Hello beautiful friends!!
Jack has officially graduated woohoo!
What a weird year this has been. We weren’t even sure we would get to see him walk at all.
They arranged it so that the graduates could walk through one at a time by appointment with a maximum of 10 guests each.
I couldn’t be more proud of my sweet boy!
We did have to wear masks indoors but were allowed to take them off for photos.
We had a little fun with that sign above that I had made for his celebration!
He missed getting cap and gown photos taken at school when they shut down, so we set up shop in the kitchen!
Our week at the beach house started out a soggy mess, but by mid-week, the clouds parted and the sun came out, and we had a blast!
My niece’s husband was able to capture us all with his drone!
Photo Credit: Spencer Bloodworth
Thank you, Spencer! That is my two sisters and their families, one of my brothers and his family, me and my boys (and Jack’s GF), and my parents. My hubby is missing from the photo because he still had to work while we got to play!
Brennan enjoyed himself too, and that was our house in the background. It was right across the street from the ocean which was so nice!
We were sad to see the week come to an end, but we definitely enjoyed every minute! Thanks for letting me share a bit of our week.
Okay…on to today’s project!
This post was originally a Trash-to-Treasure Tuesday share a couple of years ago, and it is a fantastic project for Summer! I’ve included the links to my friends’ pieces that were shared the day I originally shared this, at the bottom.
I love it when I have actual trash to share!! I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
I was able to create something super functional out of these wood planks my Hubby was just getting ready to toss:
We were in desperate need of some shade in our back yard. The afternoon sun around here is relentless, so I got online and started searching for an umbrella base that we could move around as needed, and that was sturdy enough to weather the high winds we often experience here.
Seriously, the best option I could find that would fit our needs and had positive reviews was $139, AND it was just plastic. Apparently you can put bricks inside it?
There is just no way, so I decided to sketch up my own DIY version:
I needed it to be mobile so I started thinking about the materials I would need to create my own DIY version when I came across our wheel barrow filled with scraps of wood left over from a project my Hubby had been working on. He was just about to throw them away, but they were perfect for what I had in mind!
Here is what I came up with:
This is just perfect for our needs!
I like to be able to sit down here by the pool when my boys are swimming and with the umbrella, I don’t have to bake in the sun to do it!
I also love that we can roll it around as the sun moves across the sky also. I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
Here’s a quick run-down of how I made this…
- I started with my Hubby’s wood scraps. This is pressure treated wood so it will withstand the outdoor elements.
- I used my miter saw to cut all but two of the pieces to a length of 19″.
- As you can see I also needed one smaller piece cut to make the bottom a perfect square. Also two of the side pieces are each about 1 1/2″ shorter to be able to fit in between the other side pieces.
- I lightly sanded all pieces before starting to piece them together, especially the newly cut ends. Then I used my nail gun to attach the side pieces together to create the sides of my box.
- I attached the bottom pieces across the bottom also with my nail gun.
- Tada…a square wood box!
- You can see I had stained my box at this point, but I would personally wait until the end. (You should actually wait 4-6 weeks before staining until the wood has had enough time to dry out, but I was impatient. The wood won’t take the stain quite as well when it is still new.) Here I pre-drilled my holes for the wheels. I used two locking swivel casters and two stationary ones, both recommended for outdoor use, from the Home Depot. (UPDATE: This umbrella base is so heavy that it is not going anywhere, so I would skip the locking casters and buy four swivel next time!)
- I used deck screws we already had to attach the wheels.
- I had originally planned to add a piece of PVC to hold the umbrella, however I already had this concrete base I purchased at Target for under our patio table. Unfortunately it wasn’t heavy enough to stop the wind from knocking our patio table over when the umbrella was up so it was pretty useless on its own…perfect for this project though! I put a layer of plastic under it to stop any concrete from seeping through the bottom planks. I also covered the edge with FrogTape in case any concrete spilled over the edge.
- I used one and a half bags of Quikrete concrete mix.
- My Hubby was happy to mix it for me using a grout mixing paddle and a five gallon bucket. He likes to feel needed!
- It is very heavy so you may need to mix it in smaller batches if you have a hard time lifting anything heavy. He just poured right over the old base and continued to add more until it was flush with the top. **At this point, you could add pretty decorative stones or broken china to make a mosaic if you like. I never thought of that idea until my Hubby suggested it AFTER the concrete had cured.
- You could call it done at this point, but I wanted cover the concrete.
- I cut Three 19″ pieces, then used my table saw to rip them in half lengthwise.
- I traced a half-circle on each piece that was going on either side of the umbrella and cut it with my jigsaw.
- All cut and ready to attach.
- Before attaching the top, I stained the concrete using the same Thompson’s Water Seal deck stain in Desert Brown that I used on the rest. I used this pad applicator (paint edger) from Shur-line and it worked great.
- I dry fit the planks before staining them.
- Then I stained the rest of the wood pieces. Again, you should probably let the wood dry out 4-6 weeks like suggested, but since this is just a small item and not our entire deck or fence, I went ahead and stained it. I attached them with my nailgun.
- I inserted my umbrella and voila!
And that is it! I spent about $26 for the wheels and concrete and the smaller concrete base I originally purchased from Target was $39. The wood was free and I had the deck stain left over from staining our deck, so out of pocket for this project was around $65. Not cheap by any means, but certainly better than $139!
I like that it can even serve as a side table.
You can see the tree blowing in the background from the wind, but my umbrella has held firm!
And after two years, it is still going strong!
Here’s what my friends shared on that Trash-to-Treasure Tuesday:
I’ll be back on Thursday sharing this gorgeous dressing table that belongs to the lovely lady that blessed me with my Mother’s day haul:
This is a piece she wanted to keep for herself, but wondered what I would charge to redo it for her. Of course I was happy to do it for her in exchange for all the beautiful pieces she gifted me! I’ll share all the pieces I got in that haul soon!
UPDATE: See how this beauty was brought back to life HERE now! 🙂
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
If you like what you see, there are several ways to follow along!
Petra says
NO WAY! You are FAR too clever 😮 You will have to make these for sale because it’s just so good 😀 xo
Christy says
Thank you, Petra!! It works SO well! XOXO
Mary Kaiser says
Congratulations to Jack!! WOO HOO!! On to college for Jack! I love this project the first time I saw it, and loved it even more this time. I had forgotten about it! It just goes to show that invention is the mother of necessity! I am glad you had a fun week! Looking forward to see what you do to that pieces of furniture for her.
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! Yep, Jack leaves in just over a month! And that saying is so true…this stand has worked out perfectly! XOXO
Sherin says
Aww, thank you so much for sharing your son’s Graduation photos. A happy story amid all the Covid chaos. That’ll be my eldest next year – don’t they grow up fast!!
Christy says
I’m so glad you enjoyed them, Sherin! Hopefully next year will look a lot more normal for yours! XOXO
Denise Cox says
Christy, thank-you so very much for sharing your pics! I’ve only been following you for about one year or so, so I haven’t seen many pics of your family. Jack is a handsome lad with lovely blue eyes (much like his Mom). You did a fantastic job on this graduation cap/gown photo … it truly looks like the real deal!! And… love the tie and shirt together and the colors. And, YOU match WITH him. Hmmm… coincidence…? 🤔😉. The beach house was grand and I’m sure you all had a fantastic time, even if you couldn’t get out and enjoy the beach initially. Being together is what it’s all about, anyway!!! That’s what Jack will always remember from his special day. Please give him my best!
Christy says
Aww thank you, Denise! I’m so glad you enjoyed the photos! And I did not even realize that Jack and I matched ha ha! We really did have an amazing week together and we kept saying that at least we were all able to be together! Jack enjoyed every moment! XOXO
Christine says
Congratulations, Jack! What are his plans, Christy?
Christy says
Thank you, Christine! Jack plans to study medicine. He leaves for college in just over a month boo hoo!! XOXO
Christina says
Christy, what a wonderful graduation even with the virus issues around. Fantastic!! What a handsome son with such a warm smile. 🙂 Love the photos from the beach. Wonderful family photo Spencer took!!
The umbrella stand was inspired genius. So glad it is still going strong.
Be safe and well!!!
xo
Christy says
Thank you, Christina! It really was so nice that we still got to see him walk and we didn’t have to sit through the other 478 graduates being called lol! We had a great time with family and isn’t that photo so great? Have a great day! XOXO
Janice Holt says
Glad your vacation and Jack’s graduation went well. He’s such a good-looking boy. Glad to have you back and good job on the umbrella stand.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Janice! He is as sweet as he is handsome! Glad to be back! 🙂 XOXO
Elizabeth K Downes says
What a handsome young man! Wishing him all the best in his exciting years to come!
Did you cry? I would have for sure…..so sentimental!
What is the significance of the Scottish piper? Such a cool idea…….Liz
Christy says
Thank you, Elizabeth! I did cry, but it happened so fast that I didn’t have time to dwell on it lol! That is probably a good thing! The piper played Aud Lang Syne as each graduate walked out…that brought more tears ha ha! XOXO
Maryellen Webber says
Great job Christy on the portable umbrella stand. So glad you enjoyed your beach vacation. Congrats to your handsome son on his graduation. I’m glad he was able to have an in person graduation at his school!
Christy says
Thank you, Maryellen! We had a ball for sure and yes, we were so grateful they worked it out so that we could see our graduates in their big moment! XOXO
Susan says
Wow Christy!
Love this! Congrats to your son! pinned
Christy says
Thank you, Susan! XOXO
Carol says
BRILLIANT!!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Carol! It has worked so well!! XOXO
Sue Mellette says
How clever you are! What an awesome project and what a creative mind you have! As they say, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Thanks, too, for sharing your son’s high school graduation. I know you and your family are so proud. Yes, it has been a weird year! We had two granddaughters graduate this year as well. We had to watch them as the schools live streamed their graduations outside, social distancing and wearing masks! Sounds like your time together with your families was a lot of fun!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Sue! It has worked out great! We are very proud…now onto a new chapter! I’m glad we were able to see him in person. It was a weird year for sure! Congratulations to your granddaughters too! XOXO
Jo Ann Tobias says
The umbrella post was how I found your blog! So glad to see it again. I am so happy for your family that you got some beach house time. It looks like it was a fun time together. Congratulations to Jack on his graduation! My husband plays the pipes and I know how they can bring a tear to your eye. Especially if he has to practice in the house! LOL. They do make a practice chanter but there has been a time or two when he has fired them up inside. He has learned that when he does that he needs to give me some sort of warning before playing. Kind of like in golf when they yell fore. So that is what he calls out…..
Christy says
Oh that is so funny, Jo Ann! I’m glad you enjoyed it the second time around! Thank you for the congrats…we are so grateful we were able to still get together with all the uncertainty these past few weeks. It was a really great time! The piper was amazing and a lovely unexpected surprise. How fun that your husband plays! XOXO
Becky Pearrow says
I absolutely love the umbrella holder, so intuitive. Who would have ever thought of doing that? You, of course. The queen of figuring out a use for everything and how to fill the need for something badly needed.
I love all your pieces you are upcycling. Before I toss something these days, I think could this be used in a different way? For all of us DIYers, you are sharing wonderful things for us to try and be more innovative. Thank you.
Christy says
You are so sweet, Becky! Thank you so much!! XOXO
sharon austin says
Totally amazed. I will have to give these directions to my daughters other half as she’s always complaining about their umbrella. I’m sure he could make this in a heartbeat also! Thanks!!
Christy says
We have insanely high winds at times around our house and this stand has been amazing! XOXO
Carmen says
Wow! Thanks for sharing with us Jack’s graduation, that was a lovely thing to do and so glad you spent time with family. Life is good! Way to go Jack!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Carmen! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. It was so nice to get together with family from four states! XOXO
Addie says
Yay!!! Jack!!! I know it was not normal but it looks like it still was fun!!!
Handsome as ever too!!!….ahhhh
Love the umbrella stand….good job!!!
Christy says
Thanks, Addie!! His graduation was a bit strange, but I will say it was kind of nice not having to sit there for hours LOL! XOXO
Mary Clancy says
Christy is the pole “twister key” necessary to hold the umbrella pole in place? I was wondering if just using a plain metal pipe would work, saving a bit of money. Thanks.
Christy says
Hi Mary! I do feel that it is necessary at least in our area since we get so much wind. I can see wind getting up under it while it’s open and taking it away LOL. You can probably find a cheap umbrella stand for less than the one I found at target. XO
Sandra Klouda says
What a handsome fellow your son is. I’m sure he is looking forward to going off to college soon. Your umbrella stand is very cool. You sure are handy with power tools etc. Thanks, Sandy
Christy says
Thank you so much, Sandy! He has just a little over a month before he’s off to college! It all happens so fast! XOXO
Imelda says
Congratulations to Jack! What a fine young man you have. You and his dad must be so proud.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Imelda! We couldn’t be more proud! XOXO
Lynette says
Congrats Jack. Good luck on your med track. Great job with the rolling umbrella stand. The original stand never seem to work, unless you have zero wind.
Christy says
Thank you, Lynette! And yes, those flimsy stands work great if you have no wind at all! XOXO
susan says
Congratulations to Jack!👨🏻🎓 I’m so glad they figured out a way for them to walk. They’ve had to miss out on so many highlights of their senior year. And you look beautiful by the way 😉. Great project! You have such great ideas!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Susan!! We are so happy that we got to see him…our own private graduation! XOXO
Marie says
Oh, I remember this clever umbrella stand! Congrats to Jack! Looks like you made it a fun special day for him. Sucks to be a graduate in 2020, eh.
Christy says
Thanks, Marie!! Renting the beach house for the week really made it special too, and we let him have several friends over one of the days to celebrate with them! XOXO
Becky says
Hmmm, I need to just go out and make one or two of those umbrella holders. I have the umbrellas, the lumber, the stain, the hardware, pvc or aluminum conduit, and even the concrete mix just taking up space in my garage. I’m keeping this page open until I do it!
Congratulations to Jack on graduating! Congratulations to you for one done! 😊 Great pictures! This will be a year to remember, haha!
Christy says
Oh yes, girl…you got it all! Mine has worked so well! Thank you! Yes…one done…one to go!! This will definitely be a year to remember! XOXO