I'd like to welcome Anna Hicks who has written a post especially for DIYbyDesign.
We have found some do-it-yourself tasks that parents and kids can partake in
around the house.
Here
are four below, they are all worth the effort and can be money saving as
well.
Frugality Based Projects: Save Money By Spray Painting Furniture
You will need spray paint, sandpaper, a paint scraper, wire brush, disposable rags, tack-cloth, newspapers, and wood fill.
How to: Examine the furniture and try to find any damages in the wood or any other flaws you may need to clean up. After doing so, prepare your work area. Drop down as much newspaper as you have to protect the floor underneath and sand down any scratches or holes in the wood of the furniture. If there are gaping holes, fill them with wood fill and after that dries sand the surrounding area. Clean the surface with a rag then a tack-cloth to rid the furniture of any remaining dust.
Choose whichever color of spray paint you would like and hold the can about a foot away from the surface. Continue to move back and forth until there is a smooth, solid coat. After your first coat allow that to dry then apply a second coat. Wait 24 hours before anything touches the painted surface.
There are several DIY projects you can do at home to save money. Saving money on home furnishings is a good place to start. There are several DIY projects that can be added into savings like redoing your windows or insulation. You can also click here to learn a little more about saving on electricity within the home.
Parents and kids can give leaves a makeover to make a pretty collection. All
you will need are a few fully flourished leaves, blank paper, colored paint,
disposable sponges, glue, and a pair of scissors.
How to: Collect some leaves from your lawn, make sure to get some healthy
leaves because it always looks better in the finished product. Parents or kids
can trace the leaves onto the blank paper and then cut the traced shape out.
Dip the sponge into the paint but not too heavily, then dab the paper cut-outs
of the leaf.
Kids can mix and match the colors however they would like. Allow the
cut-outs to dry, then find a branch from your lawn and glue them to the branch.
This will give the look of colorful leaves growing from the branch. Parents can
even stick the branch in a vase and repeat the steps to create a full
collection of colored leaves.
Apple Candlesticks
You will need large apples that will stand up on a table, candles, waxed
paper, lemon juice, and a potato peeler.
How to: Make a hole halfway through the center of the apple, preferably
using an apple corer. After this is done remove the core of the core of the
apple and insert a candle into the hole. The waxed paper is needed if the hole
is too large for the candle. Wrap the candle with the waxed paper around the
end of the candle to make it fit tightly.
Parents and kids can then decorate the apples by carving light designs
around the apple with a potato peeler. After, cover the designs with lemon
juice to keep them browning. After all the candleholders are finished, keep
them in a circle and light the candles.
Flower Shaped Headboard
Give your daughter a fresh new headboard so that she can wake up to a flower
every morning.
You will need a 48-inch corrugated display board, knife for crafts, masking
tape, glue gun, furry material for flower’s center (around 23 inches in
diameter), plastic ties, and sticking mounting bases.
How to: Place the corrugated display board flat on the ground and draw a
flower shape. If you need a guideline, use a 9-inch pot lid as a template. Then
cut out the drawn flower with the craft knife. Take out the masking tape and
set it on the two pre-scored lines to stabilize the flaps. With the flower
cutout apply the furry material center and glue it down with the hot glue gun.
Now that the headboard is finished it is time to place it at its position.
Attach the display board headboard to the post of your child’s bed using the
plastic ties and the adhesive, sticky mounting base. Be sure to secure the
flower headboard so that it is stable against the existing headboard. If there
was no headboard prior to this craft then you can simply mount the flower on
the wall.
Save Money By Spray Painting Furniture
You will need spray paint, sandpaper, a paint scraper, wire brush,
disposable rags, tack-cloth, newspapers, and wood fill.
How to: Examine the furniture and try to find any damages in the wood or any
other flaws you may need to clean up. After doing so, prepare your work area.
Drop down as much newspaper as you have to protect the floor underneath and
sand down any scratches or holes in the wood of the furniture. If there are
gaping holes, fill them with wood fill and after that dries sand the
surrounding area. Clean the surface with a rag then a tack-cloth to rid the
furniture of any remaining dust.
Choose whichever color of spray paint you would like and hold the can about
a foot away from the surface. Continue to move back and forth until there is a
smooth, solid coat. After your first coat allow that to dry then apply a second
coat. Wait 24 hours before anything touches the painted surface.
Chalkboard Dresser
Turn your child’s dresser into chalkboard drawers that is always fun and
definitely a fun craft to create let alone play with.
All you will need is a dresser, chalkboard paint, and a paintbrush.
How to: Lay the dresser down on a cloth covering the floor in case the paint
spills. Then paint wherever you would like the chalkboard to be on the dresser,
the front of the drawers is always a good place. Allow the paint to dry and
within the day you will have a useable chalkboard!
Thanks Anna!
-Judy
