Sunny Day Window Shelf

This crafting project will instantly transform any window in you home! The completed shelf has many uses, and it's a given you will constantly find more uses for your own Sunny Day Window Shelf. I especially enjoy using my shelf as a beautiful-and original-way of displaying my plant collection.

Materials:

A used coffee or side table of any size. For this project I found a coffee table at a yard sale for $4.00! (The table used in this project measures 54"x11"x6".)
Paint in your choice of color. I used "latex semi-gloss wall and trim" paint left over from when I painted the bathroom and saved money!
2 to 4 wall brackets. The size and the number of the brackets will depend on the size and weight of the window shelf you will be mounting. You can purchase wall brackets at any of you local hardware stores or discount retailers.
Sheet rock anchors. You may or may not need to use sheet rock anchors depending on the weight of your shelf combined with the weight of the item(s) you plan to display. To be on the safe side I would recommend using anchors in any instance just to prevent disasters! The anchors can also be purchased at a local hardware or discount store.

Tools you will need:

Hand saw (or, if you have access, a circular saw or table saw will cut down on time and labor.)

Level
Tape measure
Sand Paper
Hammer
Screw driver

Let's start!

1) Using your saw, cut the legs off of the table. Be sure to take the necessary safety precautions during the sawing portion of the project (ie: protective eyewear, etc. And, Watch Your Fingers!)

2) Continue by dividing the table down the middle, using the level to ensure you are sectioning it into equal halves. Draw a guide of where you will be sawing with a pencil after you have sectioned off the table.

3) Saw the table into halves.

4) Depending on what wood the table is made of, the finish on the table, and any designs the table may have (such as etching or bordering) you will need to sand the piece of you table you will be using for your window shelf.

5) Once you have sanded and cleaned any dust from the piece of the table-which is now your shelf- you're ready to paint. Get creative with this part of the project! Try using special painting techniques (such as sponging), stencil designs on to the shelf, decoupage, or add other personal touches. The sky's the limit!

(Note: Once your shelf has dried you may want to add a clear protective coating. This is optional.)

Mounting instructions:

1) Once you have chosen the window where you want to mount your Sunny Day Window Shelf measure the thickness of the shelf. (If the thickness of the shelf, meaning the thickness of the tabletop, is 1 inch, you will want to place the brackets 1 inch from where the windowsill meets the wall. This will ensure that the shelf, once placed, is flush with the windowsill.

2) Using your level and your tape measure section off the area where each bracket will be placed, an equal distance from one another (be sure to also measure from each edge of where the window sill and wall meet as to ensure you are placing the shelf in the center of the window). Keep in mind the shelf doesn't have to be the length of the entire window.

3) Mount the brackets into the wall using the sheet rock anchors, following the instructions on the package.

4) Place you window shelf on the brackets and Voila`! You now are the proud owner-and creator- of a Sunny Day Window Shelf.

Your Sunny Day Window Shelf can brighten up your home by using it to display plants, figurines, pictures and more.

Some suggestions for the kitchen:

Display your own homegrown herb garden while allowing your herbs to soak up extra sunshine!

Display treasured collections of teapots, decorative plates or special containers!

Some suggestions for the kids' rooms:

Let your child display their favorite toys on the shelf.

Help you child enjoy the wonder of nature by planting seeds in small paper cups (which he or she can decorate!) and displaying them on the shelf. Your children will love to watch the plants grow!

Some suggestions for the den, bedroom or else where in the home:

Use the Sunny Day Window Shelf to display a collection of decorative candles.

Place freshly picked flowers in several different sizes and colors of vases on the window shelf. The sun shining through the colored glass is beautiful!

Be creative and have FUN. The possibilities with this completed craft are endless!