How to Make an Outdoor Folding Table - Video Tutorial

*This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

PVC pipe is some pretty cool stuff.  I know you're thinking of sprinklers and dryer vents right now, but I've been stalking Pinterest and came across the most amazing stuff built from PVC and ABS pipe! 

The weather up north is getting nice and it's almost time to start camping again. We LOVE to forget our cell phones from time to time and venture into the woods (I even wrote a blog post about my favorite tools to take camping). I've been wanting to build a folding table for a little while I'm in the throws of my PVC obsession, I decided this would be the perfect opportunity to incorporate some off-the-shelf pipe into a build. 

Stair Tread Arm Chair - Building Plans

*This post is sponsored by Kreg Tool. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

So building chairs is scary. There are so many factors you have to keep in mind, like angles and balance, which don't come to play with straight forward builds like tables and even beds. If a chair isn't the right height it doesn't function and if the back isn't angled properly, it becomes uncomfortable to use. 

I actually built a wood and leather sling chair like 5 years ago (which has been sitting in my back yard and is miraculously still holding together), but sling chairs don't have to take into account all those tricky factors. The seat I normally use to put my shoes on everyday broke recently, so I decided it was time to woman-up and tackle a modern arm chair build. 

WOOD Speaker Screen | How to Build Record Console Pt. 2

*This post is sponsored by DAP Products. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

Like most of my DIY furniture builder friends, I started out building things we needed. Before long, I had friends and family members asking for custom pieces. Before long I was building full time, advertising on Craigslist and taking custom orders from strangers. Custom work it hard guys! My hat goes off to all of you guys who work with customers. I'm so glad there are talented people who love designing and building for clients.  Luckily, I never had any nightmare experiences, but constantly worrying and second guessing myself was super stressful. 

Another thing I discovered when I was taking orders was how hard it was to build the same thing twice. I love the learning and creativity of putting a piece of furniture together, but trying to duplicate the exact same thing is huge challenge. So admittedly, I've avoided going back to old projects, even just to update them. But, I want to be a better builder and that includes fixing my mistakes (or less than ideal design choices). For example...

How Many Teeth to Cut Plywood - Circular Saw Showdown

*This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

Plywood is tricky stuff. I would say I get more questions about plywood than any other material I use, many of them about cutting. Knowing the right saw blade to use seems to be one of the biggest pain points. What do those numbers mean? What's the difference between a "framing" blade and one for trim? I figured I'd do a very unscientific test and show multiple 6-1/2" circular saw blades with different tooth counts and the cuts they make. 

*I tested all the 6-1/2" circular saw blades currently available through The Home Depot*

We're Building a Custom House + Champion Generator Review

 

*This post is sponsored by Champion Power Equipment. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

I want to tell you guys about a dream come true. Are you ready for a story?

First I should tell you I was a weird kid. My mom worked full time so my brother and I spent most of the summer wandering around the neighborhood, fighting each other, and watching basic cable. As anyone who has had a sick day knows, daytime TV is the worst. Especially back in the early 90's, choices were limited. My daily routine would consist of waking up, catch the end of The Price Is Right, then I would click over to PBS and settle in. I was raised on  Bob Ross, This Old House, and New Yankee Workshop. I'm not exaggerating when I say, I have dreamed of building a custom house since I was probably 8 or 9 years old.

DIY Modern Master Bath Remodel: Part 6: The REVEAL!

*This post is sponsored by The Home Depot, Schluter Systems, and The Builder Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

Better late than never, right? I didn't realize until I looked back today, but I first told you guys about our DIY master bathroom remodel back in October 2017! I published the "Before and Inspiration" 15 months ago! 

If you haven't been following along this whole time, basically we remodeled most of our house when we moved in three years ago (my favorite room is the kitchen) but our master bathroom was the last space left untouched. Picture a sea of off-white cultured marble and honey oak. In order to get everything we wanted within a pretty modest budget, my husband and I committed to do almost all of the work ourselves. 

Check out the full series: 

• Before and Inspiration
• Part 1: Demo and Building New Walls
• Part 2: Modern Double Bathroom Vanity
• Part 3: Custom Tiled Shower
• Part 4: Barn Door Medicine Cabinet
• Part 5: Built-In Linen Closet

Murphy Bed Convertible Coffee Table

*This post is sponsored by Kreg Tool and The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

How many half-baked ideas do you have swimming around in your head? Even if we don't claim to be "creative", we all have little thoughts and potential ideas that motivate us. Ever since remodeling my master bathroom, my shower door is constantly filled with doodles and measurements written in steam. I finally got to build a project which incorporates TWO design ideas I've been brainstorming for a while. 

How to Make a Magnetic Desk Toy

 *This post is sponsored by DAP Products and The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

Christmas is 4 days away. Are you ready? I thought I was, but then when I made a list of everything I need to take care of, I was dead wrong. I'm slightly freaking out. I have a feeling I'm not alone though. I will be avoiding the Target parking lot like the plague this weekend.

This week, I did manage to knock out some teacher's gifts (probably because they only took about 10 minutes to make). I used an inexpensive glass ornament and iron filings to make a fun little desktop magnet game. Bonus: I was able to use some leftover walnut scraps from my DIY Candy Dispenser.

Turn Steel into Brass & Build a Modern Media Console

*This post is sponsored by Diablo Tools and The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

I've been waiting to tackle this project for a long time! Last April, I was in New York for The Home Depot ProSpective tool event. My friend Tamar from 3x3 Custom lives in the area and showed a few of us around to some of the local furniture stores. I spotted a cool leg design which got my brain going. I sketched out a simplified version and have been dying to use it on a project ever since. 

Since I knew I was going to be incorporating steel into this compact media console, a technique called brass brushing came to mind. I had seen it done a couple times on jewelry and sword making. It's a simple way to apply real brass plating to regular ole plain steel. And I'm happy to say, I figured out how to brass brush at home with simple tools! 

Christmas Gift Ideas for the Tool Lover | 2018

*This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

I am making a vow right here and now. This will be the year when I finally stop procrastinating and buy/make all my holiday gifts early. No last minute shopping for me!

I already have my boys and siblings crossed off the list, now I'm moving on to my husband. Luckily, he loves tools as much as I do, so he's never hard to shop for. If you happen to have a tool lover on your list, I put together an updated gift guide for you. It's got some of my all time favorite gadgets, plus a few I plan on asking Santa for.

How to Make a Wood Candy Machine | DIY Dispenser

*This post is sponsored by Kreg Tool. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

I know we bloggers get a little carried away with the whole holiday planning thing, but we are solidly in November now and if you plan on building gifts, that takes a little while. It's time to get started. Last year I made easy Mancala game boards for my siblings, but I think my idea for this year is even better and I partnered with BuildSomething.com to make it happen.

Two words: Candy Dispenser.

DIY Super Simple Christmas Advent Calendar

*This post is sponsored by Kreg Tool. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

Holy cow, it's November!!! This year is going way too fast. I can't believe we need to start thinking about Christmas stuff. I'll be honest, I'm not the best at decorating for the holidays. I put out a few things, but I just don't have time to go all out. I love small and simple holiday decorations that can be stored and set-up easily. 

Even though we're only 4 weeks away from December, I've got a SUPER simple project for you. You can make an adorable house shaped advent calendar in just a couple hours! I'm sharing the whole build over at BuildSomething.com. 

How to Make Easy Outfeed Rollers - Video Tutorial

*This post contains affiliate links.  

About a month ago I published a video for my Double Ended flip-top workbench and you guys have been AMAZING! Thank you! The response has been really great. Apparently, you guys love shop builds. 

In the video, I mentioned I'd be releasing the follow-up video for the outfeed rollers that I paired with my new Ridgid 13" Thickness planer. Well, life got crazy and I ended up going to Japan for 8 days! (yes, it was unbelievable). So, I'm finally sharing the whole build, including free plans for you to build your own outfeed roller system. 

Water-Tight Screw and Nail Storage

*This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.  

I've told you guys before about the mess I call a shop. It's bad. Organization is not my strong suit, that's for sure. 

I'm working on it guys.

Since I've participated in The Home Depot ProSpective tool review program for a little while, I'm starting to grow a pretty healthy collection of tools. I've done a couple of projects to help provide storage, like my garage storage wall. That helps with tools and bigger things, but I really needed somewhere to stash little things like nuts, screws, dowels and nails. 

How to Make a Light-Up Halloween Gravestone

 

*This post is sponsored by DAP Products and The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

I love Halloween. I was one of those weird kids who had their costume picked out in June. Halloween was always my favorite holiday. A couple years ago we went nuts decorating our front porch in a graveyard theme, and we've kinda stuck with it every year since then. 

Double Ended Flip-Top Workbench Plans - Video Tutorial

*This post is sponsored by Ridgid Power Tools and The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

I have been so blessed lately! Last month I finally got the Kreg Foreman I'd been lusting after for years, and just a couple months ago I partnered with Ridgid Power Tools and received their 13" Thickness Planer (model # R4331). After making my brass and walnut cutting board a while back, a fire was lit inside me and I've been dying to start working with hardwood a bit more. 

How to Make Floating Concrete Front Steps

*This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.  

We've been working on boosting the curb appeal of our 15 year old tract home. It's a nice little house, but the exterior had been neglected and needed a little face lift. Earlier this week I  showed you guys what a difference paint and new hardware did to make-over the front porch. 

Outdoor Accents Porch Make-Over

*This post is sponsored by Simpson Strong-Tie ® . All opinions are my own and are uninfluenced. 

If you guys have been following along for any length of time, you know the inside of our house looks very different than when we bought it (my kitchen, master bath, and hall bath are examples of that). But I have to admit, I have almost entirely ignored the exterior. Other than adding a pair of wood and metal planter boxes, my front porch has remained in the same, faded state it was when we moved in 3 years ago.

How to Build a Round Mirror Wall Cabinet

*This post is sponsored by Kreg Tool. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

I've got bathrooms on the mind friends. A few months ago I showed you guys a down-to-the-studs remodel of our master bathroom and last week I shared how to make a weighted towel holder. I strongly believe, even a well designed room can never have too much storage. So that's what I got for you all today. 

I've been dying to try a rolling round cabinet mirror design for a long time. I decided I should build an over the toilet storage cabinet to hide ugly stuff like toilet paper and tampons. 

Faux Transom Window HACK

 *This post is sponsored by DAP Products and The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

I was reading an article a couple weeks ago and apparently Phoenix is going through a housing shortage. Tract home builders have been  going gangbusters here for decades and I, like many other Arizonans live in an inexpensive, builder-grade home. We've made several upgrades (like our kitchen and bathroom remodel) but there are some frustrating design issues that are more difficult to change.

My living room area has several large windows, which I love, and a pair of sliding glass doors, which I don't love. My ceilings are 9 ft tall. My front door is 8 ft tall, and all of the windows are set at 8 ft. Unfortunately, like all my interior doors, the sliding glass doors are only 70" tall.

How to Make a Wood Weighted Towel Holder

*This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.  

Remember my master bathroom remodel that I was working on forever? After installing the double vanity, I realized I had no where to mount a hand towel ring. I don't want to drill into the tiled walls, so that left me with a countertop option. 

After searching, I found a stainless steel towel holder a few months back. Honestly, it's was total garbage. It was expensive (like $27), not tall enough for a standard towel, and fell over easily. I decided I could make a weighted hand towel holder from wood, cheaper and with good design. 

DIY Simple Closet Shelving Organization

*This post is sponsored by DAP Products and The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

When we bought our house a couple years ago, it had one of those "dens" that could have been a bedroom if the original owner had requested it from the builder. It had a doorway with no doors, and a closet recess with no closet. Since 4 bedroom homes usually sell for more money, we figured it would be worth the effort to turn the den into an official bedroom.

The first thing we did was to install french doors with a diy transom. Then, we finished the closet wall, and framed in the bi-pass doors. But, then I got lazy, shoved all of our junk inside and forgot about it for over a year. If you slid one of the closet doors open, this is what you would have found.

RYOBI Cordless Dywall Screw Gun Review

*This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.  

I've hung some drywall in my day. I got my feet wet when I remodeled our kitchen and added a new pantry, but I learned quite a bit more on our master bathroom remodel. Although I'd much rather be out in the garage putting wood together, I'm a cheapskate and drywall is a pretty straight forward job most DIYers can handle themselves.

How to Make a Gold Leaf Wall Clock

*This post is sponsored by DAP Products. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

It's good to try new things. I love experimenting with new materials, even if it doesn't always work out. I'd been itching to play around with gold leaf and I finally had a project that was a perfect test.

I have a confession: I am chronically late... to EVERYTHING!

My husband kindly suggested I make myself a wall clock to keep in the bathroom so I can hopefully stay a little more on schedule (nice try babe). I've actually never made a DIY clock yet, so I took him up on his suggestion and decided to incorporate that gold leaf strategy.

DIY Quirky Wood Block Game

*This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

I've told you guys before about my grandpa. He was a woodworker and made the most beautiful things. One of my favorite projects of his were these little wooden tic-tac-toe boards he made for all of his grand kids. I still have my set and one I stole from a sibling. 

There is something so nostalgic and sweet about handmade games. Paper pieces and store bought kits just don't last. That was the motivation when I made simple Mancala game boards for Christmas gifts last year and a desktop football goal for Father's Day the year before that. So, today I'm back making another DIY wooden game, this time for my twin boys. 

Scrap Wood Table with Rock Epoxy Resin Top

*This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

Got scrap? Who doesn't, right? If you have built more than one or two projects, you probably have some wood scraps lying around. So when Jen Woodhouse asked if I'd like to take part in the Scrap Wood Challenge with 17 other maker friends, I jumped on it! (Remember the One Board Challenge table from a couple years ago?) Here is the only rule: 

- You can build whatever you want, but can only use scrap wood. No new lumber can be purchased, but fasteners, paint, and that kind of stuff are okay. 

What to Buy With Your Home Depot Gift Card

*This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

Happy belated Father's Day to all you dads out there! Odds are, several of you scored a Home Depot gift card from someone who loves you. It's a pretty solid gift idea. I don't know about you, but Home Depot credit is as good as cash to me. It's gonna get spent. 

The best news is, all the Father's Day sales are still going on, so that gift card can go even further. I put together a list of my favorite tools and gadgets, all of which are available either online or in store. So keep scrolling to see what I think you should spend your Home Depot giftcards on. 

How to Build a Record Console / Minibar - Video Tutorial

*This post is sponsored by DAP Products and The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

Are you a music buff? I always have music on, especially when I'm driving or at home. I finally got a record player a few months ago, and have been slowly building up my vinyl collection. The player I have is inexpensive and came with small built-in speakers. They were TERRIBLE! I ended up plugging in a separate portable speaker every time I wanted to listen to an album. I really wanted a dedicated console table or cabinet where I could hook up my record player, have some storage, and hide a pair of bluetooth speakers. 

Everyone loves music. Why don't we have furniture with built-in speakers anymore?

Outdoor Rolling Planter - Building Plans

 *This post is sponsored by Simpson Strong-Tie ® . All opinions are my own and are uninfluenced. 

I know it's not officially summer yet, but it feels like it here in Arizona already. You would think with all the planter projects I've built in the past, I would have a green thumb. Yeah... not so much. I am actually a serial plant killer, but for some reason I am determined to keep trying. 

How to Make a Modern Brass Handled Cutting Board

*This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

I was walking around my local Home Depot a couple weeks ago and I made a freaking awesome discovery! Apparently, my location has started carrying 3/4" thick, S4S Walnut!!! S4S stands for Surfaced on 4 Sides. That means the boards are already smooth, straight, and ready to work with. You don't have to have a planer or special equipment to be able to create something with my very favorite hardwood. 

Modern Master Bath Remodel: Part 5: Built-In Linen Closet

*This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

I know it's been slow going, but we are getting SO CLOSE to being down with the master bathroom remodel! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Recently, I tackled the linen closet, and I'm in love!

Stepping Up My Wrench Game

 *This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

You're probably thinking "I'm a woodworker. I don't need wrenches." False. Whether it's tightening carriage bolts on table legs, or driving lag screws, I've often found myself needing a wrench or two to get the job done. I recently was sent the new Husky Universal Combination Wrench sets and they motivated me to up my wrench game. 

Shou Sugi Ban Charred Wood Wall Art - Video Tutorial

*This post is sponsored by DAP Products. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

This is a good one guys! A little while back my friend Bethany from Reality Daydream asked a bunch of bloggers of YouTubers if we wanted to participate in a Wood Wall Art Challenge. Um, heck yes! I've got some creative friends and some of my favorite projects I've ever made came from a collaborative challenge. Like my three leg, One Board End Table and my Wood and Acrylic Bathroom Shelf. 

Modern Master Bath Remodel: Part 4: Barn Door Medicine Cabinet

*This post is sponsored by DAP Products and Kwikset. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

We're getting close to finally finishing the bathroom friends. Most of the big stuff is out of the way. In my "Part 1" blog post I showed the floor plan and identified the walls that we were planing to move. Last week I shared my custom tile shower and today I'm moving to the other side of the room - the water closet. 

DIY Modern Master Bath Remodel: Part 3: Custom Tile Shower Install

So where did we leave off friends? I think the last time I talked to you about Modern Master Bath remodel I was sharing the building plans for my double vanity.  The bathroom remodel is SO close to being done! All that is left is to build the linen closet and touch up paint. The showstopper of the whole makeover is the new custom tile shower we installed and that's what I'm focusing on today. 

Folding Mobile Workbench - Video Tutorial

*This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product or payment in exchange. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

I have a problem friends. 

My shop (A.K.A. my half of the two car garage), is a disaster. I desperately need more storage and organization. My husband is a maker too (cars, not wood) and we are just running out of room! I've been dying for a mobile workbench that I can assemble my furniture on but I had no idea where I would store it. I started brainstorming and decided I could create a folding or collapsible workbench that could be stashed out of the way when not in use.