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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