diff --git a/backend/src/main.rs b/backend/src/main.rs
index e3a745cd..3f280ae6 100644
--- a/backend/src/main.rs
+++ b/backend/src/main.rs
@@ -50,7 +50,9 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     // Load environment variables from .env file
     dotenvy::dotenv().ok();
 
-    tracing_subscriber::fmt::init();
+    tracing_subscriber::fmt()
+        .with_env_filter(tracing_subscriber::EnvFilter::from_default_env().add_directive("bloop_backend=debug".parse()?))
+        .init();
 
     // Database connection
     let database_url =
diff --git a/backend/src/models/project.rs b/backend/src/models/project.rs
index e62dc942..05516cdb 100644
--- a/backend/src/models/project.rs
+++ b/backend/src/models/project.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ pub struct Project {
 #[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
 pub struct CreateProject {
     pub name: String,
-    pub owner_id: Uuid,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/projects.rs b/backend/src/routes/projects.rs
index c199ab61..51c06f1c 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/projects.rs
+++ b/backend/src/routes/projects.rs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ use uuid::Uuid;
 use chrono::Utc;
 
 use crate::models::{ApiResponse, project::{Project, CreateProject, UpdateProject}};
+use crate::auth::AuthUser;
 
 pub async fn get_projects(Extension(pool): Extension<PgPool>) -> Result<ResponseJson<ApiResponse<Vec<Project>>>, StatusCode> {
     match sqlx::query_as!(
@@ -58,18 +59,21 @@ pub async fn get_project(
 }
 
 pub async fn create_project(
+    auth: AuthUser,
     Extension(pool): Extension<PgPool>,
     Json(payload): Json<CreateProject>
 ) -> Result<ResponseJson<ApiResponse<Project>>, StatusCode> {
     let id = Uuid::new_v4();
     let now = Utc::now();
 
+    tracing::debug!("Creating project '{}' for user {}", payload.name, auth.user_id);
+
     match sqlx::query_as!(
         Project,
         "INSERT INTO projects (id, name, owner_id, created_at, updated_at) VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5) RETURNING id, name, owner_id, created_at, updated_at",
         id,
         payload.name,
-        payload.owner_id,
+        auth.user_id,
         now,
         now
     )
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/projects/project-form.tsx b/frontend/src/components/projects/project-form.tsx
index d90d8a4b..091a9870 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/projects/project-form.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/projects/project-form.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { Alert, AlertDescription } from '@/components/ui/alert'
 import { Dialog, DialogContent, DialogDescription, DialogFooter, DialogHeader, DialogTitle } from '@/components/ui/dialog'
 import { Project, CreateProject, UpdateProject } from 'shared/types'
 import { AlertCircle } from 'lucide-react'
+import { makeAuthenticatedRequest } from '@/lib/auth'
 
 interface ProjectFormProps {
   open: boolean
@@ -29,9 +30,8 @@ export function ProjectForm({ open, onClose, onSuccess, project }: ProjectFormPr
     try {
       if (isEditing) {
         const updateData: UpdateProject = { name }
-        const response = await fetch(`/api/projects/${project.id}`, {
+        const response = await makeAuthenticatedRequest(`/api/projects/${project.id}`, {
           method: 'PUT',
-          headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
           body: JSON.stringify(updateData),
         })
         
@@ -39,14 +39,11 @@ export function ProjectForm({ open, onClose, onSuccess, project }: ProjectFormPr
           throw new Error('Failed to update project')
         }
       } else {
-        // For now, using a placeholder owner_id - this should come from auth
         const createData: CreateProject = { 
-          name, 
-          owner_id: '00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000' 
+          name
         }
-        const response = await fetch('/api/projects', {
+        const response = await makeAuthenticatedRequest('/api/projects', {
           method: 'POST',
-          headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
           body: JSON.stringify(createData),
         })
         
diff --git a/shared/types.ts b/shared/types.ts
index 8c4bb261..9f99ed30 100644
--- a/shared/types.ts
+++ b/shared/types.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ export interface Project {
 
 export interface CreateProject {
   name: string
-  owner_id: string
 }
 
 export interface UpdateProject {