REPOST: 5 simple ways to inspire and improve your inner 'making' skills

Summer is the perfect time for students to unleash their inner artist. With plenty of time away from school, they can design and build various projects that reflect their creative interests. The Shelbyville News provides the following tips to help them maximize their time on DIY projects.

(BPT) - Summer is often a great time to tackle your do-it-yourself and “making” projects. But between summertime travel, social commitments and long hours at the office, carving out time to “make” can be challenging. 

Image Source: shelbynews.com

This Labor Day weekend, the Craftsman brand will host its first-ever MAKEcation – an adventure where “making” takes center stage. Below are essential tips from the MAKEcation instructors to help you maximize your time on DIY projects and making. 

* Woodwork like a pro: After you’re finished with your next woodworking project, you may see small gaps in your wood according to MAKEcation instructors, Bob and Scott Stevens. Instead of reaching for a wood filler that doesn't quite match your wood’s color, grab some wood glue and dab a small amount into the gap. Before the glue dries, sand off the excess glue with an orbital sander. The sawdust created will match and fill the gap, making it almost invisible to the untrained eye. Be sure to remove all of the excess glue once complete. 

* Master your grill: According to grilling expert Rocco Romeo, lean meats can stick to even the cleanest of grilling racks. To reduce sticking, he recommends oiling your hot grill rack with a vegetable oil-soaked paper towel. Simply hold the paper towel with tongs and rub it over the rack. Never use cooking spray on a hot grill. 

* Channel your inner blacksmith: If you’re feeling extra bold this summer, try your hand at blacksmithing. According to blacksmithing guru Beth Holmberg, when getting started, keep in mind that mild steel is fine for most projects, but high-carbon steel is best for shaping implements that need to hold an edge.  Holmberg says the key to blacksmithing is recognizing the right heat for the job - forging, bending, hardening, or tempering. Without it, you'll never gain full mastery over this stubborn material. 

* Perfect the art of cigar rolling: If you’ve already mastered your to-do list and are looking to celebrate, continue with the theme of the summer and try your hand at cigar rolling. Murtaza “Taz” Ahmadi, owner of the V Cut cigar lounge, insists that a primary key to rolling a good cigar is to use the appropriate amount of filler. Too much and you will not get air through the cigar, too loose and it will burn quickly and get too hot. 

* Get away: Set in the picturesque mountains of Lake Arrowhead, California, the Craftsman MAKEcation is the ultimate maker’s vacation where you’ll up your making game, rub elbows with actor and comedian Rob Riggle and leave with amazing loot – in addition to some cool items made by you. So escape to the woods this Labor Day weekend and learn from some of the best woodworking, blacksmithing and cigar experts around.

Elizabeth Lesar is a college student and amateur woodworker from Boulder, Colorado. Get DIY woodworking project ideas from this Twitter page.

REPOST: Your Guide to Making a Natural and Eco-Friendly Bedroom

Lots of people look at going green as a huge task that requires great effort, money, and time. This article lists simple ways of switching to an eco-friendly lifestyle, starting with the bedroom.

Image Source: www.onegreenplanet.com

If your body is your temple, would you let that temple sleep in a pesticide-ridden and toxic bedroom? Our bedrooms serve as a sanctuary from all the stress we’ve put ourselves through physically and emotionally after a long day at work. Making a natural and eco-friendly bedroom doesn’t just benefit the environment — it also benefits your health and happiness! Try some of these techniques for a green bedroom that provides plenty of peace and serenity after a stressful day:

1. Non-Toxic Paint
Often the biggest source of toxins is lurking in your walls! There are dozens of chemicals used in the conventional paints you find at home improvement stores. Not only do these chemicals damage the environment, but prolonged exposure can aggravate allergies, cause respiratory illness, and a bunch of other health problems. Reduce your exposure to carcinogens by doing some research on non-toxic and natural/plant-based paints before painting your bedroom. Bonus points if you pick a soothing color like lavender or taupe!

2. Organic Cotton Bedding (and Pajamas!)
You wouldn’t roll around in a pit of toxins, pesticides, and herbicides. So why are you still using conventional bedding? Making the switch to organic bedding and mattresses is one of the easiest ways to reduce your exposure to toxins and carcinogens. Your skin has practically no defense against absorbing harsh chemicals, so anything in your bedding can easily make its way directly into your blood stream. Use this as a reason to also indulge in fun and relaxing organic pajamas!

3. Consider A House Plant for Your Bedroom
If you live in a congested or traffic-ridden area with little access to fresh air, a house plant might be just what the doctor ordered for your bedroom. House plants significantly help with air quality and oxygen levels in your home. A small plant on your nightstand or dresser can definitely make you feel more at ease and catch some restful shuteye.

4. Avoid Leather and Suede Products
Leather and suede products are two no-nos when living a natural life. Not only are these products cruel to animals, but they undergo major chemical processes to make them suitable for furniture and other home décor accessories. Avoid these products altogether and if you must have a suede throw pillow for your bedroom, research vegan-friendly alternatives. They’ll feel just like the real thing!

5. Purchase Eco-Friendly Light Bulbs
Eco-friendly light bulbs are another easy swap you can make for a natural bedroom. Besides your nightstand lamp, don’t forget about ceiling lights, wall lights, and other light sources in your bedroom that can easily be switched. Don’t forget about natural light either. When the sun’s out, it’s completely free!

6. Opt for Hard Wood Floors and Area Rugs Instead of Traditional Carpeting
Carpets use many petroleum-based processes and chemicals when formulated. Since most people walk on carpet without socks, you’re again exposing yourself to carcinogens that can be directly absorbed into your blood stream via your skin. Traditional carpeting is also very hard to clean. Even if you have the world’s greatest vacuum, trapped dirt, dust particles, and other irritants can get stuck in the fibers and aggravate allergies. Opt for floors that are made out of natural materials like hard wood or bamboo. Purchase organic area rugs that can be vacuumed or shaken outdoors to get rid of dirt and allergens.

Making your bedroom more natural and eco-friendly isn’t as difficult as you’d think. Start slowly, making one change per month and see what kind of changes you notice in your health. You could very well start sleeping better and having more energy in the coming weeks. Have you made the switch to an eco-friendly bedroom yet?

Hi! My name is Elizabeth Lesar and I revel in all things DIY and green. For news and interesting links on sustainable living, follow me on Twitter.

Upcycling old materials into coffee tables

In the last couple of years, the humble living room coffee table has undergone various unorthodox makeovers, courtesy of the green DIY community. The following are examples of coffee tables made out of upcycled wooden crates and wooden windows.

 

Image Source: diynetwork.com

Crate Coffee Table

 Collect four wooden wine crates from a local grocery store or liquor shop. Stain them and allow to dry properly.

Use a plywood board, preferably reclaimed from a local hardware store, as your table base.

Using nails, secure the crates unto one side of the board. Make sure that the crates are in a tight square position, with the openings facing outwards, leaving an open square space in the center. The crates must be attached tightly enough to each other.

 Image Source: handimania.com

On the bottom, non-crated side of your reclaimed plywood board, screw four caster wheels of your chosen size onto the four corners. This will allow you mobility for your crate coffee table.

Prime, paint, and polish your crate coffee table to your liking.  

Window Coffee Table

Salvage a large, square-ish window from a construction or demolition site within your neighborhood. Source some two-by-fours, a plywood board, and wooden table legs from the same site as well, or try to score them from the local hardware store.

 

Image Source: upcyclethat.com

Measure and cut the two-by-fours and the plywood board to the window’s size. Screw the boards together to form a sturdy box-type base to your window coffee table. On the bottom of your box-base, screw in the reclaimed wooden legs at the corners. 

Use hinges to attach your window to your coffee table base. Stain, prime, paint, and polish your window coffee table to your heart’s desire.

I’m Elizabeth Lesar and I’m an eco-warrior and sustainability champ. I share more of my thoughts and ideas on this blog.

Out of the box: Upcycling a thrifted chest of drawers

Often, we’ll scour flea markets and thrift shops and see a chest that seems it might look better in a different color or with different knobs or pulls. But what if upon inspection this same chest had missing or broken drawers? This guide shares a simple way of upcycling a wooden, drawer-less chest using paint and wicker baskets.

Image Source: alovelyplacetoland.com

Work on the finish

If you want to change the colors on the chest, work on this first. If you think it would look great in cobalt blue buy enough paint in the exact color you want. Get varnish as well – decide whether you prefer matte or glossy. Take some sandpaper and lightly sand the original finish all over before applying the first and second coats of paint.

Remember to sand down, paint, and varnish the insides of the chest in your desired shade as well.

Get wicker baskets

Image Source: basketlady.com

Take down the length, width, and height of the drawer cavities, so that you know what kind of allowance you have for the length, width, and height of the wicker baskets you will be looking for at the store.

Depending on basket size, you could fit anywhere from two to five wicker baskets in one drawer cavity. You want them to fit nicely with a lot of space around them to spare so they can slide in and out of the drawer cavity with ease.

Image Source: dnginteriors.co.za

You also want wicker baskets that complement the color of the chest. If they don’t mix nicely, you can always stain them a darker brown, or lightly tinge them with a color that goes well with the chest’s color.

This is Elizabeth Lesar – college student, creator, and eco-warrior. If you want more of my updates, ideas, and inspirations, follow this Pinterest account.