Archives for July 2013

Easy Pallet Sign Using Kreg Jig

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I have been a long time fan of making signs from reclaimed wood.  If you have tried to make a pallet sign, you may have run into the same dilemma as I have.  How do you attache the wood pieces together?  Some people use the pallets as they are and just paint on them.  I prefer each plank to be the touching edge to edge.  Before I discovered the Kreg Jig, I scabbed my pallet planks together like I showed you in this How to Make a Sign From Reclaimed Wood Tutorial.  This is a way easier process using the jig.  You drill perfect pocket holes based on the wood thickness and the join is flush, edge to edge.  A Clean, strong, quick and easy attachment, that I am told doesn’t even require wood glue!  I used it anyway because I am just like that.  Pallet signs have gotten way easier since I made this investment.  This is not a sponsored post!  Read on to see how it works.

SUPPLIES:

how to use a kreg jig

Kreg Jig with drill bits and clamp

1 1/4 inch Kreg Screws

Shipping Pallet Boards (I pry mine off of the pallet with a pry bar a.k.a I have my husband do that part)

Stencils for words (I cut mine with my cricut machine)Wood Stain and lint free cloth

Acrylic paint (I used Tim Holtz Distress paint but anything will do)

TUTORIAL:

how to drill pocket holes with Kreg Jig

I drill two holes in each pallet, one one each end, a few inches in.  The pocket guide is set to 3/4 inch since that is the thickness of this pallet wood.  You can go down to half an inch but remember to use shorter screws.  There is a great chart that shows you what settings to use.  So the neck of the drill bit has a stopper that you set, then the guide with the holes that you drill through is set to that number, and there is a corresponding screw length.  The jig comes with a handy chart for quick reference.  SUPER easy!

Kreg jig pallet sign tutorial

Once your holes are drilled in each board (except the bottom one, which doesn’t need holes), swap to the screw driver bit which is shown in the drill in this photo (both bits you need come with the jig).

How to make a reclaimed wood sign @savedbyloves

Add some wood glue or don’t (see above).

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Then drill your screw into the pocket hole.

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Keep going until all of your pieces are attached.  I stained my sign with Walnut color Minwax Gel Stain.  Let dry.

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Use your stencil to create the phrase.  I cut mine from contact paper using my Cricut.

Attach wire to the back with nails or a staple gun and hang!

Make a Live Succulent Wreath

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How to make a living succulent wreath via Garden Therapy, featured @savedbyloves[pinit]

Are you in love with the look of succulents?  Terrariums and other decor using these hardy plants are crazy popular right now, and I can see why.  They are so easy to care for, and are a great way to add a splash of green to any room.  Learn how to make this gorgeous live succulent wreath with a detailed step by step tutorial at Garden Therapy.

You may want to visit our terrarium tutorial while you are at it:

And of course, there is a 50+ for that!  TERRARIUMS AND CREATIVE PLANTERS

Over 50 Easy Wall Art DIY Ideas You Can Make

 

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Today’s 50+ round-up is all about wall art you can make yourself.  This is one of the first things I got into creatively.  I would cover old canvases with fabric, stapled to the back and make cheap wall art.  From there it exploded, and I tried several of the projects collected here today. You will see lots of upcycled, recycled materials used, as well as designer knock off wall decor.  I hope you are inspired to try a few yourself.  Please share if you have a worthy project to be considered for this roundup!


How to Resurface a Table with Reclaimed Wood

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Are you tired of your table, but not in a spot to spend money on a new one?  Do what I did and cover your worn out kitchen table with reclaimed wood from pallets, fences and whatever scraps you have on hand.  This project was fast, easy, cheap, and I am in love with the new look.  I used milk paint for the legs, a first for me.  I finished with CeCe Caldwell wax and aging wax.  Read on for the full scoop from planning to finish!

25centChairs11 copy

I told you about this table/chair set I got at Habitat Restore for $6 and revamped a couple of years back.  I spray painted the table top black and the legs silver, the chairs blue and green and this has been our kitchen table since 2010.

Make a table from reclaimed wood #upcycle #woodworking #reclaimedwood

I measured the table’s length and width and cut 1×2 pieces I had on hand to frame the it.

Connect frame with Kreg Jig Pocketholes

I connected the sides to each other with  wood glue, a Kreg pockethole and 1 1/4 inch Kreg screws and held them together with corner clamps while the glue dried..  I glued the frame to the table sides with wood glue and 2 inch brad nails, holding in place with clamps until glue set.

For the boards on the top, I just placed them and marked where I needed to cut the ones that stuck over the edge.  I cut them, glued the boards in place, and used my nailer to nail some down for added security.  I let that dry overnight, planed and sanded the top, stained with weathered wood from Minwax.

How to use milk paint, distressing furniture with milk paint

I used this milk paint, which comes in a powder that you mix with equal parts warm water.

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milk paint on table legs

This is after one coat.

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This is after the second coat with 1 hour dry time between.

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I love where this chippiness happened!  I wanted the look everywhere, but it happend where it wanted.

Reclaimed wood resurfaced kitchen table diy #furnituremakeover #woodworking @savedbyloves

I painted a few of the boards with the leftover milk paint.  I distressed the legs with my hand sander in some spots.  To finish, I sealed with a coat of CeCe Caldwell clear wax, followed by aging wax all over.

Resurface a table with Pallet Wood

Easy DIY Rose Bracelet

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Make an easy diy rose bracelet with #modmelts #resinflowers @savedbyloves
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Today’s project is a lovely summer bracelet featuring roses made with Mod Melts.  I showed you this new product last week in this DIY daisy bracelet tutorial.    I love that you can use it with silicone molds to  quickly create detailed flowers that are commonly made with slow curing resin.  You can whip out this bracelet in well under 1 hour!

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SUPPLIES:

ModMelts and Molds with Sticks (see: tutorial for using the mod melts)

Connector Metal Squares (I found these at Joanns)

Jump rings

Toggle clasp

metal chain

2 pairs of flat nose jewelry pliers

E6000 glue

TUTORIAL:

diy how to make a flower bracelet

Create your charms using Mod Melts as in the link above.  I used the smaller rose on the Floral Mold.  I painted 6 of them in a green/blue color palettes.  I sealed them with Mod Podge matte finish.

how to open jump rings

Connect the squares with jump rings.  Begin by twisting jump rings open with 2 sets of pliers.

jewelry making tips

Add a square.

how to connect jewelry pieces with jump rings

Add second square and close jump ring by twisting back with 2 sets of pliers.

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Continue adding squares until you have enough for each rose charm.

how to use E6000 for jewelry; how to glue metal to plastic

Glue each rose onto a square with E6000 and let dry for at least 1 hour.

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To finish, use jump rings to attach toggle clasp on each end for bracelet closure.

how to make resin jewerly

What do you think?  Are you ready to try this stuff yet?  I have tons more charms left from my afternoon of creating with Mod Melts.  As promised, you will be seeing more!

For plenty more DIY bracelets, see SBLC’s bracelet tutorials, and our 50+ bracelet roundup!

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