Author Archives: TheDIYGirl

DIY Super Grip Lock for deadbolt

Posted on by September 23, 2013avatar

Since one of the complaints about the Super Grip Lock was that it was too small I will preface these instructions with the fact my deadbolt and doorknob are not far apart. It’s about 5 1/2″ center to center. If your deadbolt is much farther, just cut longer pieces of Velcro to fit your door. The last time I checked Joann sells 1 yard packets 3/4″ Velcro for $.99. Wherever you get it, a yard is more than enough. Constructing the security strap My deadbolt turn knobs are like an arrow — a flat end and a pointed ended. The … Read more…

Paint stripper that worked – Crown Tuff-Strip

Posted on by September 17, 2013avatar
Paint stripper that worked - Crown Tuff-Strip - The DIY Girl

This isn’t so much about the project, but the product that I used and was very pleased with. I have a lamp base made by my grandfather. It’s oak that he had turned on a lathe and then finished with lacquer. I didn’t like the way the lacquer yellowed so I regrettably sprayed it with a textured granite paint years ago. Researching on the internet told me that type of paint is extremely difficult to remove. I haven’t used paint stripper or remover for quite a few years so I had no idea what to try. I really wanted the texture … Read more…

Changing your in-cabin air filters

Posted on by September 22, 2013avatar
Changing your in-cabin air filters - The DIY Girl

Recently I was reading a Family Handyman online article on 5 things you should do for your vehicle and it mentioned changing the in-cabin air filters once a year. If you click on the image to the left it will take you to their article. I’d had issues with the filters leading to my cabin. I had parked my vehicle outside at a friend’s house for a few days while we traveled and when I got back the smell in the car was grotesque. A ridiculous amount of money later I found out that in my absence a mama mouse … Read more…

Lamp Update with Rustoleum Oiled Bronze Spray Paint

Posted on by September 12, 2013avatar
Lamps Update with Rustoleum Oiled Bronze Spray Paint - The DIY Girl

This post isn’t so much about my lamps as it is about the paint. I love Rustoleum Oiled Bronze Spray Paint! The can said it was good on wood, metal, plastic, and masonry. So far I’ve tried it on metal lamps, plastic coasters and a switch plate and ceramic knobs I have two good quality brass lamps that were in desperate need of an update. I toyed with the idea of using brushed nickel spray paint since that turned out so well on the ceiling fan, but decided it would be too light a color. Then it hit me an oiled … Read more…

Fruit container as storage basket

Posted on by September 10, 2013avatar
Fruit container as storage basket - The DIY Girl

I love to re-purpose things and when I found myself getting annoyed every time I wanted to make a cut on my compound miter saw because I couldn’t remember where I had set my safety glasses down or put the pencil I decided I needed a solution. I eat strawberries all the time so I grabbed a recently emptied clear basket and cut the top off. There were openings near the top where a cable tie could be threaded through so I made a couple of more holes about half way down the container. Two cables ties and it was … Read more…

DIY framed chalkboard from MDF

Posted on by September 10, 2013avatar
DIY framed chalkboard from MDF - The DIY Girl

I had a bare wall that needed something and also had a bug to have a chalkboard for jotting grocery lists and to do ideas. Combine those two wishes with left over materials. I figured the chalkboard framing that worked so well for my Shaker kitchen cabinet update would work for this — I had left over 3″ strips and two larger pieces of MDF. I took one of the pieces to Lowe’s and asked if they would cut it for me — they reluctantly did. I need to get a table saw as soon as a move to a … Read more…

Rounded corners for fleece blanket

Posted on by September 10, 2013avatar
Rounded corners for fleece blanket - The DIY Girl

This is just a short post. If you crochet fleece blankets and have only done 90 degree corners, you should try rounded corners. Also, if you crochet fleece blankets you should look into joining or contributing to Project Linus since there are chapters all over the US. I learned this from a woman in the Dallas chapter of Project Linus — round the corners so you just cruise around them when crocheting the border on a fleece blanket. She was so good at it she could do it free hand — I’m not so good, so I made a template … Read more…

Aging wood with tea, vinegar and steel wool

Posted on by September 10, 2013avatar

I recently read a post explaining the chemistry behind this process — how the tannin of the tea would combine with the oxidation of vinegar/steel wool mixture and provide an aging stain for new wood. I was doubtful. Since the ingredients were all on hand and economical I decided to run a test to see if it would do anything. Brewing the mixtures I made a small amount of tea with 4 tea bags and let them steep for a couple of hours. I got a small chunk of 0000 steel wool and dropped it in about 1/2 of apple … Read more…

Kitchen Update Final

Posted on by September 11, 2013avatar
Kitchen Update Final - The DIY Girl

Problem List (starting at the top and working down): popcorn ceilings – I decided to leave the popcorn for someone else to scrape cheap, cheap, cheap gold paint – I’ve complained about the paint in multiple posts. Glad it’s gone. ancient light fixture – moved a pendant light from living room. Pendant light in center of living room??? ugly brass ceiling fan – I spray paint brushed nickel with black blades popcorn on soffit – scraped, primed, and painted like walls old-fashioned trim board over sink – removed (and I don’t miss it…) cheap plug in flourescent light over sink … Read more…

Building a toolbox

Posted on by September 10, 2013avatar
Building a toolbox - The DIY Girl

I wanted something made out of wood for the shelf on my new kitchen island so I found a box I liked on Houzz in their ideabooks — simple plan and materials. I purchased a 1″ x 6″ x 8′ board and a dowel. Cutting the end corners provided nice little scraps for propping up things when I’m painting them. I had a 1″ paddle bit for the holes. I also bought 3′ of heavy sisal rope thinking that might make a cool handle if I could knot it. I wanted the wood to end up looking like barn siding and … Read more…