DIY Network

Mega-Block Shelf Build a mod shelf—out of kids' building blocks. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-119

Cool and colorful, these shelves are winners.

Kids’ blocks are great for helping young ones B. Original: They’re bright, colorful, easy to use and almost indestructible. Sounds like an ideal craft material.

Michele Beschen plays with blocks for this project as she builds floating shelves out of oversized building blocks and shows how to mount them. She also shares a playful idea for accessorizing the shelves with bouquets that have the same funky feel. Scroll down for her easy how-to.

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Figure A

• Build your shelf with the pegs of the blocks facing out. As you build up the blocks, make sure all of your pieces are interlocking—you want to be able to pick up the entire unit at once with no splits. Reinforce the blocks with hot glue as you build (figure A).

• Michele Beschen built her shelves at least three rows of blocks deep.

• To hang, cut small blocks of wood the same size as the opening in the back of the plastic blocks. Determine how many you will need to support each shelf.

• Mount the blocks on the wall, lining them up with a level (figure B). To hang the shelf, fit the shelf over the blocks and screw in place through the top of the shelf (figure C).
  

  Figure B

  Figure C

  
  

• Top off the shelving with feather duster flowers: Add a painted wooden ball to the center of a colorful feather duster and use floral tape to cover the handle. Attach a few artificial leaves as you wrap the tape. Arrange the finished flowers in clear glass vases or in jars filled with colorful acrylic beads.