Okay so this has taken me way too long to post, but I built a nifty little toothbrush holder for Tanya over at the wonderful twelveOeight blog. Yes, this is another piece of rustic minutiae that will be going in my new bathroom. Yes, it is super easy to make. Yes, you should stop what you’re doing and go check it out RIGHT HERE AT twelveOeight.

Since Tanya is awesome,  I’m going be contributing projects like these on a semi-regular basis to her blog. So keep your eyes peeled for more stuff in the future!

Also make sure you check back here as well. I’ve got something big planned. I can’t tell you what it is, but I can tell you that it involves lumber and power tools and that your family is going to love it.

Best,

Matthew

Matthew

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I’ve got another cool industrial pipe tutorial for you guys! This time I built a nifty Industrial Bathroom Shelf out of recycled pipes for Katie, who runs the incredibly cool Upcycled Treasures blog. Not to toot my own horn, but this thing is like the Rolls Royce of bathroom shelving. It’s got a big towel rack, it’s got a distressed wood shelf, it’s got a paper towel holder and it’s got another rack thing that I haven’t even figured out how to use yet. This was a really fun build and it felt really good to help spread the gospel of upcycling. Seriously people, if you want rustic stuff then check out a junkyard before you go check out Restoration Hardware. You’ll save about $500 and you’ll have a story to tell.

Now, stop wasting your time here and go check out my DIY INDUSTRIAL SHELF on Upcycled Treasures immediately. And leave a comment letting Katie know how wonderful she is, because while you’re just sitting there twiddling your thumbs she’s out in a workshop somewhere, decorating the world with stuff most of us would consider junk.

The post Build Your Own Industrial Pipe Shelf! appeared first on HomeDaddys.

So we needed coasters for the house. We probably should have purchased some. In fact, some of you might say that purchasing coasters is really the only intelligent choice here. But I had some leftover flooring samples from the hardware store, some cans of metallic spray paint and a few hours to kill this afternoon this afternoon so I figured to heck with it, I’m gonna make my own.

That’s right. I stenciled my own coasters. Deal with it.

I wasn’t really expecting much from this project. Even though a million women have done it successfully on Pinterest, my painter’s tape skills aren’t what you would call “competent.” On top of that, I’m much more likely to cut myself with an X-Acto knife than I am to cut out the stencil I’m trying to make. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the finished products not only looked acceptable, they actually looked pretty darn cool.

And you guys, seriously, these are so easy to make.

Start by grabbing a few tiles or pieces of cork board or free floor samples from your local hardware store. Then, cover those samples in painter’s tape or electrical tape and cut shapes out of that tape using a craft knife. Then spray paint them and wait half an hour before you peel the tape off.

I tried a few different techniques here. For the first coaster I tried to layer the gold paint first followed by black and silver. For the second I tried to block out colors on a single layer and for the third I just kind of gave up and went with an ombre-style fade job, also known as “spraying everything everywhere.”

Ironically, I think the cop-out fade design ended up looking the coolest. If I ever make these again I’m definitely going to go that route. You might also notice that some of the coasters have some tape bleed. I think that’s my fault for using old painter’s tape. This should be easy enough to avoid when you make yours. Just use new tape and press it flat with the edge of a credit card before you spray paint.

At the end of the day, are these coasters the manliest thing I’ve ever made? Not by a long shot. But they’re a neat little quickie project to do for your spouse or significant other. They also make a fun project for young children. I flew solo on this one because my little dude was too busy saving our backyard from the tyranny of squirrels but that’s another story.

Stop back soon for even more cool tutorials and DIY tricks. And please bear with me as my wife and I continue plowing through our bathroom renovation. My posts may be sporadic for another couple of months but hopefully the projects I’ve got lined up for you guys will be cool enough to compensate.

Take care,

Matthew

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Hey guys!

It know, I know, it’s been a while since my last post. I took a break from the interwebs for last few weeks to tackle some projects that have been on my to-do list forever, including building this floor lamp. I made the entire thing from scratch using industrial pipe, some lamp wire and a few vintage light bulbs. I know, it’s awesome. You know what’s even more awesome? I made a step-by-step tutorial so you can build your own! Jessica from How About Orange was nice enough to publish it as a guest tutorial on her blog, so go check it out.

Here’s the link.

I’ve got a few more projects that I’m tackling over the next few weeks, so I’ll only be writing intermittently. However, I can promise that even more industrial pipe goodness awaits those who are patient. So stay tuned, people.

It’s good to be back,

Matthew

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Most people use mason jars for canning their meats and produce, but there are many other uses that are great for the environment as well as the pocketbook. Mason jars can be used for food storage, soap dispensers, herb garden containers and more. You can even make a mason jar into a cocktail shaker.

Soap or Lotion Dispenser

A soap or lotion dispenser made from a mason jar adds a unique decorative touch to your kitchen counter. You can use the pump from any lotion or soap dispenser or purchase a new one at your local craft store. Cut a hole in the lid of your jar so that the dispenser goes through but does not fall in. You can fill it with your favorite lotion or soap, either homemade or bought in bulk from the store. These dispensers also make great gifts for holidays, birthdays or housewarming parties.

Smoothie or Guacamole Server

Some bottom caps on blenders have the same thread count as the neck of a mason jar. This means that you can blend anything that you would normally use your blender for and store the contents in the mason jar. Just make sure that a mason jar will fit on your blender and attach it slowly and carefully so you don’t break anything. Using a mason jar for blending eliminates the hassle of having to transfer the contents of your blender to another container and clean the blender before blending a different item.

Garden Containers

Container gardening is a wonderful way to ensure that you have freshest possible herbs in your kitchen. Mason jars can be used for holders the same way that you would use any other container for your garden. It works best to secure the jars to a board using pipe clamps. The board can easily be moved indoors or outdoors as necessary when you are growing your herbs. Make sure you bring them into the kitchen at night when the weather cools down so that they aren’t damaged by frost.

Food Storage

Using mason jars for canning is common, but they can also be used for storing many types of food. Mason jars are excellent for storing leftovers in the refrigerator. Their clear glass design makes it easy to see the contents of each container. They can also be used in the pantry to store bulk items such as flour, sugar, rice and pasta. Small jars are excellent for storing spice mixes that you have created in your kitchen. Be sure to label the jars well so that you don’t have to guess the contents of each jar.

Salad Dressing or Marinade Containers

Making your own salad dressings or marinades is a great way to control which ingredients your family is putting into their bodies. You can mix your own marinades or salad dressings in your kitchen and store the contents in pint size mason jars in the door of the refrigerator for easy access whenever you need them. The jars can also be used to store sauces or other liquids. Heck, you can even make a whole salad in a mason jar.

Cocktail Shaker

One of the most creative uses for a mason jar in your kitchen is creating your own cocktail shaker. Most inexpensive cocktail shakers tend to leak, but you can make your own from a jar with a lid and it’s likely to last for a long time. Simply drill small holes in one side of the lid with a 1/8″ drill bit. Use your cocktail shaker the same way that you would use a commercial shaker for making drinks.

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