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Sunday, May 15, 2011

Estelle's New Bookshelves~ Tutorial

I love blog world, you can find so many great tutorials.  I have been looking for a bookshelf for Elle's bedroom on Craigslist and other websites, but haven't found what I wanted.  Then I found a blog called The Sweet Survival where Trisha made these adorable bookshelves for her son's room.  
So, I sent the hubby to our local home center to pick up the materials!  Here's how we created Elle's new book shelves.

Materials:
1 QT of paint 
1~1x6x6 Whitewood 
1~1x4x6 Whitewood
1~1x8x6 Whitewood
14~ 1 1/4 in. Wood Screws
Paint Brushes in various sizes
2~ 2 1/2 in. Drywall Screws
Sand Paper
Wood Putty

Directions:

 You'll need to cut your 1x8, 1x6, and 1x4 wood to 24 inches.  The face of your shelf will be the 1x6, the 1x8 will be the back of the shelf, and the 1x4 will be the bottom.  
Next, pre-drill holes to prevent your wood from splitting.  Then drill the wood screws in to secure all pieces of the wood.  Once the three pieces are attached, you'll need to cut your side pieces with the remaining 1x4.  Then attach it the same way you did it with the other pieces. 
 Use wood putty to cover your screws and allow it to dry.  Then sand down the putty.
Next, paint the shelves.  It may take a few coats.
 Then, you'll add your stencil.  I didn't have any vinyl on hand, but I think that it would have been easier to use.  If you are painting with the stencil, you need a lot of patience and a steady hand.  You don't want the paint to ooze under the stencil.  If that happens, use a small paint brush and the paint from the shelf to touch it up.
I designed this stencil using my Cricut and Sure Cuts A Lot, and used the font Smiley Monster
 And while you or your significant other puts the shelf up, your little one can speed up the process by standing over your shoulder with a hockey stick.
To attach to the wall, use a stud finder and attach the shelf using the 2 1/2 in. drywall screws.  If it isn't drilled into a stud, you'll need to secure it with L-brackets or something like that.




Then, let your little one enjoy their new book shelves!


Make sure to check out all of my other tutorials here, and follow me onTwitter and Facebook!


I'm Linking Up With : Made by You Mondays, and Craftomaniac, and a Bowl Full of Lemons.  To see where I link up all week, check out my Link Party Tab!

12 comments:

  1. oo I love this! I need to make some of these for my livingroom so I can get rid of the huge bookcase!

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  2. I love these! At first I thought you had a separate shelf for the library books! ha ha... but thinking that would be so smart for us, as our books get mixed together with library books so easily. This is great.

    I would love for you to share this at my For the Kids link party! Stop on by and join the fun! I'd love to have you sharing your great ideas with my visitors! :)

    http://sunscholars.blogspot.com/2011/05/for-kids-friday-9.html

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  3. i have been wanting to do this!!! love it!

    sugartotdesigns.blogspot.com

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  4. cute! thanks for the simple tutorial!

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  5. How cute! I don't have kids yet, so I hadn't even thought that high shelves would be out of reach for them. Just not something I ever thought of :)

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  6. So cute! What a great idea! I may steal it! ;-)

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  7. Great job mama!! I'd love for you to link up!

    http://polkadotsonparade.blogspot.com/2011/05/welcome-to-party-im-so-excited-to-see.html

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  8. love these!! do you know where the growth chart came from??

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  9. Thanks, I wish I could say I made the growth chart, but some wonderful friends got it for me from Pottery Barn Kids.

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  10. I love that. I may have to make one myself. Thanks for sharing it.

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  11. Thanks for the tutorial. I want to put book shelves in my girls room and have been pondering how.
    Love yours and she is a cutie!!!
    ladeedacreations.com

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