$30-$40 Mantle Shelf

Here is a post that I posted on my Photography blog about a week ago, before I decided to start my DIY blog.

 

Here is my latest DIY project. If you don't already know my family recently made a huge move. We moved 9 hours away! Yea, you said it....WOW.....WHAT! We moved from Tennessee to Illinois. The land of SNOW!! My husband has forbid me to leave the house today and tomorrow. Currently as I set here typing this post it is -12 and feels like -37!! School has been called off today and tomorrow for my son.....I'm soooo glad!! We have at least 10" of snow, I had to shovel out a path of snow in my back yard for the dog.......it is too deep....he has to try to hop. It's so funny to watch him.

Anyway back to the project our house has a fireplace in the corner and no mantle. We moved for my husband's job and because we weren't sure if we were going to stay up here or move back to TN we decided to lease a house and not buy just yet. Since we are leasing I needed something that could be taken down. Since I am on a budget and I wanted something not permanent I choose to build one myself. I drove my happy little hiney down to my local Lowe's to pick up all the needed supplies. The total cost will be between $30 - $40 depending on what type of shelf brackets, type of wood you choose. Also if you have wood screws and paint at home. I bought two cans of white spray paint....the cheap kind. Like 98 cents a can. Let me tell you don't waste your two bucks. Instead of driving my not so happy, but tired hiney back to the store I used some flat white paint I had left. I really wanted a shine on it, but a girl has to take what she can get. I was impatient and wanted up on the wall. I choose to paint and not stain because I figured that would be more versatile. I could take it down and use it somewhere else if I wanted to.

I used the 1x10x6 for the piece that will be up against the wall and the 1x8x6 for the top piece. I pre drilled all the holes and counter sink each. I used the shelf brackets to help hold everything up while I drilled the holes. After it was all assembled I painted it white. I marked the wall where I wanted the shelf (top of shelf 60in from the floor) and where the studs were. In a weird kind-of way I held it up on the wall all by myself and pre drilled through the wood into the wall and stud.  I put it back down on the floor and used a larger drill bit (the size of the top of the screw). I only drilled deep enough to counter sink the screws. I put plugs in the holes. I didn't glue them because I wanted to get to the screws if I needed to take the shelf down. I touched them up with white paint.

While I was putting up Christmas decorations I realized that I hadn't take a close up of it, so I snapped one quickly. If you are wondering.......yes that is a curtain rod that the stocking are hanging on. Since Christmas is over and all decorations are down and stored away til next year. It only has a few thing on it. I'm still deciding on how to decorate it. I'm open to suggestions, please leave me comments. I'll post a picture when I finally get it all done!!