Eileen

How to Make Easy DIY Wood Bookends

September 15, 2019 by Eileen 3 Comments

Learn how to build DIY wood bookends with this easy tutorial. These DIY bunny bookends are perfect for keeping kids’ books organized – and it was a zero cost project!

Lately, I’ve been noticing just how much my kids adore creative time.

The first thing my preschooler said today was, “Daddy, can you go the store so that Mommy and I can do a fall craft?”

I laughed as I overheard it, but I absolutely love how much he values his craft time.

In addition to giving the kids plenty of time for crafts and creativity, my husband and I also have started creating things just for them.

They see us constantly building and creating things for the house. So it makes them feel so important when we make them something special.

We just made this sand and water table for their birthdays, which was such a hit! So funny how much kids love sensory tables.

Today, we are sharing how we made these simple bookends for our daughter’s nursery.

Nursery Bookends

Our daughter’s nursery needed a little love.

We previously painted a heart accent wall, but other than that she got a lot of leftover things from her brother’s nursery.

I was recently in Hobby Lobby and saw these cute star and moon bookends. I decided to make own using bunnies.

My daughter adores all animals but especially bunnies.

I also knew bookends would be a simple project that I could handle making.

My husband has tons of wood leftover from all our projects. I knew he wouldn’t miss it.

Plus, he loves when I work in the garage because I always leave it neater than it was before – he’s a mess!

At Home DIY

With our At Home DIY challenge being home decor this month, I figured it was a great time to make something special for my daughter’s room.

For the At Home DIY challenge, we’ve collaborated with several talented DIY bloggers and we all create a project with the same thing each month. This month’s theme is to make any home decor for less than $20. Be sure to scroll to the end of the post to check out all the projects.

How to Build Wood Bookends

This DIY bunny bookends project was super simple, and it was a no-cost project. I love creating something out of things we have.

Choosing and Cutting Wood for the Bookends

I first found scrap ¾” thick boards I found that would be perfect for the DIY bookends:

To create the book ends, I needed to cut out four pieces – 2 pieces of 4.5”x4.5” and 2 pieces of 4.5”x5.25”.

I figured this size would on the smaller side (less clunky) and perfect for small kids books.

The two different sizes of boards would be attached perpendicular to each other.

I brought the scrap wood pieces over to the table saw to cut them to size.

Attaching the Wood for the DIY Bookends

With the pieces cut, I applied some construction adhesive and finishing nails to make a book end.

A bar clamp also came in handy to hold the wood in place while I drove some nails in.

Sketch Your Shape

At this point, I took the bookends up to my craft room to figure out the bunny.

I traced the “L” bookend shape on a piece of scrap paper.

I freehand drew a sketch of a bunny and kept refining it until I was happy with the outline and the size (compared to the “L” of the bookend).

After you’re finished and happy with your sketch, cut it out and hold it up to the bookend to make sure you’re happy with it.

Drawing Tips

If you are stuck on how to draw your shape, google the shape you’re making and the word “outline” i.e. dog outline.

Then, you can focus on just the perimeter and not get caught up in the details. Or, if you’re using a bunny, feel free to grab the outline out of our resource library.

Making the Bunny Wood Cut-Out

Making the wood bunny was pretty simple, but it did take a little time.

Trace the Cut-Out

Once back in the garage, I traced the outline of the bunny onto the wood twice – one for each bookend.

Using the Scroll Saw for the Wood Cut-Outs

I opted for the scroll saw to cut out the wood bunnies. I wanted to preserve all the details of the bunny outline, and a scroll saw was perfect to get accurate cuts.

Here are the cut out bunnies resting in the book ends:

Finish and Paint for the Bunny Bookends

Because I’m so indecisive it took me a while to figure out what I was doing with the bunny and the bookends paint-wise.

I debated about painting the bookends white and the bunny light brown.

I started to paint the bunny light brown; however, I just wasn’t happy with it.

Then I decided to leave the bookends wooden and paint the bunny white.

Tung Oil for the Bookends

Happy with the painted white bunny decision, I used pure Tung oil on the wooden bookends.

Here are the bookends halfway through the Tung oil process (oil applied to the left bookend, and nothing yet applied to the second one on the right):

Painting the Bunny

I used Decoart white acrylic paint to paint the bunny.

Then, I painted the inside of the ears with a pink shade I made from red, and I drew on the face with a sharpie. I also did a little pink heart shape on the bunnies nose with the acrylic paint.

Attaching the Bunnies to the bookends

With the bookends stained with Tung oil and the bunnies painted, it was time to attach the two.

I considered using just construction adhesive to secure the bunnies, but this sounded two permanent.

I was toying with the idea of swapping out the bunnies with other designs throughout the year (Santa bookends anyone?)

But, I ended up just using two screws underneath the bookends to attach the bunnies.

I made sure to pre-drill two holes centered on the base of the bookends. Then held the bunnies in place while I inserted two screws.

Time and Cost for the DIY Bunny Bookends

Making these bunny bookends took about 3 hours, and it was a no-cost project. We used scrap wood and paints we already had! Can’t beat that 🙂

My daughter absolutely loves the DIY bunny bookends. They look adorable in her nursery. Of course, my son adores them too and asked if we could make him skunk bookends. 🙂

If you’re up for a simple woodworking project, definitely try your hand at making DIY bookends. If you’re not up for the woodworking aspect, make something else for your kids or with your kids. I’m sure they’ll adore the creative time.

And if you are wondering if my son and I ended up doing our fall craft – we did. We made a 3D fall tree that he adores. We’re still gluing on the leaves and flowers, but if it turns out nice, I’ll share that too.

See more $20 DIY Decor Projects

10 DIY Projects You Can Build with 2x4s

September 1, 2019 by Eileen Leave a Comment

In this post, you’ll find 10 amazing projects that you can make using 2x4s.

Ever wondered what you can build with 2x4s?

2x4s are a cheap wood, and you can build a lot of simple things with them quite easily.

We’ve used 2x4s for tons of projects including garage shelving towers, workbenches, and most recently a sand and water table for our kids.

Today I’m sharing 10 DIY projects that you can make with 2x4s. Each project is a full how-to tutorial so you can make these too!

10 DIY Projects You Can Build with 2x4s

From picnic tables to curtain rod shelves to outdoor tables, check out these amazing DIY projects made from 2x4s. Not only are they creative but they are cost-effective too! Each project is linked to the how-to tutorial with all the details on how they used these 2x4s.

Kids Picnic Table from 2x4s

Photo Credit: www.bitterrootdiy.com

This adorable picnic table was built by Tylynn from Bitterroot DIY. It's made entirely out of 2x4s and she explains every step so thoroughly!

End-of-the-Bed Wooden 2x4 Bench

Photo Credit: www.savvyapron.com

I am loving this adorable end-of-the-bed wooden bench from Sherry at Savvy Apron. It only took her a couple of hours to build and it looks absolutely gorgeous.

Porch Pumpkins Using 2x4s

Photo Credit: www.diybeautify.com

I can't believe this beautiful pumpkin decor was made from 2x4s! Cindy from DIY Beautify did an amazing job with these creative, festive 2x4 porch pumpkins. Find out how you can make these rustic porch pumpkins too!

DIY Fall Wood Sign from 2x4s and Vinyl

Photo Credit: www.creativeramblingsblog.com

Here's another fun 2x4 project for fall! Sarah from Creative Ramblings made this stunning fall wood sign from 2x4s and vinyl. Her wood signs are awesome, and this 2x4 sign no exception - be sure to check out her DIYs.

Water and Sand Table from 2x4s

We made this fun sand and water table from 2x4s! Water tables and sand boxes are always such a hit with kids, so we combined those concepts into this fun table. It fits two large plastic containers, for ease of use.

DIY Wood Color Block Table Top from 2×4’s

Photo Credit: abbottsathome.com

My friend Stephanie from Abbotts at Home made this gorgeous color block table using 2x4s! Isn't it beautiful?! Her DIYs are so fun and artistic, and this is definitely one of my favorites. Who knew 2x4s could be so pretty?!

DIY Farmhouse Outdoor Patio Table made with 2×4’s

Photo Credit: thefrugalhomemaker.com

This one is show-stopper for sure! Christina from The Frugal Homemaker made this farmhouse outdoor table from 2x4s and it cost less than $60! It's absolutely stunning, and the price tag on this is nothing short of amazing.

DIY Kids at Play Yard Sign with 2x4s

Photo Credit: www.shrimpsaladcircus.com

How adorable is this Kids at Play sign?! Lindsay from Shrimp Salad Circus made this DIY traffic sign. Such a good idea - and she makes it look so easy!

Outdoor Dog Cabana with 2x4s

Photo Credit: diydanielle.com

Danielle from DIY Danielle made this creative outdoor dog cabana with 2x4s. It's so adorable and perfect for pups (or kids) who need shade outside. I love creative DIY, and Danielle has so many of them!

Curtain Rod 2x4 Shelf

Photo Credit: kenyarae.com

I've never thought of putting a shelf above my curtains - but wow, such a great idea! Kenya from Kenya Rae shows you exactly how to make this simple and efficient DIY window shelf. Perfect if you need more space or love to decorate.

Such creative ideas, right?!

So get on your way to Home Depot, grab some 2x4s, and start building!

You’ll save money, and create something pretty cool with construction lumber.

Everything You Want to Know About Sun Shade Sails

August 13, 2019 by Eileen 4 Comments

A sun shade sail is a large fabric canopy that is suspended in the air for shade in outdoor areas. It’s a thrifty solution for enjoying your outdoor space without worrying about the sun and its heat.

This article will tell you everything you need to know about shade sails. If you are looking for specific installation instructions, check out on how to install a sun shade sail tutorial.

Sun shade sails are growing in popularity because they are a quick and cheap solution for the hot summer sun. When compared to awnings, a sun shade sail provides you with hundreds of dollars of savings.

When buying our sun shade sail, we researched all kinds of outdoor shade options, including an awning, pergola, and even a covered porch.

The sun shade sail was the best option for us because of the cost – as well as the flexibility and ease of putting it up and taking it down. We’ve had our sun shade sail for years now and are so pleased with it.

All About the Sun Shade Sail

It’s amazing how much cooler our patio is in the middle of the summer.

Sun shade sails help block UV rays, keeping an outdoor area 10-20 degrees cooler. The shade sail fabric is breathable, enabling the hot air to rise through the fabric.

While we have ours on our patio, you can use a sun shade sail anywhere.

It’s perfect for decks, play areas (such as swing sets or sandboxes), pools, or even on top of pergolas. You can even use them as a car canopy or for vertical privacy shade in the middle of the yard.

Before sun shade sails become popular residentially, they were commonly used professionally and commercially in many public outdoor areas to beautify shade, such as outdoor seating at restaurants or picnic areas at splash parks.

Various Shapes & Configurations

Sun shade sails come in a variety of colors and different shapes, most commonly rectangles, squares, and triangles. When choosing colors, keep in mind that lighter color shade sails will block more UV rays.

You can hang sun shade sails in a few different ways – they can be lower in the middle and higher at the anchor points. Or, you can alternate high and low at the anchor points for a more creative look.

We went with a simple off-white, rectangle sun shade sail. We hung our higher at the anchor points and lower in the middle.

Single or Multiple Shade Sails

Sun shade sails are definitely a great alternative to simple-looking shade structures – they’re very geometric looking, like a work of art.

You can start off with just a single sail in your configuration (like us), or you can use multiple sails if you are feeling creative. For an even more creative touch, consider mixing different sun shade sail shapes. If you sun shade sail is curved, there might be a gap in between the sails.

Overall, sun shade sails are multi-purpose shade that you can use for any outdoor area that you need shade for. They’re fairly easy to set up and really durable.

Sun shade sails are also made so that you can easily take the shade sail down whenever you need to.

Two Type of Shade Sails

When choosing your sun shade sail, you’ll want to think about what type of sail suits your needs. There are standard sun shade sails and waterproof sun shade sails.

Regular sun shade sails are not waterproof. The porous material of fabric lets the water run right through.

However, as shade sails took off in popularity, some companies started making a second type – waterproof sun shade sails or partially waterproof ones.

There are benefits to both of these types of sun shade sails, so you’ll want to determine which is best for you.

Standard Sun Shade Sails

Standard sun shades are porous, letting water run right through. Even though your outdoor area will get wet, there are quite a few advantages for standard shade sails.

A big advantage to buying a standard sun shade sail is that the water will not pool at the top of the sail. This puts less strain on your anchor points.

Even though this type of sun shade sail lets the rain through, it does a great job not of letting the sun through. When compared to waterproof sun shade sails, the standard one makes for a cooler area because the fabric is breathable, allowing the hot air to rise through the shade sail.

We have the standard (not waterproof) type of sun shade sail. I don’t mind the rain coming through because the point of the sail was to block the sun. It’s also great because my plants still get the rainwater.

I also like how the water runs right through because it doesn’t create any pooled water anywhere.

Waterproof Sun Shade Sails

The obvious advantage to waterproof sun shade sails is that they keep your outdoor area dry. This is great if you have furniture or table settings that you don’t want to get wet. This is also similar to a porch setting, as you can sit out and enjoy the rain without getting wet.

The main disadvantage is that the waterproof shade sails will put a lot more strain on your anchor points, so this is something to definitely consider when making your decision on the type of sail and anchor points. You want them to be really sturdy.

Waterproof shade sails are usually more expensive (they are made with a different fabric and coated with waterproofed materials), and they are usually smaller in size, due to water pooling.

In addition, some sails are partially waterproof. Read the description and the reviews on the shade sail you are interested in to make sure it’s aligned with what you have in mind.

Keep in mind, if a sun shade sail is completely waterproof, it will keep more heat in – as it can’t escape through the breathable fabric.

Sun Shade Sail Hardware

When you buy your shade sail, you’ll want to see whether it comes with a hardware kit or not. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to purchase one.

We definitely recommend getting a sun shade sail kit (as opposed to buying individual hooks) because the kit holds the hardware you need to attach to the sail and your anchor points.

Making Your Own Sun Shade Sail

It is possible to make your own sun shade sail. You’ll want to make sure you research the fabric and see if there is UV protection. You’ll definitely need to know your way around a sewing machine, and your sewing machine will need to endure tough fabrics.

Buying Your Shade Sail

You can buy your shade sail at so many places including Costco, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Amazon. We got ours on Amazon – love the convenience of Amazon prime! The cost will vary depending on the brand, the size, and the materials, but overall sun shade sails are very cost-effective.

Set Up & Take Down

Once you get your sun shade sail installed, it’s very easy to set up. It takes 5 minutes to put up or take down – it’s super quick.

For us, we put it up during the spring when the sun starts to get hot, and we take it down in the fall. If there’s a heavy storm coming, we’ll take it down for that. Our sun shade sail requires very little maintenance. If your shade sail gets dirty, you can just hose it down. We’ve had our sun shade sail for 3 summers, and it’s holding up great. Check with the sun shade sail that you purchase, but most are supposed to last for 10 seasons.

DIY Sun Shade Sail Installation

When installing your shade sail, think about the below factors and how they relate to the area you have chosen for the sun shade sail.

Determining the Location

When deciding where to put your sun shade sail, you definitely want to pick an ideal location. There’s a lot to think about in terms of the sun’s location, the size of the sail, the anchor points you’ll use, and any obstacles in the way.

Think about the Sun

Ideally, you’ll want to orient your sail so that it follows the path of the sun.

For example, if the sun rises to the left of your house and sets to the right, you’ll gain the most benefit from you sun shade sail by running it from left to right. If you get the angle of the sun rays right, you’ll get your shade to be in an ideal spot for the majority of the day.

So, definitely take note of where the sun rises and sets in accordance to your house.

Think about the Size

Think about the size of the area you need to cover and see if it’s practical to get by with just one shade sail or if you need multiple sun shade sails.

We needed to cover a BLANK BY BLANK AREA so we got the BLANK BY BLANK.

Your anchor points will have to go further apart than the size of your sail. So your shade sail should be a little smaller than the area you want to cover.

Determine Anchor Points

Next you’ll establish some anchor points for the corners of the sails.

For our sun shade sail, we anchored to sides to the house and two to wooden posts that we installed.

Ideally try to find existing anchor points such as strong posts or your house or shed. Trees should only be a temporary solution. Flag poles and lamp posts are generally not strong enough and would likely bend or break, especially on the windy day or during heavy rainfall.

Now, you could install a sturdy post and always turn this into a flag pole or some kind of lighting.

You might wonder too if the posts look odd when the sun shade sail is not up. Ours blend in with our deck, so they don’t really stand out. However, we do have plans this summer to add some solar lighting to the top of the two sun shade sail posts.

Work Around Obstacles

You’ll also want to look at the area you chose in regard to what is around it. For example, you’ll want to take into account your outdoor grill because you’ll want to leave this unsheltered.

When we installed our sun shade sail, we had a huge landscaping rock where we wanted to put one of the sun shade sail posts. It took us quite a while to get the 300 pound rock moved, but it was all worth it to put the sun shade sail in the ideal place.

What Do I Need to Know Before Installing a Shade Sail?

There are a few things you’ll want to know before installing your sun shade sail.

Using Hardware to Attach the Sun Shade Sail

If your anchor points include a building, such as your home or shed, a really popular anchor point is a simple pad-eye with some carbineers.

As mentioned above, rather than looking for individual components for anchor mounts, they are typically sold in kits specifically for sun shade sail purposes.

The kits conveniently include carbineers, u-bolts, and turn buckles (which are essential for tensioning).

Installing Sun Shade Sail Posts

If you are installing posts, you could use steel poles or wood posts. With using wood, you should use a minimum of 6×6 pressure-treated wood.

If you are using steel, definitely don’t think you can get away with using galvanized poles, typically used in chain link fences. Those will bend in a heartbeat.

Also, if you are putting posts or poles into the ground, you’ll need that ground to be clear. You even might want to call 811 to mark your ground if you plan on digging.

This is a good idea to make sure are no buried gas or water pipes where you plan to dig. After calling 811, they will come to your home and mark your ground for free.

You can install the posts pretty quickly – it’s an easy DIY. We detailed all the steps on how to build the posts and install the sun shade sail.

6 Before & After Room Makeovers (That Won’t Cost a Fortune)

August 6, 2019 by Eileen Leave a Comment

After working hard all day, everyone deserves to come back to a home they love.

When you’re sitting on the couch flipping channels at the end of the day, you don’t want to be thinking, “Ugh I have to do something about those outdated cabinets.” Or, “those walls need a new coat of paint.”

Girl, (or guy), you can do that! Refinish those kitchen cabinets. Paint the walls a new color. Hang a gallery wall that you just adore.

There are so many things you can DIY to make you feel happier in your home.

Things that will give a room an entire new looks – like doing a stencil for an accent wall, rearranging furniture for a better layout, and painting old furniture. Anyone can do these things – no matter your DIY skill level.

The following before and after room makeovers include every skill level (from beginner to advanced); however, they are all cost-effective makeovers that you can learn yourself.

6 Before & After Room Makeovers (That Won't Cost a Fortune)

Without further ado, here are six before and after room makeovers that will blow you away.

Incredible Mudroom Makeover

This is another favorite of mine. I drew a vision on a piece of scrap paper for our awkwardly shaped mudroom. And, we made the vision come to life! We built this decked out hall tree with cubbies for every member of the family, to keep backpacks and coats organized. There's basket storage above each cubby and a drawer below each. Don't tell my husband, but my favorite part is the drawer knobs! They card catalog drawer pulls and I absolutely love them. If you think you don't have enough space to pull off entryway organization, think again. We did a lot with just an L-shaped piece to work with. Of course, we did a wall stencil and added shiplap too. Check out the details! This is another one where the before pictures will stop you in your tracks.

Sitting Room Revamp with Bookshelves and a Window Seat

You won't believe the before on this one. This was just a plain sitting room, off the master. For months, all we had in it was couch and a lamp. Yet, I could see the potential here (plus I had boxes upon boxes of unpacked books in the garage). It only seemed right to build these Beauty and the Beast-esque floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, complete with a window seat. After all the DIY projects we have completed over the years in our home, this is my absolute favorite spot. And that cushion? I DIYed that with materials from around the house, even with my horrible sewing skills. Check out all the details here!

Easy Bedroom Accent Wall

If you are feeling like your walls are just too plain, doing an accent wall can definitely completely change a space. In our old home, we did a striped accent wall for the nursery. In our new home, we did a heart accent wall (keep reading for pictures). Both were really easy DIYs - they broke up the white wall space and added so much character to the rooms. This is definitely a project that anyone can do - no special skills required, and it's very cost-effective.

Organized Craft Corner

This three part makeover takes only a corner of space - and adds so much organization. We added fun painted pegboard to the walls, along with shelves that creatively fit 8 fabric storage bins, and a homemade customized cubby shelf. If you are looking to add more organization or storage to a room, this is a perfect example of utilizing vertical space!

Pantry Makeover

This one is not a full room, but it's an important space - the pantry! Before our pantry had metal shelves that I had covered in contacted paper, and it looked a mess. Instead, we took those out, added wooden shelves and drawers!! The drawers are an amazing storage to have in a pantry (plus you can hide snacks). Also, beforehand, I covered the walls with a white brick wallpaper. We never really gave much thought to our pantry prior to this, but the added storage, organization, and aesthetic has made us fall in love with this update.

Thrifty Kitchen Cabinet Makeover

I couldn't stand our old cabinets. Every day I would stare at them and think how outdated our kitchen was. Refinishing an entire kitchen of cabinets was a ton of work; however, I was willing to put it for an improved look! The best part was the cost - which was less than $400 in materials (mainly the gel stain and the hardware). You can't beat that, as kitchen renovations normally cost thousands!

In addition to the above before and after room makeovers, here is a before and after of our nursery in our new home! We replaced that crazy looking accent wall with stenciled hearts. It was easy and took minimal work (especially compared to painting the whole room – the accent wall was all it needed).

Nursery Before

Nursery After

Another easy add is painting a stencil! It’s cost-effective but does take work. Here is a stencil we did in our mudroom:

I hope these DIY before and afters have inspired you to make some quick fixes in your home that will make you feel more content in your home.

Some of the DIYs just involved painting while others also involved building; however, we were able to do all the room makeovers ourselves with the DIY skills we’ve learned.

Even small fixes like refinishing furniture or painting can make a huge impact. So, pick a room and get started on your update!

If you aren’t sure where to start, grab our free 5-step guide for making over a room in your home! We have a workbook too that will walk you through an amazing room transformation.

7 DIYs You Can Make for Your Walls (In Under Two Hours)

July 31, 2019 by Eileen Leave a Comment

Decorating your walls can be tough sometimes.

There’s so many choices to make – the arrangement, the colors, the size.

What I have found in decorating my walls is to DIY it. You can create custom things for your space, making your wall art exactly the way you want it.

It’s easier and cheaper than buying from the store, and you’ll have so much pride in the fact that you created something beautiful for your home.

Today I am sharing 7 DIY ideas for your walls and guess what? You can make any of these in under 2 hours! So if you are pressed on time (as we all seemed to be these days), if you can set aside just a few hours then you can create any of these beautiful pieces for your walls.

7 DIY Ideas for Your Walls

If you're looking to fill some blank space in your walls and you have two hours of time, check out the below 7 ideas for your walls that you can DIY yourself in just under two hours. From pretty wall art to framed out mirrors to window cornices, these creative ideas will get your wheels spinning.

No-Sew Easy Embroidery Wall Art

Photo Credit: www.shrimpsaladcircus.com

This gorgeous embroidered work of art is made without sewing. Lindsay from Shrimp Salad Circus shares how she made pretty piece in just one hour!

DIY Mirror Frame

Photo Credit: www.livingletterhome.com

I love the idea of making a gorgeous wooden frame for a simple mirror. Carmen from Living Letter Home framed out her bathroom mirror and it looks amazing. You can do it too - in just under two hours!

Easy Seashell Wall Hanging

If you are racking up the seashells from your beach trips, make a pretty wall hanging with your special shells. Perfect for hanging in bathrooms or guest rooms, you can make any shape or wording with this easy tutorial.

Homemade Entryway Signs

Photo Credit: www.pinspiredtodiy.com

Christine from Pinspired to DIY shares how she used her woodworking and crafty skills to make these gorgeous custom signs for her entryway. She shares all the details on you can make them too in under two hours!

Paint Pouring Wall Art

Photo Credit: abbottsathome.com

If you are thinking about creating an custom piece for your walls, definitely check out Stephanie's (from Abbotts at Home) tutorial on how to create paint poured artwork! She gives wonderful tips and tricks on how to achieve the same results!

Wood Window Cornice

Photo Credit: thediydreamer.com

I love this idea from Christine at The DIY Dreamer. She had a kitchen window where she couldn't use curtains and created this pretty wood window cornice. It turned out gorgeous!

Sea Shell Monogram

Photo Credit: meeganmakes.com

Here's another creative seashell idea - Meegan from What Meegan Makes created this pretty monogram for her door with her grandmother's beautiful seashell collection.

So many great ideas, rights?! So put down that phone, set aside two hours, and pick your favorite to do! In no time, you’ll have a beautiful DIY piece for your home.

How to Make a Seashell Wall Hanging

July 15, 2019 by Eileen 10 Comments

Learn how to make an easy seashell wall hanging for your home using your shells from the beach.

When my little guy started preschool last year, every day he came home with something from nature – leaves, acorns, sticks. You name it, and he brought it inside.

I finally put a nature bowl in the mudroom where he could drop off all of his goodies when he entered the house.

Wherever he goes, he always finds something for his nature bowl.

This year we were lucky to vacation by the beach, and my son collected more seashells than even his nature bowl could hold.

While we were on vacation, I set my kids up to do some seashell crafts and figured I would do the same.

After all, the seashells were so pretty and would make for nice memories from our trip.

Seashell wall art was also perfect for this month’s DIY challenge.

Each month we have been collaborating with a talented group of DIY bloggers, and this month’s theme is any 2 hour DIY project.

How to Make Seashell Wall Art

Making this seashell wall art was super easy! You just need a few crafty things to throw it together.

As far the the seashells, you want to find seashells that are a good size for the wall art that you are making.

If you are making a big piece, you can use larger seashells or a combination, but if you are making a smaller piece, you’ll want to use smaller seashells, so you can make tight lines with your shape.

Materials for Seashell Wall Art

Seashells (see above tip for size)
Wood – You can buy this from the craft store or use scrap wood or drift wood. I bought mine from Hobby Lobby. Here’s a similar one.
Glue – I used hot glue because that’s what I had at the time but mod podge would work well
Pencil
Scrap paper
Scissors

Instructions for Heart Shaped Seashell Art

Below are the instructions for making seashell wall art for your home.

Clean Your Seashells

First, you’ll want to clean your seashells well.

I rinsed the seashells with dish soap and water to get the sand off.

Then I let them sit in a bucket of one part water and one part hydrogen peroxide.

No need to use bleach!

Choose or Make Your Background

For my wooden background, I picked up a decorative piece from Hobby Lobby.

It was pallet wood that had a drift wood look, so it was perfect.

You could make the background with scrap wood too.

Choose Your Shape

I decided to do a heart because we just love the beach.

To get the shape, I drew half the heart on a piece of scrap paper.

Then, I folded the paper in half and cut. This way both sides of the heart were symmetrical.

Next, I cut out the heart and traced it onto the background wood.

Arrange Your Seashells

The next step is to arrange your seashells onto the shape you drew.

I started by doing the perimeter of the shape.

I lined up the curves of the seashells with the curves of the heart, filling in smaller seashells where I needed.

Glue Down the Shells

Once you are happy with the arrangement, you can start gluing down the seashells.

Again, start with the perimeter of the heart and work your way around. This part is a little tedious, but it’s fun to see it come together.

Time and Cost of the Seashell DIY

The seashell wall art took me less than 2 hours and the cost was just the background wood – which was around $6.

It was a very simple DIY and I love the way it turned out. It’s a fun way to remember our wonderful trips to the beach.

Be sure to check out the other projects you can do in two hours!

See more 2-Hour DIY Projects

5 Name Brand End Tables You Can Easily Make for Less

June 28, 2019 by Eileen Leave a Comment

Do you ever find the perfect piece of furniture only to look at the price tag and gasp?!

It happens to me all the time.

Until I realized that we could make our own furniture and save money while doing so.

My husband and I got into DIY to fix up our home. We started with small projects and worked our way up to larger ones. Somewhere in between, we realized that we totally could build our furniture.

This month, we co-hosted the Build It Cheaper Than Buying It Furniture Challenge with Megan from Two Feet First, and we built a simple stool that can also serve as an end table.

Today, I’m sharing four more amazing end and side tables that you can totally build for much less than the cost in the store.

Prepare to be inspired, my friends!

Round Stool End Table

Here is the DIY round stool we made, inspired by West Elm.

It can serve as a stool, a plant stand, or a small end table.

We made it for just $15!

Storage Basket Side Table

Is there anything better than furniture that also serves as chic storage?

I am loving this storage basket end table from Casey at House by the Bay Design.

Hop on over to her post to see exactly how to make this simple table.

Chic Side Table

How gorgeous is this Serena & Lily inspired table from T. Moore Home?!

I love the color, the build, and how she prettily styled it.

The best part? She saved hundreds on building it herself! Check out all the details on her post 🙂

$Serena and Lily inspired blue console table with textural wallpaper - an easy DIY project that costs a fraction of the original #diyhomedecor #knockoffdecor #serenaandlily$

Modern End Table

For less than $30, Toni from Girl, Just DIY made this Crate and Barrel inspired end table.

It’s so pretty, and she tells you exactly how to make it yourself.

You’ll save a pretty penny and get a gorgeous new pice.

Rope Spool End Table

This rustic spool end table is absolutely stunning.

Rebecca from Zucchini Sisters had plans to make this Ballard Designs inspired spool table from a bucket – but lucked out in finding a free spool.

Check out all the details on her post.

The brand name stores offer beautiful furniture but lots of times it’s not very affordable.

If you’re in need of a new end, side, or console table for your home, definitely think about making it yourself. You’ll save tons of money and have a beautiful custom piece to take pride in.

If you’re looking for inspiration, look at the furniture your favorite stores offer. When you find a piece that you absolutely love, start thinking about how you can make it yourself.

You’ll be so pleased to have spent a fraction of the cost, you can easily customize it (with your own color, dimensions, natural finishes, etc), and you’ll have so much pride in the fact that you made it yourself.

Check out all the entires in the At Home DIY furniture challenge here – there’s tons of great ideas that are easy to incorporate into your home.

How to Make a Simple Round Stool

June 15, 2019 by Eileen 7 Comments

One of my favorite things about building DIY projects is being able to make something that would otherwise be quite expensive.

You can save a lot of money by making your own furniture.

A major advantage to this is that you can customize your build in any way you like.

You can pick the dimensions. You can pick the color paint or shade of stain. And, you can pick the materials – whether you want a higher quality wood than the store provides or maybe you want a chemical-free piece.

You can make your DIY project any way you like.

Build It Cheaper Than Buying It

Every month we have been sharing a themed DIY project, in collaboration with over 20 talented DIY bloggers. (Last month, we installed solar power outdoor lighting!)

This month’s theme was “Build It Cheaper Than Buying It.” Eileen found a simple round stool, which can also serve as a low end table, that she loved at West Elm.

It retails for a couple hundred bucks, and we made this West Elm inspired one for just $15!

How to Make a Color-Dipped Easy Round Stool

Making a stool is pretty easy. You just need a top to sit on, some legs and leg hardware. The West Elm stool that Eileen was inspired by had a round top with 3 legs.

So the first step in this stool project was crafting the round top.

I wanted the round top to have at least a 10″ diameter.

However, I didn’t have any scrap wood that large and I didn’t want to buy an 8′ length of 2×12 lumber at Home Depot just for a small stool top.

Looking around the garage for a solution, I came across some scrap 2×6 wood.

I decided it would be perfect for a stool top if I joined two of the 2x6s with pocket hole screws to form 10″x10″ block.

The pocket holes would be on the bottom of the stool, so no one would see them.

Here I cut two 10″ pieces of 2x6s:

2x lumber normally comes bevelled on the edges.

This wouldn’t make for a smooth join of the 2x6s.

So I used my table saw to trim the 2x6s and remove the bevelled edge as shown below:

Next I used my handy Kreg pocket hole jig to drill four pairs of pocket holes in the 2x6s:

To join the 2×6 wood pieces, I held them together with a bar clamp while inserting several pocket hole screws:

Now that I had a square block of wood to work with, I proceeded to get an outline of a circle on it.

The easiest way to get a circle on some wood is to just trace around the perimeter of an existing object.

However, I couldn’t find something around 10″ wide.

So I resorted to a reliable wire and pencil trick to drawing a circle by hand. I attached a temporary screw in the center of the wood.

Then I wrapped a piece of wire around the screw, and tied the other end of the wire to a pencil.

Using the screw as a pivot point, I moved the pencil around the screw, keeping the wire tensioned to produce a circle.

With a circle outlined on the wood, I used my jigsaw to make the cut:

To smooth the top, I gave it a good sanding with my random orbital sander and 80 grit sand paper.

Next, I flipped over the stool top and prepped the underside for the leg hardware.

I had to divide the circle into three equal segments, as shown below:

Then I arranged the leg hardware so I could pre-drill the mounting holes:

For the stool legs, I used three 1 1/4″ diameter dowels, cut to 16″ lengths:

Since the stool legs were angled, I needed to cut the bottom of the legs at an 11 degree angle so the legs would be flush with the floor:

Next, I used a 3/8″ drill bit and drilled a hole in the center of the legs (on the opposite side of the 11 degree cuts I just made).

The holes were just deep enough to hold the attachment bolts from the hardware kit.

After the holes were drilled, I used a hex wrench to screw some threaded bolt inserts into the legs:

Finally, I started screwing on the legs one by one:

Stool construction was now complete. I took a break from my hard work, sat on the stool, and thought about how nice the stool turned out.

Here’s the stool so far:

How to Color Dip the Stool

I did a few coats of Tung Oil on the stool’s legs.

Then, Eileen painted the top of the stool white, along with the top of the three legs.

To get a perfect line on the stool’s legs, she just used masking tape around the legs, and painted above it.

For the paint, she used just DecoArt acrylic paint. Then she went over the painted part with a beeswax sealer. It turned out so nice!

Time and Cost

The cost of making the stool was less than $15, and it took a few hours of time.

The simple round stool can serve as a stool or even as a low end table.

And, if you love the stool/end table from West Elm, you can make this yourself and save $200!

More DIY Furniture Projects

Don’t forget to check out the other amazing projects this month! There’s an awesome DIY bookshelf, a gorgeous nightstand, a DIY tripod floor lamp, a kids play kitchen – and so much more!

See more Built It Cheaper Than Buying It Furniture Projects

6 Creative DIYs for Any Outdoor Space

May 31, 2019 by Eileen Leave a Comment

Whether its exploring with the kids, watering our plants, or relaxing with a cup of tea, we love spending time in our backyard.

We’ve done a lot of DIYs in our yard, like installing a boardwalk from the patio to the yard and building an entire shed from the ground up – and we have many more ideas coming.

We love turning our backyard into our little piece of paradise.

Today, I’m sharing a few creative backyard DIYs that are perfect for creating your own backyard paradise.

This vertical garden wall from The Handyman’s Daughter is not only gorgeous but it has a storage bench at the bottom too!

This is perfect if you don’t have enough space for a garden. Be sure to check out all the details on how Vineta built this creative piece.

Christine from The DIY Dreamer made this gorgeous barn quilt door using geometric shapes! The glass fell out of her old door, and she painted this beautiful quilt-like pattern on it! So creative!

This DIY garden fence from Southern Revivals is absolutely gorgeous! It’s beautiful and unique – not like the standard white fences that everyone has (including us!). I love the charm and rustic appeal of it. Hop on over to Jamie’s post to get all the details on this gorgeous garden fence.

You don’t always need outdoor furniture to create a beautiful space. Marianne from Songbird Blog repurposed an old dining room table into a beautiful outdoor seating area.

Check out her post on how to turn an indoor table into an outdoors one.

Another fun backyard idea is to create a flag from fence pickets like this one from Christine at The Frugal Homemaker.

It looks perfect on her barn shed, and she shares all the details on her post.

Last, we turned our shade sail posts into solar power lighting!

So cool, right?!

Check out all the details on how to install solar power lighting.

We already had the posts in the ground from our shade sail. If you are needing shade in your backyard, definitely check out shade sails. They are inexpensive and provide awesome shade.

With the posts already in the ground, we wanted to add some lights to the top – but not any lights – solar powered ones.

If you’re looking for creative or clever backyard DIYs, I hope these ideas helped inspire you!

6 DIYs to Beautifully Update Your Kitchen

April 25, 2019 by Eileen 1 Comment

Everyone always says that kitchen is the heart of the home.

We spend more time in the kitchen than any other room in our home. During our family gatherings or parties, everyone always ends up gathered in the kitchen.

For as much time as I spend cooking, it’s really nice to have a space that I enjoy being in. While our kitchen still needs work, it has come a long way from the old oak cabinets we transformed a few years back.

Most recently, we gave our kitchen pantry closet an amazing makeover – and we are loving it! It’s incredible how small upgrades here and there can completely transform a space.

Today I’m sharing 5 home improvement DIYs that can beautifully update your kitchen – from lighting to cabinet updates to pantry makeovers, these kitchen DIYs will definitely help you love your kitchen.

DIY Kitchen Home Improvement Projects

Not only is the kitchen is the heart of the home, but when it comes to resale value, kitchens are a big deal. People usually invest a lot in kitchen upgrades, and it can can cost more than a brand-new car.

If you’re thinking that you can’t afford a kitchen upgrade and are tired of the same old kitchen, you are not stuck.

You can definitely tackle some of these DIY projects. Not only can these DIY projects transform your kitchen, but they can even boost the resale value of your home.

Wood Beam Chandelier

So many kitchens (including mine) have those outdated fluorescent light fixtures. You know that ones that seem to collect all the bugs?! Updating the lighting in your kitchen makes for a huge transformation. You can do so much with lighting in a kitchen – you have pennant lighting over an island, a gorgeous fixture over your sink area, and a beautiful chandelier over your kitchen table.

Megan from Two Feet First built this awe-inspiring wood beam chandelier for her sister-in-law. She custom made it according to her sister-in-law’s vision and shares every step of the process so you can make it too.

If you have any outdated light fixtures in your kitchen, swapping in a new one can totally makeover that space. Just fixing up old lighting can bring a kitchen or other room into a new decade. Even if you can’t DIY it, there’s tons of gorgeous light fixtures that can update your space.

Kitchen Island Shiplap

Shiplap is everywhere these days, and I am here for it.

Usually, you see shiplap used on accent walls, like we just did our mudroom makeover.

Yet, Christina from The Frugal Homemaker, used faux shiplap on her kitchen peninsula, and it is just gorgeous!

Not only does she share exactly how to replicate this on your kitchen island or peninsula, but she’ll show you how to save money with shiplap too. She did the faux shiplap project for less than $25! Definitely check out the details and speaking of awesome kitchen updates, be sure to see how Christina’s kitchen has transformed over the years!

If you love shiplap and don’t have a peninsula or island in your kitchen, look for other areas in your kitchen you could shiplap – such as a pantry, your backsplash, or a coffee station area. Shiplap adds so much elegance and character.

Pantry Shelves Makeover

My husband and I redid our pantry a few week back- taking it from boring metal shelves (covered in contact paper) to these gorgeous wooden shelves with drawers! Let me tell you, drawers in a pantry are a gold mine of space, hiding all those usual eyesores and hubby’s bags of chips, of course.

I love the wood stain we used, which actually has ZERO VOCs and no smell at all. It’s super natural and green. Check out our post for all these details.

Additionally, our pantry walls were so aged, so we covered those with this faux brick wallpaper. Peel and stick wallpaper is perfect for a whole new look, and I share exactly how to apply wallpaper.

This is a perfect example of how a small project can totally transform a space. As far as resale value, a pantry is a space that can usually look pretty boring. Pantry updates are a great way to add a wow factor to a typically drab area.

Every time I open the pantry door, I expect to see how it used to look – the change is so refreshing!

We were able to build this in one weekend, and we share all the details on how you can do the same 🙂

Also, if you’re wondering what kind of shelf is on the left (below pic) it’s a repurposed CD tower that was on it’s way to the curb!

Faux Marble Countertops (Using Paint)

Wow, this tutorial just blew my mind! Diane from In My Own Style shades how to paint formica kitchen countertops to look like Carrara marble. She shares her painting tips and tricks and exactly how she created the veins.

The before and after pictures are absolutely amazing! If your countertops are in need of an upgrade and you don’t want to spend the money on stone, definitely check out Diane’s tutorial on how to paint a faux marble countertop. I have to think about where I can incorporate these painted marble countertops into my home!

Under Cabinet Lighting

Whenever you’re in the kitchen, you can always use more lighting when your chopping or cooking. A small but powerful update you can make in your kitchen is installing under cabinet lighting. It’s convenient, useful, and helpful.

This DIY from Amy at Health, Home, and Heart is not only convenient, but she makes installing under cabinet lighting so easy. She found these awesome battery-charged, adhesive lights that took her five minutes to install.

Brightening a space is always a good idea – and these under the cabinet lights are an awesome addition to any kitchen.

This is a perfect example of a simple DIY that has a big impact. Head on over to Amy’s post to check out this easy kitchen update!

Painted Kitchen Cabinets

Although a big undertaking, painting your kitchen cabinets is the perfect way to update your kitchen on a budget. Replacing cabinets costs a fortune, and you can get a gorgeous look by simply painting them.

Christine from The DIY Dreamer painted her 1960s kitchen cabinets, and they turned out amazing. She shares all the steps she used, along with the fusion mineral paint that she used. The paint has ZERO VOCs and no odor.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed picking paint colors, check out Christine’s tip how to decide on the perfect color.

Updating your kitchen cabinets is a great idea if you’re cabinets are the originals. A few years back, we used gel stain on kitchen cabinets – and even though it was a huge project that I took on right before the holidays, it looks massively better.

If you’re kitchen cabinets are driving you nuts, definitely make a change and check out Christine’s tutorial for all the steps on how to paint them.

Time to Update Your Kitchen

These 6 DIYs from talented home improvement bloggers are simple ways that you can update your kitchen to get that look that you love. Whether it’s your cabinets, countertops, lighting, or pantry that needs an improvement, pick one project and start from there.

When you update something in your kitchen to make it prettier, more functional, or just bring it into a new decade, it’s amazing how happy it makes you feel.

And, when you’ve saved money and completed the work yourself, it’s an amazing feeling.

With the kitchen being the heart of a home, a few DIY updates can absolutely help you feel happier in the space.

Not sure where to start?

If you aren’t sure where to start on redoing a room in your home, check out our room makeover workbook, which walks you through the process of how to transform a room in your home.

More DIY Home Improvement Projects

See more DIY home improvements projects, including how to DIY a fireplace, how to recaulk your stairs, and how to install hardwood flooring.

Most of these home improvement projects are part of our At Home DIY monthly challenges. Next month’s challenge is an outdoor one so be sure to check back for the next DIY challenge.

You also might like…

Have an extra space between your fridge and the wall? Build a sliding spice rack like this one. It emptied out an entire kitchen cabinet – not to mention all the organization it brought.
Need another way to bring a wow factor into your kitchen? Switch out your old pantry doors for French doors. French doors instantly adds a bit of classic elegance to any room. They turned our old kitchen pantry nook into a beautiful space.
Have an awkward kitchen desk? Transform the desk into a cabinet for more kitchen storage. This tutorial will show you exactly how to make this kitchen storage update the easy way.
Looking to add backsplash to your kitchen? This tutorial will show you how to easily install backsplash.

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Eileen

Nursery Bookends

At Home DIY

How to Build Wood Bookends

Choosing and Cutting Wood for the Bookends

Attaching the Wood for the DIY Bookends

Sketch Your Shape

Drawing Tips

Making the Bunny Wood Cut-Out

Trace the Cut-Out

Using the Scroll Saw for the Wood Cut-Outs

Finish and Paint for the Bunny Bookends

Tung Oil for the Bookends

Painting the Bunny

Attaching the Bunnies to the bookends

Time and Cost for the DIY Bunny Bookends

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Materials for Seashell Wall Art

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Clean Your Seashells

Choose or Make Your Background

Choose Your Shape

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Glue Down the Shells

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Round Stool End Table

Storage Basket Side Table

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Build It Cheaper Than Buying It

How to Make a Color-Dipped Easy Round Stool

How to Color Dip the Stool

Time and Cost

More DIY Furniture Projects

DIY Kitchen Home Improvement Projects

Wood Beam Chandelier

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Pantry Shelves Makeover

Faux Marble Countertops (Using Paint)

Under Cabinet Lighting

Painted Kitchen Cabinets

Time to Update Your Kitchen

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