Floating Mountain Shelf for about $10!

​I love the outdoors! My family is big into hiking, backpacking, and just taking it outside. This past year I got into bouldering (indoor rock climbing). I’m addicted. It’s been a great workout, stress reliever, and all around fun. I’ve made great friends and always look forward to going. I tried outdoor rock climbing (top rope/sport climb) a couple of weeks ago. Oh my gosh. It was a blast! I’ve been looking up and saving for gear. I can’t wait to go again! This is all building up to my big mountain climb in August. I’m climbing (hiking/summiting) Mt. Baker and have been training for a couple of months. I need to stay focus and concentrate on this climb. I made a floating mountain shelf to hold my little 3d Mt. Baker my sister gave me. I saw the shelf on Pinterest/Etsy for sale. On the page I saw, it was $100 and only local shipping. I’m all about saving up money…so I can buy outdoor climbing gear ;) so here is a DIY floating mountain shelf plan for about $10!

Cute little 3d figure of Mt. Baker that my older sister gave me! Can't wait to be at the top of the real thing!

Supplies:

1 in. x 5 in. x 6 ft. wood board (I bought the nicest one, which was $6 at Home Depot)

Circular saw or miter saw

Stain (all my furniture I make is Dark Walnut)

Screws 1 ¼ in. (I use Spax because I hate pre-drilling)

Wood glue

​I made my first cut at 30 inches. This is the base of the shelf.

I then drew a straight line an inch from the end of the board and made a 30-degree cut. My circular saw does angles, but a miter saw is cleaner cut. I then measured 10 inches and cut at another 30-degree angle. *I used the same board and just kept cutting pieces from my last cut. This helps with the angles to be correct.

Repeat that step to have two pieces. This is for the two sides of the first big mountain.
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Next, I cut the next piece at 8 inches at a 30-degree. 
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​The next piece is tricky. I cut 6 inches and it was complicated, so I think the best way is put a piece of wood, the top should already be at a 30-degree angle from the last cut made, then draw where you want to cut the small piece off (where it is leaning on the big mountain). I cut that piece at a 22 ½ angle. See picture below for an example. The small piece final is measured at 6 inches.

I stained the pieces.

Next, I put the big mountain together and wood glue them together. I then screwed them together (only one). Be careful since the pieces are angled. It was hard doing it by myself. I should have had someone hold the pieces together (recommended).

I did the same for the small mountain. Make sure the smaller side of the mountain is facing the right way, it will be on one side of the big mountain.

I then wood glued the bottoms of the big mountain to the base on the side of the 30-inch board. I put the mountains on the left side, but you can flip it when you hang it, if you want it on the right side. I then put a screw from the bottom of the 30-inch board to the right side of the mountain (only one side, but you can do both). I did the same for the small mountain and screwed the 30-inch board to the side of the small mountain. I wood glued the smaller mountain/smaller side to the big side of the mountain. I did not screw them together. Finished!

Hanging is hard. I put two screws underneath and then two nails under the peak of the mountains. I also used command strips to help. I hate hanging things. I still have a prayer board I never hung up since I bought my house. Anyways, good luck and feel free to email/message/DM me on socials if you have a question or need help!

Love, 

KQL