With Little League baseball season quickly coming to an end, those feelings of camaraderie and excitement will soon fade. We've found a great way to keep those team memories close by with these easy to make Baseball Bookends.
Most of the supplies can be found at your local Home Depot, and they will cut the wood for you right there -- making this project really easy. While you can use new baseballs, check with your coach or the head of the league to see if you can get some used, battered balls for an antique look.
The weight of the baseballs makes these bookends sturdy enough to even support your avid reader's collection of The Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew! Not only will your little leaguer love these, but this project also makes a great Father's Day gift or year-end thank you gift for the coach!
SUPPLIES
2 6"L x 6"W and approximately 3/4" thick pieces of wood
2 6 1/2"L x 6"W and approximately 3/4" thick pieces of wood
Gorilla Glue®
Silicone Glue (we like Goop®)
Brown Shoe Polish
Navy Blue Acrylic Paint
Foam Paint Brush
Fine Sandpaper
8 baseballs (preferably used)
Paper towels
INSTRUCTIONS
If necessary, sand the edges of the cut wood to smooth out any rough cuts.
Take one of each size piece of wood and glue together with Gorilla Glue® to make an L (see photo below). Use only a thin layer of the Gorilla Glue or it will seep out the edges and need additional sanding. Repeat with second set of wood.
Paint both bookends with acrylic paint. Let dry.
Use fine sandpaper on edges of bookends to give a weathered look (see photo below). The more uneven the sanding, the more authentic it will look.
Using a paper towel, rub a thin layer of brown shoe polish over all the entire surface of the bookends. Rub off excess shoe polish with clean papertowel. This will fill in the white sanded areas, making it look like dark wood and give an antiqued finish to the rest of the bookend (see photo below). Let dry.
Using the silicone glue, secure 4 baseballs onto each bookend in a pyramid formation (see photo below). Let dry for 24 hours before using.
VARIATION: Use tennis balls instead of baseballs.
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| Two pieces of raw wood glued together to make base of the bookend.
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Painted and sanded bookend.
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| Bookend with shoe polish applied.
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Finished baseball bookend.
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