Monday, November 17, 2014

Cheap & Easy

Most people would probably view me as outgoing, personable, obviously oozing with side-splitting hilarity, ya know - just down right gregarious.  But those who know me best know that I'm most comfortable being alone, a little standoffish, and definitely enjoy the challenge of doing almost everything myself.  It's not that I can't work with others, but I would prefer to NEVER ask for someone's help.

My basement (man cave) is the prime example.  I did it all by myself ... and I mean all of it.  I built the cabinets, casing, mantle ... built and finished all of the woodwork.  I designed and built the 100 autographed baseball case ... and the coffee table in the middle of the room.  I matted and framed all of the medals, signed jerseys, footballs, and photos.  I even shot almost all of the photos. I wired it for electricity ... and ran the sound system.  Pretty much everything.

And recently I'd been looking for a way to display my marathon medals.  I'd seen several ideas and had decided to go with the "hanging" method, but didn't want to pay $50-75 for a professionally made medal hanger.  So, of course, today I simply made one myself.  It was really easy and only cost about $18, but you could probably do it for a little less than that.

I just found a small 24" plain black wall shelf.  I got this one at Hobby Lobby.  I think it was Hobby Lobby anyways ... it was one of those predominantly female patronized craft stores that, as a dude, you feel a little creepy roaming around in ... even though I'm not there to do anything creepy ... but I digress.  I think the shelf was about $15.  I then went to a mostly male hardware store - just to keep it real - and bought 9 square bend hooks.  They're the kind that have a threaded screw type end on one side, and a 90 degree bend on the other.


I then took said masculinely purchased shelf and drilled two rows of evenly spaced pilot holes ... 5 on the top row, and four on the bottom.  Since my drill press is broken, drilling the pilot holes completely perpendicular to the base was a little challenging, but I managed.  Next I inserted the square bend hooks, hung it on the wall, and added the medals.  I saw earlier today that Char had done a similar thing with her medals, but with a dowel under the shelf.  I think I like that idea better, but this will do for now.  I think it turned out fairly decent!


I've got some of my other marathon medals framed, but obviously I can't frame them all.  So this is a way to display the rest of them, sort of.  Hopefully seeing them on the regular will motivate me to get back in marathon mode.  This little project was quick, inexpensive, and really easy, but a little too crafty.  So if you need me, I'll be in the woods lumber-jacking a small clearing of trees or something.  Have a great week!
... be great today!

12 comments:

  1. I like how you posted this RIGHT after I posted that I sewed a dress. What are you trying to do, out-craft me?!

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    1. Well a dress is a little more impressive than putting some screws in a board, I WAS gonna throw together a double-breasted suit this Saturday, but forget it now.

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  2. Wow, this is impressive!! I really need to get on this stat. Alas the best idea I could come up with was a curtain hanger. Must steal idea. Thanks for sharing, beautiful man cave! Did that sound dirty? Oy..

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  3. Still waiting for mine. I do have an amazing one, but I have so many more medals than you and I need another one to display the rest of mine.

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    1. Why do I have to do every crafty thing in our house?

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    2. Why does she have more medals than you? That's the real question!

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    3. Ha, this woman would race every weekend if possible

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  4. Looks really good Jim. But I'm thinking that you have a fair few more medals laying around somewhere. There don't seem to be quite enough there for the number of races that you run.

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  5. I think I'm just gonna put the marathon medals out for now Char, I dunno, I might change it

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  6. My daughter gave me two racks for hanging my race medals and I have them in my writing room/man cave. One is for the smaller runs (5K, 10K, suchlike) and is pretty full but the other, the one I can see as I sit at my desk, if for halfs and full marathons. So far, five half marathon medals and one full (Portland 2014). I also have kept all of my bibs and the assorted shirts. I totally get it.

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  7. I gave most of my medals away to my special needs kids I work with.....means more to them than me- I have the memory of all 121 triathlons (2 IMs and 7 70.3s) and 13 marathons so why do I need a medal?

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