pieces of wood that were all different thicknesses and colors.

It's even dirtier than it looks.

And it's been sitting in water... odd smell, and a little black staining!

It looks like it once had a hinging front that covered the drawers, like an old fashioned desk. There were three holes like this.

And screws everywhere!!! all rounded tops and standing proud of the wood.... even on the top of it.

So... I removed all the screws, filled in all the holes and dents, and removed all the boards from the back.

I've decided it was a piece of furniture used on a move set. Why else would it be so cobbled together? Parts of it are so nice, and parts are such a mess.... I dunno.

Then primed it with white primer.

Then I painted it a seafoam blue. I painted the 3 hinges on the front... they were silver, I wasn't going to use any silver on the finished piece, so I painted over them.

Look, no more missing hinge holes .

This is the scary part. I then got walnut stain, and painted over 1 section at a time.

Then I used a rag and wiped it off to "antique" it. Trying to keep from drawing lines in the stain as you wipe it off is a little tricky.

I tried to make sure I got stain in all the grooves and details.

When I finished the staining, I cut a thin board to replace the back, and painted one side of it white. I forgot to mention I painted the inside of the bottom section white too. I screwed the back on, and then moved onto the drawers.

After painting the drawers to match I drilled holes in them and added old knobs I found at ReStore... The Habitat for Humanity store. I also found a handle for the bottom section there too. They are a kind of antique brass color and very worn.

I'm pleased as punch with it!!!

An unwanted CLOSET becomes a VANITY. (complete)

Without the need for a closet in my master bath, I’ve ripped it out!

When we moved into our house we put shelves in this clothes closet since we had all our clothes hanging where they should be (in the closet in our bedroom).
Despite the shelves, the closet remained pretty much wasted space housing towels and unused toiletries.
Then I had an idea… Rip it out, and build a Vanity! So much of my hair/make-up “stuff” lived on the bathroom counter, I decided I could create a vanity that would hold it all, and hide most of it. I get excited when I have ideas that will help me be tidy, and I LOVE to have a home for everything.

So, de-construction of the closet was first. Then I took out some sheet rock to tap into the electricity… (since I would need to have an outlet for my hairdryer) and then I mudded my joints, and texturized all of the walls the vanity would be part of, then I primed it… (the rest of the bathroom will have to “match” later… a bathroom remodel takes a fair chunk of money)
Also at this point, I ripped out the bathroom door and door frame, adding drywall to the opening and mudding it also. I did this because I wanted a sliding bathroom door. (This was a project on its own, which I won’t go into now. Not all that exciting. In this photo you can see my child height counter tops. -They meet my thighs. One day they will go!)
This vanity in its entirety, was a lengthy project, so I struggle to know how much to share. I took lots of photos! I’m going to try and keep it short and sweet, not going into too much detail, because it might get boring. Even doing that… It’s a long project that I think I’ll break down into more than one post.

Then I went to Lowes to look for lighting. Home Depot didn’t have enough selection for me, and so Lowes to the rescue! I ended up finding two vanity lights on clearance for $13.50 each! Originally $54. each! Score!
So, that determined what I was going to do with lighting, and I called my dad!

He helped me with this set up, which is just what I wanted! Wires would eventually be hidden with my plan… so don’t worry about them.

Then I built a frame onto the wall using left over scraps from a really cool project I’ll eventually share when it’s finished. (I never seem to post projects in order. Some take longer eh?)

This frame is in 2 sections for a purpose… you will see why later in the project. Then I painted it white.
*(here's where I stopped on the first post, and now will continue :)

Between the two lights, I located the studs with my "stud finder". This is one of the handiest tools ever! I placed a piece of masking tape on either side of the stud, and then used a strip of blue between my marks to be my center stud line.

Then with L brackets, and strips of wood I painted white, I screwed them into the studs. I also taped a scrap board up level on the right to use as my "stopper". (IDK what to call it.)

Then I kept going with three more shelves. Worth knowing, I screwed the L brackets into the shelf prior to screwing it to the wall; using the measurement between pieces of blue tape. ;) I love my spirit level!Here's the shelves all spaced differently for different height items.Then I used two pieces of wood (not these two, as I decided they were too small, but I didn't take a photo of the larger wood) and screwed them into my shelves as so. These serve as the boards to which I attach the hinges for my mirror. And I painted them white.Under the bottom shelf I did a little side project. I found some eye screws at the hardware store the size of some thick dowels I had. I screwed it into the bottom shelf, then I bought two rubber gromets to place on the dowel either side of the eye screw. This kept the dowel where I wanted it, and I am able to hang my bracelets from the dowel.At this point I did a few things I didn't photograph.

I painted the walls white, and the wall on the left of the vanity I painted "Cafe Au Lait".

Then I hung the mirror I "made". I just built a frame larger than the mirror to fit the size I needed, but used wood thick enough the mirror could still fit in the opening. I painted it white before I decided I wanted it the same color as the wall, so I painted it again. Then I attached some braces across the corners of the frame, painting them with black metal paint first. These will match my black door handle.

Also at this point I attached the wood to the frame. I did not photograph this process either, but I can explain what is here. At the top back of the vanity I have a solid piece of ply that spans the width, but is only about 14" deep. To this I attached two piano hinges, then two pieces of ply for my left and right sections. (Obviously I stained my plywood before attaching it.)

I also attached a piece of ply to the front of the frame. (ps to this... I had Home Depot cut my 12mm board when I purchased it. I think I paid for about 9 cuts, and then refined it at home as and where I needed. But, by having them cut it, I saved myself lots of work with my lack of ability to chop up an 8'x4' sheet.)

So... Then I screwed a board to the bottom of the vanity... I think this is like Malamine, but not as stif... It's textured one side, and flat the other. I painted the flat side white before screwing it to the bottom of my frame.

Then I did this little project...

I have designed this vanity so that I have to lift open to access my crap. I did this for two reasons. 1. A drawer would mean I would have to keep moving back and forth from the mirror, opening it towards me. Not good. 2. A lifting top would FORCE me to keep the top clean. Can't set something on it if I want to get something else out.

Here, you are seeing my solution for the hairdryer side... Ya I want the ability to keep my hairdryer put away, but I also want the ability to use it easily while it's out. I tend to dry my hair in 2-3 five minute stints.

I couldn't find brackets the shape of a C, so I bought two L's and attached them together with a short bolt and nut. Then I screwed them to a shelf I covered with a faux leather remnant. (I found this remnant at JoAnn's. It was from a bolt that cost 16.99 a YARD, and this little piece of left over was $1.89! I bought it not knowing what I'd use it for, and the following day I thought of this! Bargain tangent over.)

As you can see, I also used the short bolts to attach it to the bottom of the vanity.

This is hairdryer out and in use...

Did I say I drilled out a groove to accomodate the cord?

The reason I drilled it on the right side of this section is because I will be sitting in the middle of the vanity, and when I pick it up, the cord will be near me.This is hairdryer put away.We are nearing the end! ( I wish Blogger were more friendly with uploading photos and moving them around. All these photos -on an updated post has taken AGES! I won't do it again.)

This is the vanity with the mirror open, my earring frames hung on the wall. A shaving mirror attached to the side for me to see the back of my hair, and the shelf above the vanity boxed in to match the vanity top! This also hides my electricity box and wires for the lights.I keep a blue duster on top to polish and keep my vanity free from dust so prevalent in a bathroom. You can see my sliding door in this photo. I also boxed in the top of it to match the vanity!

One day the floor will get redone, then skirting will go in, and the child height cabinets and sinks will be replaced.... one day. And then towels can live in a cabinet again.

One thing I forgot to mention or photograph. I attached a stay hinge inside the right side where I keep my makeup and the majority of my stuff so it will stay open at an angle if I'm going in and out.

I hear the yawning! Sorry this was so long. I don't do long ones like this often :)

TFL!

Hope it was worth the long read.

PageMaps Blog

I don’t often share my scrapbook pages on my blog, (since it's all about projects) but the wonderful Robyn Weatherspoon pointed out a challenge Becky Fleck posted on PageMaps, so I went a lookin’.

Here’s Becky’s sketch and challenge…

Here’s my take on the sketch…



Thanks Robyn, and Thanks Becky!

Transforming my Headboard.

Good Morning Blog Hoppers!

I have a great project that is easy. I hope it gives you some ideas.
(Sorry there aren’t lots of photos. I think I was so excited about finishing it, I didn’t take as many photos as I must have thought I was.)

I bought this headboard for $49 two years ago at a furniture clearance store. It wasn’t in perfect condition, but well worth the $49 I thought!

This Headboard hasn’t ever been my style, but that doesn’t normally stop me, and it didn’t in this case.
Well, it took a while, but I had the BEST idea for transforming it.

First I took off the screw-on knobs at the top sides of the headboard. I filled in the holes and painted it all brown since I didn’t care for the mahogany color of it. (I don’t like browns to have a red or orange hue.)

I measured the middle section, and the two side sections which as you can see are the same size.

Then I bought a sheet of ¼” particle board (chipboard like MDF) that has a little flex in it, (since the headboard is slightly rounded). I paid $11 dollars, and took my measurements with me to Home Depot. Then I had them cut it for me to my required sizes. EASY 4 ME!

Then I drilled a hole in each of the 4 corners on all 3 pieces. I placed a 2” bolt, through each hole, and screwed on a nut.

One at a time I held up the board to the respective section of bed, and used the bolt to mark the wood. Then I drilled holes into the headboard right where the bolts touched/scratched the bed.
Then I placed the board on a piece of foam (I try to keep foam handy in a closet for projects. Buying it new is expensive, and I love having it around when I need it.) and drew around the board with a marker. Then I cut the foam with an electric carving knife.

This picture doesn’t show the fabric, but I placed fabric that was at least 6” longer and wider than the board on to the floor, then I lay the foam down, and then placed my board on top with the bolts skyward.

With my staple gun I stapled the fabric around the foam and onto the wood.

Then pushing the fabric covered board onto the headboard and forcing the bolts through the holes, I got more nuts, and screwed them onto the bolt at the back of the headboard, thus holding it in place.

With all 3 pieces attached, here’s my new headboard!!

I’m redecorating my bedroom, and when I’m finished this brown headboard will no longer be against a brown wall…. That’s my current big project…. And I’m taking photos…. I’m loving it so far… watch this space!

Thanks for stopping by. Please now Hop over to the sweet Andrea Amu’s blog: I’m Livin’ on Scraps.

post script: I will be randomly picking a name from those that comment on this post, and sending a prize of jewelry that I've made.

Hanging Laundry in a small laundry room.

My apologies for taking so long to post a new project. I’ve been working on lots of things.

Ah, hem….
Long ago I went to a yard sale… (it gets better)
This was the yard sale of a compulsive shopper, and everything there was brand new. I got towels, a fancy iron, leather purse, waffle iron, too much to list… but I also bought a strange thing called a “laundry mate”.

It’s supposed to be used for men’s dress shirts, it has all rods that are supposed to conform into a human form allowing the sleeves to dry nicely so you don’t have to iron the shirts…. Sounding stranger the further I go… so, I will just say that I bought it not for what it could do... but for what it was going to become.

Over 3 years later, I came across the box it lives in and I finally said…. “Let’s make this sucker! I want to hang laundry in my laundry room and not in my spare room.”
(One more thing to add… I think I bought two of them at the yard sale and put all the parts into one box. Which is why I have so many pieces.)

The parts are all plastic, and this is what some of them look like. I’m only concerned with the pieces I’ve put letters next to for ease of understanding what I’ve done.

Then I bought two thin wood boards costing like .60 cents each and painted them white.

I drilled holes into the A pieces, then into the boards (at measured intervals), and then used small bolts and nuts to connect the A pieces to the .60 cent boards.
I made two identical.
Then I slid the B rods into the A holes ( LOL) and connected the C caps to the B rods. Thus connecting both .60 cent boards into something resembling a ladder.Then I drilled a hole into each of the .60 cent boards near the end. I put a karabiner through that hole.

(The karabiner's were the most expensive part of the project... having to buy a pack of six for $7.)

And then connected the karabiner to an eye screw I put into the wall.

Here’s where I admit that I was SUPER lucky to line up both eye screws with wall studs. (I use a stud finder on a regular basis, but rarely get so lucky I get to screw into two studs on one project.) So… simple enough. I made sure before deciding the height of the eye screws that the length of my ladder thing would be able to rest on the top of my washer and dryer.

K, THEN… I got a piece of wood, cut it just wider than the ladder, screwed large hooks into the ends, spaced the same distance as the .60 cent boards.

Then I used butterfly screws to attach this board to the ceiling. No way was I going to try and mess with whether or not I would find wood in the ceiling to screw into… working over my head is hard enough.

I attached it at a distance that would allow the ends of my ladder to rest inside the hooks just right.

I use my laundry hanger both up and down…. It’s easier to load down, and if I don’t have to be going in and out, I go ahead and leave it down while the laundry dries.

Now, I realize this isn’t a project that everyone is going to do cause they have a “laundry mate” hanging around in a box under the stairs, but I’ve posted this in the hopes that you may be inspired to take one thing that might be a poor idea/invention, and turn it into a great idea that fits YOUR space.

I’d like to add, if you ever do a project inspired from one of mine, and would like to share, please feel free to email me pictures (instructions if you wish) and I will post it here on my blog. getskatty@q.com (Yep with a k)

TFL!