It may seem hard to believe, but all I spent on this incredible shelf was a whopping ninety nine cents.

Step 1: Find the Wood

Ok, I will grant I was amazingly lucky too. The tree was not as here in Chicago we are having issues with Emerald Ash Borer bugs killing all of our beautiful ash trees. The city is in the process of cutting down hundreds of gorgeous old trees, such a shame.

Step 2: Find the Wood, 2

Walking the dog in the park one day, I saw this wedge drowning in a puddle. I immediately knew it would be an incredible shelf but it took me several more days of walking past it to muster up rescuing it. I gave it a good exam first before grabbing it to make sure it was bug-free. I let it dry out in the garage for a bit before bringing it indoors. After a light cleaning and sanding of the top, I sealed it with polyurethane.

Step 3: Spend Your 99 Cents

Purchase the keyhole brackets. For silly cheap.

Step 4: Prep for Brackets

Figure out where the brackets are best attached.

Step 5: Attach Brackets

Screw those puppies on.

Step 6: Use Handy Tape Trick

Stretch a piece of painter's tape over the holes of the brackets, poke a little hole through ever so carefully, stick the tape to the wall and level it with the aid of a bubble level. Mark through the holes with a pencil and you have your locations for screws on the wall.

Step 7: Hang It Up

Hang that shelf on up! Even the dog was amazed! The top wasn't level when I hung it on the wall so I wedged a small piece of scrap wood behind it to prop it up.

Step 8: Admire

Enjoy your fabulous new shelf that was so inexpensive yet so impactful. Be sure to come check out all the details and extra photos on my blog, Flipping the Flip! Here's the direct link: http://goo.gl/LNhyV4