DIY Ottoman, DIY Project Parade and Giveaway Alert!

Hello, DIY’ers!  How was your weekend?  Productive? Relaxing? Fun?  I hope all three! Show and tell time! I’ll go first. I’m still tweaking this catch all/entry area but having so much fun doing it.  See the ottoman below?  We built it! I’m linking up to

freckled laundry
Head over to see some gorgeous inspiration!

Remember when I mentioned we were building an ottoman and that I’d share the spot inside where we enter our home?  Well, here it is! It’s just a little nook for right now until we have a real front door (next year?) or until we save enough for Mr. DIY’s dream stand alone refrigerator and freezer, then this little nook in the kitchen goes away. But for now I love that we have a little space to sit comfortably, put on or take off shoes and dump everything when walking in the door. 
(Wow…construction in the kitchen creates dust. I thought I got it all!  I’ll be taking care of that refrigerator vent asap!)
Lalka is my shadow so she’s usually right where I want to snap pictures – diva kitty! 
The ottoman frame (everything except the feet and fabric actually) were provided by The Upholstery Studio. They have entire kits for DIY ottomans! That means, for this 24×26 ottoman, I only picked out the fabric and bun feet and the rest was all ready to be assembled with the assistance of detailed instructions and helpful video. Mr. DIY and I built this together with our own two hands.  Here’s a little of what we did:

Pre-dill holes

Glue and screw together the frame

Attach webbing
Add burlap

Glue down foam and cover wood with dacron.

Cover in batting

Cut fabric

and sew cover
Slip on cover and staple

Create welting 

Staple on welting
Cover up

Add feet 
It can be built in just a few hours although I recommend taking a few days…better to spread it out a little and take your time.  I’m so proud that we built it ourselves and I also learned some cool things along the way. Interesting bits that definitely help with future projects.  Super sturdy construction and bouncy comfy seating! It’s empowering – I feel like I could build an entire couch!  Well, you really wouldn’t want to see that but the entire learning process was very helpful for when re-upholstery skills are needed on a future thrift store find. The kit looks a little overwhelming at first because of all of the goodies packed inside, but it’s not hard. It was actually fun and more like a complete course in re-upholstery with everything needed to build the perfect accent piece that matches your style.  
I even had a blast designing the fabric myself at spoonflower. If it fits your style, you can purchase it too. Yep, add fabric designer to my list of DIY. Easy and exactly what I wanted…personal/cooking related and a little typography-looking but not girly or too kitchen-y.

Since it sits in our kitchen, I wanted to personalize it for the cook my husband. I really love that it’s exactly what I wanted for this space. I have plenty left to make some throw pillows or covers for bar stools or even valances.  I’m still undecided.

What do you think? Show of hands:  How many of you have an ottoman in your kitchen? ::crickets
::  Anyone?  🙂

And guess what?!  There’s a designer ottoman kit giveaway going on at the DIY Club right now!  Head over to enter to win a designer ottoman kit for yourself and also see how Cheri, Holly and Amy took their designer ottoman kit and created something that fits the style of their home too.  

Let’s see what’s been keeping you busy!

The DIY Show Off


1. You must use the button above (ADD BUTTON HTML CODE FROM SIDE BAR TO YOUR POST) and link to this post to share the linky love.

2.Include your name or blog name and project title. Add your permalink (not your blog url, but your DIY project post url). Feel free to link a Past Post, just invite your readers in a current post with a quick note.

3.Or email your link to thediyshowoff@gmail.com and I will add it for you.

4.If you notice your link has disappeared -please add the link back to The DIY Show Off to your post today, a button or a quick note to your readers about the party and try again! I love when everyone participates and readers check out everyone’s links, but I think the return favor of linking back is the nice thing to do so everyone plays fair and enjoys all of the projects and links. Also – this blog party is for DIY projects only. Links not related to DIY will be deleted.

5.  NOW you can “like” the links!  What a fun idea!  Most liked links may be included in a post of DIY Project Parade highlights later in the week!


I received the designer ottoman kit as a part of my participation in the DIY Club.  I did not receive compensation for building the ottoman and opinion and results are my own. 

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DIY Project Parade

It’s that time of week to share your latest DIY projects!  We’ve been doing a LOT of things around our home this past week. For those who have asked, I do have a regular job as a medical transcriptionist for a local health care facility so for some of what I’m showing you below, there just hasn’t been time to do a tutorial (the wood shed Mr. DIY’s building or venting the bathroom fan). I’m sure you understand, right? We’re always here to answer questions though!  Anyway, here are some sneak peeks that prove our crazy week.  Pardon me while I step away from the computer for a nap. 🙂


It’s time for grape harvesting (although we don’t have time for grand plans just some fresh grapes and grape juice).


The grapes smell so good, taste so sweet and are bursting with juice…

(We never did do pavers underneath yet. Thanks to Krylon‘s spray stain, the wood is protected!)

Some other goodies from the garden were picked…







Building an ottoman…


and staining feet…
Bun feet, TransTint and foam brushes are available at Rockler. See more about the products and technique I used at The DIY Club. 


Mr. DIY with the assistance of his talented father-in-law, Butch, is building a wood shed for firewood…

and vented the bathroom fan through the attic and out the side of the house…



Cleaned for photos and had an interview with our local newspaper…
butler eagle

We’ve decorated for Christmas (details coming up in the future) and packed some of it back up…

Scrubbed down a thrifty find…

Took care to protect the floor using felt weather stripping, Gorilla Glue and felt furniture protectors (see the DIY Club for more details)…

Even Lalka pitched in.  (More on this project coming up in a few weeks)

Some of these projects are finished and I’ll be sharing more soon.  🙂

Let’s see what’s been keeping you busy!
The DIY Show Off


1. You must use the button above (ADD BUTTON HTML CODE FROM SIDE BAR TO YOUR POST) and link to this post to share the linky love.

2.Include your name or blog name and project title. Add your permalink (not your blog url, but your DIY project post url). Feel free to link a Past Post, just invite your readers in a current post with a quick note.

3.Or email your link to thediyshowoff@gmail.com and I will add it for you.

4.If you notice your link has disappeared -please add the link back to The DIY Show Off to your post today, a button or a quick note to your readers about the party and try again! I love when everyone participates and readers check out everyone’s links, but I think the return favor of linking back is the nice thing to do so everyone plays fair and enjoys all of the projects and links. Also – this blog party is for DIY projects only. Links not related to DIY will be deleted.

5.  NOW you can “like” the links!  What a fun idea!  Most liked links may be included in a post of DIY Project Parade highlights later in the week!  🙂

Reminders:
There’s still time to enter the giveaway for ANY size/ANY style HGTV Home collection area rug from Shaw! HEREAnd we’d love to have you enter the giveaway every day in September for flooring for your home and have your vote for our room!  Pretty Please?!!!  Click here to enter and vote every day in September (1 floor given away every day!) 

Did You Enter to Win new flooring and Vote for Cassity & Roeshel today? Please do!

Guess what starts tomorrow:
Roomspiration
Hope to see you there sharing your entryway!
Here’s the schedule:
Abode Love – entryways Sept. 12th
View Along the Way – living rooms  Sept. 14th
Homemaker on a Dime – bathrooms  Sept.16th
DIY by Design – guest bedrooms Sept. 19th
Family Brings Joy – craft rooms  Sept. 21st
Involving Color – dining rooms Sept. 23rd
All Things Bright & Beautiful – kids bedrooms Sept. 26th
a la mode – nurseries  Sept. 28th
Just a Touch of Gray – master bedrooms  Sept. 30th
The Blooming Hydrangea – closets and nooks  Oct. 3rd
The Mustard Ceiling – laundry and mudrooms  Oct. 5th
The DIY
Showoff
 – kitchens  Oct. 7th
~*~*~*~
See more of my projects at 



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Today is the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Remembering those who lost their lives that day. I’m so thankful for our military members and their loved ones who have sacrificed so much in the fight to protect our country and our freedoms.

DIY Door Clock and DIY Project Parade

I featured a clock on a stand alone vintage door being used as decor a while ago (see below). That inspiration stayed with me and it seemed like the perfect idea for an old door on our pots and pans pantry in the kitchen.  
 
farmhouse kitchen makeover
 
Look what we have now!
 
 
 
I love it and it was a really easy DIY project. Here is how we did it:
 
Materials:
large serpentine design
Large Serpentine Clock Hands
Mini Quartz Movements
  • Extra washers if needed (depends on the thickness of door)
  • Vinyl numbers (I made mine using my Silhouette but you can purchase them on etsy or paint or stamp numbers also.)
 
Tools:   Yard stick, pencil drill, dinner plate to trace (glass microwave plate works well).
 
1.  Mark the center of the door panel using a pencil. I lightly marked from one top corner diagonally to the bottom to create a big “x”.  The center of the “x” is the center of the door panel.
 
2.  I then used our microwave plate (since it’s glass and transparent and about the right size). I traced it, with the center of the “x” in the center of the plate. I just eyeballed it. 
 
3.  Drill a hole in the center of the circle, “X” marks the spot.
 
4.  I added my vinyl numbers using the inside of the penciled area (circle from tracing the plate) as a guide, starting with 12, 3, 6 and 9 in a larger font size.  Use a pencil to divide the circle in to pie-pieces. It will make placement more precise!
 
5.  Pencil marks erase easily with a damp Magic Eraser.
 
6.  Insert the mini quartz movement.  We added a few extra washers to make the fit perfect since the thickness of our door panel was on the thin side.
Back
 
Front
 
7.  Add the hands as shown on the packaging.
 
8.  Screw on the lfinishing nut and add the second hand.
 
9.  Pop in a battery.
 
10.  Set the time using the dial on the back.
 
Here’s what the back side looks like, unobtrusive, not in the way, right behind our lids which we store on the door.
 

It works so well and I love it – especially with the round Rockler lazy Susan spice wheels/spice loft to the right.

 
 
Thanks to Bargain Hoot and Pinterest for the inspiration:
  

Updated picture:

farmhouse-kitchen

What have you been up to lately?  Got something DIY or a thrifty deal to share?  Link up! Let’s see it!
 
The DIY Show Off

 
 
1. You must use the button above (ADD BUTTON HTML CODE FROM SIDE BAR TO YOUR POST) and link to this post to share the linky love.
 
2.Include your name or blog name and project title. Add your permalink (not your blog url, but your DIY project post url). Feel free to link a Past Post, just invite your readers in a current post with a quick note.
 
3.Or email your link to thediyshowoff@gmail.com and I will add it for you.
 
4.If you notice your link has disappeared -please add the link back to The DIY Show Off to your post today, a button or a quick note to your readers about the party and try again! I love when everyone participates and readers check out everyone’s links, but I think the return favor of linking back is the nice thing to do so everyone plays fair and enjoys all of the projects and links. Also – this blog party is for DIY projects only. Links not related to DIY will be deleted.
 
 
5.  NOW you can “like” the links!  What a fun idea!  Most liked links may be included in a post of DIY Project Parade highlights later in the week!  🙂
 
 
While you’re here, I wanted ask a BIG favor. As you know, I’m participating in the HGTV Home Design Challenge at Shaw Floors. There is a Shaw Area Rug giveaway going on!  (any style/ANY size – even 9×12)  Click here to enter for the details.  Cassity and I really need your help in the 30 Days of  HGTV Home design challenge.  Thanks so much for voting for our room – one floor being given away every day in September.  Yes, 30 floors total! Please pop over to enter to win and vote ever
y day.  We’d love to see our readers win and for our room to win too!