DIY Jewelry Holder Using Lazy Susan & Copper Pipe

This easy to make jewelry holder utilizes Lazy Susan hardware with copper pipe for jewelry holder with an industrial look. There are no fancy tools required to make it, either!

Materials:

• 1 - 5' piece of 1/2" copper pipe
• 6 - 1/2" copper pipe caps
• 2 - 1/2" copper tees.
• 9" round piece of plywood, 3/4" thick
• Lazy susan hardware
• Flat head wood screws
• Clear glass drawer knobs
• Valspar Milk Glass Paint
• #8-32 machine screws, 1 1/2"
• Fast drying adhesive for the pipe

Tools:

• Drill
• Tubing cutter for 1/2" pipe
• 1/8" drill bit

Cut List:

• 5 - 1/2" copper pipe at 6"
• 1 - 1/2" copper pipe at 9"

Step One

Spray paint the knobs as desired. I used a Milk Glass spraypaint in a vintage aqua color for the knobs I used.

Step Two

Drill a hole in the center in each of the six ½” copper pipe caps. Thread a machine screw through the top of the glass knob then through one of the pipe caps. Secure the knob to the cap with a nut on the inside of the cap.

Step Three

Cut the pieces of pipe to length. Using the pipe cutter is really easy – make a mark on the pipe at the length desired, then align the blade of the cutter on the mark. Tighten the knob on the cutter so that it is snug on the pipe then turn the cutter around the pipe. Tighten the knob a bit then make another pass with the cutter. Continue until the cutter cuts the pipe all the way through.

Step Four

Apply a bit of adhesive to one end of each piece of pipe and insert the pieces of pipe into the tees. The “arms” of the jewelry holder will be the 6” pieces and the “stands” of the jewelry holder will be one 6” piece and one 9” piece.

Secure the caps with the glass knobs to each “arm” using adhesive.

Step Five

Stain or paint the round piece of wood, as desired. Position the Lazy Susan hardware on the bottom of the wood and secure in place with one ¾” screw through the center.

Step Six

Secure the remaining pipe caps to the wood with a ¾” screw and a washer, approximately 1” from the center. This will make the two sections of pipe 2” apart. Apply a bead of adhesive around the outside of the “stand” portion of the pipe assemblies, then insert the pipe into the caps.

This jewelry stand can also be made with PVC pipe which is a little less expensive and it can also be spray painted any color. The stands also make a great gift!

How to Make Easy Plywood Art Frames

These art frames are not traditional in any way, yet they are super-easy to make! These frames are made with a plywood base, which has been stained, then finished off with a piece of Plexiglas secured to the base with finish washers and screws.

Finish washers are cupped  washers that add a decorative or “finished” look to screws that will be exposed. They usually come in a chrome finish and can easily be spray painted to suit the project.

Materials to make one frame to hold an 8x10 photo:

·         1/2” plywood cut to 13” x 16”

·         Sander with 150 & 220 grit sandpaper

·         Plexiglas cut to 11” x 14” (I bought mine pre-cut in the framing department of my local hobby store)

·         Drill with 1/8” drill bit

·         4 – 1/2” screws

·         4 - #8 finish washers

·         Sawtooth hanger

The plywood can be purchased in 2’ x 2’ or 2’ x 4’ sheets. Most home improvement stores will cut them to size for you at no or minimal cost.

Start by sanding thoroughly sanding the plywood using 150 grit sand paper followed by 220 grit sandpaper. Stain or paint the plywood as desired. I used a stencil and a glue-resist technique on the plywood piece, then stained it using a dark brown stain. I finished with two coats of a polyurethane sealer.

Next, position the Plexiglas sheet on the plywood piece with a 1” border around all sides. Use a drill with a 1/8” drill bit to drill holes in each corner of the Plexiglas approximately 1/2” in from each end. When drilling holes in Plexiglas, use very gentle pressure or the Plexiglas will crack. Do not drill all the way through the plywood base.

Thread a finish washer over the end of each screw, then carefully drive the screws through the holes in the Plexiglas into the plywood. Do not overtighten the screws because this will also crack the Plexiglas.

Insert the photo or artwork desired prior to securing all of the screws. Install a sawtooth hanger on the back of the plywood base.

The plywood base of these frames can be stained or painted to match any décor. The size is easily customizable as well… 

Plexiglas can be purchased in large sheets at any home improvement store then cut to the size desired using a straight edge and a utility knife. A great idea would be to create a really large frame then add photos in a collage! With the holidays coming up, these frames will make great gifts and several can be made inexpensively!

Add Some Detail to Everyday Stuff - Spice Up Your Slow Cooker

Sometimes people have great ideas on how to pretty up everyday things around the house using our hardware and this one from Designs by Studio C is a great example! Personalize your slow cooker with something that's more your style than the little plastic handle!

Like most people, I am a huge fan of using a slow cooker to make meals. It doesn’t get any easier – put the food in and turn it on, and a few hours later dinner is served. It all came to a halt when the handle on the lid of my slow cooker broke. I didn’t want to spend the money on a new lid plus I wasn’t really sure where I would find a new lid! I found that a drawer knob works perfectly as a new handle on the lid!

I started by removing the pieces of the old handle on the lid. The handle was held in place with a screw and a rubber washer.

I dug through my stash to find a knob that I thought would fit and look really, really cool (I’m into that!). I came upon a metal drawer knob with a matching escutcheon plate that I bought years ago. The next trick was finding a #8-32 machine screw in my stash that was short enough to make the knob and plate fit snugly against the lid.

I found a ¾” #8-32 machine screw that fit into the end of the knob perfectly. I threaded the screw through the rubber washer that was originally on the lid, then threaded the escutcheon plate and knob on the machine screw. I made sure the screw was snug but not too tight so that it interfered with the natural expansion and contraction of the heat of the lid. 

I love the way it looks but the only bad thing is that the knob gets a little hot. To me, that is a small sacrifice compared to trying to find a new lid! Any style of drawer knob can be used - a porcelain knob may also work and may get less hot, but I would definitely avoid a plastic knob as it may melt! 

Create Custom Knobs Using Metallic Markers on Plastic Knobs

Plastic knobs are great on any project because they are inexpensive but they  are very plain. There are many ways to dress them up to reflect the style of any project and one of those ways is by using metallic markers!

Materials:

·         Plastic drawer knobs (as many as needed for the project)

·         Metallic markers (I used Sharpies in gold, silver and bronze)

The cool thing about using markers on the plastic knobs is that it is virtually impossible to mess them up! If a mistake is made, a bit of rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab will remove the ink and the design can be started over. Trust me, I did this quite a few times!

I drew random dots, circles, squiggles and even flowers on the top of each knob. I wanted each design to be different – I think it is more fun that way!

Markers in other colors can also be used for a vibrant and bright pop of color on each knob! Paint markers can be used, as well.

A clear sealer for the knobs is not necessary if using the Sharpie brand of markers. Other brands of markers may require a test with sealer to see if the colors bleed – then again, that may make a whole new design for the knobs!

Super fine-tipped markers can be used to write words on the knobs – something sentimental or inspiring would be great on any furniture or organization project!

The knobs can also be spray painted in any color (preferably a light color) before using the markers.

So don’t overlook these inexpensive drawer knobs… With a few markers, they can be turned into something fabulous that will fit into any home décor style and look great on any project!

How to Build a DIY Tablet Stand

With all of the awesome advances in technology, most everyone has and uses a tablet (my kids do!)… They are handy for all sorts of things so wouldn’t it be nice to make a tablet stand to keep it upright and out of the way while you’re using it? (Hint- it helps with neck strain!) This stand is really easy to make and I’ve made two, customizing each of them in a different way!

Supplies:

·         Scrap 1x12 board at 12”

·         Scrap 1x6 board at 6”

·         Scrap ¾” square dowel rod at 12”

·         2” brad nails

·         1-1/4” brad nails

·         Decorative ¾” trim or wood appliqués

·         Wood glue

·         Stain and sealer or primer and paint

Tools needed:

·         Jigsaw

·         Pneumatic brad nailer with compressor

Step One

Using the piece for the angled stand rest, draw a diagonal line across the board from corner to corner. Cut along this line with the jigsaw. Once the pieces were cut, I stained them prior to assembling the stand.

Step Two

Position the rest pieces on the back of the 1x12 base (the base leans on the angled portion of each piece), securing in place using glue and 2” brad nails through the front of the base into the rest pieces. (Use caution and keep fingers out of the way!)

Step Three

Secure the square dowel to the front of the stand base approximately 1” up from the bottom using glue and 1-1/4” brad nails.

Step Four

Secure the decorative trim to the front of the square dowel using glue. If using the decorative wood appliqués, they can be secured using glue at the top edge of the 1x12 base.

Aren’t they great? This easy to make tablet stand can be customized in so many other ways – it can be decoupaged with photos, stenciled, painted or just left plain!

This is an easy project that would make a great gift, and several can be made over the course of a weekend! Until next time…

How to Make a Clipboard Photo Hanger

This clipboard photo or artwork hanger is really easy to make… It is the perfect piece to display a favorite quote, hang a scheduling calendar or just to display a little one’s latest masterpiece! The best part about it is that it can be customized to match the décor in the home, and several can be made in a day!

Supplies:

2" x 2" sheet of 1/2" plywood

Clipboard clip (found at any craft store) with two 1/2" screws

Wood appliques

Wood adhesive

Jewelry box pull

Tools Needed: 

Circular saw

Drill

Drill bit matching the diameter of the jewelry box pull

Step One

Cut the piece of plywood to 12 ½” x 16 ½”. Most home improvement stores will do this for you. If you purchase a larger sheet of plywood, you can get more than one base for the clipboard hanger.

Step Two

Secure the wood appliqués using the wood adhesive. I used a small flower medallion and a pair of swirls. You can use anything you’d like!

Step Three

Stain or paint the plywood piece. I used a one-step stain and sealer in a dark brown using three coats.

Step Four

Spray paint the screw heads to match the clip, if necessary. Position the clip in the center of the top end of the plywood, then drive the screws in the holes to secure the clip in place.

Step Five

Mark the center of the very top edge of the plywood and drill a shallow pilot hole. Insert the screw portion of the jewelry box pull to hang the clipboard.

Add whatever you’d like to display to the clipboard photo or artwork hanger and enjoy!

Three Ways to Hang Frames, Signs, or Mirrors

Everyone has artwork of some sort in the home and there are so many ways to hang it on the wall. There are all types of different fasteners, hangers and hardware, as well! Three of the easiest hangers to install are keyhole hangers, sawtooth hangers and (my favorite) soda can tabs with a washer and screw. Each of these hangers only take minutes to install and are super-strong to ensure that the artwork stays put!

1. Keyhole Hangers

Keyhole hangers are metal plates that screw onto the back of a frame or sign with a sort of oval shaped opening. The opening is larger on the bottom to fit over a screw head, then slides down so that the narrower portion of the oval rests behind the screw head that is mounted on the wall.

To install keyhole hangers, position the hanging plate on the back of the frame or sign and mark the position of the screw holes. Pre-drill the holes using a drill bit that is the same diameter or smaller than the screw being used to fasten the plate taking care not to go all the way through the art piece. Tighten the screws through the holes in the plate into the pre-drilled holes. 

2. Sawtooth Hangers

Sawtooth hangers are little metal strips with “teeth” on one end that sort of grip the nail or screw in the wall where the art piece will be hung. The sawtooth hanger is fastened to the frame or sign using tiny nails. Holding those little nails with one hand while trying to tap them into place with a hammer can be a tedious job! I like to use needle nose pliers to hold the nail while I tap the head with a hammer. Works like a charm!

3. Soda Can Tab with a Washer and Screw

This, by far, is the cheapest option for hanging artwork! Using a regular soda can tab, place a screw through a washer, then through the smaller hole in the soda can tab and drive the screw into the frame or sign. Use a standard screw driver to slightly bend the soda can tab to make it easier to hang on the nail or screw in the wall.

That’s it – three easy ways to hang frames, signs or mirrors on the wall that are inexpensive and easy!