Tutorial – Simple wood slats with contrasting color and theme word

Here’s a super simple design that can work anywhere in your home.  It requires very little cutting, painting and other know-how.  I got the inspiration for this from something on Pinterest.  I saw someone make a clock using four slats of wood, one of which was painted green.  I had no need for a clock, but I liked the idea of one piece of wood being a nice vivid color.  Choose your own word, phrase or theme.  Maybe LOVE, FAMILY, PEACE…

I didn’t want this piece to look too rustic.  I was actually fortunate enough to find a great pallet made of oak. 

I actually cut 5 and then narrowed it down to 4. 

Step 1- Cut four equal(ish) slats of wood.  These will be your main visual pieces.

Step 2- sand them first with rough grit sandpaper, like an 80 grit. Then finish sand with something more fine, such as a 150 grit.  Make sure your round the edges of the wood a little bit to soften things up. 

Step 3- Paint your contrast piece with a bright, vivid color.  I used a random color I found in the Oops paint aisle. For the other three pieces, it may look like I stained them, but I actually used a tongue oil on them. See this page about usingtongue oil. I figured that the oak would be great left in it’s natural shade and I wanted to showcase the wood.  If you have standard pine or douglas fir, then you may want to stain it to get some more color.

I used a paint pen to write the word “dream” on the wood.

Step 4- I didn’t want to polyurethane the wood because I wanted it a tad more natural looking.  One of my favorite finishes is paste wax.  Check out this page on how paste wax can add a subtle sheen with very little effort. Note, that the wood has been painted and sealed before I put it together.  This allows the finish to creep around the cracks and edges.

Step 5- Cut two small pieces of wood to run vertically along the back of the others to connect them.  They don’t need to run edge to edge.  Lastly, just use small finishing nails or screws to adhere the wood.  Just make sure the nail or screw does not stick out the front of the wood! Measure depth first.

I used a nail gun, but you can hammer or screw it instead.

Optional- You can install some wire or a frame hanger on the back to hang it up. Enjoy!

Tongue Oil – Adding Color and Life to your wood when a stain is too much

My new mantle, with tongue oil

I recently remodeled my fireplace and wanted to install a custom mantle. I found the greatest exotic wood store in my town and chose a piece of Mexican Parota. I asked about staining it and the salesman said the best bet would be to sand it a bit and then oil it.  I asked what oiling it would do and he brought out a spray bottle to show me. 

If you’ve ever seen regular wood get wet and change color, then you know how much more vibrant and alive it can look.  The same wood, when oiled takes on the natural appearance and color of the wood, rather than the dry, dull finish that it may have when sitting on a store shelf.  Essentially, it looks wet, but it isn’t; it’s just “rich.”

As an added bonus, the oil also adds some protection.  One example is my use on this “DREAM” project. 

Almost FREE Paint!

Most of the pallet creations I make have some paint on them.  Some even have more than one color.  At first I wasted spent money on custom paint colors at my local paint store.  The I realized that the colors I wanted didn't have to be perfect.  They didn't have to necessarily match anything else and that there was a much better alternative!

Enter the "OOPS" paint section at most of the major home improvement stores.  This is where mix-ups and mis-creations go to have a second life.  The paint is perfectly fine; it's just that someone didn't like the color that was created. Now the store is stuck with it.  So technically you're saving a can of paint from going in the garbage.  It's almost as if it's "green" no matter what color you choose!

I've found that if I don't need an exact color of paint, I can usually find something relatively close to what I'm looking for in the OOPS section. I looked yesterday and found $30 cans of paint for only $7!  It cost me $12 for a new quart or $7 for an oops gallon. Go check it out! Here's a shot of The Home Depot section.

If you want more info, check out this link on OOPS paint.  It makes a simple process into a complicated 4 step ordeal.

Pinterest Inspiration

So where’s all the inspiration?!  Well, our elves are currently making some fabulous creations as we speak.  Actually, I’m trying to take photos of things and get many of the projects complete for you.  There is much to come! 

In the meantime, please listen to this relaxing elevator music  and enjoy some inspiration from our PinterestBoard on Wood Pallet Inspiration. I love looking at the cool things that are out there!

Welcome to Pallet Creations- Our Objective

Here is where we turn trash into treasure! I’ve started this blog for several reasons.  I’d like to inspire you to create custom wood furniture and art, however I want it to be CHEAP and EASY! The next reason is to INSPIRE you with ideas and images of what people have already created.  Essentially, I want to help give you ideas AND the know-how to turn them into reality. 

I’ve always been intrigued by the character of aged wood.  It’s natural, it’s unique, and it’s often inexpensive (or free). There are so many things that the wood can be turned into. 

Please check back often or subscribe to see the creations that can add character to your home or yard.  Trust me, it’s way easier than you think to make incredible pieces of art that people will talk about for a long time.  Please be patient while the posts are written, as each piece of art is handmade. Thanks for reading!

Photo Credit: pfarrell95 via Compfight cc

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