As soon as my mom and I started planning the baby shower, I knew I wanted to incorporate a donut wall somehow. Once I really got to thinking, I realized it would be a great way to let our guests know the baby’s name. I found a bakery here in Charlotte that makes word donuts with colored frosting and sprinkles so all I had to do was get the board. I really wanted to buy one but after searching the internet for hours, I couldn’t find what I was looking for within the budget. I did a little more research and realized I can totally get my crafty hat on and do this myself. Well, with a little help from my dad. I know this isn’t my typical fashion post, but since I was a mama-to be in need, I thought I could help others with this post. It also turned out so good so naturally I wanted to share. Keep reading to learn how to make your own donut wall. Oh, and before I start in on the board, I am really excited to finally share with you guys that our little man will be called Rifton Wallace Reese. They are two family names Wes and I fell in love with. I’ll share more on that in the next bumpdate post but for now… donuts!

Supplies

First things first, gather everything you need up front. It’s so much easier if you have everything you need before you get started. There were a few things not on my initial supply list that I ended up needing so I’m including those for you too.

• 24 x 24 plywood board (found on the lumber aisle in a Lowe’s or Home Depot) – you can do a 4′ x 6′ size if you need one that large but the 2′ x 2′ held 30 donuts and that was perfect for us
•  30- 1/2″ x  2″ pegs – you may be able to find them pre-cut at your local store but I bought the 1/2″ round rods from the trim aisle at Lowe’s and cut them down to size.
• saw or preferred tool to cut down pegs
• drill
• 1/2″ drill bit for making holes
• tape measure or long ruler
• pencil
• Gorilla Wood Glue
• sand paper or sanding block
• rubber mallet hammer
• primer and paint color of your choice – you could also sand it and leave it natural if it fits your aesthetic
• 2 donuts – In order to get the donut spacing on the board right, I bought two donuts (Krispy Kreme) that I was planning to use for the board and used them to measure where the drill holes would go. Unless you are 110% confident in the size of your donuts, I don’t recommend skipping this step

Directions

1. Lay out the plywood board on a even, sturdy surface and figure out where you want to start your first row of donuts. I used my first row and first column as a header so I didn’t leave much space at the top. If you want to add a header or “donuts” sign at the top of the board you may want to start your first row a few inches further down.
2. Place your first donut on the board and mark a spot the middle – yes where the hole is.
3. Leave donut #1 in place and put down donut #2 and mark the spot.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until your first row is complete. Then, do the same thing for the first column. Place donut #1 back on the very first mark and place #2 directly under it so you know how far apart to space your rows.
5. Once the first column and row are marked off, grab a tape measure or ruler and measure the distance between each dot. You can measure out the remaining rows and columns without having to use the donuts. After all the marks are made (I ended up with 30), it’s time to start drilling the holes.
6. Using the 1/2″ drill bit, drill each mark down about half way. You don’t have to go too far, just deep enough to secure the peg with a drop of glue. If you happen to go all the way through (like I did twice) it’s not the end of the world. The pegs will still fit, you just won’t need the glue at the bottom.
7. After drilling all 30 holes, sand the whole board to prep for paint and finishing.
8. If you’re going to paint your donut wall, go ahead and prime it with one full coat and let dry. I did a cool baby blue to go with our decor and party aesthetic. You could leave it natural and it will look great too!
9. While the board is drying, cut and sand the pegs if needed.  I enlisted dear old Dad for this task since he has good tools that were much quicker than me hand sawing each one. We marked each rod with 2″ marks and cut on each line with a small power saw. After each peg is cut sand both ends so the board has a smooth look.
10. If you’re painting your donut wall, go ahead and apply two good coats making sure you get the sides as well. It is much easier to paint before the pegs are in place. Once the two coats are dry, check for touch ups and areas that may need a little more sanding.
11. Squeeze a tiny drop of glue into each drill hole and hammer in each peg with the rubber mallet. The glue sets quickly so once all pegs are in, you are ready to fill the board with donuts & enjoy!