Glacier Bay Dual-Flush Toilet - Today's Homeowner

Dual-flush toilets are energy-efficient but many are not economically feasible. But, Glacier Bay's high-efficiency dual-flush toilet is both water-saving and economical.

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Tip for Lighting Small Spaces - Today's Homeowner

Attach a piece of velcro to the back of a battery-powered light, and attach the other piece of velcro inside a small closet or cabinet. Then, simply detach the light to look for things in the closet or cabinet.

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Yardzee Yard Dice Game Tutorial + Printables

It is summer time and BRING IT ON already!  Are you guys ready to play some Yardzee?   I am so ready!  Ready for family game time outside, neighborhood barbecues, NO school and our amazing flood irrigation parties – seriously the best perk about this old house!!!

It is funny how much joy there is in a new season and I feel like Olaf as I dream of summer and all things hot and fun!  Especially now that my kids are in school and I am craving some freedom from busy schedules and being closed up inside the house.  Let’s just play outside all day and enjoy the

Easy summer game projects are definitely a favorite. Especially with Remodelaholic readers, so we thought we would add this REALLY fun DIY game to your summer plans.

Free Yardzee Game Printable & Score Sheet

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Supplies:

1 – 5 gallon bucket with a lid for storing (we bought ours at Walmart)

Approximately 20″ of 4×4 wood

Craft paint, sharpie or wood burning tool

Sanding block and sanding paper (orbital sander or belt sander)

Canon PIXMA MG 7720 Printer 

Our free Yardzee printables for score cards, customizable bucket label (in 6 different colors!), and dice stencil
(You can also  purchase a pad of score cards on Amazon)

 

This project can be as easy or hard as you make it.  So as I write the instructions just keep in mind, that this can be small and easy or you can take it all the way, and go crazy perfectionist (like my cute husband) did on our game.

Video Instructions:

Watch this quick tutorial video for step by step instructions.

How to Make Your Own Wood Yardzee Dice Game

Step 1:

Set up a stop on your miter saw at 3 1/2″.  Do this by clamping a board to your fence.  By creating a stop you can guarantee that each dice is exactly the same size, and it saves a TON of measuring and time. Simple push the 4×4 til it hits the stop and cut according to the directions on your machine.

Step 2:

When the yard dice blocks are all cut, it is time to knock down the sharp edges of the new cuts.  This can be done in several ways depending on the tools you own. Optional tools:

• hand sanding block,
• orbital sander, or
• table top belt sander.

Just be sure to soften all the corners to match the pre-cut, filleted (or rounded) edges of the 4×4.  This will also be a helpful safety precaution since you don’t want those sharp corners to land on any toes when you are playing Yardzee, so don’t skip this step.

Step 3:

Once the blocks are sanded smooth, you need to printout your dice stencil printable from above.  Mark the layout of the dice in a couple ways.

• You can use trace paper to trace the shape on the blocks,
• Try rubbing soft pencil lead on the back of each dot, place the rubbed lead side down on the block and trace the circles, the lead should transfer the mark.
• Use a ball point pen to trace the outline of the shape and indent the soft pine.
• Use an awl to locate the center of the dot, and use a drill press to drill out the hole thereafter.

Step 4:

Color in the number dots.  There are several options.

• Use a sharpie to fill in the dots.
• Use a wood burning tool to fill in the dots.
• Use a drill press set at about an 1/8th inch depth.  Drill the holes and then using black acrylic paint fill in the holes. (No drill press? You could also use a Forstner bit like Jamison used here.)

Step 5:

Seal with polyurethane or oil if desired.  We skipped this step because I liked the light color of the wood, and these steps always darken the wood.

Step 6:

Print out the Yardzee bucket label of your choice. You can leave it blank like we did, or customize the PDF by typing in the family name. Great for neighborhood BBQs or an easy gift idea!

We used our Canon PIXMA MG7720 on 8 1/2 x 11 paper.  We decided to laminate ours so that it could stand up to heavy use and possible water.  Tape it to your bucket.

Print out the Yardzee score card sheet.  (Again we laminated ours and threw in several dry erase markers so that we would always have a score card available.  You can also buy a yahtzee score card sheet pad on Amazon.)

Throw the dice, and score sheets in the bucket and get ready to Yardzee your summer nights away!

Thank you to Canon for partnering with me on this super fun Yardzee printable.  Be sure to check out more great crafting ideas on Canon.

Be sure to check out more fun summer yard games here, too!

 

 

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Summer “Reading” List

I don’t know about you but I am PSYCHED for summer!!  Now that I am an adult, I love me a good summer reading list… not so much when I was younger… but now that I know how much I actually love to read and get to choose what I read I am always looking for a good book.

But there are a few cons when it comes to reading.  When I am reading a book, I become bad at “real life” – like I can’t shower, or be a mom,  I can’t clean the house and do the laundry or who wants to work when there is a good book at hand?  I just don’t get anything else done.  My house quickly becomes out of control, and the laundry just piles up.

I just HATE to put a book down, its like the commercial break that never ends.  Then, when I do have to stop, I miss my made up friends and life, I know I just said that- truly I get into my books.  But you totally get me right?

Also, while I love to read, a can get a little stir crazy.  Because usually I really like to stay busy and get things done.  There are always things on the to do list around here and I don’t have a day to sit around to read a book, and I also like to sleep at night so reading all night and waking up like a zombie the next day is not an option.

Lastly, since it is summer I want to be outdoors, gardening and working on helping to build a new playhouse.   But just think about this for a second, if I can garden, build, craft or clean and be immersed in a book at the same time, or better yet, learn something new, life just got even better.

So I am making up the summer reading list for real life people and that list includes partnering with Audible.  Have you guys discovered the joy that is listening to books on Audible.  I have at least 15 books on my phone as we speak and the list is always growing.  You can both garden AND read at the same time.  It is a busy person’s mecca!  I love audible and have been using it in real life for about 4 years.

One of my favorite features about audible is the speed option.  If you are in a hurry and want to listen fast, you can easily speed up the narration of the book.  I ALWAYS choose 1.25 at least, but often set it at 1.5, just to help me get through books faster which is really nice for road trips, because if you know about the length of the trip often you can time your book to last the trip, and finish in time.

TEN GREAT AUDIBLE BOOKS:

Guys I don’t pick favorites well.  Seriously, trying to make a list of favorites, leads me to forget everything or think of everything all at once.  But here are a couple books I have listened to recently and really enjoyed (a couple I am still listening to)..

Business and Learning:

 

Leadership and Self-Deception by The Arbinger Instutitue

Want a good slap in the face?  Read this book!  But seriously, it is a very worthwhile use of your time.  It is very eye opening about why we do stuff and how our motives of thoughts affect our actions.  If you want to be a better spouse, parent, employee this is a great book to read.

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

This is a book my husband and I downloaded and listened to on a road trip.  I LOVE road Trip books, and this one was amazing for thinking about business ideas and great thinkers

The E Myth by Michael Gerber

This is great for small business owners that want to know how to grow their business and what to have control over and what to let go.  LOVED it.

The Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

This was just interesting, everything about it.  Hearing about people that have not followed the course that everyone seems to, some how they excel or are not effected in the same way by seemingly natural laws.  Fascinating.

Health and Fitness Books:

The Calorie Myth by Jonathan Bailor

My two dietitian friends were reading this, and so I listened to it too.  A lot of interesting ideas to think over, I don’t agree with everything he says, but it is an interesting perspective.  (Con, when he knocks “dies” programs designed to help people but yet he sells his own- so read it with a grain of salt)  Still, I really enjoyed the book and feel like there are a lot of worthwhile take home points.

The Diet Trap By Jason Lillis PhD and JoAnne Dahl PHD

I haven’t finished this one, but I like thinking about the psychological aspect that eating and health has on our life that we don’t even think about.

Family:

The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman

I loved the original love languages book, and I thought this was nice to hear how it related to kids and to think specifically how it relates to my kids.

Daring Greatly By Brene Brown 

This is on my list to listen to, from my sister.

Just for Fun:

(Book preferences vary greatly so to give you an idea of what I like, my preferences are, clean, happy endings, and fast reads)

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

This is my FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME.  I LOVE this book more than words.  My favorite part happens in the very beginning when Jane is living at Lowood School and Helen explains to her forgiveness- it is pure truth that resonates with my heart.   Literally I have it highlighted like scripture in my paper copy.  This particular part has not been portrayed in any of the movies, so if you haven’t read this book you are missing out.

The Host by  Stephanie Meyer

I hesitate to put this, because I read it first on hard copy and it was a boring the first go round and LONG.  BUT once I finished, knew the story line, I REALLY loved it.  I have since reread the book, I really love the story.   It is one of the books that randomly I will think I want to read that again, and audible is perfect for re-listening to old favorites.

Bonus: The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

Okay, anything by Shannon Hale to be honest.  But this book made me want to be an author.  I loved every moment, plus it is part of a series, so then I get to read the rest, without having to find new books.

What do you love to read?

Tell us your favorites in the comments.  Notes to readers, I never read a series unless the whole series is out, so if it is a series, please let me know.

Sign up for Audible today and get a 1 month free trial.  I really have loved learning more or discussing books on a long road trip or camp out.  Totally worthwhile!!

 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Audible. The opinions and text are all mine.

 

 

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Tutorial: How to Build a Ladder Plant Stand

Turning an Old Door into a Light Fixture

We’ve seen lots and lots of things done with old doors — but we still LOVE them! So much potential and just so much character in a door that’s already been through a lifetime (or two). Our guest today made a big statement in her guest room makeover by turning an old door into a light fixture — and a matched set at that, perfect for bedside lamps!

Read below for the details from Maria, and be sure to snatch up the next beautiful old door you come across — just think of all the possibilities! It could be a dining table top

or a headboard like this or this

or a rolling door

or any one of hundreds of things!

Here’s Maria with the story of her beautiful doors turned bedside lamps — give her a warm welcome!

Turning an Old Door into a Light Fixture
by Maria from Simple Nature Decor

My love for southern architecture/design started when my family and I moved down to the Low Country from New York after nearly 25 years. I’ve now walked the charming streets of Savannah & Charleston hundreds of times, and still fall in love with all the beautiful, historical homes time & time again. The most unique,and sometimes disguised, feature of the Low Country is the fusion of old with new. Drawing inspiration from this, I decided to embark on my own project of fusing old with new by taking two old wooden doors from a local antique shop, and transforming them into exquisite lighting fixtures! Check out my how-to below.

SUPPLIES

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• Two Vintage doors (discovered at local antique shop for a bargain – $75.00 for the pair)
• Sanding machine
• Paint stripper
• Durable spatula
• 2 lighting sconces (found these Parisian Acanthus Sconce @ Horchow)

PREPARE THE DOORS

This step you want to do fairly quickly, so be ready! The fumes can be pretty strong, so be sure to wear face mask.

1. Pour the paint stripper on a small area 5 by 5 section at a time.
2. Remove with a sturdy spatula. Do avoid spattering of the chemicals, as well as the chance of accidentally removing an eyebrow, don’t make the mistake of using a flimsy plastic spatula!
3. Once paint is removed, sand the doors until it’s smoothed down.

PAINTING & DISTRESSING THE DOORS

4. Now you are ready to paint them with an oil-based paint. I went with a white color to match the decor for my guest bedroom.

5. Sand down all the edges and center of the panels to create a distressed appearance. I find that sanding machine is much more efficient,but some people prefer the control they have using just sand paper by hand. It may take a bit longer, but you’ll achieve similar results!

ADDING THE SCONCES

This part requires you to bring out your handy home skills. If you are handy with electrical stuff, than fabulous, because you can save yourself a few hundred dollars. But if you are like me, and uncomfortable tinkering around stuff that can zap you, then hire an electrician.

6. In order for the light cord to reach the wall outlets, I had the electrician to drill a hole large enough to fit a long electrical cord thru. The cord then hangs long enough to plug it in an outlet (see back view photo above).

7. I then installed the lighting fixture to the door by pulling the cord thru the hole until the sconce was flushed to the door and bolting it with the screws (see front view photo), and voila!

I positioned the doors on each side of the bed, and thankfully, it’s a perfect fit!

Get a look at the entire guest room in its completion here!

Total spent on project= $420

• Doors: $75
• Sconces $180
• Supplies: $40
• Electrician:$125

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Thank you for sharing, Maria! So lovely! Remodelaholics — head over to Simple Nature Decor for more of Maria’s beautifully simple style, like in this boho style bedroom for her daughter. 

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Rustic Wood and Metal DIY Wall Cubby Shelf

Hey all this is Corey from Sawdust 2 Stitches.  I have  two big weaknesses,  Starbucks and Target… If you visit Target half as often as I do you probably  have seen  one of these beauties.  The first time I saw it  I nearly  dropped my  “Double-Chocolatey Chip Frappucino with Caramel Drizzle”. It was love at first sight!  But seriously, $50?  I knew I could make it at a fraction of the cost. Challenge Accepted!  So without further ado I give you my twist on this Target favorite!

 

How to Build a Rustic DIY Wall Cubby Shelf
by Sawdust 2 Stitches

Click Here to Get a Free Printable Version of this Building Plan

Can’t see the video? Check it out (plus lots of other DIY videos!) over on our YouTube channel and subscribe, pretty please!

Materials Used:

• 1″x 4″ Boards (2)
• 1″x 2″ Boards (1)
• Stain
• Number Plaques (if desired)
• Metal Hanger Straps
• D-Ring picture hangers
• Wood Glue
• Wood Filler
• 1/2″ Screws
• 1 1/2″  Nails

 Tools Suggested:

• Miter Saw
• Nail Gun
• Drill
• Tin Snips
• Large Clamp

• ---

Step 1.  Prep Boards

Cut List :

1″x 4″ Board

• (2) @ 21″
• (2) @ 22 1/2″
• (6) @ 7″
• (2) @ 19 1/2″

1″x 2″  OR  1/2″x 2″

• (3) @ 21″

Once all boards are cut, I would suggest  sanding them  before you assemble,and save yourself a headache!

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 Step 2. Assemble Frame

Secure 22 1/2″ vertical boards to the inside of the 21″ horizontal boards. For best results use wood glue and reinforce with 1 1/2″ finish nails. Allow to dry.

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 Step 3. Build Grid

Assemble the grid. There really isn’t a right or wrong way to do this.  You can use pocket holes, but I opted not to on this project.  It is a small build and wood glue would suffice.   I first attached the (2) 7″  vertical boards to the 19 1/2″ horizontal board,  I used wood glue and then reinforced with 1 1/2″ finish nails.  Repeat, so that you have (2) of these. With the remaining (2) 7″ boards, I applied wood glue to either end,  properly placed then in between  the (2) 19 1/2″ boards, and then clamped to complete the grid.  Allow to dry thoroughly.

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 Step 4.  Insert Grid

Once the grid is dried, place it inside of the already assembled frame.   Measure to ensure it lines up correctly and then use a finish nail to secure.

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Step 5.  Attach Front Lip

Next apply a small bead of wood glue to the front of the 19 1/2″ horizontal boards, and then place the 1″x 2″x 21″ boards on top, so the bottom of the board is flush with with bottom of the shelves.  Then reinforce with 1 1/2″ finish nails.

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 Step 6. Add Finish

Fill  in any nail holes with a wood filler.  Allow it to dry .  Then sand off the excess filler. NOW you are ready for paint and/or stain.  I stained this Dark Walnut by Minwax.  After it was dry, I did go over it will a sander to distress it.

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Step 7. Add Metal Hanger Straps

Before I added my metal straps, I cut my three pieces, and (while wearing gloves) straightened out the metal straps.  (The straps come in a coil and naturally want to curl.) After working with it for a few minutes, it laid flat.  I then dusted it lightly with “Flat Iron” rustoleum spray  paint. After the straps were dry,  I LIGHTLY sanded it so that it would have some distressing.  To attached I used small 1/2″ screws. I placed the screws where my number plaques would be placed so  that they would be hidden.   I made sure to make the metal wrap around the back of the cubby unit.

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Step 8.  Finishing Touches

Next  I added the number plaques!  I found these really  cute number plaques at Joanns.  They are originally $8,  but I used a 50% off coupon and scored them for $4. Nice.  I simply attached them with construction adhesive. (Hot Glue would work fine.)

If you decide that you want to hang this on the wall there is a really cheap way to do it!  I used small little d-rings that you can get for about $1! Attach them and you are good to go!

Let’s break it down!

• 1″x 4″ Boards (2) =$4
• 1″x 2″ Boards (1)=$1
• Number Plaques =$4
• Metal Hanger Straps= $3
• Stain and/paint =Will vary.  I used some leftover  materials. This project will not require much of either.

Total = $12 DIY vs. Target $49.99

Not too shabby!

 Take Luck Friends,

 Corey

If you are looking for more rustic wall decor options, make sure you check out these Pottery Barn inspired Kitchen Organizers.

(click on each photo to see more)

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More creative DIY wall organizers:

DIY rustic wall cubbies

wall-mount chalkboard organizer

easy entry organizer shelf

plus more functional and beautiful wall decor ideas

 

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