Let's Build a Pallet Sofa Bench

   A while back I seen an Awesome project on Funky Junk Donna's Blog. It looked Great! So for a few months now the wheels in my head have been turning on how I could build my own! And here is is:

   I have Always wanted patio furniture... like real not cheapo plastic chairs... But I've never seemed to find that "right" look and Mostly because they are just way too expensive. Recently we were given a Bigger bed from a couple at church; My girls were still using Toddler beds so they got our Full size. So  then I just had two small mattresses lying around... with no purpose... UNTIL NOW!!! And I figured since they were water proof all the better!

I love the thought of being able to snuggle up and read or make my many to do list outside while drinking a or several cups of coffee :)

 So now that I had something to sit on....  (One of my girls old Crib/Toddler bed Mattresses)

It was time to build the Frame. While looking how to build this baby I read something great on Funky Junk Donna's Blog... and I quote "So I resolve to have an ugly garage and cool stuff."  I couldn't agree more! I'm sure the neighbors think I'm crazy or some kind of wood junk hoarder but It's worth it  :)

I built my frame with 2x4's. I didn't go by any building blue print so I just measured to fit my Mattress/Cushion. It ended up being about 52 inches long.

I made my legs from 2x4's as well. I have no doubt there was an easier way to do the legs... But with limited resources and impatients I just went for it. 

(Don't you like the DQ cup? While I slave over this bench my 5 year old (Candice) was chillin with some ice cream hehe)

   Now the Back rest... I Love the look of the unevenness! It gives it such a unique and different look. All I did here was measure the height I wanted and started sawing and sanding different pieces at various lengths. I used a combination of 1x4's and 1x6's. I laid them now and cut a strip of 1x3 wood to secure all the pieces together.  

     To secure the back pieces together I used some Gorilla Glue and screws... At first I used some nails (since that was all I had at the moment but realized it wasn't as sturdy as I thought it was...ooopps) 

Before making my arm rest... on account of I had no idea how I was gonna do that yet... I took Longer screws and Screwed my back rest into the frame at the bottom.

Here's my arm rest: Not exactly Perfect but They work and I've got those babies so nailed, screwed and glued down they aren't going anywhere :)

While looking at yard sales a couple weekends ago we found this Awesome pillow... For only $1. It can't get much better than that! So I used it as a back cushion :)

   I really had no idea what I was doing so I just played around until I knew it wasn't gonna fall apart Haha! With the right tools and a little more patients it would have turned out a little better but I Love it! It's those imperfections that make this kind of stuff Perfect!!!! 

   The best part to me was the size. I Love having the Bigger seat. I can't curl up, Lay down, or whatever. Last night it was raining and Noah and I went out and put our new Sofa bench to use. It was Great. I sat Indian style with him in my lap and then we even laid down and watched the rain.  

Pallet Wood Photo Display

  I'm excited to share how to make your own Pallet Photo Display!!! It was so simple yet It Looks absolutely Amazing in my living room!!!

Step One: Gather Your Supplies :)

You will need:
Wood (Pallet or regular- just stain and WaLa!!!)
Clothes Pins
Gorilla Glue
Black Sharpie

I used 1x4 wood for mine. I got it from Lowes and stained it. You can make yours as Big or as Small as you like. But mine is 5 boards tall and Measures 23 inches Wide and 17 inches Tall.

Ok so First you want to get your wood to size. Measure it out however big you want to go- Below is the back of mine.

Now you need to secure it together. I didn't take a picture of the back of this one but below is a Picture of another wood sign I have made. It only has 4 boards but it's just to give you an idea of how to secure it:

Ok So now assuming you have your wood cut, Put together and Stained (If needed to)... Lets move on to the next step. Before Gluing your Clothes Pins on put the on the board with a Picture in them (I used 4x6 Photos) and line them when you like. Mark them with a Pencil once you figure out what you think looks best.

After I marked where I wanted my Photos to hang I Took my sharpie and Free handed {family} at the top. Then I glued those bad boys on!!! Keep in Mind when you use Gorilla Glue it will Expand... So only use a little. As tempting as it is Now you have to let your Creation Dry :o

Without the Pictures it doesn't look like much But once you get your photos on there Breathtaking!!! 

Once the Glue is Dried Add your Photos! And Remember this be creative... You can change up the wording... The Colors if the words and even clothes pins!!! 

See Simple yet Amazing!!!

Easter

So Easter has come and gone and the Kids started school back this morning. Yay!!! ;)

    But his past week has been a Tough one. Seems like everyone got sick at one point or another. And my poor Husband seems to have caught the worse of it. So while trying to play Super Mom, Being a good wife and taking care of the sickles I never made the time to do all the Cool Easter ideas I had running through my head. 

Yesterday It was just my Husband, my daughter Candice (5yr old), baby Noah (10 months), and Me. Eli spent Easter with his mom and Kaitlyn got to spend it with her dad. It was Noah's 1st Easter and I wanted to make it special. 

My Husband was still sick with some sort of virus and after Church it began to rain. We live so far away from all our family that it was just us... By the the afternoon I started struggling with feeling kinda like I let my kids down. Like I was a failure at being a "good" parent. Which is ironic that I wrote a facebook note one just the opposite... ( Here it is Check it out: https://www.facebook.com/notes/leah-reinhardt/identity-crisis/528113697240836 )

   But looking back it was a Great day!

 The Easter Bunny left Awesome Baskets that didn't break his wallet...

We went to Church and Celebrated the fact that Jesus defeated Death, Put sin in it's Grave and is ALIVE. We celebrated that because we Believe in the Finished work of the Cross; Jesus has covered us in His Perfection and we are Children of the King who stand Forgiven, Completely Loved, Valued, Righteous and Whole before God...

We dyed and decorated Easter Eggs...

And After Kaitlyn came home- the girls had a Silly String Fight and they hide Eggs from each other.

So despite they way I felt It was a Amazing day!
Know that if yesterday wasn't all you wanted it to be... If you weren't able to give the Biggest and Best Basket... If you couldn't spend all day doing "Easter Activities"... Know this: Who you are is not defined by your the things you couldn't give or didn't do with your children.
You are more :)