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How to make a Simple Planter from Scrap wood

Finished wooden planter filled with succulents in the garden

If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you’ll know that most of my projects are made using recycled materials, and wood is no exception. I hate wasting even the smallest offcut. So when my scrap wood pile starts to get out of hand, I like to come up with quick and useful ways to put it to good use. That’s how this DIY Wooden Planter Made from Scrap Wood came to life. It’s a simple project that’s perfect for beginners, and a great way to turn leftover timber into something beautiful and practical for the garden. I made mine to display my succulents, but you can easily adjust the size to suit your own plants and space.

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May 26, 2017 By

How to make your own Wedding Sneakers

Close-up of sparkly rhinestones applied to white wedding sneakers

Every bride dreams of looking beautiful on her wedding day—but comfort matters just as much. When my daughter got married, her reception was held on a cruise showboat on Sydney Harbour. She was nervous about tripping in high heels on a moving boat. Not one for fancy footwear, she also knew her sparkly bridal vision didn’t suit stilettos.

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March 1, 2018 By

How to Restore an Antique Rocking Chair

Finished restored rocking chair with rich stain and new fabric

There’s something special about bringing vintage furniture back to life. I found this antique rocking chair on a local buy, swap and sell group for just $25. The shape and detail caught my eye immediately. I already had some leftover fabric from a previous project, so this felt like the perfect opportunity to practice and improve my furniture restoration skills without spending much.

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January 15, 2018 By

How to Restore a Leather Top Desk

Finish leather top office desk fulling after restoration.

When a friend asked if I could restore his office desk, I hesitated. Most of my DIY projects use recycled or rescued furniture, where mistakes are part of the charm. But this time, I had to work with someone else’s professional piece—and that meant getting it right. In this post, How to Restore a Leather Top Desk, I’ll show you the challenges I faced and the solutions I used to breathe life back into this tired piece.

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November 16, 2016 By

How to use Unicorn Spit and Metallic paint on Baubles

Completed DIY baubles with shimmering gold veins and colourful Unicorn Spit effects

If you’ve never tried Unicorn Spit Stain and Glaze, you’re seriously missing out on one of the most vibrant and fun crafting products out there. This non-toxic, gel-based stain can be used on wood, metal, glass, plastic, ceramic, and more. While it’s often used for colourful wood finishes that let the grain shine through, my favourite way to use Unicorn Spit is on glass, and now, plastic Christmas baubles!

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December 7, 2017 By

How to make a House Numbers from CDs and DVDs

House number made from recycled CDs and DVDs as a mosaic on a wall,

With the rise of USB drives, memory cards, and streaming services, CDs and DVDs have quickly become relics of the past. These days, most of us are downloading or live-streaming our favourite music and movies. So, if your home is anything like mine, you’ve probably got a dusty stack (or several) of old discs just lying around.

House numbers made from CD/DVD pieces in a mosaic- close up view

As someone who loves crafting with recycled materials, I couldn’t bring myself to toss them in the bin. So, I did what many crafters do when looking for inspiration—I went straight to Pinterest. I stumbled upon a beautiful mosaic birdbath project made from broken CDs and DVDs and instantly fell in love. However, it felt a little ambitious for my first try, so I decided to start with something smaller and more manageable: a custom house number plaque.

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October 30, 2017 By

How to Build a Target Shooting Game

DIY target shooting game

If you’re wondering how to build a target shooting game that’s simple, fun, and engaging for seniors, this DIY project is perfect. As an aged care nurse, I often step in as the activities officer when our regular coordinator is on holiday. During one of those times, I decided to create a homemade target shooting game for the residents in our aged care home. It turned out to be a big hit!

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July 27, 2018 By

DIY Halloween LED Shadow Box

DIY LED Halloween shadow box featuring spooky black vinyl silhouettes on glass, glowing with colour-changing LED lights inside a deep frame.

One fun way to join in the Halloween spirit is by making your own DIY LED Halloween shadow box, which doubles as both a decorative piece and a glowing signal to little trick-or-treaters that you’re ready with treats. It’s a simple and fun Halloween craft project that’s perfect for adults and families alike, and ideal for lighting up a window or entryway.

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October 9, 2018 By

How to make a Darts Stand/Holder

Wall-mounted wooden darts stand holding three sets of darts next to a dartboard

Every Christmas, our family gathers for a full day of food, laughter, and games. One of our favourites is darts. But without fail, the darts always go missing. To stop the yearly hunt and make things easier, I built a simple wall-mounted storage rack. If you’re sick of the same chaos, here’s how to make a darts stand or holder to keep your set neat, organised, and always ready to use.

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October 31, 2017 By

Old Plant Stand Repurposed into Candlesticks

Finished candlesticks with rustic black and white dry brushed paint, ready for display.

Old Plant Stand Repurposed into Candlesticks – This DIY candlestick makeover started with an old wooden plant stand I had lying around. I wanted to keep costs down, so I used materials already at home and turned the stand into a set of rustic-style candlesticks. Using a simple technique called dry brushing, I gave them texture and charm that suits modern, farmhouse, or vintage-inspired décor beautifully.

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May 10, 2019 By

How to get your DIY materials for free

How to get your DIY materials for free sign in woodworking shop.

If you’ve browsed my website, you’ll notice that nearly every project I’ve shared has been made using recycled or salvaged materials. This approach has allowed me to continue my hobby without spending much on supplies—an essential trick if you love woodworking or DIY but need to stick to a budget. In this post, I’ll show you exactly how to get your DIY materials for free so you can build more for less.

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January 28, 2018 By

How to Repurpose a Vintage Display Cabinet into a Jewellery Box

wooden vintage cabinet jewellery box with stained glass widow design sitting on a table.

Vintage display cabinets like curio boxes often pop up on local buy-swap-sell sites, but they can be hard to repurpose. I came across a miniature one recently. It is still in good condition but far too dated to resell as-is. Restoring it wouldn’t have added much value, and these pieces don’t suit most modern homes. But rather than letting it go to the landfill, I saw its potential for something entirely different.

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August 7, 2016 By

How to Make a Jewellery Stand from Recycled Materials

Jewellery Stand from Recycled Materials

If you’ve ever struggled with tangled jewellery or mismatched earrings, this DIY is for you. How to build a jewellery display stand came to life when one of the ladies in our aged care home needed a better way to organise her jewellery. Each morning after getting dressed, she picks out jewellery to match her outfit. But she was storing her treasures in plastic cups. The result? Tangled necklaces, lost earrings, and always wearing the same few pieces.

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January 1, 2018 By