I was looking for used patio furniture on Kijiji, and saw a bench that converted to a picnic table. I LOVED it, but the seller wanted $250.00 so I checked my favourite DIY queen Ana White and sure enough - she had a free plan for a convertible picnic table/bench.
The materials, including screws and accessories cost me under $100.00 to make TWO benches. Actually, the stain/sealer was free from my neighbour - so unless you have some lying around it will cost a bit extra. I suggest hitting up your local Habitat for Humanity before building, they might have some of the lumber you need and they always have a good stock pile of paints, stains and sealers.
I love birds. Like mega-super-duper-would-build-a-nest-in-my-hair-if-I-could love birds. Since my Nanny passed away I have been finding blue birds and putting them around my house to remind me of her (they were her favourite). I also add blue birds to custom items in my home (like my house number) so that it's a theme in the house. Not a crazy theme, just a subtle one. Subtly crazy. Anyways, I googled images of blue bird stencils and drew one free hand on the bench (there's no way I'm paying for a stencil!) I painted it with standard acrylic craft paint and when it was totally dry I stained it with the rest of the bench. I was going to add something funky to the second bench, like old railroad-y font or something - but I'm really bad at lettering and talked myself out of it. The point is, the possibilities are endless - personalize and spruce up your bench/picnic table and make it unique.
Click here for her free plans
The materials, including screws and accessories cost me under $100.00 to make TWO benches. Actually, the stain/sealer was free from my neighbour - so unless you have some lying around it will cost a bit extra. I suggest hitting up your local Habitat for Humanity before building, they might have some of the lumber you need and they always have a good stock pile of paints, stains and sealers.
I love birds. Like mega-super-duper-would-build-a-nest-in-my-hair-if-I-could love birds. Since my Nanny passed away I have been finding blue birds and putting them around my house to remind me of her (they were her favourite). I also add blue birds to custom items in my home (like my house number) so that it's a theme in the house. Not a crazy theme, just a subtle one. Subtly crazy. Anyways, I googled images of blue bird stencils and drew one free hand on the bench (there's no way I'm paying for a stencil!) I painted it with standard acrylic craft paint and when it was totally dry I stained it with the rest of the bench. I was going to add something funky to the second bench, like old railroad-y font or something - but I'm really bad at lettering and talked myself out of it. The point is, the possibilities are endless - personalize and spruce up your bench/picnic table and make it unique.
So, I bought the lumber on a Saturday afternoon and had these put together by dinner. I sanded them the next day (about an hour each unit) and stained them the following day (another hour each bench). This could definitely be done in a day, or two - and can definitely be completed in a weekend. This took me a while because, well, I have six kids, and there was a birthday so I needed to take breaks and bake a cake, etc.
If you're itching for some new outdoor furniture and want to try your hand at building something, this project is great for beginners!
I can't wait to plant my rear end on this bench this weekend and get some serious ukelele practice in. If you're a neighbour, I apologize - Matilda requested I learn the theme song from Dora the Explorer, and Let it Go (from Frozen).
Do-do-do-do-do-Dora! Do-do-do-do-do-Dora! Dora Dora Dora the Explorer!
A great use of my "talents" if you ask me.
Happy Friday, I love you.
