Birthday gifts for my son and his fiance

My son asked me to build him a cd/dvd case similar to the ones I built for myself and a co-worker. I know, yet another bookcase. ;)

My wife purchased an Americana style checkerboard that hangs on the wall. It looks distressed such as the checkerboard itself looks faded. My son’s fiance liked it quite a bit and said she’d like one for her birthday. My wife tried over and over to find one but never could. Instead she quilted a checkerboard. I make a frame that the quilt was mounted in. The frame was painted black and then a couple coats of dark red. The paint combination makes it looked distressed. We had originally planned on using some sandpaper to increase the distressed look but discovered it wasn’t necessary. For the checkers we used little wooden stars painted either red or black. You can see these hanging from pegs at the top of the frame.

On the CD/DVD case all shelves are mounted using sliding dovetail joinery. I used water to raise the grain and sanded it down. Two coats of Varathane Natural stain was applied. Next, two coats of Varathane Satin water based poly was sprayed on. Everything was sanded again and two more coats of poly were sprayed. I finished the back separately and attached it after the case was complete.

The flag case sitting on top of the shelf is from his mothers grandfather. I have a flag from my father sitting in the plastic case in which it was presented. I didn’t make this case but I am planning on making one for my fathers flag.

-- Owen Johnson - aka IowaWoodcrafter