Category: DIY Projects

Black Cat Halloween Decorations

Posted on October 11, 2023October 11, 2023 by Kelley Elmore

The other afternoon, a neighbor’s cat wandered into our yard and my daughter said, “I wish we could get a bunch of black cats to hang out in our front yard for Halloween.” So, if you need me, I’ll be here trying to make that happen.

We have wood left over from previous projects so I put one up on two saw horses and started sketching (and erasing, and sketching again) cats. Once I got it right, I outlined it with a sharpie to make them easier to see.

The next step was to cut them out. I use this corded jig saw and it worked like a charm. This thing is so simple to use! https://outlook.office365.com/mail/inbox/id/AAMkADYyZTBmNzA0LTgxZGUtNGNkYy05Mjc0LWE0Y2ZlNGVlMDM4NwBGAAAAAADjzLN%2BiUlyT7C3uqlCh4aiBwCHFPe2R4sySaIvHM7xsXwuAAAAAAEMAACHFPe2R4sySaIvHM7xsXwuAATNoDu%2BAAA%3D#:~:text=%EE%A5%B2-,6.5%20Amp%20Corded%20Variable%20Speed%20Jig%20Saw%20Kit%20with%20Kit%20Box,-rstyle.me

After I had them all cut out, I painted them black with left over paint I had from (you guessed it!) a previous project.

I had to do two coats on each side. Once they were dry, we brought them inside to paint the eyes. We did two coats of white craft paint and two coats of this glow in the dark paint. Then I went back with the black paint to add pupils.

https://rstyle.me/+8bJOaMfzSEAKPpAjJyqeZA

This is the finished product! Now, when it’s dark it looks like a bunch of creepy glowing eyes in the yard. But then, when it’s light outside, it looks like cute little black cats. The plus is that these guys are so thin that they should be pretty simple to store until next year.

You could also make these out of cardboard with scissors if you only need them for a short time (like a Halloween party).

This Year’s Halloween Decor

Posted on October 8, 2023October 8, 2023 by Kelley Elmore

This is how we had the skeletons displayed last year. Since then, we’ve removed all of the shrubs so I had to get creative on how I was going to secure them and make them look like they’re climbing on the house.

We had a lot of extra wood in the garage from previous projects so I decided to make a ladder out of it.

I wanted it to look spooky and imperfect so I just eye balled the measurements and cut the “steps” to somewhat fit.

Then, I used my nail gun to secure the wood.

This is how it came out. Perfectly imperfect.

I secured the skeleton with zip-ties. To secure the ladder, I added garden stakes to the ground and zip-tied the legs of the ladder to them. We already had a screw under the soffit so I used a string to secure the top of the ladder to it just in case we got any late season hurricanes.

This is how it looks now. We have a few more skeletons to add but I’m liking how it’s turning out so far! This project took me a total of thirty minutes and cost nothing (since I don’t throw out any extra lumber)!

If you’re interested in any of the Halloween decor I used, click here:

https://www.shopltk.com/explore/Fixin_Up_The_Place/posts/21247fa0-5c7e-11ee-b445-0242ac110003

Custom Built-Ins: Part 2

Posted on January 22, 2023January 22, 2023 by Kelley Elmore

Here is where I left off with this project. If you missed Part 1, you can get caught up here: https://www.fixinuptheplace.com/custom-built-ins/

We ordered two of these unfinished bookcases from Home Depot. https://rstyle.me/cz-n/hggwbic6p4f

I painted everything but the actual shelves. I stained the shelves to match the butcher block.

I had to chase off a few nosy ducks who almost decorated the driveway with paint footprints. It took three coats of paint and two coats of stain to get the color just right.

After I assembled and installed the book cases, I added a strip of shoe moulding to the edge against the wall to fill in the gap. I caulked it all and touched up the paint.

My favorite part, styling the shelves.

My client ordered these battery powered library lights from Amazon: https://rstyle.me/cz-n/hgzmmac6p4f They were very easy to install and really helped the whole space come together.

What do you think? She’s going to have her tv hung and then decide if she wants to do anything additional to the center wall. If we do, I’ll be sure to update it here!

How to hide your tv cords WITHOUT adding an outlet

Posted on January 16, 2023January 29, 2023 by Kelley Elmore

If you are wanting to hang a tv on a wall that already has an outlet, but you don’t want to see the hanging cords, here is an easy option. You’ll need an extension cord (I went with an 8 foot white cord), two of the 1 gang Old Work Brackets (pictured & linked below) and two brush plates or split plates (pictured & linked below).

1 gang Old Work Bracket

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__rstyle.me_cz-2Dn_hggwc3c6p4f&d=DwMFAg&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=ugJ3gGlD3mFTXUxxevZOD-kSkdpXUgP9uYZ_Ag5wsG1oSckytcYE5NYxCgZwdslD&m=I7ujJj1CUSdoSaqh4r-a8MRTAcwe_ZhxyMsAepjpMaQ&s=wNwx4M3IPZkPC_J-TqPFWiNO_vW6S2EqJVYV39pZQFI&e=

Split Plate

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__rstyle.me_cz-2Dn_hggwjic6p4f&d=DwMFAg&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=ugJ3gGlD3mFTXUxxevZOD-kSkdpXUgP9uYZ_Ag5wsG1oSckytcYE5NYxCgZwdslD&m=hmUMEOfl9TQS0NMPwnjy1cH_9P1yPfkciJG0f0TRtf4&s=r04yS8kR9oW7Ox2NFT-Z-rBz-B6uOmtMgjylUguyAYk&e=

Use the bracket to trace the opening. That gives you a guide as to the size of the hole to cut. Then, use a sharp drywall knife to cut the hole for the bracket and install it. You’ll do this next to the existing outlet at the bottom and behind where the tv will be mounted.

Sorry the picture is a little blurry. I tried to take screenshots from the reel I made. I’ll do better about taking still shots next time.

Anyway, do you see the little arms on the top and bottom of the bracket? As you tighten the screws, the arm sandwiches the drywall and keeps it in place.

Once the two brackets are installed, it’s time to run the extension cord. I used a rigid wire and electrical tape (pictured below).

Start by straightening out the wire and feeding it from the top opening, down the wall, and out the bottom.

Once you get the wire through the bottom opening, attach the female end of the extension cord to the wire with the electrical tape.

Use plenty of tape so that the cord doesn’t come off. Use the wire to pull the cord back up the wall and out of the top opening. Then, add the split plates and this is what you’re left with.

Below shows what it will look like once you are finished. Just plug the extension cord into the outlet at the bottom. You don’t need to have that much slack, I just had it that way for demonstration purposes.

Below is how looked once the cabinets were in place.

And this is how it looks now…

Now, once the tv is mounted on the wall, the cords will not be visible. Let me know if you have any questions.

Custom Built-Ins: Part 1

Posted on December 27, 2022January 22, 2023 by Kelley Elmore

This client wanted to do something with this big, blank wall that her tv sat on. She wanted something with storage down below and shelves to display decor on the top. We decided on custom built-ins and the first phase turned out great.

We purchased unfinished, stock wall cabinets from Lowes like these: https://rstyle.me/cz-n/g4qbwpc6p4f. If you buy floor cabinets, they will already have the kick plate at the bottom. I guess you could make that work, but it wasn’t really the look we were going for. Having the bottom be flush with the cabinets makes it look more like custom built-ins and less like kitchen cabinets in the living room.

I built a base out of 2x4s for the cabinets to sit on. I used an oscillating tool to cut out the section of the baseboard where the cabinets will go. This allows them to sit flush against the wall without a gap.

Next, I added the cabinets to the base to make sure everything looked good. I added 1 inch strips of wood in between each cabinet to take up space and for a more custom look.

Once I was happy with the set up, I took the doors off of the cabinets and painted them and the cabinet boxes. I ended up doing four coats just to be sure.

Once they were dry, I reassembled them on the base. The below picture shows a better view of the 1 inch strip in between the cabinets. This was taken before I secured them, which is why there is such a noticeable gap.

Here is how the cabinets looked after paint. I secured them to the studs in the wall and to the base with 3 inch wood screws.

Then, I added a baseboard with my nail gun, caulked everything, and touched up a few areas with paint.

I didn’t trust myself to make the long cuts for the butcher block counter so I made my husband do that. The whole unit is 131″ wide and 13.5″ wide so we had to use two pieces of butcher block. After the cuts were done, I sanded it and stained it. This is the stain I used: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Varathane-1-qt-Kona-Premium-Fast-Dry-Interior-Wood-Stain-2-Pack-266161/203371903?irgwc=1&cm_mmc=afl-ir-116548-456723-&clickid=Rlj1Gf16TxyNRXQUCYX8OUKVUkAz131tR3u52E0

Once it dried, we installed it and secured it with wood screws.

After the holidays, I’m planning on going back and adding shelves to the ceiling on either side of the tv. I will be sure to post it once it is completed.

Back Porch Sittin’

Posted on July 8, 2022July 8, 2022 by Kelley Elmore

This post contains affiliate links.

Everything you see here can be found at this link https://liketk.it/3EGw0

We are finally done with our back porch and it has quickly become our favorite place to hang out. We have spent many summer evenings sipping cool drinks under the fan and enjoying each other’s company. Whether it be a competitive game of chess (The boys, not me. Idk how to play.) or just catching up on the day, this is most likely where you can find us.

You may remember this sectional from our old house. We had it on the deck. It’s held up pretty well over the years. We ordered the fire pit from Amazon back in the colder months. The husband built a table top so it can be used as a coffee table when it’s too hot for a fire.

I purchased this sign from At Home a few years back, hoping to have somewhere to hang it eventually. I linked a similar one here. https://liketk.it/3EGw0

This rug is perfect for this outdoor space. It is thin enough where you can just sweep it off but soft enough to add comfort under your feet. This is an 8×10′ and it sections off the sitting area perfectly.

This little side table came with the fire pit. It holds a standard propane tank out of sight. There’s a notch on the bottom where the hose comes out and connects to the fire pit. We have it running under the rug so it won’t be a trip hazard.

The swing was a birthday gift to myself. The kids fight over who gets to sit in it. It’s surprisingly comfortable and very affordable!

Everything you see here can be found at this link https://liketk.it/3EGw0

Scalloped Closet Trim

Posted on April 22, 2022April 22, 2022 by Kelley Elmore

I’ve been jonesing for a simple, quick project lately. The other night, I was laying in Aubrey’s room with her before bed and noticed that the wall where her closet is looked very plain. Eventually, we will be adding closet doors but not any time soon.

This project is so easy and turned out so cute. I cut a paper plate in half and used it as a stencil. Make sure you find the center of the opening (door jam, closet, window, etc) and start there. That way, it’ll be symmetrical on both sides. I made that mistake the first time and had to erase it and redo it. That’s why you start with a pencil!

Once you are happy with the outlines, use a craft brush to paint over the lines with whatever color you’d like. I used Violet Cache by Sherwin Williams.

Go back, fill in the half circles and paint the trim and that’s it! I had to do two coats but I am really happy with how it turned out. Eventually, we will add sliding mirror doors and when we do, they will be nicely framed with the scalloped edge.

The Marshalls’s Project! (Laundry Room Makeover)

Posted on March 25, 2022April 1, 2022 by Kelley Elmore

This post contains affiliate links

I had the pleasure of making over our friends’ laundry room while they were out of town for spring break. I’m really sad that I wasn’t there to get their reaction when they returned home but we had a baseball game. The phone call I received confirmed it. They loved the transformation!

Here is what we started with. Plain, beige, and boring.

And here is where we ended….

All of the decor is from Target and is linked at the bottom of the page.

I helped them pick out Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams for their whole house and it looks great! It’s light enough to really brighten up the space but beige enough to not clash with the wood cabinets and brown in their granite countertops. That had this room painted before I started.

I added the shiplap, shoe moulding, and shelves. I did two coats of the blue paint, which was Calligraphy by Behr, at home beforehand. Once everything was installed, I filled the nail holes, sanded, and added a top coat of paint. I love the color. It’s dark and sophisticated. Not to mention, it matched perfectly with the floor.

They have big plans for multiple rooms in their home so they didn’t want to blow the budget on fancy floors in a room that no one will really see. That is why we decided to go with vinyl peel and stick tiles. Also, we were going right over linoleum, which is pretty smooth and flat. I don’t know if this flooring would have been a good choice over grouted tile. I think the indentions of the grout would show eventually. But for linoleum, it was perfect!

This room took me three days and about $500 in supplies. Not a bad trade for a “laundry room that looks like it’s out of a magazine” (said my client’s very critical husband). #win

All items are linked here: https://liketk.it/3AD3U

Easy DIY Play Stand

Posted on April 26, 2021February 2, 2022 by Kelley Elmore

How to make this in a few simple steps:

Supplies:

Four 18″ wooden crates from a craft store (I got these from Michaels and they were $9 each)

One piece of 1/4″ x 2′ x 4′ Birch Plywood ($15.07 at Home Depot)

1 1/2″ wood screws or nails (however you prefer to attach things)

Chalkboard Paint

Did you know that Home Depot will do simple cuts for you for free? If you don’t have a saw at home or are intimidated by it, just have the associate do it. You’ll need two pieces cut at 4″ x 4′ and one piece cut at 8″ x 4′. You’ll be left with a little extra. You can just save it for your next project, like me, or trash it.

Stack your crates however you’d like and attach them with the wood screws or nails. I alternated forward and backward facing because I wanted her to be able to store things on the inside and display things on the outside. There’s no wrong way to do it.

Then, attach the two 4″x4′ pieces to the back. These will hold up the sign.

This is what it will look like.

Next, make your sign. You can paint a store name on it if you’d prefer. I assumed Aubrey would like to be able to use it as all sorts of things so I painted it with chalkboard paint. That way, we can easily change the name.

*Side note about chalkboard paint: ALWAYS season new chalkboard paint. You do this by turning the chalk on it’s side, rubbing it all over the chalkboard surface, and then wiping it off. If you don’t, you will never get the first thing you write on it completely off.

Since the wood is so thin, I just used wood glue to attach the sign. And since I’m a professional, I used soup cans to weigh it down while it dried instead of clamps. Just keeping it real!

This is what you are left with! It is so versatile and the kids will think of a thousand things to use it for that we’d never think of. I figured it would be a lemonade stand first. Nope. Aubrey looked right at it and said “Pet Shop!”

*The battery powered party lights are from the dollar spot at Target. They were $5*.

DIY Angled Curtain Rod

Posted on April 26, 2021February 2, 2022 by Kelley Elmore

We absolutely love the bay window in the eat in area of the kitchen but the sun was blinding in the afternoon. The hubs wanted blinds, I insisted on curtains. I won, but the question became what kind of curtain rod do you get for an angled bay window? Everything I saw online showed multiple small curtain rods which looks really tacky in my opinion.

We purchased a long curtain rod to fit the entire length of the window. Brian has a pipe bender which he uses at work daily to bend pipe before he pulls wires through it. He took a pipe that was a smaller diameter than the curtain rod (so that it would fit inside like an insert) and bent it to match the angle in the wall.