Wednesday, November 30, 2016

DIY Industrial Bathroom Towel Bar

30 Days of DIY Projects 2 Make Us Thankful

Project 30


This is the final post of our series of projects to make us thankful for DIY.  Thanks for being with us during the month of November for  simple and easy DIY projects! Please be sure to visit again to check out our upcoming December series of great Christmas gifts you can make and give!

It's our way of saying Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at
Simply Easy DIY!




Optimizing space in a bathroom can be quite challenging. Oftentimes navigating the bathroom is like navigating an obstacle course.

Some of the things that you can encounter in a cluttered bath are half hazered towels, messy kids bath toys, just used hot  hairdryers and irons, and a weirdly placed toilet paper holder.

Some bathrooms even have "decor" like free standing statues or fake plants.

No thanks on the fake plants. Too dusty.

How can you improve the design and functionality of your bathroom storage? You could go with a pricey custom cabinet installation. Most of us don't have that kind of budget though.


A better option is to utilize that dead space behind the door where cabinets won't fit anyway.

A thin spot can perfectly fit a nice floating shelf with a lower towel bar. An added bonus: the industrial pipe look is really popular right now.

Check out how Dan over at Kateryna Woodworks shows how it easy it is to make. Also included: all materials and dimensions this project!

DIY Industrial Bathroom Towel Bar:






Wipe on Polyurethane

Thickness Planer

Miter Saw

Cedar or your choice

Drill






Final Thoughts

Worried if that bar might leave marks on your towels? Dan covers that. He cleaned and coated his bar with polyurethane too.

I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "Dan Ridley" YouTube channel to check out even more great woodworking videos from him. Don't forget to subscribe.

We are wrapping up our November 2016 thankful 4 DIY series. Thanks for being here with us.  Our "12 days of Christmas projects" next series can be found here. Design plans included in each one!

Until then!


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Tuesday, November 29, 2016

DIY Easy 2x4 Bedside Table

30 Days of DIY Projects 2 Make Us Thankful

Project 29


This is the twenty ninth post of our series of projects to make us thankful for DIY.  Be sure to check back everyday during the month of November for new simple and easy DIY projects.

It's our way of saying Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at
Simply Easy DIY!



If you're familiar with those end tables that are called "decorator table" then you will know well how flimsy they can be.

At one time I admit that I had two of them serving as bedside tables. They each had a cloth covering that you could match up to the colors in your decor and you could swap it out periodcially out if you wanted to.

An added bonus was that under that covering you could stash away clutter. We even had books stacked underneath.

They served their purpose and we used them for several years.

Over time, the peg legs on the table didn't fit so neatly in their sockets after going through several moves.

Then, children came along and wanted to "hide" out under the covering on the table. The space is limited and they'd topple over the table, lamp, and other things on it each time.

Fortunately the lamps never were broken in this process.

After awhile though, we were dreaming of more formal furniture. Specifically, something that had a shelf or a drawer and wasn't so easily knocked over.

At the time, we went with a cabinet style one that was purchased from a furniture store. Thinking back on it, these easily doable bedside tables that Brittaney shares would have been perfect for our need and much better for the budget.

DIY Easy 2x4 Bedside Table:









Cuts:

You should always measure to fit your specific space and expectations. In the project that Brittaney shares, the cuts measure as follows:

Top:
5 2x4's cut to 24 inches

Legs:
4 2x4's cut to 20 inches
4 2x4's cut to 12.5 inches
4 2x4's cut to 11.5 inches (2x4's ripped in half)

Bottom:
4 2x4's cut to 15 inches

Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "Tru Furniture" YouTube channel to check out even more great woodworking and crafting videos from Brittaney. Don't forget to subscribe.

We hope you will return to Simply Easy DIY everyday through the month of November for more projects that make us thankful 4 DIY.

Until then!


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Monday, November 28, 2016

DIY Wooden Planter Box

30 Days of DIY Projects 2 Make Us Thankful

Project 28


This is the twenty eighth post of our series of projects to make us thankful for DIY.  Be sure to check back everyday during the month of November for new simple and easy DIY projects.

It's our way of saying Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at
Simply Easy DIY!






We  have planter boxes in our backyard that are currently growing herbs and other edibles.  We grow this way due to our Florida sandy soil and I'm happy to report that we've had a lot of successes.

One of our most successful gardening adventures has been this planter box.



It's made out of pine but has great bones. In other words, it's a well made design. It's pushing two years old is still going strong.

No matter what choice of wood, the design will help ensure it's success and lifespan.

Right before we built that planter box, we were using two store bought cedar planters. The design was a circular barrel shape, held together by metal strips. Once the metal strips came loose, the boards were loose and when we looked closer, the cedar boards were rotted .

Those planters lasted about a year.

Here in Florida, we use our planter boxes year round so it's like having a double growing season.

There are so many designs out there. You have to give some thought as to how much maintenance you want to do, what materials you've already got on hand, what it's going to hold, and what look you want on your property.

I've seen them made out of cedar, pine, old fence boards, hay bales, cement blocks and it seems the list goes on and on.

In other words, there is not a right way or a wrong way to make a planter box.

The planter box that you make will be great for YOUR purposes.

This is what Mitch did over at Mitch Deitrich YouTube channel. He placed his box  in the front of his home for some curb appeal in what had previously been empty unused space.



Build this DIY Wooden Planter Box:

 



Final Thoughts



I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "Mitch Deitrich" YouTube channel to check out even more great woodworking videos from him. Don't forget to subscribe.

We hope you will return to Simply Easy DIY everyday through the month of November for more projects that make us thankful 4 DIY.

Until then!


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Sunday, November 27, 2016

DIY Modern Accent Table

30 Days of DIY Projects 2 Make Us Thankful

Project 27


This is the twenty seventh post of our series of projects to make us thankful for DIY.  Be sure to check back everyday during the month of November for new simple and easy DIY projects.

It's our way of saying Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at
Simply Easy DIY!





For this project, you'll need only to stop at the home improvement store to pick up a few items in the plumbing section. If you purchase a 5 foot pipe length and then cut it down to size using a pipe cutter, you'll have the pieces you'll need at an affordable price.

You can purchase any pre made crate or make one yourself in the workshop. We built several DIY crates in our rolling cart storage bin build and you can use our design plans.


Stain your crate the night before and then the build goes quick the next day, once you begin cutting and assembling the copper tubing lengths that make up the bottom of this table.

Use this accent table in the living room or position it in the bedroom as a bed side table. Have a child that is going off to college? This one fits in the dorm room.


How to make a DIY Modern Accent Table:






Wood Gel Stain "Dark Walnut"

Pipe Cutter

Wood Crate
NOTE: If you want a Simple and Easy DIY version click here.

E6000 glue

Old T Shirt, Gloves

4 - copper elbows
 
4 - t connectors 
(1/2 inch pipes)

5' of Copper Tubing from Plumbing section cut into the following lengths:


2 - 10 inch pieces
4 - 16 inch pieces
2 - 14 inch pieces




Final Thoughts


I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "Katie Bookser" YouTube channel to check out even more great crafting videos from her. Don't forget to subscribe.

We hope you will return to Simply Easy DIY everyday through the month of November for more projects that make us thankful 4 DIY.

Until then!

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Saturday, November 26, 2016

DIY Rustic Christmas Tree Base

30 Days of DIY Projects 2 Make Us Thankful

Project 26


This is the twenty sixth of our series of projects to make us thankful for DIY.  Be sure to check back everyday during the month of November for new simple and easy DIY projects.

It's our way of saying Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at
Simply Easy DIY!






In the early 1800's in America, no one had even heard of these things called Christmas trees.
That 's because Germany started the custom in the 16th century. It didn't make it across the pond until the mid to late 1800's.

Queen Victoria was shown in 1846 with a Christmas tree in her home.



Why did she have a Christmas tree?

Because her husband was German.

These days not everyone has a real tree in their home. We are one of them. Our choice is to go with a a 7 1/2 foot pre-lit Virginia pine artificial tree that was purchased several years ago.

It doesn't have a special Christmas Tree base other than the supports that it came with.





We've been thinking about doing something a bit more stylish. Chris from CMR Woodworks has a pretty good idea. He created a custom base that fills it out and makes the tree look fuller....

or is that less filling?

  DIY Rustic Christmas Tree Stand:

 






Pallet Wood or other scrap
plus 2x4 for crate support.








Final Thoughts

To make the rustic stand fit your specific tree, first measure around the bottom. Add a couple of inches, then make your cuts. The height of your base will depend on how tall your tree is so measure from the bottom of your tree to the floor.

I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "CMR Woodworks" YouTube channel to check out even more great woodworking videos from Chris. Don't forget to subscribe.

We hope you will return to Simply Easy DIY everyday through the month of November for more projects that make us thankful 4 DIY.

Until then!


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Friday, November 25, 2016

DIY Twisted Christmas Tree

30 Days of DIY Projects 2 Make Us Thankful

Project 25


This is the twenty fifth post of our series of projects to make us thankful for DIY.  Be sure to check back everyday during the month of November for new simple and easy DIY projects.

It's our way of saying Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at
Simply Easy DIY!




Shane Conlan over at DIY for Knuckleheads likes working through his pile of scrap wood and doesn't miss a beat to have a chance to put something in his pile to good use. Plus, he has so much fun doing so.

Watching him put together his scrap wood Christmas tree brought to mind something that I've been pondering lately.

So often we head to the attic and lift out the artificial tree and begin to decorate it with several boxes of ornaments that we also had to haul out. There's manual labor and effort to get this stuff out of storage.

Or, if you're the "real tree" type of family, there's the effort expended to go purchase one, somehow transport it home, and then wrangle it into the Christmas tree stand.

Did I also mention that you're running around with the vacuum cleaner almost daily trying to stay on top of the needles?

That wears me out just thinking about it.

Consider creating and giving away this lightweight table top version of a Christmas tree.

DIY Pallet Wood Christmas Tree:

 



Satin Varnish



Pallet Wood or other scrap




Pin Nailer

Drill

Threaded Metal Rod

Red Spray Paint (Optional)





Final Thoughts

I'm envisioning a small strand of white lights and some home made pinecone ornaments made by the kids or grandkids and this tree is good to go.

I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "DIY For Knuckleheads" YouTube channel to check out even more great woodworking videos from Shane. Don't forget to subscribe.

We hope you will return to Simply Easy DIY everyday through the month of November for more projects that make us thankful 4 DIY.

Until then!


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Thursday, November 24, 2016

DIY How to Deep Fry a Turkey

30 Days of DIY Projects 2 Make Us Thankful

Project 24


This is the twenty fourth post of our series of projects to make us thankful for DIY.  Be sure to check back everyday during the month of November for new simple and easy DIY projects.

It's our way of saying Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at
Simply Easy DIY!






What is served in your home during Thanksgiving? Is it Ham, Turkey, or maybe something else? Here in our home, we serve turkey during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Our preferred method is to roast our turkey in a roaster pan, and then later we've got the pan drippings so we can make home made turkey gravy.

Yes, we do use the giblets too!

In past years we've used the disposable roaster pans and thrown them out after the meal has been cooked.

Last year my wife received a large roaster pan from someone who was getting rid of one,
and she is really thankful for that.

It can be challenging to roast a large turkey when your oven size is on the modest side. We do get creative during cook time.

Both oven racks are in use and everything is squeezed in very tightly.

Trying to manage cooking several dishes in an oven that still has a large turkey in it can be a feat.

If you're switching over from the traditional roast method and going with deep frying this year, you'll have to do some advance planning to ensure you've got all the supplies you're going to need.

The "Art of Maniless" YouTube channel goes over all the equipment you'll need and also the safety precautions that you can take to ensure your delicious turkey frying success this year!


How to Deep Fry a Turkey: 





Final Thoughts

Chef Karl goes through detailed instructions on the deep fry process. An excellent safety tip he suggests is to invest in the right safety gloves. We've already got these welding gloves that should work nicely.

I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "Art of Manliness" YouTube channel to check out even more great instructional and entertainment videos from Brett. Don't forget to subscribe and check out his website.

We hope you will return to Simply Easy DIY everyday through the month of November for more projects that make us thankful 4 DIY.

Until then!


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Wednesday, November 23, 2016

DIY Turkey Made From Pallet Wood

30 Days of DIY Projects 2 Make Us Thankful

Project 23


This is the twenty third post of our series of projects to make us thankful for DIY.  Be sure to check back everyday during the month of November for new simple and easy DIY projects.

It's our way of saying Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at
Simply Easy DIY!






Our neighbors really do a great job of decorating the exterior of their homes for both Halloween and Christmas. But, when it comes to Thanksgiving - it's the holiday that is sandwiched in between and gets skipped over, at least in our neighborhood.

To be fair, I've seen some folks attempt decorating with pumpkins, thanksgiving themed flags, and scarecrows.

Sadly, a pumpkin lasts several days here in Florida before it goes rotten. A carved pumpkin lasts maybe a day.

We need something more durable and lasting. Especially something that can take heat and moisture. If you've got pallets and a band saw, why not try your hand at one of these:


Build This Wooden Turkey:





Tools & Materials



Wood Glue 

Table Saw

Pallet Wood or other scrap

Band Saw

Random Orbit Sander

Small Clamps

Med to Large Clamps

Drill





Final Thoughts


I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "Adam Gabbert" YouTube channel to check out even more great woodworking projects from him. Don't forget to subscribe.

We hope you will return to Simply Easy DIY everyday through the month of November for more projects that make us thankful 4 DIY.

Until then!


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Tuesday, November 22, 2016

DIY Floating Shelf with Hidden Storage

30 Days of DIY Projects 2 Make Us Thankful

Project 22


This is the twenty second post of our series of projects to make us thankful for DIY.  Be sure to check back everyday during the month of November for new simple and easy DIY projects.

It's our way of saying Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at
Simply Easy DIY!





We're always losing our remotes. This isn't a unique problem, I hear it happens in many families.

We also have a two year old who finds new homes for remotes. This would be places like the garbage can, in between couch cushions, and in small spaces in other rooms.

Actually, we do have a nice side table right next to the couch with perfect drawers for our remotes. The thing is, it's a drawer that the two year old opens easily and enjoys taking everything out of it.

This is also true with our coasters. Most of the time, the two year old likes to hide them and send mom and dad on a game of hide and seek.

One thing we've thought about as an answer is to install a floating style shelf where the remotes and coasters can be kept hidden so little hands can't reach them.

If you're also looking for solutions for a secret compartment to store your gun or maybe keys to a safety deposit box, try this project by Glen at DIY Creators .



Floating Shelf with Hidden Storage:





Choice of Stain
(He used Minwax Gel Stain Hickory)




2x4 and oak

Table Saw

Biscuit Joiner



Pin Nailer

LED Strip (optional)

Various size Clamps

Trim Router

Router Table




Final Thoughts


I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "DIY Creators" YouTube channel to check out even more great DIY and woodworking videos from Glen. Don't forget to subscribe.

We hope you will return to Simply Easy DIY everyday through the month of November for more projects that make us thankful 4 DIY.

Until then!


1

Monday, November 21, 2016

DIY Tiki Torch

30 Days of DIY Projects 2 Make Us Thankful

Project 21


This is the twenty first post of our series of projects to make us thankful for DIY.  Be sure to check back everyday during the month of November for new simple and easy DIY projects.

It's our way of saying Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at
Simply Easy DIY!






Here in Florida we need bug repellent because we've got a lot of bugs.  Especially Mosquitoes and no-see-um's. But wait...there's more. We've also got various biting flies, ants, and spiders that all love our property since we back up to a canal with standing water.

Sometimes it just seems you can't go outside without being eaten alive.

But, these tiki torches go a long way in helping curb the bite attacks. This is really important to us because we have a family member who is prone to allergic reactions.

We've bought bamboo tiki torches from a certain big box store. They stand about 5 feet tall and the idea is that you stake them into the ground and light a canister that is on the top.

Overall this is a good idea but unfortunately, if you've got sandy soil like we've got, they often fall over pretty easily.  Young children also have to be kept away to prevent injury.

So, when my wife saw Mitch build his own customized torches with deep metal stakes she added the project to my honeydew list.  A refillable mason jar was an added bonus because we've got a lot of them around from canning.

I'm sure we've got an old canning jar that can be re purposed.

Oh, did I also mention that he did his own Shou Sugi Ban wood burn technique on this?  I recently built a project using this same technique as well.

For more information on the Shou Sugi Ban wood burning technique, check out my post on the DIY Wine Rack where I tried my hand at this technique. It turned out great!

DIY Tiki Torch





Tools & Materials

Wood Burning Torch

Spar Urethane (indoor/outdoor)

Wood Glue 

Miter Saw

Pallet Wood and 2x4

Epoxy

Circular Saw

Random Orbit Sander

Various grit Sandpaper

Router 

Tiki Torch Fuel

Hose to Pipe thread

Metal Spike (to hold the torch in the ground)

Quart Mason Jar  

Table Saw

Band Saw

Drill

Tiki Torch Wicks

Paracord (optional)




Final Thoughts

Common sense tip of the day:

When using wood burning equipment you should exercise extreme caution because you'll be working with fire and fuel and injury may result. Additionally, when using a tiki torch, whether your own DIY version or one purchased from the store, be sure to always practice safe precautions to prevent injury. Always follow manufacturer's safety instructions and all that blah, blah, blah.

I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "Mitch Deitrich" YouTube channel to check out even more great woodworking videos from him. Don't forget to subscribe.

We hope you will return to Simply Easy DIY everyday through the month of November for more projects that make us thankful 4 DIY.

Until then!


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Sunday, November 20, 2016

DIY Small Garden Picnic Side Table from 2x4's

30 Days of DIY Projects 2 Make Us Thankful

Project 20


This is the twentieth post of our series of projects to make us thankful for DIY.  Be sure to check back everyday during the month of November for new simple and easy DIY projects.

It's our way of saying Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at
Simply Easy DIY!





If you're like us, we only have so much space available in our outdoor shed. The shed has to hold a lot of things, including gardening tools and the lawnmower.



You tend to keep reshuffling everything in order to make them fit. And, sometimes you get frustrated and start pitching stuff.

So when the wife told me that we needed additional outdoor party tables I had no idea where we were going to store them, unless we just stacked them up somewhere, like on our covered patio.

That's not good news for the patio. Turning it into a storage unit, I mean.

She said she had found some great picnic style outdoor tables that were collapsible.

I guess I can add this to my "honey doo-list".

Just between you and me I think she was dreaming of going camping again...shhh!

Whether camping or partying at home, these fold-able side tables from Houtje can be stuck into the ground and moved around as needed.


Collapsible Side Table made from 2x4's:







Tools & Materials

Choice of Stain

Wood Glue 

Miter Saw

2x4's

Circular Saw

Random Orbit Sander

Various grit Sandpaper

Bandsaw

Drill 

Various Clamps

Belt Sander 

Jig Saw




Final Thoughts

To ensure that your food and drink don't fall off, add a strong magnet or pin to lock the table firmly in place when it's in use.

I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "Houtje Boom - Be Creative" YouTube channel to check out even more great crafting and woodworking videos from her. Don't forget to subscribe.

We hope you will return to Simply Easy DIY everyday through the month of November for more projects that make us thankful 4 DIY.

Until then!


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Saturday, November 19, 2016

DIY Rustic Toybox

30 Days of DIY Projects 2 Make Us Thankful

Project 19


This is the ninteenth post of our series of projects to make us thankful for DIY.  Be sure to check back everyday during the month of November for new simple and easy DIY projects.

It's our way of saying Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at
Simply Easy DIY!





When we had our first child, we spent a fair amount of money on a toybox from an online store. It wasn't cheap but it had the design that my wife wanted.

It's served us well over all these years and even has been passed down from one child to the next.

It's got friction supports and a cut out area where little fingers can't get pinched.

No one has yet ever been hurt by our toybox:


This makes us really happy considering it has served us as more than a toybox. So what else does it do you ask?

Well, it's been a "desk", it's been a "doll table", and it's been the base of a slide.

Note - The latter usage was not sanctioned by parents. Our kids sure do have imagination.

Throughout all of these activities, it's still going strong. I think part of it's strength is that it is made of wood and as such is much more durable than something with plastic components.

Having an all wooden toybox is something I'd definitely recommend. But, I wouldn't recommend the added designs since it limits their interest once they hit a certain age. So try a toy box that is less "animated" if you will.

An all wooden one such the this one that Jeff built will serve as a storage unit through teenage years and beyond.

DIY Rustic toybox:




Tools & Materials

Choice of Stain

Polyurethane

Wood Glue 

Table Saw

Pallet Wood or other scrap

Circular Saw

Random Orbit Sander

Various grit Sandpaper

Pocket hole jig

Drill

Various clamps

Jig Saw

Piano Hinge 

Friction supports





Final Thoughts

This toybox was made from an actual crate. Jeff shares that he watched it fall off a truck, the man got out , pushed it out of the road, then drove away. It was destined to be Jeff's.

I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "Home Built Workshop" YouTube channel to check out even more great woodworking videos from Jeff. Don't forget to subscribe.

We hope you will return to Simply Easy DIY everyday through the month of November for more projects that make us thankful 4 DIY.

Until then!


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Friday, November 18, 2016

DIY Rustic Farmhouse Coat Rack with Shelf

30 Days of DIY Projects 2 Make Us Thankful

Project 18


This is the eighteenth post of our series of projects to make us thankful for DIY.  Be sure to check back everyday during the month of November for new simple and easy DIY projects.

It's our way of saying Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at
Simply Easy DIY!






Some families have a need to store things in the main entrance way into their home or kitchen. The same goes for our family.

We needed a place to hang coats and handbags. Mainly handbags in order to keep little hands from going through them.

Our system that we use is this shaker peg rack:



I built these a few years back and they have worked out well.

You won't see coats on these since we don't use those in our climate. We do however, find we can hang umbrellas and bags in place of coats.

They are functional and attractive. 

However, they'd be even more functional if we expanded them to utilize more upward space. For example, this storage unit built by Stephan over at "Bear Woodwork" offers additional cubby space with a shelf.

Before this he had another much simpler system set up in this space but it wasn't working for his family.

So he went larger...

Palletwood coat rack:




Tools & Materials

Choice of Stain
(he used Satin Walnut)

Polyurethane

Wood Glue 

Table Saw

Pallet Wood or other scrap

Various size clamps including frame clamp

Random Orbit Sander

Various grit Sandpaper

Hand Planer (optional)

MDF

Choice of coat hooks

Chalkboard paint

Drill

Router table





Final Thoughts

 Stephen did such a good job it's hard to tell it came from pallet wood:

The blackboard is high enough that mom and dad can write on it, but little hands can't erase.


Interestingly enough, he didn't have a table saw to use for this build so you'll see him using his band saw.

Either one would work.

Plus he used a hand plane to clean up the pallet wood.  Personally I happen to have a thickness planer at my disposal and if you have one, that may be the easiest way to go.




The back board was attached with dowels to add stability.

I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "BearWoodWork" YouTube channel to check out even more great woodworking videos from him. Don't forget to subscribe.

We hope you will return to Simply Easy DIY everyday through the month of November for more projects that make us thankful 4 DIY.

Until then!


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Thursday, November 17, 2016

DIY Barn Door Headboard and Window Covers

30 Days of DIY Projects 2 Make Us Thankful

Project 17


This is the seventeenth post of our series of projects to make us thankful for DIY.  Be sure to check back everyday during the month of November for new simple and easy DIY projects.

It's our way of saying Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at
Simply Easy DIY!





In tight spots where space is at a premium, sliding doors called pocket doors get installed by builders. They run on a track and often slide inside a wall, disappearing out of sight.

They allow access into tight spots where traditional swing out doors would have taken up too much room.

A sliding barn door is another modern update in the pocket door family. In this case, the track is often exposed and the hardware is made to look aged. The hardware being exposed is part of the charm.

The door itself is made of pine (or other available wood) and has cross beams which are modeled to look like a door on a barn or stall.


Check out I'd Rather Make it Myself YouTube channel's ingenious set up:

Barn Door Headboard and Window Covers:





Tools & Materials

Choice of Stain

Polyurethane

Wood Glue 

Miter Saw or Circular Saw

Pine - or your choice of wood

Various grit Sandpaper

Table Saw

Jaw Clamps

Sliding Hardware of your choice




Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "I'd Rather Make It Myself" YouTube channel to check out even more great DIY and woodworking videos from them. Don't forget to subscribe.

We hope you will return to Simply Easy DIY everyday through the month of November for more projects that make us thankful 4 DIY.

Until then!


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Wednesday, November 16, 2016

DIY Concrete Candle Holder

30 Days of DIY Projects 2 Make Us Thankful

Project 16


This is the sixteenth post of our series of projects to make us thankful for DIY.  Be sure to check back everyday during the month of November for new simple and easy DIY projects.

It's our way of saying Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at
Simply Easy DIY!





We have several candle holders that are almost all what you would call "formal"  Plus they are third generation heirlooms that aren't going anywhere.

It seems a shame to keep them hidden in a hutch as they are now.  Being a historical buff that I am, I've been thinking about ways to display some of the wonderful history we have right here in our own house.

I'm sharing a photo here of one of ours. It's called a chamber style candle holder.



Despite my desire to display and even use these candle holders, we have a problem...

actually we have 4 problems.  They are called children.



It just screams, " Pick me up!" to any toddler. Even the older kids like playing old time games with it. One of the games I recently observed was their rendition of "A Christmas Carol".

Ebeneezer Scrooge much?

Plus even though I like these style candle holders my wife would like something a little more contemporary.

We also have these tea light candles that seem to be very common and they're very cheaply priced.



So I need an idea for a sleek contemporary yet classic looking candle holder that is both safe and sturdy with little ones running around.

Hhmmm...

DIY Concrete Candle Holder:

 




Tools & Materials

Choice of Stain

Wood Glue 

Pin Nailer

scrap wood to make a mold

1x2 pine 

Table saw

Band saw

Quickrete Concrete mix

Wet Look Concrete Lacquer
(Rust-oleum - found in home improvement stores)

Various grit Sandpaper

Hot glue gun

Tea Light Candles

Cabinet Bumpers

Epoxy




Final Thoughts

This project would be great for someone who likes contemporary styled projects. While I think it works best in a bath setting, you could bring it into a living room but I'd still watch out for the kids.

Part concrete and part wood projects are really in style right now. If you look in stores, you'll find similar looking style candle holders can run some cash.  Why do that when we have DIY to be thankful for.

I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "DIY Creators" YouTube channel to check out even more great woodworking videos from Glen. Don't forget to subscribe.

We hope you will return to Simply Easy DIY everyday through the month of November for more projects that make us thankful 4 DIY.

Until then!


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Tuesday, November 15, 2016

DIY Upcycled Mirror

30 Days of DIY Projects 2 Make Us Thankful

Project 15


This is the fifteenth post of our series of projects to make us thankful for DIY.  Be sure to check back everyday during the month of November for new simple and easy DIY projects.

It's our way of saying Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at
Simply Easy DIY!





Used cable reels also known as cable spools can be easily obtained from any construction site.

They are actually used to wind or carry various types of electric cables, fiber optic cables and wire products. They come in  four different types - wood, plywood, plastic or steel.

What you need for this project is a wooden one so go ahead and grab it when you see one. (Don't steal please).

I've seen these things repurposed as so many different projects.  Picnic tables, coffee tables and now a...

DIY Upcycled Mirror





Tools & Materials

Cable Reel

Wood Glue

Old Mirror

Circular Saw

Random Orbit Sander

120 grit Sandpaper

Brad Nailer 

Router






Final Thoughts

This project is going to be heavy.  Not kinda heavy, but really heavy.

Simple plastic drywall anchors are not going to do, (unless you use 50 of them.)  Get yourself a set of sturdy metal toggle bolt anchors or something similar. 

You don't want this thing to fall off the wall and break a mirror.  You know what they say about broken mirrors right.

I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "The Poultry People" YouTube channel to check out even more great DIY and woodworking projects from them. Don't forget to subscribe!

We hope you will return to Simply Easy DIY everyday through the month of November for more projects that make us thankful 4 DIY.

Until then!


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Monday, November 14, 2016

DIY Farmhouse Table

30 Days of DIY Projects 2 Make Us Thankful

Project 14


This is the fourteenth post of our series of projects to make us thankful for DIY.  Be sure to check back everyday during the month of November for new simple and easy DIY projects.

It's our way of saying Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at
Simply Easy DIY!




As we approach Thanksgiving our thoughts turn toward our families and our stomachs.


Here at Simply Easy DIY, we have a formal dining set that's 40 years old and made from maple.

Here in Florida, houses often do not have separate kitchens and dining rooms.  We are lucky in some respects to have both rooms so we can accommodate two tables.  One for everyday dining that the kids can bang on as they please and one for special occasions such as Thanksgiving. 

Some folks don't even have a dining room though.  They've got a "modern floor plan" with a "great" room that is a kitchen and dining room combined.

So what do you put in these spaces?

How about a "farmhouse table".

That does make sense. These types of tables seat a lot, appear sturdy and evoke fond memories of the past.

So where do you find one?  Turns out, it's really hard.

To get your hands on an authentic antique one, you might fork out thousands of dollars.

So, that leaves you turning toward buying the cheaper offshore made ones.  Not surprisingly, for this price point these tables aren't even made from full planks or even from real wood. You might also get a plastic finish.

Now I'm not so hauty as to snub my nose at that but, you do have other choices.

Make your own or as I say, "Make a simple and easy DIY one."

The folks back at the original Thanksgiving made their own table and so can you!

Chris over at "CMR Woodworks" has a pretty good go at it:

Farmhouse Table Build





Tools & Materials

Choice of Stain
("Carrington" was the color that Chris used)


Polyurethane

Wood Glue 

Miter Saw

Choice of lumber

Clamps

Random Orbit Sander

Pocket Hole Jig

 Table Saw

Thickness Planer 

Dowel Jig




Final Thoughts

A project like this is all about what you want and the style you're going for.  However, there are a few things to be mindful of when picking any lumber product.

1.  Make sure the boards you choose are straight and true.  When I'm at the lumber yard I inspect every single board before purchasing.  I look down the length of the board to make sure there are no twists or bends.

2.  Make sure the boards are free of loose knots.  Knots are known weak points in a board and can become a safety hazard in the final project if not dealt with properly.  When in doubt, just avoid if possible.

The one caveat here would be if you are going for the knotted look but even then loose knots are not desirable.  Plus if you've ever ran a loose knot through your table saw and had one pop out at you, you know it doesn't feel good.  So my recommendation is to just stay away from them.


I hope you enjoyed today's featured project and don't forget to stop by "CMR Woodworks" YouTube channel to check out even more great woodworking videos from him. Don't forget to subscribe.

We hope you will return to Simply Easy DIY everyday through the month of November for more projects that make us thankful 4 DIY.

Until then!


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