Crafty Wednesday

I can't take credit for this great idea since I saw it on "Better TV" a few weeks ago. In general, I do not like the creative ideas put forth on second rate tv shows. The poor creative designers are forced to come up with "original" ideas week after week and often show case things I would have found fun in second grade; like jean pocket purses or covering a table in buttons held on with hot glue.

This one morning though, I saw something intriguing: a floating shelf made from books. I explained in detail the idea to my crafty husband, telling him I needed "L-brackets." The tv program showed 2 brackets shaped like an L for each shelf, measuring about 3" tall and deep,  and about 1/2 wide. I told him I would look for some at my trusty Bi-Mart, but he insisted he had some steel he could fashion an L-bracket out of that would be sturdy enough for an elephant to stand on.

Let me show you the process of this "book shelf":

Here is the wall (above) that needed something. I moved the furniture a few days ago and have been struggling with the fung-shway imbalance ever since. The wall decorations needed to come down closer to the couch. Solution? Floating book shelves.

First, find some L-brackets. This is the one my husband fashioned out of steel for me. It will hold a herd of elephants, but something lighter weight would certainly work for this application. Fasten the bracket to the wall where you want your shelf to go. You can do this yourself or, do as I did, and do something nice for your husband so he will do it for you.

Now comes the floating book shelf magic. Put double sided tape on the back cover of a book and close it, pressing firmly to adhere the last page to the back of the book. Now the L-bracket is in a pocket of sorts. 

See how the book is already hovering? Now stack books on top to cover the top of the bracket.

The books are stacked, the bracket is nowhere in site. I had my handy husband install another L-bracket adjacent to the first and added more books. Now we are ready for the elephants, or maybe just a votive holder. What you place on your floating book shelf is entirely up to you, depending on how many times you've been to Africa and how many elephants you have to display.

A shelf sturdy enough for elephants.

Oh, that is much better. The wall is balanced now and I can sit down and relax after all that work. Actually it wasn't much work at all, especially if you go BUY L-brackets. Have fun floating book shelves. Shouldn't something in life work like magic?