Hi there! So, recently, I made something new for my mom. If you haven’t guessed, she is my guinea pig for new projects, but I think she may like that, so it’s the perfect situation! Actually, I made her two of these because she fell in love with the first so much. This project is extremely SIMPLE! Like a couple of hours simple…like, hmmm…I have nothing do to for an hour, let’s see what I can make out of this extra piece of 4X4, simple. This is also a project that you can personalize and add your own unique touches to. The first one I made had a very rustic feel, so I am going to add some old, rusted hardware that I found buried in our barn.
Here is your supply list:
- 4X4 cut to the length of your choosing
- Sander
- Drill Gun
- Ball-Peen Hammer
- Forstner Bit
- Wood Stain
The first step is to cut down your 4X4. If you don’t have a miter saw, you can always have your local home improvement store cut one down to your specific measurements.
Next, sand all of your edges.
Now, beat that to heck!! I used a ball-peen hammer because the round end created just the effect that I was looking for. You can use all sorts of tools/nails/chains…really anything. Pine indents easily, so knock yourself out and try multiple techniques.
After you take out some aggression, possibly much needed, it’s time to drill some holes. This is pretty awesome the first time! Some of these tools still absolutely blow my mind. I know guys, it’s the little things for me! To make a tea light candle sized hole, you will need to use a bit that is 1 5/8″, which is shown below. I learned that the depth will differ depending on your tea light. Some are actually deeper than others, so I recommend using a tea light of your preferable brand as an example, and drilling the hole to that particular depth.
Below, you can see how I drilled until my tea light fit perfectly. You may also notice my ridiculous love for Ryobi…this is truly by accident. However, Ryobi does have a special place in this heart of mine!
Time for the stain! In this case, I used a wood stain by Varathane, called Sunbleached. This piece is going with my parents to our favorite, coastal, vacation spot in Morro Bay, California, so I wanted to give it a “driftwood” feel.
Below is my finished product! So, so simple, yet rustic, bold and fun! I will update the pictures once it reaches it’s coastal home.
Ps…I have a darker version a few pictures below, if that’s more your thing!
Here is the dark version, which isn’t finished yet. I will be adding some old, rusted hardware to it, but I wanted to show you guys a different effect. Don’t mind my mom’s goat hanging out there. Her name is Middy!
Welp y’all, thanks so much for checking out my most recent creation! As always, please share your thoughts or any questions! I love to hear from you all.