Every woodworker or hobbyist will inevitably need to sand something — it’s just a fact! Sanding is one of the essential steps of finishing furniture, and it’s also a great way to make a piece new again. There are many different types of sanding materials to cover a range of needs, and luckily, most sanding…
There’s no rule that says we have to make a mess of ourselves when digging in the dirt, right? Well, maybe there kind of is, but even so, it helps to have all your tools handy while you’re getting dirty. This simple work apron will do the trick, keeping your gloves, seed packets and shears…
I canʼt deny I was a little hesitant with this monthʼs Design*Sponge theme of flowers. Sure, I have some houseplants around, but when it comes to flowers – Iʼm usually mowing over them. Though, to fully embrace Mayʼs theme, I started thinking… What would I make my Mom for Motherʼs Day in a kind of…
I was looking for nice little decorated plates for years. When I discovered ceramic markers, I was no longer afraid to try and make them myself. The markers are very easy to use and spill-proof. No baking — the paint just has to dry for 48 hours, and then you’re done! You can even put…
While Brimfield is an amazing place to pick up antiques and vintage home decor, it’s also a great place to find decorating and do-it-yourself ideas. One of my favorite things to do while walking around the show is snap pictures of clever booth decorations or upscaled vintage items that I can replicate in my own…
Good morning guys! Before we start with regular posts today I wanted to take a quick second to say how excited I am to be joining the DIY Business Association Conference taking place next month in Brooklyn. The conference was founded by an amazing group of people dedicated to empowering and educating creative small business…
Although we’ve yet to exhume our sandals and tank tops from their winter resting place, we do see spring rearing its head . . . at last! After an especially long season of bare trees and cold days, we thought it might be nice to preserve some of spring’s bounty to hold us through the…
This project has made me so enamored of old trophies that I may have to devote an entire Treasure Hunting post to them, although I’m not sure I could top this re-purposing idea. When paired with a nicely finished piece of hard wood, the shiny metallic trophies actually look modern and . . . classy? Not…
I’m totally smitten with the terrarium trend — a tiny, private world occupied by lush greens and adorable figurines? Who could resist? So in thinking about what would be fun to sew this spring, and with greenery sprouting up all around me, I couldn’t help but wonder if I could somehow sew a terrarium. It…
I love using trays in our house. A tray has the wonderful ability to confine a grouping of otherwise disorderly items and make them seem neat and organized. To refresh a tired old tray, I used an age-old mirror-making technique to silver leaf a piece of glass. To modernize it a bit, I added a…
Few homes are blessed with built-in shelving, so storage is often something we have to figure out for ourselves. Luckily there are endless variations of shelf designs out there, and while shelving is a very utilitarian item, it can also make a great decor element. I’ve rounded up some of our best DIY shelves that…
I love clothespins; they’re one of the few simple tools with a design that hasn’t needed improvement. Inspired by the starburst mirrors from Ballard Designs, D*S reader Diane Henkler decided to create a similar style using wooden clothespins, which she then customized in a number of different ways. Anyone looking for a super-easy weekend project…
We received a request on Facebook from D*S reader Lauren Proux for a Treasure Hunting post that tackles vintage flashcards. Well, ask and you shall receive! There’s one booth at my favorite local flea market that always has a huge array of old flashcards and educational posters, and every time I go, I like to…
My soul is singing because of the spring weather! I am not a green thumb, but there is just something about the start of warm weather that drives me to the nursery for flower season. If you are going to plant flowers, you of course need some cool planting pots for your home and yard….
The inspiration behind these simple watercolor party cups from Stephanie Polli made me very happy. To me, this project exemplifies what makes DIYs such a great outlet for creativity — can’t find any paper cups you like? Make some! The coral and ocean blue color palette is perfect for a spring fête, and I could…
D*S editor Kate Pruitt is my crafting idol. She oozes creativity from every fingertip and seems to be an endless well of amazing ideas and can-do attitude. So when I need crafty inspiration, she’s the first person I ask. This week Kate shared some of her favorite craft inspiration over at MyLifeScoop with a list…
With the arrival of spring, I’ve been thinking that I could use some extra outdoor workspace, so I started drawing up plans for a simple table. I figured I could model it after a planting table, but I also wanted a metal surface to set my tabletop grill on for easier outdoor cooking. I used…
From growing up in Oregon, we are used to drizzly, wet springs (and winters and falls . . . ), and with those come rainy-day craft projects. This April, we’ve had a bit of a “rain, rain go away” feeling, but we know that in just a few weeks, we can expect sunshine and May…
We’re continuing to set up our ultimate DIY toolkit, and today we’re bringing out the big guns of the saw world — compound miter saws and the table saw. These saws are stationary and both require a fair amount of space for cutting. However, if you plan to do woodworking of any substantial size or…
These honeycomb shelves came our way at a perfect time — not only do they satisfy my need for cheerful spring colors, but they also provide a great storage solution to alleviate spring-cleaning woes. Sarah and Josh, the creative husband-and-wife photographers behind Arrow & Apple, whipped up these pretty hexagonal shelves for free using salvaged…
