O:9:"MagpieRSS":23:{s:6:"parser";i:0;s:12:"current_item";a:0:{}s:5:"items";a:10:{i:0;a:14:{s:5:"title";s:19:"Playroom ?Addition?";s:4:"link";s:49:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/08/playroom-addition/";s:8:"comments";s:58:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/08/playroom-addition/#comments";s:7:"pubdate";s:31:"Sat, 06 Aug 2011 14:57:49 +0000";s:2:"dc";a:1:{s:7:"creator";s:9:"diymyhome";}s:8:"category";s:73:"Before/AfterDIYPlay roomeasy to install flooringlaminate flooringplayroom";s:4:"guid";s:30:"http://diy-my-home.com/?p=1642";s:11:"description";s:334:"&#8220;Help! Baby and toddler toys are taking over our house. We need more space!&#8221; Unfortunately the only extra space in the house is this bizarre addition that is between our guest bedroom and garage. We&#8217;ve been using it as storage and recently added closets to more appropriately hold all our stuff. We tore up the [...]";s:7:"content";a:1:{s:7:"encoded";s:3419:"<p>&#8220;Help! Baby and toddler toys are taking over our house. <strong>We need more space</strong>!&#8221;</p>
<p>Unfortunately the only extra space in the house is this <strong>bizarre addition</strong> that is between our guest bedroom and garage. We&#8217;ve been using it as storage and recently added closets to more appropriately hold all our stuff.</p>
<p>We tore up the nasty carpet when we moved it which revealed this not so lovely tile (which always looks and feels dirty), then a concrete band, then plywood?! hmm&#8230;</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 437px"><img title="floor before" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--AnvWp4Yttc/TjRJtgF8zsI/AAAAAAAACAs/NbetzTxDkgs/s640/IMAG0715.jpg" alt="" width="427" height="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Floor BEFORE</p></div>
<p>Not wanting to spend a fortune AND looking for something that wouldn&#8217;t scratch easily was quite a task. But after much deliberation.</p>
<p><strong>Concrete &amp; stain?</strong> Seemed to time consuming and difficult (we have 2 kids to take care of now)</p>
<p><strong>Tile?</strong> (would also be a big project and new to us)</p>
<p><strong>Cork?</strong> Cool but over budget</p>
<p><strong> Hardwood/Bamboo?</strong> It would match the rest of the house but honestly this room will never match the rest of the house and these would scratch.</p>
<p>So we opted for<strong> laminate </strong>which came to around $.89/sqft, can float on top of the existing floor and will be fairly quick to install. Lay down underlayment and start click locking the pieces together (leaving 1/4&#8243; gaps for expansion around all walls).</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 437px"><img title="laminate" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-x1BSs3QMXgs/TjRJ_BEpYgI/AAAAAAAACAw/lUf2YWsBeUg/s640/IMAG0717.jpg" alt="" width="427" height="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Laminate</p></div>
<p>A handful of hours later we had this (and I didn&#8217;t even help at all):</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 437px"><img title="Flooring complete" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zJo47eKH__k/TjrX-zWeStI/AAAAAAAACDY/rYAvHBVUMXQ/s640/IMAG0722.jpg" alt="" width="427" height="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Flooring Complete</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="flooring" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OB7r_Ax3QlA/Tjq-R70K_uI/AAAAAAAACCs/hP4cmSkuJc4/s640/IMAG0731.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Flooring...and playroom in normal messy condition <img src='http://diy-my-home.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p></div>
<p>We will be working on the crazy walls, a little more flooring (going to tile a small section) and maybe even upgrade the ceiling tiles if we get ambitious!</p>
<p>P.S.-I haven&#8217;t shared any pictures of our new baby on here yet, Ian William is 1 month old already&#8230;</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 277px"><img title="Ian" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3b5ZrqvGPr8/TjrP3kcrMcI/AAAAAAAACDM/A0dkweilljo/s400/IMAG0725.jpg" alt="" width="267" height="400" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Ian doesn&#39;t slow us down a bit <img src='http://diy-my-home.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif' alt=';)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p></div>
<p>Anyone else ever installed laminate flooring?</p>
";}s:3:"wfw";a:1:{s:10:"commentrss";s:54:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/08/playroom-addition/feed/";}s:5:"slash";a:1:{s:8:"comments";s:1:"0";}s:7:"summary";s:334:"&#8220;Help! Baby and toddler toys are taking over our house. We need more space!&#8221; Unfortunately the only extra space in the house is this bizarre addition that is between our guest bedroom and garage. We&#8217;ve been using it as storage and recently added closets to more appropriately hold all our stuff. We tore up the [...]";s:12:"atom_content";s:3419:"<p>&#8220;Help! Baby and toddler toys are taking over our house. <strong>We need more space</strong>!&#8221;</p>
<p>Unfortunately the only extra space in the house is this <strong>bizarre addition</strong> that is between our guest bedroom and garage. We&#8217;ve been using it as storage and recently added closets to more appropriately hold all our stuff.</p>
<p>We tore up the nasty carpet when we moved it which revealed this not so lovely tile (which always looks and feels dirty), then a concrete band, then plywood?! hmm&#8230;</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 437px"><img title="floor before" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--AnvWp4Yttc/TjRJtgF8zsI/AAAAAAAACAs/NbetzTxDkgs/s640/IMAG0715.jpg" alt="" width="427" height="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Floor BEFORE</p></div>
<p>Not wanting to spend a fortune AND looking for something that wouldn&#8217;t scratch easily was quite a task. But after much deliberation.</p>
<p><strong>Concrete &amp; stain?</strong> Seemed to time consuming and difficult (we have 2 kids to take care of now)</p>
<p><strong>Tile?</strong> (would also be a big project and new to us)</p>
<p><strong>Cork?</strong> Cool but over budget</p>
<p><strong> Hardwood/Bamboo?</strong> It would match the rest of the house but honestly this room will never match the rest of the house and these would scratch.</p>
<p>So we opted for<strong> laminate </strong>which came to around $.89/sqft, can float on top of the existing floor and will be fairly quick to install. Lay down underlayment and start click locking the pieces together (leaving 1/4&#8243; gaps for expansion around all walls).</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 437px"><img title="laminate" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-x1BSs3QMXgs/TjRJ_BEpYgI/AAAAAAAACAw/lUf2YWsBeUg/s640/IMAG0717.jpg" alt="" width="427" height="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Laminate</p></div>
<p>A handful of hours later we had this (and I didn&#8217;t even help at all):</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 437px"><img title="Flooring complete" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zJo47eKH__k/TjrX-zWeStI/AAAAAAAACDY/rYAvHBVUMXQ/s640/IMAG0722.jpg" alt="" width="427" height="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Flooring Complete</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="flooring" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OB7r_Ax3QlA/Tjq-R70K_uI/AAAAAAAACCs/hP4cmSkuJc4/s640/IMAG0731.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Flooring...and playroom in normal messy condition <img src='http://diy-my-home.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p></div>
<p>We will be working on the crazy walls, a little more flooring (going to tile a small section) and maybe even upgrade the ceiling tiles if we get ambitious!</p>
<p>P.S.-I haven&#8217;t shared any pictures of our new baby on here yet, Ian William is 1 month old already&#8230;</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 277px"><img title="Ian" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3b5ZrqvGPr8/TjrP3kcrMcI/AAAAAAAACDM/A0dkweilljo/s400/IMAG0725.jpg" alt="" width="267" height="400" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Ian doesn&#39;t slow us down a bit <img src='http://diy-my-home.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif' alt=';)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p></div>
<p>Anyone else ever installed laminate flooring?</p>
";s:14:"date_timestamp";i:1312642669;}i:1;a:14:{s:5:"title";s:18:"Simple DIY Walkway";s:4:"link";s:50:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/06/simple-diy-walkway/";s:8:"comments";s:59:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/06/simple-diy-walkway/#comments";s:7:"pubdate";s:31:"Thu, 30 Jun 2011 12:38:09 +0000";s:2:"dc";a:1:{s:7:"creator";s:9:"diymyhome";}s:8:"category";s:44:"BackyardBefore/AfterDIYbackyardgravelwalkway";s:4:"guid";s:30:"http://diy-my-home.com/?p=1629";s:11:"description";s:301:"Hi Everyone! Hope you are enjoying Summer as much as we are here with our freshly sodded backyard (which is taking quite well I might add). Our 2 yr old LOVES having a place to play outside. And I love relaxing and watching him play. I&#8217;d be DIYing outside with him, but I&#8217;m taking it [...]";s:7:"content";a:1:{s:7:"encoded";s:2583:"<p>Hi Everyone! Hope you are enjoying Summer as much as we are here with our <strong><a href="http://diy-my-home.com/2011/05/heavenly-sod/">freshly sodded backyard</a></strong> (which is taking quite well I might add).</p>
<p><strong>Our 2 yr old LOVES having a place to play outside</strong>. And I love relaxing and watching him play. I&#8217;d be DIYing outside with him, but I&#8217;m taking it easy since <strong>we are VERY close to meeting baby boy #2</strong>&#8230;who is scheduled to arrive in<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> 5 days</span></strong>!!</p>
<p>Take a look at our new walkway which extends from the side of the house around into the patio. I let the boys to all the work on this one and simply took pictures <img src='http://diy-my-home.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' />   Here&#8217;s the BEFORE shot after we marked out the walkway (I&#8217;m a visual person so this was a MUST):</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="Walkway BEFORE" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b7wRV3R5uUQ/TcvxuOVrIII/AAAAAAAAB5c/OD98VtUKKrI/s640/IMAG0505.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Walkway BEFORE</p></div>
<p>We dug out the path a little bit.</p>
<p>Sodded the yard up to the orange markings.</p>
<p>Put down landscaping fabric (to stop at least some of the weeds from poking through)</p>
<p><strong> Then it was GRAVEL TIME!</strong></p>
<p>Normally we would have gone for more pavers<a href="http://diy-my-home.com/2010/09/how-to-make-a-cobblestone-paver-patio/"> like we made here</a> for the patio, but this area needed better drainage&#8230;okay, and we figured that gravel would be a lot less time consuming and less messy too!</p>
<p>About 20 bags of rock later this is we had:</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="walkway" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-egNGeqVQCek/TfYgRw2jepI/AAAAAAAAB-I/327WmLDW1KI/s640/IMAG0611.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Gravel walkway </p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="AFTER walkway" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nFJSfZoKHXo/TfYfAgYMCjI/AAAAAAAAB98/1c1meuwW4gQ/s640/IMAG0609.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427" /><p class="wp-caption-text">AFTER</p></div>
<p>Now we just need to decide what to plant against the house.</p>
<p><strong>Suggestions anyone? </strong>(It only gets a couple hours of sun here)</p>
<p>We have quite a few options right in our wild front yard!</p>
";}s:3:"wfw";a:1:{s:10:"commentrss";s:55:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/06/simple-diy-walkway/feed/";}s:5:"slash";a:1:{s:8:"comments";s:1:"0";}s:7:"summary";s:301:"Hi Everyone! Hope you are enjoying Summer as much as we are here with our freshly sodded backyard (which is taking quite well I might add). Our 2 yr old LOVES having a place to play outside. And I love relaxing and watching him play. I&#8217;d be DIYing outside with him, but I&#8217;m taking it [...]";s:12:"atom_content";s:2583:"<p>Hi Everyone! Hope you are enjoying Summer as much as we are here with our <strong><a href="http://diy-my-home.com/2011/05/heavenly-sod/">freshly sodded backyard</a></strong> (which is taking quite well I might add).</p>
<p><strong>Our 2 yr old LOVES having a place to play outside</strong>. And I love relaxing and watching him play. I&#8217;d be DIYing outside with him, but I&#8217;m taking it easy since <strong>we are VERY close to meeting baby boy #2</strong>&#8230;who is scheduled to arrive in<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> 5 days</span></strong>!!</p>
<p>Take a look at our new walkway which extends from the side of the house around into the patio. I let the boys to all the work on this one and simply took pictures <img src='http://diy-my-home.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' />   Here&#8217;s the BEFORE shot after we marked out the walkway (I&#8217;m a visual person so this was a MUST):</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="Walkway BEFORE" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b7wRV3R5uUQ/TcvxuOVrIII/AAAAAAAAB5c/OD98VtUKKrI/s640/IMAG0505.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Walkway BEFORE</p></div>
<p>We dug out the path a little bit.</p>
<p>Sodded the yard up to the orange markings.</p>
<p>Put down landscaping fabric (to stop at least some of the weeds from poking through)</p>
<p><strong> Then it was GRAVEL TIME!</strong></p>
<p>Normally we would have gone for more pavers<a href="http://diy-my-home.com/2010/09/how-to-make-a-cobblestone-paver-patio/"> like we made here</a> for the patio, but this area needed better drainage&#8230;okay, and we figured that gravel would be a lot less time consuming and less messy too!</p>
<p>About 20 bags of rock later this is we had:</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="walkway" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-egNGeqVQCek/TfYgRw2jepI/AAAAAAAAB-I/327WmLDW1KI/s640/IMAG0611.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Gravel walkway </p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="AFTER walkway" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nFJSfZoKHXo/TfYfAgYMCjI/AAAAAAAAB98/1c1meuwW4gQ/s640/IMAG0609.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427" /><p class="wp-caption-text">AFTER</p></div>
<p>Now we just need to decide what to plant against the house.</p>
<p><strong>Suggestions anyone? </strong>(It only gets a couple hours of sun here)</p>
<p>We have quite a few options right in our wild front yard!</p>
";s:14:"date_timestamp";i:1309437489;}i:2;a:14:{s:5:"title";s:12:"Heavenly sod";s:4:"link";s:44:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/05/heavenly-sod/";s:8:"comments";s:53:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/05/heavenly-sod/#comments";s:7:"pubdate";s:31:"Fri, 13 May 2011 02:32:47 +0000";s:2:"dc";a:1:{s:7:"creator";s:9:"diymyhome";}s:8:"category";s:34:"BackyardBefore/AfterDIYbackyardsod";s:4:"guid";s:30:"http://diy-my-home.com/?p=1622";s:11:"description";s:323:"I hardly had time to write this because I&#8217;m too busy lounging in the backyard. I&#8217;ve been dreaming about having a backyard with grass since we moved in over a year ago. Here&#8217;s a reminder of what it looked like when we bought it with the overwhelming concrete fountains and wall: Then the snow melted: [...]";s:7:"content";a:1:{s:7:"encoded";s:4582:"<p>I hardly had time to write this because I&#8217;m too busy lounging in the backyard.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ve been dreaming about having a backyard with grass since we moved in over a year ago.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s a reminder of what it looked like when we bought it with the overwhelming concrete fountains and wall:</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="Backyard BEFORE" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/S0O3gFDA1FI/AAAAAAAAAM0/UjLh2OxnTYU/s640/backyard%20w%20fountains%20that%20we%20would%20remove.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="428" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Backyard BEFORE</p></div>
<p>Then the snow melted:<span id="more-1622"></span></p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px"><img title="backyard before" src="http://diy-my-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/old-fountains-300x224.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="224" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Backyard uncovered: BEFORE</p></div>
<p>Then we bulldozed the concrete and wall to get this:</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px"><img title="backyard" src="http://diy-my-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/June2010-120-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Backyard after demo</p></div>
<p>We did fix the patio and made pavers (from concrete of course) and you can see that <a href="http://diy-my-home.com/2010/09/how-to-make-a-cobblestone-paver-patio/">post here</a>. Unfortunately weeds eventually sprouted up to fill the yard and there was concrete debris everywhere.</p>
<p>But we rented a <strong>great tiller</strong> for $51 (and having a super-human husband helped too). One hour later the yard was tilled and we were able to rake out any weeds (a few random bricks too) and level the land a little bit more.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="tilling" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/Tchu3Dw_NBI/AAAAAAAAB34/56BIz9djqso/s640/IMAG0490.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Tilling the yard</p></div>
<p>Mark out the area:</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="marking yard" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcvxuOVrIII/AAAAAAAAB5c/T8xik-GTKmE/s640/IMAG0505.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Mark yard and measure area to be sodded</p></div>
<p>We ordered 1000 sq ft of sod (100 rolls) totaling: $327 including delivery</p>
<p>Best 300 bucks we&#8217;ve spent in a long time, I&#8217;d say!</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 437px"><img title="sodding" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/Tcv8-3vtvaI/AAAAAAAAB6E/s7Z4RamT6-k/s640/IMAG0533.jpg" alt="" width="427" height="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Watering and laying sod (with a great helper)</p></div>
<p>Oops&#8230;at least this only happened once.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="Oops" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcwBM7kSgWI/AAAAAAAAB6U/TjkVGXmCcns/s400/IMAG0544.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="267" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Oops </p></div>
<p>5 hours later (in 85 degree full sun heat) Super-husband had our yard looking like this (yes, he did it all by himself since being 31 wks pregnant allowed me an out this time):</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="done" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcwDLajO_1I/AAAAAAAAB6Y/MLH-YbSEKlw/s640/IMAG0545.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427" /><p class="wp-caption-text">yard AFTER</p></div>
<p>Roll the sod to compact it ($15 rental for the day)</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 437px"><img title="Roll" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcwE63z148I/AAAAAAAAB6s/YRxl2mg6I1A/s640/IMAG0552.jpg" alt="" width="427" height="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Roll the yard</p></div>
<p>Do a rain dance like we did and you might just get lucky with a thunderstorm right when you finish up too!</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="Rain storms :)" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcwJ-CIm0sI/AAAAAAAAB64/nHVrFoTNhn4/s640/IMAG0554.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Then it down poured <img src='http://diy-my-home.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p></div>
<p>There you have it&#8230;green grass in a day! SO HAPPY!</p>
<p>Stay tuned to see how we finish the walkway, back area and flower/plant beds.</p>
";}s:3:"wfw";a:1:{s:10:"commentrss";s:49:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/05/heavenly-sod/feed/";}s:5:"slash";a:1:{s:8:"comments";s:1:"0";}s:7:"summary";s:323:"I hardly had time to write this because I&#8217;m too busy lounging in the backyard. I&#8217;ve been dreaming about having a backyard with grass since we moved in over a year ago. Here&#8217;s a reminder of what it looked like when we bought it with the overwhelming concrete fountains and wall: Then the snow melted: [...]";s:12:"atom_content";s:4582:"<p>I hardly had time to write this because I&#8217;m too busy lounging in the backyard.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ve been dreaming about having a backyard with grass since we moved in over a year ago.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s a reminder of what it looked like when we bought it with the overwhelming concrete fountains and wall:</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="Backyard BEFORE" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/S0O3gFDA1FI/AAAAAAAAAM0/UjLh2OxnTYU/s640/backyard%20w%20fountains%20that%20we%20would%20remove.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="428" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Backyard BEFORE</p></div>
<p>Then the snow melted:<span id="more-1622"></span></p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px"><img title="backyard before" src="http://diy-my-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/old-fountains-300x224.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="224" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Backyard uncovered: BEFORE</p></div>
<p>Then we bulldozed the concrete and wall to get this:</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px"><img title="backyard" src="http://diy-my-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/June2010-120-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Backyard after demo</p></div>
<p>We did fix the patio and made pavers (from concrete of course) and you can see that <a href="http://diy-my-home.com/2010/09/how-to-make-a-cobblestone-paver-patio/">post here</a>. Unfortunately weeds eventually sprouted up to fill the yard and there was concrete debris everywhere.</p>
<p>But we rented a <strong>great tiller</strong> for $51 (and having a super-human husband helped too). One hour later the yard was tilled and we were able to rake out any weeds (a few random bricks too) and level the land a little bit more.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="tilling" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/Tchu3Dw_NBI/AAAAAAAAB34/56BIz9djqso/s640/IMAG0490.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Tilling the yard</p></div>
<p>Mark out the area:</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="marking yard" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcvxuOVrIII/AAAAAAAAB5c/T8xik-GTKmE/s640/IMAG0505.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Mark yard and measure area to be sodded</p></div>
<p>We ordered 1000 sq ft of sod (100 rolls) totaling: $327 including delivery</p>
<p>Best 300 bucks we&#8217;ve spent in a long time, I&#8217;d say!</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 437px"><img title="sodding" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/Tcv8-3vtvaI/AAAAAAAAB6E/s7Z4RamT6-k/s640/IMAG0533.jpg" alt="" width="427" height="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Watering and laying sod (with a great helper)</p></div>
<p>Oops&#8230;at least this only happened once.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="Oops" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcwBM7kSgWI/AAAAAAAAB6U/TjkVGXmCcns/s400/IMAG0544.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="267" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Oops </p></div>
<p>5 hours later (in 85 degree full sun heat) Super-husband had our yard looking like this (yes, he did it all by himself since being 31 wks pregnant allowed me an out this time):</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="done" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcwDLajO_1I/AAAAAAAAB6Y/MLH-YbSEKlw/s640/IMAG0545.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427" /><p class="wp-caption-text">yard AFTER</p></div>
<p>Roll the sod to compact it ($15 rental for the day)</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 437px"><img title="Roll" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcwE63z148I/AAAAAAAAB6s/YRxl2mg6I1A/s640/IMAG0552.jpg" alt="" width="427" height="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Roll the yard</p></div>
<p>Do a rain dance like we did and you might just get lucky with a thunderstorm right when you finish up too!</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="Rain storms :)" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcwJ-CIm0sI/AAAAAAAAB64/nHVrFoTNhn4/s640/IMAG0554.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Then it down poured <img src='http://diy-my-home.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p></div>
<p>There you have it&#8230;green grass in a day! SO HAPPY!</p>
<p>Stay tuned to see how we finish the walkway, back area and flower/plant beds.</p>
";s:14:"date_timestamp";i:1305253967;}i:3;a:14:{s:5:"title";s:40:"Backsplash Tiling (w/o the messy mortar)";s:4:"link";s:49:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/05/backsplash-tiling/";s:8:"comments";s:58:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/05/backsplash-tiling/#comments";s:7:"pubdate";s:31:"Wed, 04 May 2011 17:34:32 +0000";s:2:"dc";a:1:{s:7:"creator";s:9:"diymyhome";}s:8:"category";s:61:"BathroomsDIYbacksplashbathroom tileeasy tilingmortarless tile";s:4:"guid";s:30:"http://diy-my-home.com/?p=1615";s:11:"description";s:320:"We keep seeing them use these tiling mats on DIY Network and HGTV that stick to the wall and let you skip the intimidating mortar process when tiling a backsplash. We couldn&#8217;t resist picking it up at Home Depot (it was under $20) Here&#8217;s a peek at the naked backsplash that&#8217;s been begging for some [...]";s:7:"content";a:1:{s:7:"encoded";s:3790:"<p>We keep seeing them use these tiling mats on DIY Network and HGTV that stick to the wall and let you skip the intimidating mortar process when tiling a backsplash.</p>
<p>We couldn&#8217;t resist picking it up at Home Depot (it was under $20)</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="tiling mat" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcFHHiH97_I/AAAAAAAAB1o/dIAStAquuvU/s400/018.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Tiling Mat </p></div>
<p>Here&#8217;s a peek at the naked backsplash that&#8217;s been begging for some *Bling*<span id="more-1615"></span></p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 210px"><img title="master backsplash before" src="http://diy-my-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/DSC_0009-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Master bathroom before</p></div>
<p><strong>Important Notes</strong>: Read the instructions!</p>
<p>1-It is not meant for super wet areas (like the shower) or floors.</p>
<p>2-Also needs to be at least 1&#8243; tiles (unless they are on a mesh mat like ours are).</p>
<p>3-AND be sure that if you have glass tiles that you can&#8217;t actually see all the way through them or you will see the glue on the backside. Our tiles (from Menards for $11/sqft) had a backing on each glass tile so you couldn&#8217;t see through them.</p>
<p><strong>Here we go!</strong></p>
<p>Peel and stick:</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 278px"><img title="Edging and tiling mat stuck to the wall" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcFHYZ0gyUI/AAAAAAAAB2M/XGu9Ny0Ru18/s400/014.JPG" alt="" width="268" height="400" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Edging and tiling mat stuck to the wall</p></div>
<p>Then peel to expose the other sticky side and stick the tiles on:</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="tiles" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcFHEG-r0-I/AAAAAAAAB1k/tpRMXda4Jmw/s400/015.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Stick the tiles on....straight</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="tiles on" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcFNe2qFd8I/AAAAAAAAB2Q/w2EGr4jppJM/s400/019.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Tiles are on...no mess yet</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="Tan grout kit" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcGJypTe2gI/AAAAAAAAB2s/7M2zkx6wrvc/s400/002.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Tan colored grout kit</p></div>
<p>Time to grout&#8230;no getting out of the messiness here:</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="Fill in the spaces" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcGJpZCbGgI/AAAAAAAAB2o/_qe27lIh2mc/s400/001.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Fill in the spaces</p></div>
<p>We actually ran out of grout at this point&#8230;So close! Time to run out for more.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="scrub off" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcGKAg7gh2I/AAAAAAAAB28/01jzZSgAn-M/s400/005.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">After sponging off the tile...</p></div>
<p>Love it&#8230;</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="backsplash" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcGJ9ef-T2I/AAAAAAAAB24/yXiHiuf0xVA/s640/004.JPG" alt="" width="640" height="428" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Complete <img src='http://diy-my-home.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p></div>
";}s:3:"wfw";a:1:{s:10:"commentrss";s:54:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/05/backsplash-tiling/feed/";}s:5:"slash";a:1:{s:8:"comments";s:1:"1";}s:7:"summary";s:320:"We keep seeing them use these tiling mats on DIY Network and HGTV that stick to the wall and let you skip the intimidating mortar process when tiling a backsplash. We couldn&#8217;t resist picking it up at Home Depot (it was under $20) Here&#8217;s a peek at the naked backsplash that&#8217;s been begging for some [...]";s:12:"atom_content";s:3790:"<p>We keep seeing them use these tiling mats on DIY Network and HGTV that stick to the wall and let you skip the intimidating mortar process when tiling a backsplash.</p>
<p>We couldn&#8217;t resist picking it up at Home Depot (it was under $20)</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="tiling mat" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcFHHiH97_I/AAAAAAAAB1o/dIAStAquuvU/s400/018.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Tiling Mat </p></div>
<p>Here&#8217;s a peek at the naked backsplash that&#8217;s been begging for some *Bling*<span id="more-1615"></span></p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 210px"><img title="master backsplash before" src="http://diy-my-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/DSC_0009-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Master bathroom before</p></div>
<p><strong>Important Notes</strong>: Read the instructions!</p>
<p>1-It is not meant for super wet areas (like the shower) or floors.</p>
<p>2-Also needs to be at least 1&#8243; tiles (unless they are on a mesh mat like ours are).</p>
<p>3-AND be sure that if you have glass tiles that you can&#8217;t actually see all the way through them or you will see the glue on the backside. Our tiles (from Menards for $11/sqft) had a backing on each glass tile so you couldn&#8217;t see through them.</p>
<p><strong>Here we go!</strong></p>
<p>Peel and stick:</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 278px"><img title="Edging and tiling mat stuck to the wall" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcFHYZ0gyUI/AAAAAAAAB2M/XGu9Ny0Ru18/s400/014.JPG" alt="" width="268" height="400" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Edging and tiling mat stuck to the wall</p></div>
<p>Then peel to expose the other sticky side and stick the tiles on:</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="tiles" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcFHEG-r0-I/AAAAAAAAB1k/tpRMXda4Jmw/s400/015.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Stick the tiles on....straight</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="tiles on" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcFNe2qFd8I/AAAAAAAAB2Q/w2EGr4jppJM/s400/019.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Tiles are on...no mess yet</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="Tan grout kit" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcGJypTe2gI/AAAAAAAAB2s/7M2zkx6wrvc/s400/002.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Tan colored grout kit</p></div>
<p>Time to grout&#8230;no getting out of the messiness here:</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="Fill in the spaces" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcGJpZCbGgI/AAAAAAAAB2o/_qe27lIh2mc/s400/001.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Fill in the spaces</p></div>
<p>We actually ran out of grout at this point&#8230;So close! Time to run out for more.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="scrub off" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcGKAg7gh2I/AAAAAAAAB28/01jzZSgAn-M/s400/005.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">After sponging off the tile...</p></div>
<p>Love it&#8230;</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="backsplash" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TcGJ9ef-T2I/AAAAAAAAB24/yXiHiuf0xVA/s640/004.JPG" alt="" width="640" height="428" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Complete <img src='http://diy-my-home.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p></div>
";s:14:"date_timestamp";i:1304530472;}i:4;a:14:{s:5:"title";s:19:"Chandelier Makeover";s:4:"link";s:51:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/05/chandelier-makeover/";s:8:"comments";s:60:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/05/chandelier-makeover/#comments";s:7:"pubdate";s:31:"Mon, 02 May 2011 02:19:11 +0000";s:2:"dc";a:1:{s:7:"creator";s:9:"diymyhome";}s:8:"category";s:31:"Before/AfterDIYDecorDining Room";s:4:"guid";s:30:"http://diy-my-home.com/?p=1611";s:11:"description";s:369:"We are half way through mulching, painting window trim, cleaning out that weird back bonus room etc&#8230;but just couldn&#8217;t resist starting a couple more projects around the house. This was one of the easy ones that I&#8217;m sharing today: Our dining room came with this very unique chandelier&#8230;(sorry it&#8217;s the best picture I have) Unfortunately [...]";s:7:"content";a:1:{s:7:"encoded";s:1650:"<p>We are <strong>half way through</strong> mulching, painting window trim, cleaning out that weird back bonus room etc&#8230;but just couldn&#8217;t resist starting a couple more projects around the house.</p>
<p>This was one of the easy ones that I&#8217;m sharing today:</p>
<p>Our dining room came with this very unique chandelier&#8230;<span id="more-1611"></span>(sorry it&#8217;s the best picture I have)</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="original chandelier" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/S0VWwDCKJfI/AAAAAAAAAR8/q76bblvKpAU/s640/Meridian%20house%20detials%20005.JPG" alt="" width="640" height="428" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Original Chandelier</p></div>
<p>Unfortunately one of the glass pieces was broken during renovation. BUT, we weren&#8217;t terrible disappointed since it was quite a bulky chandelier.</p>
<p>After letting it sit in the garage for a year we decided to hang it back up, but this time WITHOUT the big glass pieces. We simply added round bulbs to add a little fun to the chandelier and <strong>Voila!</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="after" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/Tb4ThOggRvI/AAAAAAAAB1A/MB4mX7AJs2A/s640/024.JPG" alt="" width="640" height="428" /><p class="wp-caption-text">After</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="lighting" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/Tb4TpBjRjQI/AAAAAAAAB1E/blzEQiTfMrY/s640/028.JPG" alt="" width="640" height="428" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Fancy lighting</p></div>
";}s:3:"wfw";a:1:{s:10:"commentrss";s:56:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/05/chandelier-makeover/feed/";}s:5:"slash";a:1:{s:8:"comments";s:1:"0";}s:7:"summary";s:369:"We are half way through mulching, painting window trim, cleaning out that weird back bonus room etc&#8230;but just couldn&#8217;t resist starting a couple more projects around the house. This was one of the easy ones that I&#8217;m sharing today: Our dining room came with this very unique chandelier&#8230;(sorry it&#8217;s the best picture I have) Unfortunately [...]";s:12:"atom_content";s:1650:"<p>We are <strong>half way through</strong> mulching, painting window trim, cleaning out that weird back bonus room etc&#8230;but just couldn&#8217;t resist starting a couple more projects around the house.</p>
<p>This was one of the easy ones that I&#8217;m sharing today:</p>
<p>Our dining room came with this very unique chandelier&#8230;<span id="more-1611"></span>(sorry it&#8217;s the best picture I have)</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="original chandelier" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/S0VWwDCKJfI/AAAAAAAAAR8/q76bblvKpAU/s640/Meridian%20house%20detials%20005.JPG" alt="" width="640" height="428" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Original Chandelier</p></div>
<p>Unfortunately one of the glass pieces was broken during renovation. BUT, we weren&#8217;t terrible disappointed since it was quite a bulky chandelier.</p>
<p>After letting it sit in the garage for a year we decided to hang it back up, but this time WITHOUT the big glass pieces. We simply added round bulbs to add a little fun to the chandelier and <strong>Voila!</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="after" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/Tb4ThOggRvI/AAAAAAAAB1A/MB4mX7AJs2A/s640/024.JPG" alt="" width="640" height="428" /><p class="wp-caption-text">After</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="lighting" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/Tb4TpBjRjQI/AAAAAAAAB1E/blzEQiTfMrY/s640/028.JPG" alt="" width="640" height="428" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Fancy lighting</p></div>
";s:14:"date_timestamp";i:1304302751;}i:5;a:14:{s:5:"title";s:34:"Dreary to Cheery outdoor lighting!";s:4:"link";s:65:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/04/dreary-to-cheery-outdoor-lighting/";s:8:"comments";s:74:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/04/dreary-to-cheery-outdoor-lighting/#comments";s:7:"pubdate";s:31:"Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:17:42 +0000";s:2:"dc";a:1:{s:7:"creator";s:9:"diymyhome";}s:8:"category";s:15:"Before/AfterDIY";s:4:"guid";s:30:"http://diy-my-home.com/?p=1600";s:11:"description";s:301:"Just like many mornings when we are both home around 9am Dave Davis and I (yes, I still like to call my hubby by his very fun full name!) look at each other anxious to think of something, ANYTHING to work on. Panic mode:We don&#8217;t have any in process projects going on besides mulching the [...]";s:7:"content";a:1:{s:7:"encoded";s:3325:"<p>Just like many mornings when we are both home around 9am Dave Davis and I <span style="color: #888888;">(yes, I still like to call my hubby by his very fun full name!) <span style="color: #000000;">look at each other anxious to think of something, ANYTHING to work on. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #888888;"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>Panic mode:We don&#8217;t have any in process projects</strong> going on besides mulching the yard and scraping/painting the outside window trim (which isn&#8217;t really going to happen in this cold wet weather). </span></span></p>
<p>So we quickly agree: <strong>&#8220;I guess we should go to Menards?!&#8221; </strong></p>
<p><strong>Goal: Find a project and get out of the store without spending $500&#8230;or even $100. </strong>I know, nearly impossible! Especially since all the outdoor furniture is calling me <img src='http://diy-my-home.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>We decided to <strong>upgrade our outdoor lighting! </strong></p>
<p><strong>Here&#8217;s what it looked like BEFORE (small, sad and broken!):</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><strong><img title="BEFORE light" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/Ta80GUIqpeI/AAAAAAAABzs/tgvhuM3Fr-w/s400/IMAG0437.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="267" /></strong><p class="wp-caption-text">BEFORE: broken off top and filling with leaves/water</p></div>
<p><strong><span id="more-1600"></span>And here it is after Dave got finished playing electrician.</strong></p>
<p>Yes, you should turn off the power like we did&#8230;safety first!<br />
No, I will not try to explain how to connect the wires (because electricity is not something I&#8217;ve ever attempted)</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="after light" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/Ta80JMNAfiI/AAAAAAAABzw/BYhSTTxt1-U/s400/IMAG0441.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="267" /><p class="wp-caption-text">From dreary to cheery <img src='http://diy-my-home.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p></div>
<p>I think the light came in around $25 if I remember. We also picked up a new sensor light for the front door and some paint for another project but still escaped the store under $50 total! Oh yeah!!</p>
<blockquote><p><em><span style="color: #808080;">BTW-I&#8217;m still a Professional House Shopper, I mean Realtor. And combining my DIY ideas with some of the houses I&#8217;ve been showing is almost too much for my creative mind LOL. <strong>One month in and more excited than ever!</strong> I may be new, but I&#8217;m making some very wise and creative people teach me everything <img src='http://diy-my-home.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif' alt=';)' class='wp-smiley' />  </span></em></p>
<p><em><span style="color: #808080;">Do you know anyone buying/selling/investing in Chicagoland that I can help?? I promise I&#8217;ll take good care of them.</span></em></p></blockquote>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">And I leave you with my quote of the day:<br />
</span>&#8220;If you don&#8217;t like something, change it. If you can&#8217;t change it, change your attitude.&#8221; -Maya Angelou</p>
";}s:3:"wfw";a:1:{s:10:"commentrss";s:70:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/04/dreary-to-cheery-outdoor-lighting/feed/";}s:5:"slash";a:1:{s:8:"comments";s:1:"0";}s:7:"summary";s:301:"Just like many mornings when we are both home around 9am Dave Davis and I (yes, I still like to call my hubby by his very fun full name!) look at each other anxious to think of something, ANYTHING to work on. Panic mode:We don&#8217;t have any in process projects going on besides mulching the [...]";s:12:"atom_content";s:3325:"<p>Just like many mornings when we are both home around 9am Dave Davis and I <span style="color: #888888;">(yes, I still like to call my hubby by his very fun full name!) <span style="color: #000000;">look at each other anxious to think of something, ANYTHING to work on. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #888888;"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>Panic mode:We don&#8217;t have any in process projects</strong> going on besides mulching the yard and scraping/painting the outside window trim (which isn&#8217;t really going to happen in this cold wet weather). </span></span></p>
<p>So we quickly agree: <strong>&#8220;I guess we should go to Menards?!&#8221; </strong></p>
<p><strong>Goal: Find a project and get out of the store without spending $500&#8230;or even $100. </strong>I know, nearly impossible! Especially since all the outdoor furniture is calling me <img src='http://diy-my-home.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>We decided to <strong>upgrade our outdoor lighting! </strong></p>
<p><strong>Here&#8217;s what it looked like BEFORE (small, sad and broken!):</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><strong><img title="BEFORE light" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/Ta80GUIqpeI/AAAAAAAABzs/tgvhuM3Fr-w/s400/IMAG0437.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="267" /></strong><p class="wp-caption-text">BEFORE: broken off top and filling with leaves/water</p></div>
<p><strong><span id="more-1600"></span>And here it is after Dave got finished playing electrician.</strong></p>
<p>Yes, you should turn off the power like we did&#8230;safety first!<br />
No, I will not try to explain how to connect the wires (because electricity is not something I&#8217;ve ever attempted)</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="after light" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/Ta80JMNAfiI/AAAAAAAABzw/BYhSTTxt1-U/s400/IMAG0441.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="267" /><p class="wp-caption-text">From dreary to cheery <img src='http://diy-my-home.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p></div>
<p>I think the light came in around $25 if I remember. We also picked up a new sensor light for the front door and some paint for another project but still escaped the store under $50 total! Oh yeah!!</p>
<blockquote><p><em><span style="color: #808080;">BTW-I&#8217;m still a Professional House Shopper, I mean Realtor. And combining my DIY ideas with some of the houses I&#8217;ve been showing is almost too much for my creative mind LOL. <strong>One month in and more excited than ever!</strong> I may be new, but I&#8217;m making some very wise and creative people teach me everything <img src='http://diy-my-home.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif' alt=';)' class='wp-smiley' />  </span></em></p>
<p><em><span style="color: #808080;">Do you know anyone buying/selling/investing in Chicagoland that I can help?? I promise I&#8217;ll take good care of them.</span></em></p></blockquote>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">And I leave you with my quote of the day:<br />
</span>&#8220;If you don&#8217;t like something, change it. If you can&#8217;t change it, change your attitude.&#8221; -Maya Angelou</p>
";s:14:"date_timestamp";i:1303330662;}i:6;a:14:{s:5:"title";s:31:"Building, Businesses, and Baby?";s:4:"link";s:56:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/03/building-businesses-baby/";s:8:"comments";s:65:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/03/building-businesses-baby/#comments";s:7:"pubdate";s:31:"Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:33:05 +0000";s:2:"dc";a:1:{s:7:"creator";s:9:"diymyhome";}s:8:"category";s:142:"BathroomsDIYDining RoomFurnitureconcreteconcrete countertopbuild dining tablebuild sink baseconcrete tablediy sinkdiy sink pedestalvessel sink";s:4:"guid";s:30:"http://diy-my-home.com/?p=1589";s:11:"description";s:277:"I admit it has been a LONG time since I updated any of you on our DIY adventures around here. But let me tell you that we haven&#8217;t slowed down one bit! My belly may be growing (baby boy is coming in just over 3 months) and so is my excitement for houses! The biggest [...]";s:7:"content";a:1:{s:7:"encoded";s:5622:"<p>I admit it has been a LONG time since I updated any of you on our DIY adventures around here. <strong>But let me tell you that we haven&#8217;t slowed down one bit! </strong></p>
<p>My belly may be growing (baby boy is coming in just over 3 months) and so is my excitement for houses! The biggest change here is that:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>I&#8217;M A REALTOR NOW! Yay, me!</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong> </strong></p>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 122px"><img title="The Realtor" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TZDLR6uS83I/AAAAAAAAByw/K-kg-iHyto8/s144/031.JPG" alt="" width="112" height="144" /><p class="wp-caption-text">You can call me &quot;secret agent&quot;</p></div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Do I look any different?! (Much smarter, right?)</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">While continuing to chip away at our list of projects to complete at our house, we are also looking into <strong>investment properties</strong> (so certainly there will be many more projects to share as our portfolio grows). And I&#8217;m going to be helping out many friends and family who want to buy, sell or invest too!</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Referrals will be greatly appreciated&#8230;so if you hear of any family/friends in Chicagoland looking to buy, sell or invest as well <a href="http://kellydavis.kwrealty.com/contact/" target="_blank">send them my way</a> (and don&#8217;t judge my website, it needs some love and a lot of work)!</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>And now for a quick review of this last week of projects</strong>:</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>1) New Dining Table: </strong>Here&#8217;s a reminder at what it looked like <a href="http://diy-my-home.com/2010/08/concrete-coffee-table-top/">originally, and with a partial concrete makeover</a>. It was one of our very first projects (before we knew how to shop for straight boards so we really needed to just start over).</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="3rd dining table" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TZDLQkLLz1I/AAAAAAAAByk/57qt0HWxJC0/s400/March2011%20021.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Third time&#39;s a charm!</p></div>
<p style="text-align: left;">
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="up close dining table" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TZDLQYXyGGI/AAAAAAAAByg/L0jdlTcnlA4/s400/March2011%20025.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Concrete resurfaced, and stained close up</p></div>
<p style="text-align: left;">
<p style="text-align: left;">
<p style="text-align: left;">Yes, you have seen this before ! It is EXACTLY the same as our <a href="http://diy-my-home.com/2010/08/concrete-coffee-table-top/">concrete surfaced coffee table </a>that we love so much.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Time to build a few chairs for one side and re-do the bench.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>2) New Bathroom Vessel Sink &amp; DIY Pedestal (under $200 total). </strong>Same process as the dining table&#8230;I know, not very original but so easy! And MUCH better than the <a href="http://diy-my-home.com/2010/09/spray-paint-sink/">spray painted pedestal sink</a> that the paint was chipping off of.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 439px"><img title="New sink" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TZDLOd4hS-I/AAAAAAAAByY/d7BlbRn7TzQ/s800/March2011%20031.JPG" alt="" width="429" height="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Loving our new DIY base and vessel sink</p></div>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong> </strong></p>
<p>And a few pics of the process:</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="attach legs" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TZDLRZne9RI/AAAAAAAABys/O6EMR6u5aZo/s400/March2011%20006.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">From the underside (legs attached to top)</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="resurfacing" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TZDLQwLaA5I/AAAAAAAAByo/AvIqXmsakqA/s400/March2011%20010.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Resurfacing the top</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="sink top" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TZDLNYtCi_I/AAAAAAAAByM/ZG0lU5hkfPk/s400/March2011%20036.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Stained with a gray spray stain and sink/faucet installed</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="shelf" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TZDLNoDIP4I/AAAAAAAAByQ/W6yNSKmNn0Y/s400/March2011%20035.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Same process for the shelf as the top</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 278px"><img title="Complete...need to repair/paint wall and change drain to all stainless color" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TZDLOI7dZQI/AAAAAAAAByU/_XNyEnRAORI/s400/March2011%20032.JPG" alt="" width="268" height="400" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Need to repair/paint wall and change drain to all stainless color</p></div>
<p><strong>That&#8217;s a wrap! How&#8217;d we do??</strong></p>
<p>Wishing you all a very productive DIY week.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">
";}s:3:"wfw";a:1:{s:10:"commentrss";s:61:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/03/building-businesses-baby/feed/";}s:5:"slash";a:1:{s:8:"comments";s:1:"2";}s:7:"summary";s:277:"I admit it has been a LONG time since I updated any of you on our DIY adventures around here. But let me tell you that we haven&#8217;t slowed down one bit! My belly may be growing (baby boy is coming in just over 3 months) and so is my excitement for houses! The biggest [...]";s:12:"atom_content";s:5622:"<p>I admit it has been a LONG time since I updated any of you on our DIY adventures around here. <strong>But let me tell you that we haven&#8217;t slowed down one bit! </strong></p>
<p>My belly may be growing (baby boy is coming in just over 3 months) and so is my excitement for houses! The biggest change here is that:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>I&#8217;M A REALTOR NOW! Yay, me!</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong> </strong></p>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 122px"><img title="The Realtor" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TZDLR6uS83I/AAAAAAAAByw/K-kg-iHyto8/s144/031.JPG" alt="" width="112" height="144" /><p class="wp-caption-text">You can call me &quot;secret agent&quot;</p></div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Do I look any different?! (Much smarter, right?)</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">While continuing to chip away at our list of projects to complete at our house, we are also looking into <strong>investment properties</strong> (so certainly there will be many more projects to share as our portfolio grows). And I&#8217;m going to be helping out many friends and family who want to buy, sell or invest too!</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Referrals will be greatly appreciated&#8230;so if you hear of any family/friends in Chicagoland looking to buy, sell or invest as well <a href="http://kellydavis.kwrealty.com/contact/" target="_blank">send them my way</a> (and don&#8217;t judge my website, it needs some love and a lot of work)!</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>And now for a quick review of this last week of projects</strong>:</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>1) New Dining Table: </strong>Here&#8217;s a reminder at what it looked like <a href="http://diy-my-home.com/2010/08/concrete-coffee-table-top/">originally, and with a partial concrete makeover</a>. It was one of our very first projects (before we knew how to shop for straight boards so we really needed to just start over).</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="3rd dining table" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TZDLQkLLz1I/AAAAAAAAByk/57qt0HWxJC0/s400/March2011%20021.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Third time&#39;s a charm!</p></div>
<p style="text-align: left;">
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="up close dining table" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TZDLQYXyGGI/AAAAAAAAByg/L0jdlTcnlA4/s400/March2011%20025.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Concrete resurfaced, and stained close up</p></div>
<p style="text-align: left;">
<p style="text-align: left;">
<p style="text-align: left;">Yes, you have seen this before ! It is EXACTLY the same as our <a href="http://diy-my-home.com/2010/08/concrete-coffee-table-top/">concrete surfaced coffee table </a>that we love so much.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Time to build a few chairs for one side and re-do the bench.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>2) New Bathroom Vessel Sink &amp; DIY Pedestal (under $200 total). </strong>Same process as the dining table&#8230;I know, not very original but so easy! And MUCH better than the <a href="http://diy-my-home.com/2010/09/spray-paint-sink/">spray painted pedestal sink</a> that the paint was chipping off of.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 439px"><img title="New sink" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TZDLOd4hS-I/AAAAAAAAByY/d7BlbRn7TzQ/s800/March2011%20031.JPG" alt="" width="429" height="640" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Loving our new DIY base and vessel sink</p></div>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong> </strong></p>
<p>And a few pics of the process:</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="attach legs" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TZDLRZne9RI/AAAAAAAABys/O6EMR6u5aZo/s400/March2011%20006.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">From the underside (legs attached to top)</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="resurfacing" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TZDLQwLaA5I/AAAAAAAAByo/AvIqXmsakqA/s400/March2011%20010.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Resurfacing the top</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="sink top" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TZDLNYtCi_I/AAAAAAAAByM/ZG0lU5hkfPk/s400/March2011%20036.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Stained with a gray spray stain and sink/faucet installed</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="shelf" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TZDLNoDIP4I/AAAAAAAAByQ/W6yNSKmNn0Y/s400/March2011%20035.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Same process for the shelf as the top</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 278px"><img title="Complete...need to repair/paint wall and change drain to all stainless color" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_IH57eQukySw/TZDLOI7dZQI/AAAAAAAAByU/_XNyEnRAORI/s400/March2011%20032.JPG" alt="" width="268" height="400" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Need to repair/paint wall and change drain to all stainless color</p></div>
<p><strong>That&#8217;s a wrap! How&#8217;d we do??</strong></p>
<p>Wishing you all a very productive DIY week.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">
";s:14:"date_timestamp";i:1301337185;}i:7;a:14:{s:5:"title";s:17:"DIY Robot Toy box";s:4:"link";s:49:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/02/diy-robot-toy-box/";s:8:"comments";s:58:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/02/diy-robot-toy-box/#comments";s:7:"pubdate";s:31:"Wed, 02 Feb 2011 20:13:50 +0000";s:2:"dc";a:1:{s:7:"creator";s:9:"diymyhome";}s:8:"category";s:81:"DIYKid stuffNurseryspray paintbuild toy boxdiy toy boxmodern toy boxrobot toy box";s:4:"guid";s:30:"http://diy-my-home.com/?p=1577";s:11:"description";s:275:"Toy Box Complete! Yay me I decided to go with a robot theme since I was using a jigsaw for the first time and it was the easiest of the choices I had designed. It is all 1/2&#8243; plywood glued and screwed (until we made a great decision and bought a nail gun and used [...]";s:7:"content";a:1:{s:7:"encoded";s:3817:"<p>Toy Box Complete! Yay me <img src='http://diy-my-home.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<div class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 106px"><img title="toy box in room" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TUm3fnf3CwI/AAAAAAAABvM/RPcINimViVI/s144/toy%20box%20finished%20027.JPG" alt="" width="96" height="144" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Robot Toy Box</p></div>
<p>I decided to go with a robot theme since I was using a jigsaw for the first time and it was the easiest of the choices I had designed.</p>
<p>It is all 1/2&#8243; plywood glued and screwed (until we made a great decision and bought a nail gun and used that on the top&#8230;oh how I love the nail gun!!).</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s how it went:<span id="more-1577"></span></p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="box" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TUmrxVK9H4I/AAAAAAAABtg/LJTSxwHQcu8/s640/023.JPG" alt="" width="640" height="428" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Putting the box together</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="robot top" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TUmr-bbgGjI/AAAAAAAABtk/o7sb6US4Ufo/s640/robot%20022.JPG" alt="" width="640" height="428" /><p class="wp-caption-text">bought a nail gun just in time to put the top on AND learned how to use a jigsaw!</p></div>
<p>Time to paint:</p>
<div id="attachment_1579" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 510px"><a href="http://diy-my-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/toy-box-finished-029.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-1579" title="toy box finished 029" src="http://diy-my-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/toy-box-finished-029-500x334.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="334" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">painted robot</p></div>
<p>Then it was time to add the feet. I really wanted to buy metal feet but at $9/foot plus shipping it didn&#8217;t fit into the budget of my &#8216;practice&#8217; toy box&#8230;so we spray painted wood instead. Gotta love metallic spray paint.</p>
<div id="attachment_1578" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 510px"><a href="http://diy-my-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/toy-box-finished-028.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-1578" title="toy box finished 028" src="http://diy-my-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/toy-box-finished-028-500x334.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="334" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Angle cut a 4x4 and painted it silver</p></div>
<div id="attachment_1581" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 510px"><a href="http://diy-my-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/toy-box-finished-021.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-1581" title="toy box finished 021" src="http://diy-my-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/toy-box-finished-021-500x334.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="334" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Complete!</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TUm1jZnDtXI/AAAAAAAABu4/wqtPeXvr06w/s640/002.JPG" alt="" width="640" height="428" /><p class="wp-caption-text">With the top off</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 278px"><img title="Box in room" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TUm3fnf3CwI/AAAAAAAABvM/RPcINimViVI/s400/toy%20box%20finished%20027.JPG" alt="" width="268" height="400" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Toy box in Rory&#39;s room</p></div>
<p>I love it! I think I want to make a few much smaller versions to sell. This one is 4 ft wide.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s a link to see the rest of <a href="http://diy-my-home.com/2010/10/nursery-beforeafter/">Rory&#8217;s room</a> if you haven&#8217;t seen that post&#8230;but we are in the process of building a toddler bed for him so the room is about to change again&#8230;good thing I LOVE change!</p>
";}s:3:"wfw";a:1:{s:10:"commentrss";s:54:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/02/diy-robot-toy-box/feed/";}s:5:"slash";a:1:{s:8:"comments";s:1:"5";}s:7:"summary";s:275:"Toy Box Complete! Yay me I decided to go with a robot theme since I was using a jigsaw for the first time and it was the easiest of the choices I had designed. It is all 1/2&#8243; plywood glued and screwed (until we made a great decision and bought a nail gun and used [...]";s:12:"atom_content";s:3817:"<p>Toy Box Complete! Yay me <img src='http://diy-my-home.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<div class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 106px"><img title="toy box in room" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TUm3fnf3CwI/AAAAAAAABvM/RPcINimViVI/s144/toy%20box%20finished%20027.JPG" alt="" width="96" height="144" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Robot Toy Box</p></div>
<p>I decided to go with a robot theme since I was using a jigsaw for the first time and it was the easiest of the choices I had designed.</p>
<p>It is all 1/2&#8243; plywood glued and screwed (until we made a great decision and bought a nail gun and used that on the top&#8230;oh how I love the nail gun!!).</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s how it went:<span id="more-1577"></span></p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="box" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TUmrxVK9H4I/AAAAAAAABtg/LJTSxwHQcu8/s640/023.JPG" alt="" width="640" height="428" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Putting the box together</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="robot top" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TUmr-bbgGjI/AAAAAAAABtk/o7sb6US4Ufo/s640/robot%20022.JPG" alt="" width="640" height="428" /><p class="wp-caption-text">bought a nail gun just in time to put the top on AND learned how to use a jigsaw!</p></div>
<p>Time to paint:</p>
<div id="attachment_1579" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 510px"><a href="http://diy-my-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/toy-box-finished-029.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-1579" title="toy box finished 029" src="http://diy-my-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/toy-box-finished-029-500x334.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="334" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">painted robot</p></div>
<p>Then it was time to add the feet. I really wanted to buy metal feet but at $9/foot plus shipping it didn&#8217;t fit into the budget of my &#8216;practice&#8217; toy box&#8230;so we spray painted wood instead. Gotta love metallic spray paint.</p>
<div id="attachment_1578" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 510px"><a href="http://diy-my-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/toy-box-finished-028.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-1578" title="toy box finished 028" src="http://diy-my-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/toy-box-finished-028-500x334.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="334" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Angle cut a 4x4 and painted it silver</p></div>
<div id="attachment_1581" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 510px"><a href="http://diy-my-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/toy-box-finished-021.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-1581" title="toy box finished 021" src="http://diy-my-home.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/toy-box-finished-021-500x334.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="334" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Complete!</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TUm1jZnDtXI/AAAAAAAABu4/wqtPeXvr06w/s640/002.JPG" alt="" width="640" height="428" /><p class="wp-caption-text">With the top off</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 278px"><img title="Box in room" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TUm3fnf3CwI/AAAAAAAABvM/RPcINimViVI/s400/toy%20box%20finished%20027.JPG" alt="" width="268" height="400" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Toy box in Rory&#39;s room</p></div>
<p>I love it! I think I want to make a few much smaller versions to sell. This one is 4 ft wide.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s a link to see the rest of <a href="http://diy-my-home.com/2010/10/nursery-beforeafter/">Rory&#8217;s room</a> if you haven&#8217;t seen that post&#8230;but we are in the process of building a toddler bed for him so the room is about to change again&#8230;good thing I LOVE change!</p>
";s:14:"date_timestamp";i:1296677630;}i:8;a:14:{s:5:"title";s:19:"No-Sew Pillow Cover";s:4:"link";s:51:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/01/no-sew-pillow-cover/";s:8:"comments";s:60:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/01/no-sew-pillow-cover/#comments";s:7:"pubdate";s:31:"Fri, 07 Jan 2011 21:16:50 +0000";s:2:"dc";a:1:{s:7:"creator";s:9:"diymyhome";}s:8:"category";s:56:"DIYDecorfaux fur pillowno sew pillownow-sew pillow cover";s:4:"guid";s:30:"http://diy-my-home.com/?p=1563";s:11:"description";s:363:"Meet my new best friend, Liquid Stitch. It is basically the Liquid Nails of fabric&#8230;Brilliant! I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;d be daring enough to put together an outfit with this stuff, but I will take my chances on a pillow since we aren&#8217;t risking anyembarrassingmoments if these &#8216;stitches&#8217; come apart. I have been saving the scraps [...]";s:7:"content";a:1:{s:7:"encoded";s:2161:"<p>Meet my new best friend, Liquid Stitch.</p>
<p>It is basically the Liquid Nails of fabric&#8230;Brilliant!</p>
<p>I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;d be daring enough to put together an outfit with this stuff, but I will take my chances on a pillow since we aren&#8217;t risking anyembarrassingmoments if these &#8216;stitches&#8217; come apart.</p>
<p>I have been saving the scraps of faux fur from the Polar Bear Rug project to make a pillow. So this is how simple it was:</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="liquid stitch" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TSd7MyuE_1I/AAAAAAAABkE/kUWRjVohHWY/s400/pillow%20cover%20003.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Liquid Stitch and faux fur</p></div>
<p><span id="more-1563"></span>1) cut the fabric into a rectangle.</p>
<p>2) glue the seams so that the back will overlap&#8230;and the hardest part is patiently waiting 30 minutes for it to dry.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="glue" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TSd67oVqnbI/AAAAAAAABkA/RCT-i1v1XYg/s400/pillow%20cover%20006.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Goes on like Elmer&#39;s Glue</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="back" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TSd65t09kMI/AAAAAAAABj8/mEe7lQKODXk/s400/pillow%20cover%20007.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">the back opening</p></div>
<p>3) stuff the pillow cover with stuffing (or you can use a random old t-shirt like me&#8230;shh! don&#8217;t tell LOL)</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="fur pillow" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TSd_JUoNqZI/AAAAAAAABkc/GgAwBWucnSg/s640/pillow%20cover%20014.JPG" alt="" width="640" height="428" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Finished fur pillow</p></div>
<p>If you are making a pillow from a more normal fabric (where the seams would show) you&#8217;ll want to glue then turn the pillow inside out before filling.</p>
<p>More pillows ideas to come!</p>
<p>Hint: Scrabble themes coming your way soon!</p>
";}s:3:"wfw";a:1:{s:10:"commentrss";s:56:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/01/no-sew-pillow-cover/feed/";}s:5:"slash";a:1:{s:8:"comments";s:1:"3";}s:7:"summary";s:363:"Meet my new best friend, Liquid Stitch. It is basically the Liquid Nails of fabric&#8230;Brilliant! I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;d be daring enough to put together an outfit with this stuff, but I will take my chances on a pillow since we aren&#8217;t risking anyembarrassingmoments if these &#8216;stitches&#8217; come apart. I have been saving the scraps [...]";s:12:"atom_content";s:2161:"<p>Meet my new best friend, Liquid Stitch.</p>
<p>It is basically the Liquid Nails of fabric&#8230;Brilliant!</p>
<p>I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;d be daring enough to put together an outfit with this stuff, but I will take my chances on a pillow since we aren&#8217;t risking anyembarrassingmoments if these &#8216;stitches&#8217; come apart.</p>
<p>I have been saving the scraps of faux fur from the Polar Bear Rug project to make a pillow. So this is how simple it was:</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="liquid stitch" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TSd7MyuE_1I/AAAAAAAABkE/kUWRjVohHWY/s400/pillow%20cover%20003.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Liquid Stitch and faux fur</p></div>
<p><span id="more-1563"></span>1) cut the fabric into a rectangle.</p>
<p>2) glue the seams so that the back will overlap&#8230;and the hardest part is patiently waiting 30 minutes for it to dry.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="glue" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TSd67oVqnbI/AAAAAAAABkA/RCT-i1v1XYg/s400/pillow%20cover%20006.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Goes on like Elmer&#39;s Glue</p></div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="back" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TSd65t09kMI/AAAAAAAABj8/mEe7lQKODXk/s400/pillow%20cover%20007.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">the back opening</p></div>
<p>3) stuff the pillow cover with stuffing (or you can use a random old t-shirt like me&#8230;shh! don&#8217;t tell LOL)</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="fur pillow" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TSd_JUoNqZI/AAAAAAAABkc/GgAwBWucnSg/s640/pillow%20cover%20014.JPG" alt="" width="640" height="428" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Finished fur pillow</p></div>
<p>If you are making a pillow from a more normal fabric (where the seams would show) you&#8217;ll want to glue then turn the pillow inside out before filling.</p>
<p>More pillows ideas to come!</p>
<p>Hint: Scrabble themes coming your way soon!</p>
";s:14:"date_timestamp";i:1294435010;}i:9;a:14:{s:5:"title";s:26:"DIY End of Bed Cubby Bench";s:4:"link";s:58:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/01/diy-end-of-bed-cubby-bench/";s:8:"comments";s:67:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/01/diy-end-of-bed-cubby-bench/#comments";s:7:"pubdate";s:31:"Fri, 07 Jan 2011 05:06:35 +0000";s:2:"dc";a:1:{s:7:"creator";s:9:"diymyhome";}s:8:"category";s:48:"BedroomDIYFurniturediy benchdiy end of bed bench";s:4:"guid";s:30:"http://diy-my-home.com/?p=1556";s:11:"description";s:296:"Lots of new ideas for the new year!! I&#8217;m excited to get back to building after a little break, so I couldn&#8217;t have been more excited to hear my sister say&#8230; &#8220;I want to build a bench for the end of my bed&#8221; The next day the two of us hit the home improvement store [...]";s:7:"content";a:1:{s:7:"encoded";s:2432:"<p>Lots of new ideas for the new year!!</p>
<p>I&#8217;m excited to get back to building after a little break, so I couldn&#8217;t have been more excited to hear my sister say&#8230;</p>
<p><strong>&#8220;I want to build a bench for the end of my bed&#8221; </strong></p>
<p>The next day the two of us hit the home improvement store to pick up a 12 ft long 1&#215;12 board:</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 277px"><img title="board shopping" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TSaX6bq9XkI/AAAAAAAABiU/BzAj_GOeevc/s400/IMAG0278.jpg" alt="" width="267" height="400" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Board shopping, but never bored shopping</p></div>
<p>Yes, that is one long board!</p>
<p>A few power tools and sanding blocks later:<span id="more-1556"></span></p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 277px"><img title="saw" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TSXHA9ZPDbI/AAAAAAAABho/0YIYllLLtXU/s400/IMAG0282.jpg" alt="" width="267" height="400" /><p class="wp-caption-text">I made Molly try the miter saw </p></div>
<p>A few pocket holes and some wood glue&#8230;</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 409px"><img title="assembly" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TSaaf3fC8hI/AAAAAAAABjg/F81Iz35Nwkg/s400/molly%20bench%20003.JPG" alt="" width="399" height="400" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Molly, Rory and I assembling our masterpiece</p></div>
<p>And then it was ready for accessories (oh and probably some paint too):</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="complete" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TSaZ7ItGu9I/AAAAAAAABiw/lHze7lYCHWk/s400/molly%20bench%20008.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Unfinished bench</p></div>
<p>Then we threw a few pillows and a basket in there to get a better idea of how it would look. <em>(Speaking of pillows&#8230;can&#8217;t wait to share my no-sew pillow cover idea)</em></p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="pillows" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TSaaBXE5cBI/AAAAAAAABi4/9gvQfPuOA5c/s640/molly%20bench%20012.JPG" alt="" width="640" height="428" /><p class="wp-caption-text">With accessories  </p></div>
<p>Well, it made it safely to Molly&#8217;s house and I am patiently waiting for a final pic of the bench painted white&#8230;but couldn&#8217;t wait to share what we had so far.<strong>What do you think??</strong></p>
";}s:3:"wfw";a:1:{s:10:"commentrss";s:63:"http://diy-my-home.com/2011/01/diy-end-of-bed-cubby-bench/feed/";}s:5:"slash";a:1:{s:8:"comments";s:1:"1";}s:7:"summary";s:296:"Lots of new ideas for the new year!! I&#8217;m excited to get back to building after a little break, so I couldn&#8217;t have been more excited to hear my sister say&#8230; &#8220;I want to build a bench for the end of my bed&#8221; The next day the two of us hit the home improvement store [...]";s:12:"atom_content";s:2432:"<p>Lots of new ideas for the new year!!</p>
<p>I&#8217;m excited to get back to building after a little break, so I couldn&#8217;t have been more excited to hear my sister say&#8230;</p>
<p><strong>&#8220;I want to build a bench for the end of my bed&#8221; </strong></p>
<p>The next day the two of us hit the home improvement store to pick up a 12 ft long 1&#215;12 board:</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 277px"><img title="board shopping" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TSaX6bq9XkI/AAAAAAAABiU/BzAj_GOeevc/s400/IMAG0278.jpg" alt="" width="267" height="400" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Board shopping, but never bored shopping</p></div>
<p>Yes, that is one long board!</p>
<p>A few power tools and sanding blocks later:<span id="more-1556"></span></p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 277px"><img title="saw" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TSXHA9ZPDbI/AAAAAAAABho/0YIYllLLtXU/s400/IMAG0282.jpg" alt="" width="267" height="400" /><p class="wp-caption-text">I made Molly try the miter saw </p></div>
<p>A few pocket holes and some wood glue&#8230;</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 409px"><img title="assembly" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TSaaf3fC8hI/AAAAAAAABjg/F81Iz35Nwkg/s400/molly%20bench%20003.JPG" alt="" width="399" height="400" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Molly, Rory and I assembling our masterpiece</p></div>
<p>And then it was ready for accessories (oh and probably some paint too):</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 410px"><img title="complete" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TSaZ7ItGu9I/AAAAAAAABiw/lHze7lYCHWk/s400/molly%20bench%20008.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="268" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Unfinished bench</p></div>
<p>Then we threw a few pillows and a basket in there to get a better idea of how it would look. <em>(Speaking of pillows&#8230;can&#8217;t wait to share my no-sew pillow cover idea)</em></p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 650px"><img title="pillows" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_IH57eQukySw/TSaaBXE5cBI/AAAAAAAABi4/9gvQfPuOA5c/s640/molly%20bench%20012.JPG" alt="" width="640" height="428" /><p class="wp-caption-text">With accessories  </p></div>
<p>Well, it made it safely to Molly&#8217;s house and I am patiently waiting for a final pic of the bench painted white&#8230;but couldn&#8217;t wait to share what we had so far.<strong>What do you think??</strong></p>
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