Last Minute Holiday Gift: Custom Mini-Lights from Tealight Holders

by eclectic on December 22, 2008 in Crafts with No comments

This is the fourth in a series of last minute gift ideas from ’round the Web counting down to the 25th of December. All the projects can be done very quickly and require minimal supplies. Let us know if you do any of these projects. Enjoy!

From DIYAlert.com, using empty tealight holders, this last minute gift could be specifically for the holidays, a bedroom, a patio or just for fun. And homemade means that you can customize based on decor, favorite colors or time of year. Could be a great project to do with your kiddos, just be careful because you are working with metal. As DIYAlert suggests, you might wear gloves to protect your hands.

tealight_6_sm

Supplies:

  • One string of mini-lights. White light is nice, because it allows you to see all the
    colors in your finished collars.
  • Metal cups from used-up tealights. You’ll need one for every light there is on your
    light string.
  • Sharpie marker.
  • Scissors. These should not be your expensive scissors, by the way.
  • Paper hole punch. You need one that makes a hole at least 3/8” diameter.
    An old-fashioned paper punch will work better than a craft-punch for this project. And your punch should be pretty heavy-duty.
  • Glue. Use a glue for non-porous surfaces, like E6000.
  • Shiny things, such as glitter, flat-backed gems, beads, sequins, etc.

This is a great recycling project. You could also use EcoGlue in place of E6000. It’s eco-friendly. According to Dollar Store Crafts, JoAnn Fabrics has tea lights – 100 for $5. For all the instructions, visit DIYAlert.

Last Minute Holiday Gift: Fun Costume Jewelry

by eclectic on December 20, 2008 in Crafts with No comments

This is the third in a series of last minute gift ideas from ’round the Web counting down to the 25th of December. All the projects can be done very quickly and require minimal supplies. Let us know if you do any of these projects. Enjoy!

From Swelldesigner (Alexa Westerfield), we bring you a how-to for costume jewelry on the cheap. Super colorful costume jewelry is fun for girls of all ages.

blingrings

  • Jewelry-making pliers
  • Earring wires
  • Ring blank
  • Assorted buttons and other flashy stuff
  • Glue (like E6000)

For more info, visit Swelldesigner’s post here.

Last Minute Holiday Gift: Glass Chip Magnets

by eclectic on December 18, 2008 in Craft of the Month, Crafts with No comments

This is the second in a series of last minute gift ideas from ’round the Web counting down to the 25th of December. All the projects can be done very quickly and require minimal supplies. Let us know if you do any of these projects, we’d love to see your pictures. Enjoy!

Our second last minute gift idea comes from the Big Ass Book of Crafts by our friend Mark Montano (and it’s also our December Craft of the Month).

Glass-Chip Magnets Supply List:

Amazing EcoGlue® Craft adhesive
Amazing E-6000® Craft adhesive
Clip art (sized to glass chips)
Glass chips
Magnetic tape (sized to glass chips)
Flat foam artist’s brush

We got our supplies at Walmart for less than $15.00.

You can get all the instructions via our Web site.

Last Minute Holiday Gift: Playing Card Biz Card Holder

by eclectic on December 16, 2008 in Crafts with 1 Comment

This is the first in a series of last minute gift ideas from ’round the Web counting down to the 25th of December. All the projects can be done very quickly and require minimal supplies. Let us know if you do any of these projects. Enjoy!

From Diane Gilleland at CraftStylish, we bring you a creative biz card holder made with playing cards (or tarot or loteria cards). Diane provides great directions along with a handy pattern. Her glue of choice is E-6000 from Eclectic Products.

Supplies needed:

What you’ll need:

  • Downloadable template (see link below)
  • Five playing cards (per case)
  • A sheet of 65# cardstock
  • Metal straightedge
  • X-Acto knife and cutting surface
  • Bone folder
  • Glue stick
  • Poly fiberfill
  • Five-mil lamination pouch
  • 1/8-inch hole punch
  • 1mm stretchy beading cord
  • Craft glue
  • Scissors
  • E6000 adhesive
  • Masking tape

Get directions for this project at CraftStylish.

Repair, Don't Replace: Wooden Picture Frame

by eclectic on December 6, 2008 in DIY, Repair Don't Replace with 2 Comments

2811616330_d3fee03f28_bCustom picture or art framing can be awfully expensive. Wooden frames are elegant, but the joints expand and contract a good deal just from the temperature fluxuation in your house. And that can create loose joints.

If you have a frame that’s coming apart at the seams, a quick repair using Amazing GOOP Wood & Furniture will have it back together in no time.

After a recent move, I found that one of the corners of the wooden frame for a large Cheri Blum print was a bit loose. The print is probably 30” x 40” and with the frame it measures closer to 40” x 50”. The repair is easy enough to make. Here are the instructions:

Supplies:
•    Screwdriver
•    Amazing GOOP Wood & Furniture (about $4)
•    Two clamps ($20 if you need to buy)
•    Famowood wood filler in matching color (about $4)
•    Finishing nails
•    Small hammer

Step 1:
Carefully remove the paper backing and determine how the frame is held together: glue, brads connecting the corners or a spline joint. Most frames are held together with glue and one brad.

Step 2:
Gently separate the corners. Old glue can be chipped away or warmed slightly so it can be pulled apart.  A joint with two brads may require you to cut through them using a small saw and a spline joint may require a screwdriver to loosen.

Be gentle! It’s crucial that you don’t cut any wood away from the frame. Even a seemingly minute adjustment can result in an ill-fit when put back together. Don’t bend the spline – you only want to remove one side of it for repair. Final don’t – don’t leave tool marks on the frame.

Step 3:
Clean the corner you’re repairing. Pry away and remove the nails and any remaining dried glue. Fill the old nail holes on the outside of the frame with Famowood, and allow it to harden.

Step 4:
Put the frame corner back together. Lay the frame flat on the corner of a table to line up the sides.  You can also use a T-Square to ensure you have a sharp right angle. A suggestion: put a “cushion” of thin cardboard or something between clamp and wood so you don’t leave marks on the frame.

Clamp one side of the frame to the table. Apply Amazing GOOP Wood and Furniture to the loose side of the frame. Replace the spline if necessary. Allow the glue to partially cure – between 2 and 10 minutes – before joining the two pieces. Remove any extra adhesive immediately.

Position the two corners until the edges are smooth and consistent. Use your second clamp for the remaining side of the frame to hold the corner tightly. Wait about 30 minutes.

Step 5:
Hammer two finishing nails into the corner – one from each side. Countersink the nails into the wood and fill with Famowood in a matching color. Allow the adhesive to fully cure for at least 24 hours before replacing the picture and hanging up.

The Bottom Line:

Cost for supplies is about $30 if you have to buy everything

Cost of custom framing a 30” x 40” print: estimates range between $300 and $500 for basic framing.

By doing this repair yourself, you’d save at least $250!

Photo via Flickr by trimmer741

Show Off Fall Arts & Crafts With Acorn Magnets

by eclectic on November 28, 2008 in Crafts with No comments

Any preschooler’s mom knows that the collection of arts and crafts to display on the fridge is seemingly never-ending. Create some fun acorn magnets to show off the fall collection. Make & Takes has this quick and easy project:

Acorn Magnets from Make & Takes

Acorn Magnets from Make & Takes

The directions say to use a hot glue gun, but you can also use QuickHOLD (no heat and instant grab) – it’s part of our Designer’s Collection Series of craft adhesives.

Create a Handmade Holiday

by eclectic on November 23, 2008 in Crafts with No comments

When I was in college, I decided to make all my friends’ Christmas presents. I chose candles. If you haven’t made candles before, the supplies you need are without a doubt more expensive than buying everyone a pre-made candle. But we still tell stories about that Christmas – laugh about the candle that caught on fire because it was full of potpourri (I swear the directions said to do it that way!). Or the one that was so fragrant – thanks to some extra scent sticks – it could only be burned in a large room with a good deal of ventilation.

Handmade holidays don’t have to be a fire hazard. In fact, making or buying handmade is an escape from the mass produced gifts that tend to dominate the holiday season. And we’re all a bit more conscious about how we’re spending our holiday budgets this year.

You can create gifts with just a few basic supplies and some creativity. We’ve posted quite a few projects on this blog over the last six months that you could try:

Some other fun projects to try:

If you don’t make, you can also buy. Etsy is a wonderful resource for finding handmade items of all types. Some of our favorites (click on the picture to link to their Etsy shop):

Owl Ornament from EvelynX in Redwood City, California

Owl Ornament from EvelynX in Redwood City, California

Holiday Hoop earrings by karitwiggdesigns

Holiday Hoop earrings by karitwiggdesigns

Red Bird Scrabble Tile Pendant by HomeStudio

Red Bird Scrabble Tile Pendant by HomeStudio

Custom Initial Clip or Bookmark by nhubs

Custom Initial Clip or Bookmark by nhubs

If you have a favorite handmade gift to make or buy, let us know!

Choosing a Contractor: Do Your Homework

by eclectic on November 15, 2008 in Home Improvement with 1 Comment

748869_95153572Choosing a contractor for a remodel or addition can be stressful. We’ve all heard horror stories about contractors that do shoddy work, overcharge and abandon projects before completed.

How can you avoid such fate? Short answer is do your homework.

  • Have a clear idea of what you want and do enough research to know how to get there. When you can clearly articulate what you want the outcome to be, you will reduce the chance of misunderstanding or confusion about the expected results.If you have specific materials or products that you want the contractor to use – say for example, green building materials – make those clear as early in the process as possible. You can also look for contractors with particular areas of expertise.
  • Get three bids. Three bids will give you a sense of what this kind of work is going for in your market. But don’t jump right to the lowest bid. Consumer Reports surveys show that people who hired the lowest bidder generally got poorer work.
  • If you’ve worked with a contractor before, surveys show that if you do again you’ll be happier and have fewer cost and time overruns than those who hired someone new. If you haven’t worked with a contractor before, ask friends for names of people who have done work for them.
  • Always get references. Reputable contractors will be happy to provide names and contact info. Many sources suggest calling older references as well as recent projects and going to see the work in person.
  • Make sure your contractor is legit. Check for proper licensing and insurance. The contractor should be licensed to do work in your state and carry liability and worker’s comp insurance.

You can get customer reviews on Angie’s List. Worth checking to see what kind of grade your contractor gets from previous customers who might not show up on the reference list.

A Modern Barn-Raising: Home Improvement Clubs Created by Friends & Neighbors

by eclectic on November 9, 2008 in Uncategorized with 1 Comment

451615304_2a360659bcFrom Eugene, Ore. to St. Petersburg, Fla., friends and neighbors are joining together in do-it-yourself and home improvement project clubs. Sort of like a modern Amish barn raising, small communities gather at the homes of the club members to take on projects big and small.

The Monthly Improvement Collective of Eugene meets 10 times per year, twice at the home of each of the five couples who belong to the group. The host family ensures that tools and supplies are available and provides breakfast and lunch and everyone pitches in on projects like building a retaining wall, installing a fence and replacing flooring.

When everyone chips in on labor, the obvious tangible benefit is a cost savings. The intangible could be just as important – neighbors and friends feel supported and part of a unique community that can come together to accomplish projects for each other.

Want to start a home improvement club of your own? Some things to think about:

  • How often should you meet? 10 times a year is less than once a month, but still a considerable time investment. Other clubs meet more frequently (monthly) or less (quarterly). Make sure everyone is on board regardless of the schedule you choose.
  • What projects will you tackle? Do members of your group have particular expertise that you can tap into? If no one has expertise, be careful not take on more than your group can handle. That’s a real morale breaker.
  • What’s the plan? For each project, it might be worth spending a Friday evening over dinner and wine to come up with a plan and a supplies list before the project begins.

Of course, most importantly, have fun!

A recent article on home improvement clubs can be found via the Hartford Courant.

Photo by tiswango via Flickr

Get Your Drawers Moving Smoothly

by eclectic on November 4, 2008 in DIY, Woodworking with No comments

Drawers by Penmachine via Flickr

Drawers by Penmachine via Flickr

Wooden drawers in cabinets, dressers and closets can often wear, resulting and less than smooth opening and closing. This is pretty simple fix; replacing the nylon glide on the underneath of the drawer, swap old or missing screws for new ones or using a wood glue, like EcoGlue Premium Wood, for loose dovetail joints.

Need help? Some resources for getting your drawers moving smoothly.

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