Scrunchies are back! And if you’re like my daughter, you’ve probably built up quite the collection. She recently asked me to create a cute but practical display stand for her scrunchies to sit neatly in her beauty bar. I designed one from scrap wood, and it now doubles as a jewellery organiser too. Best of all—it didn’t cost a thing! This easy DIY is perfect for using up leftover materials and makes a fun, functional piece of décor.
Over the years, I’ve made several wine barrel tables—each one with its own unique feature. For this table, I wanted to try something a little more refined by adding a Greek key design to the tabletop. At first, I thought a stencil would do the trick. But all I could find were small repeats, which would’ve taken forever to line up, and I’m not the most patient DIYer.
Every year, our small town runs a Christmas light competition. Homes light up the streets, and many displays raise money for local charities. It’s a magical time and one of our favourite traditions.
My sister joins the competition each year, and this time she wanted something a little different — a giant “Santa Stop Here” sign for her front yard. The store-bought versions were all too small. So, she asked me to build her a custom sign.
Working in a residential care home for the elderly, one thing I’ve learned is that routines and visual cues are incredibly important. Many of our residents live with dementia or memory loss, while others simply lose track of the day from time to time. We’re often asked, “What day is it today?” more times than you’d expect. I wanted to create something practical yet beautiful—a large perpetual calendar that could be clearly seen from across the room and help residents stay oriented.
Working with Unicorn SPiT Gel Stain & Glaze had been on my wishlist for a long time. After seeing it used on countless DIY sites I follow, I was itching to give it a go. My very generous husband treated me to the full colour range, and from the moment it arrived, I was on the lookout for the perfect piece to experiment on. Since I was new to Unicorn SPiT, I wanted to start small. What really caught my attention was how the wood grain stays visible through the stain, creating a beautiful layered effect.
If you love a tidy desk and a bit of gamer-style ambience, this DIY LED Headphone Stand with Perspex Glow is a winner. I first built a simple stand for my husband’s headset; this version takes it up a notch with remote-controlled LED lights that plug into your computer via USB. The layered wood and Perspex create a gorgeous edge glow so your headphones look like they’re floating—day or night.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
