Easy DIY Projects – Fun & Simple DIY Projects For Your Home & Yard https://www.practicallyfunctional.com Do it yourself! Tue, 22 Dec 2020 19:36:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/cropped-favicon-32x32.png Easy DIY Projects – Fun & Simple DIY Projects For Your Home & Yard https://www.practicallyfunctional.com 32 32 How To Make A No-Sew Bench Seat Cushion https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/diy-no-sew-bench-seat-cushion/ https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/diy-no-sew-bench-seat-cushion/#comments Wed, 09 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/?p=62062 Make a DIY bench seat cushion that fits any bench, window seat, or outdoor bench with just a piece of wood, a staple gun, bench foam, and fabric.

The post How To Make A No-Sew Bench Seat Cushion was written by Jessi Wohlwend and appeared first on Practically Functional.

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Arrow Fastener. All opinions are 100% mine.

Learn how to make a DIY bench cushion to fit any bench, window seat, or outdoor bench without any sewing—all you need is a staple gun!


We have been using an IKEA Kallax cubby storage unit turned on its side as a window seat and reading bench in the kids’ room, and it works great! But even with a bunch of pillows and blankets, it’s not super comfortable to sit for long periods of time. So I made a simple DIY bench cushion to add to the top of the window seat, and I did it all without any sewing. You just need a piece of wood, bench foam, batting, fabric, and a staple gun, and it will come together in just over an hour!

diy bench seat cushion on top of ikea kallax cubby storage unit being used as a window seat and book storage

We actually have another Kallax unit in the kids’ room that we use for toy storage. That one has fabric bins in it rather than just open shelving, but it’s another great use for this piece of furniture. We also use IKEA Trofast bins as dressers, which the girls love because they can easily open and close the drawers to get at their clothes.

And now that this window seat is upholstered, the kids’ room is feeling pretty functional and organized these days. The kids love curling up with a good book, a pillow, and a blanket anytime they want!

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How To Make A No-Sew Bench Cushion

Making a bench cushion is actually pretty easy, even if you’ve never upholstered something yourself before. The great thing about this DIY bench cushion is that you make it completely separately from the bench, then put the cushion on top of the bench at the end. This means you can make your cushion any size you want, so it will fit on any bench, window seat, storage bench, or any other long seat you already have. If you use outdoor fabric, you can even use this no-sew bench cushion for outdoor benches too!

The most important thing about DIY upholstery is having a good staple gun; being able to easily drive staples (without the gun jamming) makes a world of difference. I used an Arrow T50 R.E.D. staple gun and it made quick work of securing the fabric.

You can find links to the exact materials and equipment I used for this project at the bottom of this post.

Materials

The amount of the materials you’ll need depends on the size of your bench. The amounts listed above are how much I bought for this project. The top of our IKEA Kallax bench is 16 1/2″ x 57 7/8″ so I had the plywood cut to exactly that size at Home Depot before I bought it. Everything else I cut down to size myself and had a little left over.

Equipment

ikea kallax bookshelf on its side with upholstery fabric, trim, staple gun, staples, and glue gun on top of it

Instructions

Start by cutting everything to the correct size.

I had my plywood cut to the correct size in Home Depot before I took it home, but you can cut yours down to size with a table saw or circular saw if you want to do it yourself.

Lay the plywood on top of the bench foam, lining up two sides at a corner. Mark the edges of the other two sides on the foam using a pen or marker.

plywood on top of 3" bench foam with woman marking the edges of the wood with a marker

Cut the foam down to size using a large serrated knife (like a bread knife, or an electric knife if you have one.) Don’t worry if the edges of the foam aren’t perfectly smooth; the batting will cover that up and smooth it out later.

woman cutting 3" bench foam with a serrated bread knife

Put the foam down on top of the plywood, then lay your batting over the foam. Trim the batting so that it overhangs the bottom of the plywood by a few inches on all four sides.

woman cutting hi-loft batting with scissors

Next, attach all the pieces to make the DIY cushion.

Set all of the pieces aside and put down a drop cloth for this next part to protect your work area from overspray from the spray adhesive.

Put the plywood on the drop cloth, and coat the entire surface of the plywood with spray adhesive. Position the foam on top of the plywood so that all the edges are lined up, then gently press the foam onto the plywood for a few seconds until the adhesive dries.

3" bench foam on top of 1/2" plywood

The next step is to attach the batting. Batting helps minimize friction between the fabric and the foam, so you want it to be able to move a bit, but you can’t leave it totally unsecured or it will bunch up over time.

Lay the batting over the foam. Lift the batting up on one side and spray the side edge (the 3″ tall part) of the foam with spray adhesive. Press the batting gently against the side of the foam.

Repeat for all four sides. For the corners, press the sides smoothly all the way to the corner, leaving the extra batting puckering out at the point.

hi-loft batting on top of diy bench cushion

Trim the batting flush with the bottom of the plywood. I just ran one blade of my scissors along the wood and trimmed everything flush.

woman using scissors to trim batting flush to bottom of diy bench cushion

When you get to the corners, pull the puckered corner fabric straight out, away from the corner, then point your scissors straight down and cut off the excess batting flush with the corner.

woman using scissors to trim batting at corner of diy bench cushion

Smooth the batting at the corners so that you don’t end up with wrinkles at your corners.

batting trimmed evenly at a corner of a diy bench cushion

Now it’s time to actually upholster the DIY cushion by adding fabric.

Lay your fabric out on top of the cushion and line it up so that any patterns are straight and square to the cushion. Trim away the extra fabric, leaving 3-5″ of fabric overhanging the bottom of the plywood on all four sides.

woman trimming upholstery fabric with scissors on top of a diy bench cushion

Carefully turn the entire cushion over, including the fabric, so that the bottom of the plywood is facing up and the fabric is pretty side down. Double-check that your fabric pattern is still square to the cushion before you start stapling!

Starting in the middle of one straight edge (don’t start at a corner!) gently pull the fabric up and around to the back of the cushion and staple it to the plywood. Your staples should be 1″ to 2″ from the edge of the plywood; don’t worry if that leaves a bunch of loose fabric behind the staple, you will trim that off later. Be sure to pull the fabric straight back (perpendicular to the edge of the plywood) so that you don’t end up with weird pulls or pleats in your fabric as you go.

woman attaching upholstery fabric to diy bench cushion using arrow t50 red stapler

Continue gently pulling and stapling the fabric around all four straight sides, stopping about 4″ from the corners to leave room for pleating the corners.

Pro Tip

Use a lot of staples! There shouldn’t be more than a few millimeters between staples so that the tension is evenly spread out. Remember, staples are really inexpensive, so use a bunch! If there are large gaps between your staples, the fabric can pull and tear at those points when someone sits down on the cushion.

woman stapling upholstery fabric to back of diy bench cushion using arrow t50 red stapler

I also like to vary how far my staples are from the edge of the plywood so they aren’t all exactly lined up with each other. This helps spread out the tension across more of the fabric so it isn’t all pulling against one single line of staples.

I used an Arrow T50 R.E.D. staple gun which made this part of the project a breeze—it was fast and powerful and got the staples in nice and flat every time. And unlike other staple guns I’ve used before, it was really easy to squeeze the trigger. Even my 5 year old could do it, and she was so excited to help Mommy with a project!

woman and child attaching upholstery fabric to diy bench cushion using arrow t50 red stapler

How to upholster the corners of your cushion.

I like to upholster corners using a three-step process: I pull the center straight back and staple it once to hold it in place, then I fold one side in and staple it once, then fold the other side and staple it once. Once all three parts are tacked in place, I can go in and fuss with the fabric and add more staples.

I find this makes really pretty “wrapped” corners that are simple yet elegant, and it’s way easier than making a bunch of pleats and keeping them nice, neat, and even…

Here’s how to “wrap” the corners of your cushion:

Start in the center of one corner and pull the loose fabric straight up and over the corner of the plywood at a 45-degree angle. Make sure you don’t have any weird pleats or wrinkles in the fabric at the corner of the cushion, then add one staple to hold that piece in place. The sharp corner of the plywood will push into the fabric a bit, but that’s ok—there isn’t much tension on this section of the corner, and the next two steps will cover it up anyway.

woman stapling upholstery fabric around corner of diy bench cushion using arrow t50 red stapler

Starting on one side, grab the fabric “wing” that is sticking out and fold it up towards the plywood like you’re wrapping a present. You’re aiming for a nice straight pleat that runs up and down the corner of the foam. It helps to put one finger on the corner of the foam (the corner that’s at the bottom of the cushion currently) while you fold the “wing” up.

Just like wrapping a present, there should be a 45-degree angle fold on the “inside” of the wing and a folded “pleat” that runs up and down the corner. You can adjust the pleat by sliding the fabric against itself. Sliding the fabric changes both the “inside” angle and the angle of the pleat at the same time. So just play around with it until you are happy with how the pleat looks.

Staple it once, close to the corner, to hold the pleat in place while you work on the other side.

woman stapling pleats in upholstery fabric around corner of diy bench cushion using arrow t50 red stapler

You’ll do the exact same thing with the fabric on the other side of the corner—fold the wing up towards the plywood, like you’re wrapping a present. Create an “inside” 45-degree angle fold and a vertical pleat. Slide the fabric against itself to adjust the pleat until both pleats look good.

Staple it once near the corner to hold the second pleat in place.

woman upholstering corner of diy bench cushion using arrow t50 red stapler

You’ll need to add more staples to really secure the corner, but first, trim away excess fabric so that your corner doesn’t get too bulky. Be sure to leave 1-2″ of fabric to staple into.

woman cutting excess upholstery fabric off back of diy bench cushion

Once the extra fabric is gone, add a bunch more staples to really hold it all in place. If there are any bits of fabric that stick out, fold them in on themselves and staple them down, keeping it all as flat as possible.

Repeat for the remaining three corners, then go around the entire back of the cushion and double-check that there aren’t any giant gaps in your staples.

How to remove staples easily, if needed

A couple of times the staples hit a knot in the plywood and bent as they were going in. If you find you have bent staples, or just put a staple in the wrong place, you can easily remove staples with a staple puller.

Slowly slide the narrow tip of the staple puller under the staple you want to remove, keeping the nose of the tool flat against the plywood as you go. Gently wiggle the staple puller from side to side as you push it under the staple, and the staple will pop right up after a few seconds!

woman removing staple from back of diy bench cushion with staple puller

You could also use a flathead screwdriver or other blunt, flat tool to remove staples, but it’s better to use a staple puller because it won’t scrape or tear the fabric as it slides under the staples.

Install the bench seat cushion

If you don’t want to permanently attach the cushion to your bench, just turn the cushion over and set it on top of your bench, and you’re done!

Because I know my kids won’t be super gentle with this window seat, I decided to secure the cushion on the bench with a couple of screws.

Put the cushion on your bench, then drive a few screws up into the plywood from the underside of the bench to secure the cushion at all four corners. Make sure your screws are long enough to go all the way through your bench and at least a 1/4″ into the plywood. You don’t want them to be so long that they go all the way through the plywood and into the foam or you might feel the tips of the screws poking through the cushion. (Though the 3″ foam is thick enough that you probably won’t notice if the screws stick up a tiny bit…)

My cushion sat mostly flat on our reading nook bench, but I wanted to add a bit of trim to make it pretty and cover up the small gap between the cushion and bench. This project is already a no-sew bench cushion, so I figured I would continue the trend and use hot glue to attach the trim rather than sewing it on.

Working in sections, I ran a thin bead of hot glue around the very bottom of the sides of the cushion and pressed a pink fringe trim into the hot glue for a few seconds until it dried.

woman attaching pink fringe trim to diy bench cushion using a hot glue gun

The trim is optional, but I think it gives the cushion a clean, “finished” look, and it definitely helps cover up any weird bumps at the corners!

hot glue gun on top of diy bench seat cushion with pink fringe trim around the bottom of the cushion

The whole project took me just over an hour and I’m thrilled with the results!

diy bench seat cushion on top of ikea kallax cubby storage unit to turn it into a window seat and book storage

We moved the rocker back against the window as well, and now there are a bunch of great seating options if you want to read and look out the window.

window seat made with a diy bench seat cushion on top of ikea kallax cubby storage unit

If you want to do your own DIY upholstery project, I definitely recommend Arrow Fastener’s T50 R.E.D. staple gun. Plus they have a full line of manual, electric, and cordless staple guns, rivet tools, glue guns, nail guns, grommets, hammer tackers, and other tools and accessories for any other project where you want to fasten one thing to another. Whether you’re a pro or a weekend-DIYer, their products are easy to use and deliver quality results. Learn more about Arrow Fastener and their products (and where to buy them) on their website, plus find a bunch of other #MadewithArrow projects and tutorials on their site as well.

window seat made with a diy bench seat cushion using arrow staple gun on top of ikea kallax cubby storage unit

Shop this project

Arrow T50 R.E.D. staple gun
Arrow 10″ glue sticks
Upholstery fabric
Fringe trim
Arrow T50 staples – 5/16″
Spray adhesive
3″ medium density upholstery foam
Arrow TR550™ All Purpose Glue Gun
Staple puller
Hi-loft batting

Frequently Asked Questions

What size staples do you use for upholstery?

Staples actually have three different “size” measurements: length, width (or crown), and gauge. But don’t worry, it isn’t actually complicated! The width of the staple mostly depends on what will fit in your staple gun. Most staple guns that you would use for home DIY projects (whether manual or electric) use medium crown staples, which are 3/8″ wide. Or, if they are called a “finish nailer”, “finish stapler”, or “air stapler”, those usually use narrow crown staples, which are 1/4″ wide. As for gauge, most staples that you can buy for these types of staple guns are considered “heavy-duty staples” and they have a standard gauge. Unless you have a light-duty stapler (more like a paper stapler) or you specifically need really thin/fine staples for something, you don’t need to worry about the gauge.

So, check your staple gun to figure out which staple width it uses, but after that, all you really need to worry about is staple length (which is the next FAQ!)

What length staples do I need for upholstery?

The staple length you need for an upholstery project (or any project, really) depends on the thickness of the material you are stapling, and what kind of base material you are stapling into. Obviously, the thicker the material, the longer the staple, but the base material matters also because you want the staple to go all the way into the base without any parts sticking up. This means that for harder base materials like oak, MDF, and plywood, you should use shorter staples, and for softer base materials like pine, cedar, or foam, you can use longer staples.

The general rule of thumb is that you want at least 3/16″ of the staple to go all the way into the wood. So figure out how thick your material is and add about 3/16″. For upholstery projects, I almost always use 5/16″ staples. If you’re not sure about the length you need, buy the length you think you need AND the next shortest size. If the staple stands away from the surface (i.e. the crown of the staple isn’t fully flat against your fabric/plywood) when you try to staple something, the staples are too long—go down a size and your staples should go in nice and flat!

Can I just wrap the batting around to the bottom of the plywood and staple it along with the fabric?

Yes and no. Yes, that is another option for attaching batting when doing an upholstery project. No, you can’t staple the batting and the fabric at the same time. If you would prefer to wrap and staple the batting, follow the instructions in the “Attaching the fabric” section to attach the batting, then follow them a second time to attach the fabric. If you try to attach both at the same you can end up with weird, uneven wrinkles and bunches in both the batting and the fabric.

I generally prefer the spray adhesive method because I find it simpler, and I don’t usually need the very bottom edge of the plywood to be cushioned for any reason. Plus, if you plan to permanently attach the cushion to the bench with screws, it helps not to have any extra bulk underneath the plywood. But I do use the stapling method when upholstering something with thinner foam that doesn’t have “sides” to adhere to, or for projects where the bottom edges of the cushion are visible and I want them rounded and pretty.

What kind of foam should I use? Foam is so expensive!

The foam you use for your DIY bench cushion is mostly a matter of personal preference. Most upholstery foam comes in low, medium, and high densities, but contrary to popular belief, the density doesn’t actually affect how “cushy” the foam is; it’s more about the durability of the foam. All three feel about the same when you sit on them, but low-density foam will “go flat” and lose its spring a lot faster than high-density foam (think like a year of daily use vs. over 10 years of daily use.)

But, of course, high-density foam is more expensive than low or medium density foam. I prefer to use medium density foam because I find it strikes the right balance between being a quality foam and not being outrageously expensive.

If you’re on a really tight budget and don’t mind the durability trade-off, I’ve heard of people using low-density foam mattress toppers or egg crate foam inside their cushions.

How thick should my bench foam be?

Foam thickness is mostly a matter of personal preference, but in general, you don’t want to go any thinner than 2″. It also depends on how you intend to use your bench cushion; if it’s a window seat for lounging, maybe go with 4″ or 5″, or if it’s a kitchen table bench, 2″ or 3″ should be fine. I chose 3″ foam because it’s a good balance of cushy and soft feeling, and not outrageously expensive.

Do I really need batting when making a bench cushion?

Batting serves a couple of different purposes. First, it minimizes the friction between the fabric and the foam so that the cushion is more comfortable and doesn’t “stick” as you sit on it. Batting also adds “fluffiness” to your cushion by smoothing and rounding out the harsh edges of the foam and filling in any gaps and wrinkles in the corners of your cushion. That said, you don’t NEED batting when making a bench cushion, but I strongly recommend using it!

Can I use a glue gun instead of a staple gun for upholstery?

No, not really. A glue gun won’t hold the fabric firmly enough and it will start slipping around on the cushion and coming loose after a few uses.

But doesn’t the fabric rip and tear around the staples?

Nope, it won’t if you staple it correctly! When upholstering, be sure to always pull the fabric straight back, perpendicular to the edge, to avoid uneven stress on one side of the staple. Be sure your staples aren’t at an angle either! Your staple gun should also be perpendicular to the edge so that the staples themselves are parallel to the edge.

Also, be sure you pull your fabric evenly all the way around; don’t pull tighter on the corners or anywhere else or it can cause puckering in the fabric and extra stress near the staples. And finally, make sure you use enough staples; large gaps between staples can cause puckering around the edges of your cushion and extra stress on the fabric near the staples.

Wouldn’t the bench cushion slide around if I just set it on top? Don’t the staples scratch the bench underneath?

It depends on the size of your bench cushion and where you’re planning to put the bench, but usually, the friction of the fabric on the bench keeps it from moving around too much. If you’re putting it in your kid’s room like I did, I’d recommend permanently attaching it, just in case!

If you leave it unattached, the fabric usually provides enough padding to keep the staples from rubbing. But if you’re worried about the staples scratching the bench (or about the entire cushion slipping) grab a non-slip drawer liner, or a non-slip rug pad and put it under the cushion to help keep it in place.

How do you clean the cushion?

I usually just wipe up messes and spills as they happen; I use a cloth and a little bit of water if necessary, or I use a spot treatment cleaner for anything that might stain. If your cushion is in a high-use area, you can also spray it with Scotchgard before you start using it to help make it a little more spill-proof.

Where did you get that fabric?

I actually got it on Amazon—I’ve been pretty happy with their selection of upholstery fabrics by the yard. This fabric is by Premier Prints; it’s called Bloom and the color is Shore Life. Here’s a link to it on Amazon: Premier Prints Bloom Slub Canvas Shore Life

Did you wash your fabric first?

Nope, for upholstery fabrics, I usually don’t.

What if my bench is really long and I can’t get a piece of plywood that is long enough?

If you have a long bench, you can make multiple bench cushions and just line them up next to each other. It can definitely be hard to find plywood and foam long enough in a single piece, so don’t be afraid to make 2 or 3 separate cushions. But don’t try to make one cushion using two pieces of plywood next to each other and wrapping one piece of fabric around the whole thing, that’s just asking for disaster!

diy bench seat cushion on top of ikea kallax cubby storage unit being used as a window seat and book storage
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DIY Bench Seat Cushion—Upholster A Cushion Without Sewing!

Learn how to make a no-sew bench cushion that fits any bench, window seat, or outdoor bench. You can make this DIY cushion with just a staple gun!
Keyword fabric, playroom, upholstery
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 1 bench cushion
Author Jessi Wohlwend
Cost $75

Ingredients

Instructions

Cut everything to size

  • Cut a piece of 1/2" plywood to the exact same size as the top of your bench.
  • Lay your piece of plywood on top of your bench foam, lining it up on two sides at a corner. Use a pen or marker to mark the other two sides.
    plywood on top of 3" bench foam with woman marking the edges of the wood with a marker
  • Cut the foam along the marks so that the foam is the same size as the plywood.
    woman cutting 3" bench foam with a serrated bread knife
  • Lay the foam on top of the plywood, and lay the batting over the foam. Cut the batting to size, leaving a few inches overhanging the bottom of the plywood on all four sides.
    woman cutting hi-loft batting with scissors

Build the cushion

  • With a drop cloth underneath the plywood, coat the entire top surface of the plywood with spray adhesive. Place the 3" bench foam on top of the plywood, line up all the edges, and gently press down to attach the foam to the plywood.
    3" bench foam on top of 1/2" plywood
  • Lay the batting on top of the foam and center it so the overhang is even on all sides. Use spray adhesive to attach the batting to the foam ONLY on the 3" tall sides of the foam; do not use spray adhesive on the top surface of the foam. Press along the sides of the foam all the way to the corners to ensure the batting is firmly attached, leaving a little pucker of batting at each corner.
    hi-loft batting on top of diy bench cushion
  • Trim the batting along each side so that it is flush with the bottom of the plywood.
    woman using scissors to trim batting flush to bottom of diy bench cushion
  • To trim the batting at the corners, smooth the batting straight along the sides until you reach a corner, then pull the pucker of extra batting straight out and away from the cushion. Cut straight down, through the batting, right at the corner of the foam.
    woman using scissors to trim batting at corner of diy bench cushion
  • Smooth the batting along the sides of the foam and into the corners so the corners aren't wrinkled.
    batting trimmed evenly at a corner of a diy bench cushion

Attach the fabric

  • Lay your upholstery fabric on top of the batting and line it up so that any patterns are straight on the cushion. Cut the fabric to size, leaving 3-5" of overhang past the bottom of the plywood.
    woman trimming upholstery fabric with scissors on top of a diy bench cushion
  • Turn the entire cushion over (including the fabric) so that the plywood side is facing up. Gently pull the upholstery fabric straight back towards the center of the plywood (perpendicular to the edge of the plywood), then staple it in place using a staple gun.
    woman attaching upholstery fabric to diy bench cushion using arrow t50 red stapler
  • Continue stapling the fabric to the bottom of the cushion on all four sides, making sure there aren't any large gaps between staples. Stop about 4" from the corners to leave room for pleating the fabric at the corners.
    woman attaching upholstery fabric to second side of diy bench cushion using arrow t50 red stapler

Upholster the corners of the cushion

  • To upholster the corners, find the middle of the loose fabric at the corner and pull it up and over the corner of the plywood at a 45-degree angle. Staple the fabric once to hold it in place.
    woman stapling upholstery fabric around corner of diy bench cushion using arrow t50 red stapler
  • Starting on one side of the corner, fold the "wing" of loose fabric up onto the plywood and form a vertical pleat running up and down the corner (like wrapping a present). Staple the fabric once right near the corner to hold it in place.
    woman stapling pleats in upholstery fabric around corner of diy bench cushion using arrow t50 red stapler
  • Repeat the same process with the fabric on the other side, pleating it so that it too has a straight crease running vertically along the corner. Staple once to hold it in place.
    woman upholstering corner of diy bench cushion using arrow t50 red stapler
  • Cut away excess fabric to remove some of the bulk so your cushion can lay flat on your bench. Leave 1" to 2".
    woman cutting excess upholstery fabric off back of diy bench cushion
  • Once the excess fabric is gone, add a bunch more staples to hold everything in place. If any fabric sticks out, fold it onto the back of the plywood (as flat as possible) and staple it. Repeat for the other three corners, then go back around all four edges of the cushion and add staples to fill in any gaps.
    woman stapling upholstery fabric to back of diy bench cushion using arrow t50 red stapler

How to remove staples, if needed

  • If you need to remove a staple, carefully slide the front of a staple puller under the staple, gently wiggling it side to side, until the staple pops up.
    woman removing staple from back of diy bench cushion with staple puller

Install the cushion

  • Turn the cushion over and position it on top of your bench. Drive screws from underneath the bench up into the plywood of the cushion to secure the cushion to the bench.
  • Using a hot glue gun, attach the upholstery trim to the very bottom of the cushion to hide the gap between the cushion and bench.
    woman attaching pink fringe trim to diy bench cushion using a hot glue gun

Notes

If you prefer to wrap the batting all the way around the bottom edge of the plywood and staple it rather than using spray adhesive, you can totally do that! Just follow the instructions in the “Attach the fabric” section when attaching the batting, then repeat those instructions a second time to attach the fabric. Don’t try to do the fabric and batting at the same time.
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The post How To Make A No-Sew Bench Seat Cushion was written by Jessi Wohlwend and appeared first on Practically Functional.

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15 Emergency Essentials and First Aid Kit Necessities https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/emergency-essentials-first-aid-kit-necessities/ https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/emergency-essentials-first-aid-kit-necessities/#respond Wed, 28 Oct 2020 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/?p=61711 It's always good to be prepared. Set up a household first aid kit with practical items like rubbing alcohol, aloe vera, band-aids, antibacterial cream, gauze, and other basic items. You should include a candle, matches, and these emergency essentials.

The post 15 Emergency Essentials and First Aid Kit Necessities was written by Jessi Wohlwend and appeared first on Practically Functional.

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I’m not a huge “doom and gloom” person. I usually believe we should expect (and look for) the best. But it never hurts to prepare for the worst, just in case. Do you have a plan of action for emergencies? A list of important phone numbers? First aid kit necessities?

Having the right essentials on hand can give you peace of mind and help you feel prepared. Any of us can experience a sudden crisis like an injury, weather emergency, or power outage. In some situations, it may take emergency responders time to reach you or you may need to deal with minor injuries on your own.

So, what are the first aid and emergency essentials that you should always have around? I suggest going through this list and collecting these items to keep in one designated spot. (We keep our emergency essentials in the hall closet, which is centrally located and easy to access.) That way, if something happens, you’ll always know exactly where to go.

red first aid kit open with emergency essentials and supplies spilling out

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1. Candles & Matches

Most of the minor emergencies we face aren’t life-threatening or dire. Many are merely inconvenient for a while. One of these situations is an unexpected power outage. If the lights go out, do you have some candles on hand? Do you know where your matches or a lighter are?

Don’t be left scrambling in the dark! I made some simple emergency candles out of recycled cat food cans. I keep these little candles handy for plenty of light in dark situations. These candles will last hours, and they’re easy to make. Better yet—they’re a great way to use up the leftovers of nicer candles when they burn down. Tuna or cat food cans are the perfect size for these little candles.

empty tin cans filled with candle wax and a wick to make emergency candles

2. Flashlight & Batteries

Along with emergency candles, a good, reliable flashlight is priceless when the power is out. It’s generally good to keep a few flashlights tucked away for emergencies. One or two flashlights always seem to inevitably get “lost” or borrowed for a camping trip, late-night reading session, or trick-or-treat walk. So, buy more than one to store.

Keep at least one of your flashlights among your first aid kit necessities. Don’t forget to keep an extra set of batteries with the flashlight too! When you do the annual replacement on your smoke detector batteries, remember to swap out the batteries in your emergency kit flashlight. That way, you’ll never be left with a useless flashlight in the dark.

3. Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is one of those items that rarely gets used unless you really need it. As you put together your first aid kit necessities, make sure you have a nice full bottle of isopropyl alcohol in your kit. Not only does rubbing alcohol come in handy for cleaning small cuts and scrapes, but it’s great to disinfect surfaces in a pinch too. It kills many germs instantly. Use it to clean off tweezers and other tools. 

Keep in mind that rubbing alcohol should be stored safely—don’t use it around flames, never ingest it (obviously), and use it in only well-ventilated areas. Don’t use rubbing alcohol in large quantities to flush a wound and never use it on burns. In small amounts, rubbing alcohol is an important first aid essential.

4. Bandages

Adhesive bandages are a first aid kit necessity, especially if you have kids! Many scrapes, scratches, and booboos feel “better” with the TLC of a Band-Aid. Bandages form a protective barrier that keeps bacteria and dirt away from healing cuts, preventing infection. 

Even for adults, having a few bandages in your first aid kit is essential. Adhesive bandages help prevent blisters and hot spots. Bandages can also provide needed pressure to stop bleeding from minor cuts (and keep you from getting blood anywhere else).

woman putting bandaid on little boys knee

5. Aloe Vera

I love natural remedies like aloe. The jelly-like insides of the aloe plant can be used to soothe scrapes, scratches, and regular burns. In the summer, you can use it to comfort sunburnt skin. In the winter, wind-chapped skin also feels better with aloe vera.

Keep a bottle of aloe vera with your other first aid kit necessities. The gel is inexpensive and easy to find in the sunscreen section of most pharmacies and grocery stores. Aloe vera is moisturizing and comforting. It’s odorless and colorless, making it easy for almost anyone to use.

6. Antibacterial Gel

A tube of Polysporin or Neosporin is an excellent addition to your first aid kit. Antibacterial gel or balm will keep cuts and broken skin from becoming infected. It’s soothing and protective—a good idea if you’re treating a broken blister, a sliver, or a scratch. 

Keep in mind antibacterial gel often has an expiration date. So, if you have a tube lingering in a bathroom cabinet, check the end (usually where the tube has been stamped together) to see if there’s an expiration date listed. When in doubt, throw it out and start fresh.

7. Pain Reliever

Depending on your family’s personal preferences, you may want to include ibuprofen, Tylenol, Aleve, or another pain reliever in your family first aid kit. I don’t recommend keeping a myriad of different pills in the kit because they will probably expire before using them (and expired medication can even become toxic).

For most first aid kits, a small bottle of pain reliever is enough. Keep the bottle out of the reach of kids, of course, and keep the pills in the original container—this will allow you to identify the pills, AND it will help you watch the expiration date. If you have younger kids, you may want to keep a child’s pain-reliever/fever reducer in the kit as well.

8. Thermometer

Like most families, we keep a thermometer in the bathroom cabinet. I like to keep a backup thermometer in the first aid kit, though. If we ever needed to grab the kit and go, we would have it (plus, it’s just nice to have an extra if the batteries run out).

A thermometer is helpful because fever can be a sign of illness or infection. Keeping one in your family first aid kit will ensure you never get caught in the middle of the night without being able to run a temperature check on a sick child. Having access to a thermometer can make the difference when you’re trying to make a hard decision about going to the doctor NOW or waiting until morning.

9. Gauze

Gauze is another useful first aid kit necessity. Gauze is absorbent and soft, so it helps apply ointment and dress wounds. You can use gauze to protect broken skin from a burn, while still allowing the injury to “breathe” and heal. Keep the bandage in the sterile packaging until you’re ready to use it—that will ensure no germs or bacteria are present when you cover an injury.

Gauze can also be used as a makeshift rope. If you need to tie or secure something in an emergency, a roll of gauze is useful to have on hand. In a pinch, you can even use gauze as toilet paper (but don’t flush it)!

10. TUMS or Antacids

Your stomach may feel queasy in an emergency, and you may or may not have access to the restroom. For example, during a hurricane or tornado, you may need to shelter in your basement for a while—it is NOT a good time for a stomach upset.

I like to keep a small roll of TUMS in our family first aid kit. These are chewable, don’t need to be taken with water, and soothing on a sour stomach. That said, follow the direction on the packaging for children under 12. There are also children’s TUMS available if you have younger kids.

red first aid kit on blue background

11. Hand Warmers

I like to keep a set of instant hand warmers amongst my first aid kit necessities. The hand warmers work very simply—remove them from the outer plastic packaging, shake, and they will stay warm for up to 8 hours. These are perfect for keeping little hands and toes warm during a power outage.

I also like to keep a few hand warmers in my car if we’re ever stalled or stranded. You can even stuff them in the toes of your boots if you have to walk far in the snow. One thing to remember about hand warmers: don’t put them on bare skin or near very young kids. They don’t typically get hot enough to burn, but they can cause some discomfort if they’re too close to the skin.

12. Instant Ice Packs

If you’ve never used these before, you’ll be amazed! Instant ice packs are genius! You simply squeeze the pack to break the inner bag. Some chemicals inside the package mix and turn icy cold. These ice packs are perfect for injuries because they reduce swelling, bruising, and pain.

Anyone with kids knows that ice packs are a quick fix for a myriad of booboos. While these instant ice packs are a little expensive for day-to-day use, they’re invaluable in an urgent situation. A bee sting, a fever, or a twisted ankle will feel better with instant ice.

13. Tweezers

Tweezers are another first aid kit necessity. These handy tools are useful for many different situations—carefully removing a sliver, pulling out a tick, or removing something from a small space. There are a variety of uses for tweezers.

Keep a sharp pair of really good tweezers in your kit. I like the slanted ones made by Tweezerman, but most drugstore varieties will do. Alternatively, you can keep a multitool like a Leatherman or a Swiss Army knife in your first aid kit instead. The tweezers included in these tools are often less sharp than the drugstore type, but they offer an array of other items that can also be useful in emergencies.

14. Water

Even if you don’t keep water directly in your first aid kit, stashing a bottle or two on the shelf near your first aid kit can be extremely useful in an emergency. During an earthquake, flood, or another natural disaster, the water may be shut off for a few hours (or longer). 

Even if you  keep extra water in your pantry, it doesn’t hurt to have a bottle or two near your first aid kit. If someone falls outside or needs to visit the ER, it’s beneficial to have a bottle of water handy to bring along. When stressful situations occur, many of us have a hard time thinking clearly—make it easy on yourself by keeping what you need on hand.

15. Snacks

Should you keep snacks in your family first aid kit? I don’t think it hurts to stash a couple of granola bars, fruit snacks, or a small package of nuts in your first aid box. You’ll definitely need to change these out regularly, so choose items with a very long shelf life.

If you’re sheltering from bad weather for a few hours, a snack or two will come in handy. You might be able to reach your cupboards or pantry in emergencies, but you never know. Keeping a few snacks in the pack is also helpful for grab-and-go emergencies or trips to the doctor.

Of course, none of us likes to think of emergencies, but should you face one, you’ll thank yourself for taking the right steps to be prepared. Put together a simple family emergency kit with these first aid kit necessities to stay ready no matter what life throws your way. 

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How To Spray Paint Patio Furniture https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/how-to-spray-paint-patio-furniture/ https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/how-to-spray-paint-patio-furniture/#comments Mon, 12 Aug 2019 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/?p=44449 Tired of cracked, peeling paint or rust spots on your patio furniture? Painting metal outdoor furniture is easy; here's how to remove the rust and spray paint your cast iron patio furniture to give it a brand new look in 2 hours or less!

The post How To Spray Paint Patio Furniture was written by Jessi Wohlwend and appeared first on Practically Functional.

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Tired of cracked, peeling paint or rust spots on your patio furniture? Painting metal outdoor furniture is easy; here’s how to remove the rust and spray paint your cast iron patio furniture to give it a brand new look in 2 hours or less!


Our patio furniture has been in pretty bad shape for a while now. There were rust spots, and lots of peeling and flaking paint, showing layers of different colors underneath. It got to the point where we didn’t even want to sit in the chairs anymore because we’d get rust spots on our clothes!

Finally I decided to fix up the patio furniture and give it a little makeover, and it turns out it was WAY easier than I thought it would be! A little prep work to remove the rust, and a few coats of spray paint, and our patio furniture looks brand spanking new now! I’m sharing my tips and tricks below so you can learn how to spray paint your patio furniture for a quick and easy outdoor makeover.

Learn how to spray paint patio furniture

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How To Spray Paint Patio Furniture

If you have cracking, peeling paint, or rust spots on your patio furniture, here’s how to fix it up and make it look brand new again!

  • Prep time: 45 minutes
  • Time spent doing stuff: 30 minutes
  • Time spent waiting around: 45 minutes
  • Total project time: 2 hours

Materials

Tools & Equipment

How to spray paint metal patio furniture to remove rust and give it a new look

Instructions

Step 1: Scrape off rust and flaking paint

Use your wire brush to remove flaking paint and loose pieces of rust. You don’t need to worry about getting it completely smooth; just get any loose pieces or pieces that are about to come loose.

Scrape loose paint and rust before spray painting metal patio furniture

Step 2: Sand your furniture

Use a random orbit palm sander to remove the rest of the rust and any other small flakes of paint. Start by sanding with 60 or 80 grit paper to get the rust and paint off of the metal, then switch to 120 or 150 grit to help smooth out the transition between the existing paint and the newly sanded spots.

Sand rough spots before painting metal outdoor furniture

You can sand by hand anywhere your palm sander won’t reach, but it takes a lot longer to do it by hand, so use the palm sander where you can!

Keep sanding until the furniture feels smooth to the touch. It’s ok if you still see some rust-colored areas; just make sure any loose flakes of rust are gone and that those areas feel smooth.

Step 3: Clean your furniture

After you finish sanding, wipe down the furniture with a wet sponge to remove any dust and dirt.

Let the furniture completely air dry before painting.

Step 4: Paint your furniture

In my personal opinion, the best paint for outdoor metal furniture is Rust-Oleum 2X Ultra Cover® spray paint. (Actually, I use that spray paint for pretty much everything!) It covers extremely well and it comes in a variety of finishes and tons of different colors. Plus it has paint and primer in it, which allows you to skip the whole separate priming step! This post isn’t sponsored by Rust-Oleum or anything, I just truly love this paint; I’ve been using it for years and it has never let me down.

Put your furniture on top of a drop cloth. You can also put the legs of tables and chairs on top of a scrap of wood to help protect the ground below them from any paint drips.

Spray each piece of furniture using a back and forth motion, following the lines of the chair or table and holding the can about 6″ to 10″ away. If you hold it too close you’ll get drips of paint, and if you hold it too far away you’ll have a lot of overspray into the surrounding areas.

If your furniture lives outdoors you need to paint all sides and even the underside. Even though you don’t see the underside of the furniture, the paint can’t protect the metal from rust if it doesn’t cover absolutely everywhere!

The 2X paint does a really good job covering, but you still want to do two full coats to get maximum coverage and rust protection. Wait 30-45 minutes for the first coat to dry, then do a second coat.

Step 5: Enjoy!

After 24 hours you can put cushions back on your chairs, set up your patio umbrella, and start using your brand-new-looking patio furniture again!

Get a brand new look by spray painting metal patio furniture

Look at the difference a coat of paint makes! I thought the patio furniture was black before, with a few rust spots and places where the black paint had peeled off. Turns out the patio furniture was DARK GREY with a few rust spots and peeling paint!

Now that I’ve removed the rust spots and spray painted the entire piece with a new coat of paint, it truly is black and it looks amazing!

How to spray paint patio furniture and remove rust

Want to share this project with your friends? Share to Facebook, Pinterest, or send the article by email—just click on any of the share buttons floating on the left, or find them at the top and bottom of this post.

Below is a printable version of this project; click the large “Print” button to print out the instructions. (It defaults to just printing the text in the instructions, no photos, to save you paper and printer ink!)

If you like this project, leave a review by clicking the stars or by clicking the Review button! That way I know which types of projects you guys like and which I should do more of!

Get a brand new look by spray painting metal patio furniture
Print

How To Spray Paint Patio Furniture

Spray paint your patio furniture to give it a brand new look! Learn how to easily fix rust spots and peeling paint for an outdoor furniture makeover in just 2 hours!
Author Jessi Wohlwend
Cost $10

Equipment

  • hand-held wire brush OR
  • cordless drill AND
  • wire brush attachments
  • random orbit palm sander
  • sanding discs in a variety of grits
  • respirator
  • protective eyewear
  • bucket
  • large sponge

Instructions

  • Use your wire brush to remove flaking paint and loose pieces of rust.
  • Use a random orbit palm sander to remove the rest of the rust and any other small flakes of paint, starting with a coarse grit like 60 or 80 to remove the large stuff, then switching to a medium grit like 120 or 150 to smooth the transition between the paint and the rust spots.
  • Wipe down the furniture with a wet sponge to remove any dust and dirt.
  • Let the furniture completely air dry before painting.
  • Spray each piece of furniture using a back and forth motion, following the lines of the chair or table and holding the can about 6″ to 10″ away.
  • Wait 30-45 minutes for the first coat to dry, then do a second coat.
  • After 24 hours you can put cushions back on your chairs, set up your patio umbrella, and start using your brand-new-looking patio furniture again!
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How to spray paint patio furniture
How to spray paint metal outdoor furniture

The post How To Spray Paint Patio Furniture was written by Jessi Wohlwend and appeared first on Practically Functional.

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How To Install A Programmable Wall Light Switch Timer https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/how-to-install-programmable-wall-light-switch-timer/ https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/how-to-install-programmable-wall-light-switch-timer/#respond Mon, 04 Feb 2019 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/?p=32476 Learn how to replace a regular light switch with a programmable timer switch so you can control your lights automatically!…

The post How To Install A Programmable Wall Light Switch Timer was written by Jessi Wohlwend and appeared first on Practically Functional.

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Learn how to replace a regular light switch with a programmable timer switch so you can control your lights automatically! No special app, smart home device, or smartphone required!


If you hate fumbling for your keys in the dark when you’re trying to get into your home after work, try using a programmable timer switch so you can automatically control your lights! It is really simple to replace your regular light switch with a programmable switch so that you can schedule your lights to turn on and off automatically whenever you want, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And the best part is, you don’t need a separate app, a separate smart home device, or even a smartphone; you just need a few basic tools and a programmable timer switch!

(You can find a printable version of this tutorial at the bottom of this post.)

How to install a wall light switch timer

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Before doing any electrical work, you ALWAYS need to shut off the electricity at the circuit breaker or fuse box! This is a very simple electrical project, but if you ever feel uncomfortable working near electrical wires, you can always call a professional and have them install it for you.

How To Install A Programmable Timer Switch

You can follow this tutorial to replace as many light switches as you want, even if there are multiple switches in the same electrical box! We replaced two out of three toggle switches in one box with these programmable switches, and they fit next to each other just fine in the electrical box.

However, you will need to purchase a combination decora wall plate. We used this 1 toggle/2 decora wall plate because that fit the configuration of our switches, but just search for “combination decora wall plate” and you’ll find tons of options for toggle switches, outlets, dimmer switches, etc. (NOTE: If you’re just switching one solitary toggle switch over to this programmable switch, it comes with a single decora wall plate in the box.)

  • Time spent doing stuff: 35 minutes
  • Time spent testing: 15 minutes
  • Total project time: 50 minutes

Materials

Tools & Equipment

NOTE: The switch linked above comes with everything you need to complete this project (except the screwdriver and voltage tester). If you decide to use a different switch, you may also need to purchase a decora wall plate, wire connectors, and mounting screws.

Instructions

Start by turning off the electricity to the light switch you want to replace at your circuit breaker or fuse box.

Remove the screws holding the faceplate onto the wall. Set the screws aside so you can use them to install the new faceplate later, just in case.

Use a voltage tester to triple check that the electricity is off to the entire wall box and all wires inside of it. Once you’re 110% sure the electricity is off, unscrew the screws that attach the light switch to the box and set them aside.

Pull the switch and wiring out of the electrical box.

Remove old faceplate and wall switches to replace them with a programmable timer switch

Pull the programmable timer switch out of its box, along with all the hardware and other pieces.

Programmable timer switch

One at a time, disconnect the wires from the old switch and carefully reconnect them to the new switch using wire connectors. Be sure that the hot, load, neutral, and ground wires from the new switch match the hot, load, neutral, and ground wires coming out of the electrical box. (If there is no ground wire coming out of the electrical box, you can connect the green ground wire from the switch to the ground screw inside the electrical box.)

If you’re replacing more than one switch, do them one at a time so you don’t mix up which wire is which.

Once the new switches are attached to the wires, you can turn the electricity back on to test the switches before you fully install them back into the electrical box. If the new switches work, turn the electricity back off, then carefully push all of the wires into the electrical box behind the switch, and mount the switch to the electrical box using the mounting screws provided (or your original screws you set aside).

Install programmable timer switch in the wall to replace regular light switches

Install your new decora faceplate using the screws provided (or the original ones you set aside), and you’re done!

The last thing left to do is program your light switch timer to turn on and off whenever you want!

Learn how to install a programmable wall light switch timer

With these switches, if you ever want to turn the lights on and off outside of the scheduled times, just press the entire door/cover. The light will turn on or off without interfering with your pre-programmed schedule!

Want to share this project with your friends? Share to Facebook, Pinterest, or send the article by email—just click on any of the share buttons floating on the left, or find them at the top and bottom of this post.

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Learn how to install a programmable wall light switch timer
Print

How To Install A Wall Light Switch Timer

Learn how to replace a regular light switch will a programmable timer switch so you can control your lights automatically! No special app, smart home device, or smartphone required!
Cook Time 35 minutes
Time For Testing 15 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Author Jessi Wohlwend

Equipment

  • screwdriver
  • [voltage tester]

Instructions

  • Turn off the electricity to the light switch you want to replace at your circuit breaker or fuse box.
  • Remove the faceplate from the electrical box and use your voltage tester to confirm the electricity is off before continuing.
  • One wire at a time, disconnect the wires from the old switch and carefully reconnect them to the same spots on the new switch (i.e. hot wire to hot wire, load wire to load wire, etc.)
  • Turn the electricity back on and carefully test your new switch to make sure no wires were crossed.
  • If it works, turn the electricity off again, carefully push the wires inside the electrical box, then push the switch into the box.
  • Mount the switch to the electrical box using the mounting screws.
  • Install a new decora wall plate.
  • Program your new wall light switch timer!

Notes

This programmable timer switch comes with everything you need for this project (except a screwdriver and voltage tester). If you decide to use a different switch, you may also need to purchase a decora wall plate, wire connectors, and mounting screws.

The post How To Install A Programmable Wall Light Switch Timer was written by Jessi Wohlwend and appeared first on Practically Functional.

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How To Build A Farmhouse Table https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/how-to-build-a-farmhouse-table/ https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/how-to-build-a-farmhouse-table/#respond Fri, 26 Oct 2018 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/?p=32130 Add beautiful character and rustic charm to your home with this DIY farmhouse table! This step by step tutorial will…

The post How To Build A Farmhouse Table was written by Kathy Hardess and appeared first on Practically Functional.

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Add beautiful character and rustic charm to your home with this DIY farmhouse table! This step by step tutorial will walk you through how to build a farmhouse table of your own!

 

If you want to upgrade and revamp your living room or kitchen, nothing beats the rustic beauty of a solid farmhouse table that allows the entire family to gather and have some dinner fun. This type of chunky, bulky furniture is, unfortunately, expensive, so the best way to approach your home remodeling project is to build one of your own!

How to build a farmhouse table title

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You’ll need some tools, but don’t worry – you’ll see the return on investment soon. Once you’ve got a taste for making your farmhouse table, you will quickly move on to building some desks, benches, and even DIY beds. So let’s get started, as we have some work to do!

How to Build a Farmhouse Table and Have some Fun in the Process

Tools

  • Electric wood saw
  • Electric wood sander and sandpaper
  • Wood glue
  • A bag of wood nails (short and long) and a nail gun
  • A screw kit with all the trimmings
  • Clamps, penny washers, angle irons
  • A vacuum cleaner
  • Lacquer or wood paint and the proper brushes
  • Protection goggles and rubber gloves

Materials/Supplies

  • One standard North American 48 in × 40 in × 6 in pallet
  • Ten wood planks for table cover (you need solid dry wood even if you reclaim old fence boards or other wood scraps, we recommend getting your wood planks from your local lumber yard)
  • Reclaimed table legs (use the legs or the support of an old rustic table or go to the lumber yard to get four rectangular pieces of wood to turn into legs)
  • Floor cover (cardboard or plastic, as you will make a mess if you work indoors, although we recommend you do this in your backyard)

Instructions

First, you need to cover the floor you are going to work on with plastic sheets or cardboard. Put on your goggles and gloves and let us begin the magic!

Preparation

Use the electric wood sander to smooth out the pallet. You will use it as the base of your table, and it needs a smooth finish (especially if you are going to leave it raw and not paint-treated).

Put the pallet aside and start taking care of the boards. They’ll sit on top of the pallet to form the top of the table. They need to be longer than the pallet so that people have room under the table for their legs. Measure the planks and pallet, decide how much longer than the pallet you want the boards to be, then cut the boards.

Reclaimed wood can be quite warped, and you will be gluing the planks to each other, so they need straight edges. Rip each wooden plank with the help of your wood saw to obtain perfectly straight and smooth edges on all sides.

Use the sander to make sure all the planks are smooth and splinter free.

Use the vacuum cleaner to remove the sanding debris from the wood pieces and your work surface.

Now it is time to do some miracles with the farmhouse table legs. If you want to use reclaimed table legs, make sure they will support the weight of the pallet and boards. Thick, solid, rustic legs will do the job. In case you want to make the legs yourself, rip four rectangular piece of lumber and use the sander to smooth all surfaces. Use the saw to cut the legs at the exact height you want them. (Don’t forget to account for the height of the pallet and boards as well!)

How to build a farmhouse table

Build

This table will probably take you two days to complete, but it is a weekend DIY project to enjoy making together with your family members.

It’s best to apply a finish to the table before you start assembling the pieces; it will be harder to finish once it is a solid piece of furniture. Use lacquer or paint to give the table and the legs the colors or the look you want – keep it rustic and natural with wood lacquer or paint it in the color that works best with the room. Apply finish to the entire pallet frame, the legs, and each tabletop board; leave to dry until the next day.

Glue the boards onto the pallet frame starting from one side: glue the first board onto the frame, glue its side, then press the next board to fit tightly against the first board and against the pallet, and so on until you finish the tabletop. Clamp the tabletop so that the boards are pressed tightly against each other, and add some weights on the tabletop so that the boards are pressed against the pallet frame.

The next day, flip the tabletop over and use the nail gun and the short, thin nails to fix the boards onto the pallet frame; it is better to fasten the nails from the underside to get a smooth finish on the top of your table.

Next use penny washers for the screws and nails and also angle irons to make sure everything stays in place at the corners.

While the tabletop is still upside down, place the table legs in the correct positions and glue them onto the frame; let the wood glue dry overnight.

The next day, fasten the legs further against the tabletop with angle irons and screws on each leg side. They will have to support the weight of the table, and of everything you put on the table so you need to make sure the legs will not move.

Flip the table again and use the longest nails you could find to fix the top planks to the corresponding leg. If you do not want to see the nail heads on the table’s surface, add a finishing layer of paint or add some handmade paintings and decorations; let dry and enjoy your new farmhouse table!

We hope this short tutorial was of use to you – a farmhouse table is a thing of beauty and we are sure you will not stop here! After all, a kitchen farmhouse table may also need a bench or some chairs! And, if you get the hang of it, you could start using pallets or reclaimed wood scraps to build rain barrel stands and other cool projects for the home and backyard!

Want to share this article with your friends? Just click any of the share buttons on the left to share with Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, etc.!

The post How To Build A Farmhouse Table was written by Kathy Hardess and appeared first on Practically Functional.

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Designing A Nursery With My Favorite Room Design Tool https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/designing-a-nursery-favorite-room-design-tool/ https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/designing-a-nursery-favorite-room-design-tool/#respond Mon, 06 Aug 2018 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/?p=31744 Designing a nursery can be overwhelming when you don’t know where to start! Meet Modsy, a design service that helps…

The post Designing A Nursery With My Favorite Room Design Tool was written by Jessi Wohlwend and appeared first on Practically Functional.

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Designing a nursery can be overwhelming when you don’t know where to start! Meet Modsy, a design service that helps you plan your interior design projects!

 

I love DIY projects, so I’m super excited that I get to design another nursery for this new baby! The only problem is, while I’m great at repainting furniture or making wall art, I’m not actually an interior designer, so coming up with a design and layout for an entire room from scratch is not my forte.

Luckily there’s Modsy: a personalized home design solution that utilizes 3D visualization technology to let you try on furniture before you buy. Just take photos and measurements of your space, send them in to actual designers, and they come up with two separate 3D rendered designs for you! I tried them out for help with designing the nursery, and I was THRILLED with how easy it was, and how perfect the two designs were! If you want to try out Modsy for yourself, I have a coupon code that will get you 20% off your design package; use code PRACTICAL20.

Designing a nursery with modsy my favorite room design tool

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Designing The Nursery With My Favorite Room Design Tool

The Modsy designers will work within your budget, use furniture and products from your favorite stores, or even work around custom furniture pieces you already own. They’ll help you revise your designs as many times as you want to get them perfect, and once you’re happy with the designs, you can purchase the pieces directly through Modsy at a discount…so easy!

I started out by taking Modsy’s fast, free Style Quiz to help make sure the designers knew my tastes and preferences for decor style. You can also share your Pinterest or mood boards with them to give them an even better insight into your style!

Next I took photos and measurements of the guest room, which we are converting into a nursery. This part was so easy! I just took my phone into the room, logged into my Modsy account on my phone, and it walked me through taking the photos (you have to make sure you get the floor AND ceiling in your shots so they can get the measurements correct). I didn’t even have to empty out the room first; just take pictures of your room as-is and Modsy will do the rest!

This is literally one of the photos I sent them, mussed up bed, random clutter, and all!

Designing a nursery with modsy my favorite room design tool before 2

I also had a few pieces of furniture we already own that I knew I wanted to incorporate into the room: the crib my dad made for AJ when she was born, and a gorgeous old dresser I found at a garage sale that I want to fix up and repaint. I took photos and measurements of those two pieces and sent them in as well so the Modsy designers could incorporate them into the room.

Designing a nursery with modsy my favorite room design tool custom furniture crib

Designing a nursery with modsy my favorite room design tool custom furniture dresser

A few days later Modsy sent me an empty 3D version of the room along with 2 design concepts, complete with layout and product recommendations. Both designs they sent me matched my style perfectly! And all of the products they used fit within our budget and were available through our favorite stores like Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, etc. It isn’t some crazy expensive, hard to find, limited to only boutique stores design.

Modsy is a practical solution for normal people just looking to do a room makeover without breaking the bank! You can design and shop for your home, in one place, with products from hundreds of partners, and they truly take the guesswork out of buying furniture because you can see it in your actual space before you buy.

Designing a nursery with modsy my favorite room design tool after 4

Designing a nursery with modsy my favorite room design tool after 3

They took my messy bed photo and measurements and turned them into these gorgeous designs. And my crib and dresser are right there in the design, along with all the other recommended products! Plus they even factored in the radiator in the room, which is basically an immovable object we have to work around when designing in our home.

When you log in to your Modsy account you’ll see your design photos as well as notes from your designer about certain pieces or areas of the room. There’s also a 360 degree view where you can virtually “walk through” the room at look at it from any angle or direction. You’ll also see a list of all the products they used in your room, and you can buy any of them that you want through Modsy at a discount!

Designing a nursery with modsy my favorite room design tool after

If you want any changes made to your design, just contact your Modsy Designer. They’ll make unlimited revisions for you to help you get exactly what you want.

I’m so happy with the designs Modsy came up with for that room. I’m going to go with the first one where the crib and the rocker are on the same wall, and the changing table/dresser is on the wall by itself when you walk into the room. That furniture layout is perfect for us, and I LOVE the other pieces they added to the room besides my existing crib and dresser!

Designing a nursery with modsy my favorite room design tool after 2

If you have a room you want to re-design, you have to try Modsy! They are so easy to work with, and the designs are gorgeous. Use code PRACTICAL20 to get 20% off your Modsy design package, and get started on your room makeover today!

Want to share this article with your friends? Just click any of the share buttons on the left to share with Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, etc.!

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Disclosure: I received compensation from Modsy in exchange for my participation in this campaign, and my honest discussion of their services. But the room designs and products available through Modsy are all seriously amazing and all opinions in this post are 100% my own. I would never write a post about something I didn’t think was useful or interesting for you guys, and Practically Functional will only publish sponsored posts for companies or products I love and believe in! 🙂

The post Designing A Nursery With My Favorite Room Design Tool was written by Jessi Wohlwend and appeared first on Practically Functional.

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26 Simple DIY Pet Projects Anyone Can Do! https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/26-simple-diy-pet-projects-anyone-can-do/ https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/26-simple-diy-pet-projects-anyone-can-do/#comments Mon, 07 May 2018 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.practicallyfunctional.com?p=31329&preview=true&preview_id=31329 Show those furry members of your family some love! These super simple DIY pet projects are easy for anyone to…

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Show those furry members of your family some love! These super simple DIY pet projects are easy for anyone to do and the perfect way to pamper your pet!

 

26 super simple diy pet projects anyone can do

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Pamper your pets with these fun DIY pet projects! They’re all so simple anyone can do them!

26 Simple DIY Pet Projects Anyone Can Do!

We’ll start with projects for your favorite canine, and then list the projects for your feline friends below!

Simple DIY Dog Projects

1. Gorgeous AND functional furniture for you and your pups!

Diy dog crate tv console and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do
lollyjane.com

What a gorgeous TV console! Oh wait, is it a dog crate too?! This DIY project is AMAZING!

See the full instructions on Lolly Jane.

2. This recycled DIY project will be your pup’s favorite!

Diy dog bed from a recycled tire and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do
practicallyfunctional.com

This project is so quick and easy to do, and your dog will love the combo of a soft bed in the center for snuggling and the stiffer edge for resting against.

See the full instructions on Practically Functional.

3. Check out these gorgeous custom-made doggie bowls!

Diy wood burned dog bowls and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do
abeautifulmess.com

Customize a couple of wooden bowls with a simple wood burning tool. Easy to do, and the result is gorgeous!

See the full instructions on A Beautiful Mess.

4. Keep your pup clean, free of fleas, and smelling great!

Homemade dog shampoo and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do
smartschoolhouse.com

This homemade dog shampoo is an inexpensive alternative to commercial products, and it’s safe and gentle for your pet!

See the full instructions on Smart School House.

5. The easiest way to wash your dog!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylnORx0iaX0[/embedyt]

Ever wish you had three hands when trying to bathe your dog? This DIY dog washer stands up on its own so you can always keep two hands on your pup!

See the full instructions on Specific Love Creations.

6. Make a pretty frame for your pet’s favorite bed!

Dog bed tutorial and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do
myfrugaladventures.com

This cute DIY dog bed frame gives your pup’s bed a little more support than just a pillow plopped on the ground, plus it’s totally stylish!

See the full instructions on My Frugal Adventures.

7. These no-bake treats are perfect for summertime!

Peanut butter banana yogurt dog treat recipe and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do
cookingwithjanica.com

You don’t even have to turn on the oven to make these yummy treats for your pup. They’re quick and easy to make, and a great way to beat the summertime heat!

See the full instructions on Cooking With Janica.

8. Perfect feeding station solution for large dogs

Turn a small dresser into a simple diy raised dog bowl stand in just a few minutes all you need is a jigsaw and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do
practicallyfunctional.com

Turn a small dresser into a raised feeding station for your dog! It’s a great solution for big dogs to get their food a little higher up so they don’t have to bend over so far.

See the full instructions on Practically Functional.

9. Keep those fleas at bay with a simple homemade spray!

Diy dog flea spray and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do
thegardeningcook.com

You only need three ingredients you probably already have in your pantry for this homemade flea spray!

See the full instructions on The Gardening Cook.

10. Keep those leashes within easy reach!

Chalkboard dog leash holder and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do
triedandtrueblog.com

What dog doesn’t want to go on a walk?! Make a simple leash holder to keep the leashes organized and untangled for easy access!

See the full instructions on Tried & True.

11. Use the dog crate for dual purposes!

Diy dog crate cover table and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do
heathershandmadelife.com

If you have a dog crate in your home, you might as well get a little extra use out of it! This simple DIY makes it both functional and good looking!

See the full instructions on Heather’s Handmade Life.

12. Enjoy the warm weather with your pup

10 summer activities to do with your dog and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do
practicallyfunctional.com

Here are 10 great ways to get outdoors this summer and spend some time with your dog!

See the full instructions on Practically Functional.

13. Keep your pet food organized!

Diy pet food organization and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do
realcoake.com

Make this inexpensive pet food organizer to keep your pets’ food fresh and within easy reach!

See the full instructions on The Real Thing With The Coake Family.

 

Simple DIY Cat Projects

14. Make a cozy burrow for your feline friends!

Diy cat tent bed and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do
practicallyfunctional.com

All you need is an empty box, a wire coat hanger, and an old t-shirt to make this comfy cat tent bed that your cats will love!

See the full instructions on Practically Functional.

15. Turn two tables into a fun cat condo!

Diy cat condo from two ikea tables and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do
bybrittanygoldwyn.com

All you need for this cat condo is two IKEA Lack tables, some sisal rope, and some hardware to hold it together!

See the full instructions on By Brittany Goldwyn.

16. This super simple scratcher can be placed anywhere!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1yvz_YpxXE[/embedyt]

This is probably the simplest way to make a self-scratcher for your cats, and they’ll love it!

See the full instructions on Cat Lessons.

17. Add a little something extra to your cat’s water dish

Cat friendly water bowl planter and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do
thehappierhomemaker.com

Turn your cat’s water dish into a two-fer: water + catnip! Plus, if any water spills out of the bowl, it just waters the plants around it!

See the full instructions on The Happier Homemaker.

18. Give your kitty a soft place to bask in the sun!

Diy cat windowsill perch and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do
diyshowoff.com

If your kitty loves to sit and look out the window, or always finds the sunniest patch in your house and camps out there, this project is for you!

See the full instructions on DIY Show Off.

19. Repurpose a kitchen utensil into a fabulous cat scratching post!

Diy cat scratcher and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do
sadieseasongoods.com

This rusty old kitchen grater got a brand new life as a special cat scratching post!

See the full instructions on Sadie Seasongoods.

20. Turn those wine corks into a fun cat toy!

Diy cat toys made from wine corks and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do
sweettmakesthree.com

You can make these cat toys with stuff you already have in your home, and your cats will love them!

See the full instructions on Sweet T Makes Three.

21. No sewing skills required to make this cute cat toy!

Diy cat toy and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do
oneartsymama.com

If you don’t sew, no worries! It’s easy to make this cat toy with scissors, fabric, and a bit of glue!

See the full instructions on One Artsy Mama.

22. Another great use for those empty cardboard tubes!

Diy cat toy make a quick toy for your pet from tp rolls and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do
redtedart.com

Repurpose cardboard tubes into awesome cat toys! I bet your kitty will love to run around after these fun tumblers!

See the full instructions on Red Ted Art.

23. 5 minute prep = hours of fun!

Diy cat toy and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do 2
gluesticksgumdrops.com

This super simple cat toy takes less than five minutes to make, but will keep your cat entertained for hours as it tries to fish out the treats!

See the full instructions on Red Ted Art.

24. Cat litter is good for more than just filling the litter box!

10 clever uses for cat litter and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do
creeklinehouse.com

Did you know there are a bunch of other uses for cat litter?! My favorite use is for getting traction on ice in the wintertime!

See the full instructions on Red Ted Art.

25. Turn a piece of furniture into a fun cat hotel!

Diy cat hotel from a piece of furniture and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do
handmadepretties.blogspot.com

This old TV entertainment center became an awesome cat hotel with just a bit of work and a coat of paint!

See the full instructions on Red Ted Art.

26. Make a comfy bed in your kitty’s favorite resting place!

Diy back of the couch cat bed and 25 other simple diy pet projects anyone can do
werefarfromnormal.com

Your cats probably sit on the back of your couch anyway, so why not make a comfortable (and washable) bed for them there! All you need is a pillow and a towel!

See the full instructions on Far From Normal.

 

Want to share these ideas with your friends? Just click any of the share buttons on the left to share this roundup with Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, etc.!

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11 DIY Patriotic Project Ideas! https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/11-diy-patriotic-project-ideas/ https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/11-diy-patriotic-project-ideas/#comments Wed, 02 May 2018 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.practicallyfunctional.com?p=31332&preview=true&preview_id=31332 Can you believe Fourth of July is just around the corner! I’ve got 11 fun and creative DIY patriotic projects…

The post 11 DIY Patriotic Project Ideas! was written by Jessi Wohlwend and appeared first on Practically Functional.

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Can you believe Fourth of July is just around the corner! I’ve got 11 fun and creative DIY patriotic projects to celebrate this fun holiday!

 

The weather is warming up and I’m already looking forward to summer and the fourth of July! I love decorating the house in patriotic colors for the entire summer, not just Independence Day. So if you’re looking for some great red, white, and blue projects, I’ve teamed up with some awesome bloggers to bring you 11 awesome DIY patriotic project ideas you can do yourself!

11 diy patriotic project ideas

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11 DIY Patriotic Projects

I really love watching fireworks for the fourth of July; they’re so fun and colorful! We always go watch the professional fireworks at a nearby park, but in our own backyard we play with snaps and sparklers. One of my favorite things to do is “write” with sparklers and photograph it; it makes such a pretty picture effect! (It’s really cool for weddings too!)

Learn how to photograph sparkler writing and trails with this simple tutorial! Great for the 4th of July, weddings, or engagement shoots!

It’s surprisingly easy to photograph sparkler writing! You just need to set a few settings on your camera, then set it up on a tripod and go!

Learn how to photograph sparkler writing and trails with this simple tutorial! Great for the 4th of July, weddings, or engagement shoots!

It works best if you can write in cursive, and you have to write backwards so that it reads correctly to the camera facing you, but with a little practice you can get some pretty cool shots!

Check out the full step by step tutorial here: How To Photograph Sparkler Writing

If you want to see more awesome patriotic project ideas, check out these great projects from the DIY Housewives!

[inlinkz_linkup id=777428 mode=1]

DIY housewives link up

Want to share these ideas with your friends? Just click any of the share buttons on the left to share with Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, etc.!

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DIY Wall-Mounted Baby Mobile for the Changing Table https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/diy-wall-mounted-baby-mobile-for-the-changing-table/ https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/diy-wall-mounted-baby-mobile-for-the-changing-table/#respond Fri, 23 Mar 2018 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.practicallyfunctional.com?p=28433&preview=true&preview_id=28433 Keep those tiny hands busy during diaper changes with this DIY wall-mounted baby mobile tutorial!   Baby mobiles are a…

The post DIY Wall-Mounted Baby Mobile for the Changing Table was written by Jeannie Stave and appeared first on Practically Functional.

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Keep those tiny hands busy during diaper changes with this DIY wall-mounted baby mobile tutorial!

 

Baby mobiles are a great way to keep little ones entertained and visually stimulated. But, to my surprise I couldn’t find a small baby mobile to go over a diaper changing table to keep my little girl distracted. Toys have done a pretty good job keeping my babies hands occupied while she gets her diaper changed. But, each time we left the changing pad area, the toys left with us. When it’s time for another diaper change, I find there are no toys within arms reach.

DIY wall mounted baby mobile for the changing table

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When my baby was about 4 months old, I decided to find a way to attach a mobile or hanging objects above her changing pad. No more searching for toys or hands flapping in the wrong places! This homemade baby mobile was just the trick I was looking for! It has kept her hands and mind busy during a diaper change and the toys are here to stay.

This DIY wall-mounted mobile is super simple and only requires a few pieces of hardware. Likely, you already have some toys around the house that can be hung above your baby’s changing pad to complete her mobile. Toys from her tummy time play gym can be reused and are perfect objects to include in this project.

You may be thinking… this may interfere with the decorations in my baby’s room. I put a lot of thought into her wall décor too, like most moms when preparing for a new baby. But, this simple addition didn’t interfere with the décor or draw too much attention. And, it was definitely worth adding!

DIY Wall Mounted Baby Mobile

  • Time spent doing stuff: 15 minutes
  • Time spent waiting around: 0 minutes
  • Total project time: 15 minutes

Tools

  • Phillips head screwdriver
  • Hammer
  • Pencil

Materials/Supplies

Instructions

DIY Wall Mounted Baby Mobile Tutorial

First, it’s important to take note where your baby’s hands reach out above her as she lays on the changing pad in relation to the wall. I mounted the bracket  14″ from the head of the changing pad, but you may have to make a slight adjustment. The top of the bracket was mounted 19″ high from the changing pad table. This height allows my baby to touch the toys when she is laying down, but still gives her room to sit up on the changing pad without bumping her head. Once you have found the sweet spot for the bracket, use the pencil to mark the wall in the three spots where the drywall anchors and nail will go.

DIY Wall Mounted Baby Mobile Tutorial

Remove the bracket and begin the securing process. Use the instructions to install the drywall anchors in the top two markings. Once they are flush with the wall, center the bracket over the two anchors in the wall. Proceed to insert the screws following the directions on the packaging to attach the bracket to the wall. Lastly hammer the nail through the bottom hole of the bracket.

Now it’s time to add the mobile toys! Loop one piece of hemp through the toy and the bracket hole above the changing pad. Tie the hemp in a bow at the top of the bracket. Using a bow will make it easy to remove the toy to clean or exchange with a different one. Choose a good level for your baby to reach the toy and bat around, adjusting the hemp string as needed. Repeat this step again if you would like to add more toys.

Need some ideas of what baby toys to attach?

DIY Wall Mounted Baby Mobile Tutorial

Here are some toys we like to attach to her baby mobile above her changing pad to keep things interesting. Maybe you have some of these baby toys at home too?

I hope your baby enjoys this DIY baby mobile as much as Baby S enjoys hers!

What are some ways you entertain your baby when it’s time for a diaper change?

Want to share this project/recipe/article with your friends? Just click any of the share buttons on the left to share with Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, etc.!

The post DIY Wall-Mounted Baby Mobile for the Changing Table was written by Jeannie Stave and appeared first on Practically Functional.

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All Things Green: 11 Creative Green Ideas! https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/all-things-green-11-creative-green-ideas/ https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/all-things-green-11-creative-green-ideas/#comments Wed, 07 Mar 2018 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.practicallyfunctional.com?p=28442&preview=true&preview_id=28442 Ready for warm weather? Here are some amazing green projects and ideas to get you in the mood for spring!…

The post All Things Green: 11 Creative Green Ideas! was written by Jessi Wohlwend and appeared first on Practically Functional.

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Ready for warm weather? Here are some amazing green projects and ideas to get you in the mood for spring!

 

Ready for warm weather? If you’re already thinking spring, I’ve teamed up with some awesome bloggers to bring you 11 creative green ideas and projects you can do yourself!

all things green

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11 Creative Green Ideas

Now that the weather is warming up, I can’t wait to start decorating for spring! One of my favorite spring crafts is these cute green roses that I made for St. Patrick’s Day!

I stuck white roses in water, added some green food coloring, and after a few days they were tinged with green!

Then I added a little gold glitter, and they turned out so cute!

Check out the full tutorial here: How To Make Green Roses For St. Patrick’s Day

If you want to see more awesome spring ideas, check out these great projects from the DIY Housewives!

[inlinkz_linkup id=768621 mode=1]

DIY housewives link up

Want to share these ideas with your friends? Just click any of the share buttons on the left to share with Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, etc.!

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