Customize an IKEA Shelf "MOSSLANDA" With an Individual Front

I want to make a customized book shelf for our little peanut's bedtime stories. I'll use a "MOSSLANDA" shelf from IKEA. I think this is normally used to display picture frames. I'll add a custom front made from plywood to give it an individual look. You can use any kind of shape to customize yours, maybe waves, balloons, leaves or a skateboard. I'll use the shape of a cloud. We painted the wall in a light blue. The pink cloud would fit perfectly into the "cloud corner" :D

Of course you can use any kind of shelf from other companies or even build it on your own. I hope you like the idea and will enjoy the instructions. It's a great gift for your loved ones. Have fun :)

• Pencil
• Scissors
• Cardboard
• Plywood
• Tape
• Hammer
• Grinding machine or paper (a machine would be better)
• Mask and gloves
• Jigsaw
• Saw
• Drill
• Wood dowel
• Dowel marker
• Wood glue
• Brush
• Pink paint
• Screw clamps

Optional:

• Router for finishing the edges
• Cutting heads

I first start with a template made from cardboard. I mark the edge of the shelf with a pencil. I use some pot lids in different sizes to draw the shape of the clouds. You can arrange them as you like. Make sure that the the final template is wider than your shelf. I use scissors to cut out the template.

Now I can use the template to draw the cloud onto the plywood. You can use some tape to fixate the template. I use tape to cover the outlines. This will help to get a clean cut with the jigsaw. Now I can cut out the shape.

The edges are pretty rough and sharp. I cut the edges using my router table with 45 degree cutting head. You can use grinding paper as well. The cloud has now a smooth shape and our little girl cannot cut herself on the edges.

The next step is to mark and to drill the holes for the dowels. I'll use them later to mount the plywood to the shelf. I draw three equidistant markings for the holes on the plywood. I use a wood drill to drill the three holes. But be careful and do not drill right through the plywood. Now I can use three dowel markers to mark the exact spots of the holes to the shelf. Now I know where to drill into the shelf. Again, please be careful not to cut through the shelf.

The plywood and the shelf is not very thick, but my wood dowels are longer. So I have to shorten them a bit. I cut them with a saw and use grinding paper to cut their edges.

Before I will glue everything together I will finish the cloud. I grind the surfaces of the plywood using my grinding machine. Now everything is smooth and now I can start painting all sides using pink lacquer. I apply two layers.

When everything is dry I can apply wood glue into the holes and to the surfaces which touch each other. Now I can insert the wood dowels and put both parts together. I apply some pressure and use screw clamps to fixate both parts. Be careful to use some scrap wood under the clamps to protect the surfaces from scratches and markings. I'll leave the shelf to its own for some hours. When everything is try, I can remove the clamps.

Last step is to mount it to the wall and put some books on it.

Well that's it. Congratulations you are done :D I hope you will enjoy building this. Please let me know your experiences and improvements. Please put photos in the comments. :)