Fair warning: This post might be even more gross than the last. I can’t tell any more. My gross meter has been maxed out since last Wednesday so I’m desensitized to it all. Well, the plumber came out and cleared the clogged drain line which was packed full of toilet paper. He then scoped the […]
The post Repaired but not fixed — plumbing issues continued appeared first on Sawdust Girl®.
You all know that I’m obsessed with watercolors. I love everything about them. I was especially excited to try out a new product which I used to make this DIY wooden tropical watercolor art!
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Plaid®. All opinions are my own.
I recently attended the Plaid Creators Summit at Plaid’s headquarters here in Atlanta, and we had the opportunity to try out a bunch of amazing new products. One of my favorites to play around with was Martha Stewart Watercolor Crafts® Paint. This paint is available in 40 colors exclusively at Michaels, can be used on multiple surfaces (like wood, watercolor paper, fabric, canvas, and more), and is durable on indoor or outdoor porous surfaces. It’s a permanent gel-based acrylic formula, and you can use it “as is” or dilute it with water to get a more authentic-looking watercolor effect. It’s easy to blend and the colors are beautiful.
Now, let me show you how to create your own DIY Wooden Block Tropical Watercolor Art!
Suppy List:
First, cut your wood and sand the edges. (Or use pre-cut wooden squares or blocks.) I used a 1×6 board and cut it to about 5 1/2″ long (that’s close to the actual width of the board, since a 1×6 isn’t actually 6″ wide. Annoying, I know!)
Then, I used a variety of fun colors from the Martha Stewart Watercolor paint line to paint an “ombré” design onto each wooden square. I did this by choosing 3 colors, each from the same color family, and using all 3 to paint each square in 3 sections (top, middle, bottom), and then using water to help wash/fade the colors into each other. When using the paint, I dipped my brush in water first, and then into the paint on my paper plate palette. I also blotted with a paper towel anytime I felt that I had over saturated my wood. I painted the edges with a combo of all of the colors. I varied the colors on each square, and I used two cups of water, one for “warm” colors and one for “cool” colors.
After my squares had dried, I applied an adhesive stencil to the center of each square, and painted them with a mixture of colors. I alternated between two stencils, a small pineapple and a small banana leaf. I blotted my brush on a paper towel so it wouldn’t be too saturated in order to prevent bleed-through.
I peeled the stencil off and allowed the wooden squares to dry thoroughly. Then, I applied picture hanging strips to the back and hung them in a grid on the wall.
For more ideas and inspiration, be sure to follow Plaid on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Martha Stewart Watercolor Crafts Paint is available exclusively at any Michaels store or at Michaels.com.
You can also connect with me here:
The post DIY Tropical Watercolor Art on Wood appeared first on Erin Spain.
*Fair warning, this post is about toilets and toilet waste. All potty talk! This is NOT the bathroom post I wanted to be writing today but when sh*t happens, you have deal with it. And I’m dealing with literal sh*t — in the same place for the second time in months! For real~ A few […]
The post Sewer Pipe Failure – Round 2! appeared first on Sawdust Girl®.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of A/C Pro. All opinions are 100% mine.
Don’t settle for a car air conditioner that blows warm air. Before bringing your vehicle into a mechanic for expensive air conditioning service, use the A/C Pro Recharge kit. This is an all-in-one solution that replaces lost refrigerant and oil in your R-134a air conditioning system.
After a recent trip to Sandy Valley Ranch, the air conditioner in our truck would only blow warm air, nothing cold like it normally does. The compressor was working, but it was obvious there was an issue. We’ve never had our air conditioner serviced, and we don’t have the funds to service it with our mechanic right now. But for about $35, we picked up a can of A/C Pro to recharge our system.
The A/C Pro helps cool the interior of your car with colder and drier air. This do-it-yourself product can be installed in three easy steps, and in less than 10 minutes. This type of quick fix sounds too good to be true, but it really works.
Before using A/C Pro we referenced their website and used their Port Finder to identify the location of the low-pressure port we would connect to.
Once you select your make/model and year, the port finder will show you a picture of your port, which makes it extremely easy to use. Before using A/C Pro, read the instructions on the label very carefully and follow them explicitly for best results.
http://bit.ly/2h4lI82
Step 1: Connect the Hose
First start your vehicle and put your air conditioner to max cold. Make sure the compressor is engaged, if not the A/C Pro product won’t work. Shake the can vigorously, then locate the low-pressure port and remove the cap. Then place the end of the A/C Pro over the port and press down to engage the hose to the port. Once you tap into the port, the gauge on the A/C Pro will probably register in the red, which means your air conditioner needs recharging.
Step 2: Pull the Trigger
Next, pull the trigger to activate the A/C Pro. Do this in 10-20 second bursts. Do not let the A/C Pro bottle rest on the running engine at any time during the recharge. There’s a danger that the bottle could fall into the fan or down into the engine bay and cause serious problems. Make sure you keep the A/C Pro bottle on a tray or in your hand at all times before, during, and after use.
Step 3: Check the Gauge
Keep an eye on the gauge, and you should notice it slowly rise into the green range. Once you reach the recommended zone on the gauge, you can release the trigger, and then remove the hose and replace the cap.We used the entire contents of the bottle to get the needle in the appropriate range.
That’s all there is to it. Using A/C Pro saves time and money, and brings back your cold air. No more sitting in traffic drenched in sweat.
Check out this YouTube video of A/C Pro in action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THuGWOmWRCA
Building a picnic table is the best way to enjoy the great outdoors in the summer. Eating outside seems to take even the most ordinary of meals to something special, and your backyard is a great place for entertaining, too.
Of course, if you’re going to eat outside, you’ll need a table. How about a DIY picnic table? We’ll give you some highlights of a project plan from The Home Depot. First up? Supplies and materials.
Supply list
Tape measure
Ratchet and socket wrench
Framing square
Combination square
C-clamps
Bar clamps
Circular saw
Saber saw
3/8-inch drill and bits
Screwdriver
Paintbrush
Safety goggles
2x4s
2x6s
2x8s
3/8 x 3-inch carriage bolts
No. 8 2-1/2, 3 and 4-inch deck screw
Sandpaper
Steps
First things first: You’ll need to cut and assemble the table’s slats and supports. The legs will then be screwed on, and supports screwed to the legs will help hold the bench slats in place.
From there, you’ll assemble the top by first cutting the 2×8 table slats to length using the circular saw. Cut the table supports and cut a 60-degree angle on each end of the two end table supports, then cut a 60-degree bevel on the end of the center table support. Clamp the table slats together, separated by spacers, and drill holes with a combination countersink bit.
For now, only drive screws into the two outermost slats–this will give you room to adjust the inner slat if necessary as you finish the project. Use No. 8 4-inch deck screws to screw the two end table supports to the slats. Attach the center table support to the slats with 8 2 1/2-inch deck screws.
After that, you’ll add the legs and supports, attach the bench slats and apply any final touches such as sanding and paint. This is where you can really have fun and customize your table. Consider painting the legs and supports a contrasting color, as pictured at the top of the post. Or try a rich stain to bring out the natural beauty of the wood. Check out The Home Depot’s complete project tutorial, available in a printable PDF, that also includes a cutting list for the slats and legs.
Photo courtesy of HisAndHersDIY.com
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Armor All . All opinions are 100% mine.
Living in Los Angeles can be surprisingly difficult on a vehicle. From constant bird droppings to the grease and grime picked up on the freeways, keeping your car or truck free from gunk is a constant struggle. Armor All’s Ultra Shine Wash Wipes, are convenient pre-moistened wipes that will help keep your car looking it’s best at all times.
We’re reluctant to take our vehicles to any type of automated car wash. The big brushes and wipers can do more harm than good, and the dryers can be even worse. But unfortunately we don’t have the time to wash our vehicle as often as it needs, and we are also conscious of the drought that southern California is experiencing. When we do wash our car, we use a pressure washer set on low and one bucket of water. This technique is much more effective and less wasteful than a standard running hose. But all of this takes a lot of time, which is hard to find on weekends and impossible during the week.
So, oftentimes bird droppings and tar spots go uncleaned on our car and then when we get around to washing or wiping them off, they are tougher to remove. Bird droppings can also damage a vehicle’s paint, so it’s really vital to remove it as soon as possible. Keeping a vehicle clean is more about protecting the paint, than a vanity issue. We keep our vehicles as long as we can and maintaining a good paint job by cleaning the exterior of our car is one of the best ways for the vehicle to retain it’s value.
The easiest solution for keeping our car clean at all times has been using Armor All’s new Ultra Shine Wash Wipes. They are packaged similarly to regular wet wipes with a resealable opening, and can fit easily into the trunk or glove box of your car. As soon as you notice some dirt on your vehicle, just take one Ultra Shine Wash Wipes and wipe it away. You’d be surprised how much dirt you can remove with one wipe. The best technique is to fold the wipe over in quarters and when one section is dirty, just fold it over to a clean section and continue using it. The Ultra Shine Wash Wipes are pre-moistened but not dripping in liquid, so there is no mess and your car dries almost immediately after being cleaned. With the Ultra Shine Wash Wipes there is no need to carry paper towels or microfiber towels, plus a cleaning spray—just use a wipe and throw it away. They are simply the best way to keep your car clean between washings.
In addition to the Ultra Shine Wash Wipes, Armor All has a ton of products to clean, shine, and protect your vehicle, both inside and out. We’ve been using their Tire Foam Protectant® for years, and having shiny clean tires really finishes off a nice clean vehicle. Use their online Product Advisor at armorall.com to find the right product for your car’s needs.
This is the third and final post in our three part series on luxury vinyl flooring. This isn’t a new category in flooring, but many homeowners are still not familiar with the qualities of today’s vinyl flooring. Shaw’s Floorte product exemplifies the best features you’ll find vinyl flooring, including ease of installation, water resistance, variety of styles/designs/colors, and low cost compared to other types of floors. We’ve spent a month with our new floors and love them more each day. Read on for the benefits we’ve found, some we expected, others we didn’t.
To be honest, it wasn’t difficult to notice an improvement in our studio flooring, as anything would have been better than the crappy linoleum tile squares we were working on. Many of those tiles were peeling up and they were very dirty and beyond cleaning. Shaw Floorte made the transition to new floors as smooth as possible (no pun intended). The toughest part of getting the Shaw floors was deciding which type of Floorte to choose. There are 69 style and color combinations to choose from. We instantly gravitated to Mantua Plank in Elba. We felt this neutral color would compliment our white walls, and the textured wood design would make the floor “pop”.
In our opinion, a floor dominates the design of a room. More so than the colors of the wall. A beautiful floor will cause audible oohs and aahs from guests, while a painted wall is likely not noticed or causes gasps. Once we got our office back together, we were shocked how much of a difference the new floor made in it’s appearance. We forgot that we had repainted the walls white and couldn’t keep our eyes off the new floor. It improved the look of our furniture and the design of our space 10-fold.
The furniture in our studio consists of two desks, two office chairs, and a side table. Our office chairs are on a casters and the first thing we noticed is how easily we are now gliding across the floor. The installation was a snap (literally), and we ended up with no gaps or loose planks. As newbies to this type of work we had to pat ourselves on the back. And after a month, the floor continues to hold together as nicely as the day we installed it. Although our space is small, the floor receives a lot of traffic. From daily use as well as office chair movement, our Floorte flooring has never shifted or shown any signs of moving.
Last week we moved a cabinet into our office and one corner of it slipped out of our hands and onto the floor. We were expecting to see a huge gouge in the floor, but the Floorte is so durable there was just a slight dimple in the floor that no one would ever notice unless they put their eye to the floor. For us, durability is a key as we are constantly moving boxes in and out of the space as well as rolling jobsite tools and tool boxes around.
We could not be more happy with our choice to use Shaw Floorte luxury vinyl flooring and we hope our series has left you better informed on what Shaw has to offer.
Our 100 square foot studio space has been an amazing blessing for us since we work from home. It’s a small space but when you work from a 900 square foot home, it’s plenty big. In a previous post we recapped the benefits of Shaw luxury vinyl flooring. Their product called Floorte seemed to be the ideal option for our space and one of the biggest selling points was the DIY installation. It only took us an afternoon to install our floor and this was our first time doing any type of project like this.
Before installing the flooring we wanted to paint the room, so no random drips stained the new floors. After the walls and ceiling were dry, we went to work removing the old vinyl square tiles. These had been there for years and many of them were already shifting. We used a large pry bar and had the old tile panels removed within 30 minutes.
Be cautious when removing old tiles as the adhesives can contain asbestos fibers or crystalline silica. If you don’t know for sure, then assume it does and refrain from scraping, sanding, or chipping away at old adhesive as this can release these toxic materials into the air. After removing the old tiles, we used our shop vac to reach into the corners and along the walls to ensure there was no dirt that would hinder the installation of our new floors. The subfloor must be completely clean, flat, dry and structurally sound, before installing the tile.
Proper planning and floor layout will prevent having narrow plank widths at wall junctures or very short length pieces at the end of rows. The planks should be installed parallel to the longest exterior wall.
The Floorte luxury vinyl flooring is installed using their patented Fold n Tap method, which is a descriptive name for how it’s pieced together. No underlayment is required, just a smooth clean concrete base. Floorte does offer various padding options if you prefer but it’s not necessary. We installed our floors directly over our concrete subfloor.
Floorte vinyl plank flooring is designed to be installed utilizing the floating method. This means the planks should never be secured to the subfloor. Cabinets and fixed objects should not be installed over the floors and a ¼” expansion space is required at each end of the flooring.
Once you’ve determined the layout and orientation of the plans, begin the installation of the planks from the left side of the room and work to the right with the planks in front of you. Use spacers along the walls to maintain the proper expansion space of ¼” using spacers.
The alignment of the first plank and the first two rows of planks, will determine how successful your installation is. The first plank is placed ¼” away from the wall in the top left corner.
The second plank is installed by aligning and dropping the end of the tongue over the end groove of the first plank. It only takes a bit of light pressure to join the two planks together. If you are struggling to connect the planks, don’t force them as the tongues and grooves can break off. Re-check the alignment and try again.
We used a rubber mallet to help engage the short side of the plank by lightly tapping the plank so it sits flush with the adjacent plank.
For the second row, you’ll want to cut down the length of the first plank, so you get that random look. Each row of planks should be offset by about half the length of a plank, but it is really your personal preference. But any plank shorter than 6 inches will not look good. The best method for cutting the planks is to score it with a utility knife on each side and then snap it in half with your foot. We used a miter saw to clean up some of the rough edges but that’s not ideal.
As you continue the install, make sure each row is square. If it isn’t then you’ll have to start over again from the point the flooring went askew. Remember the planks should snap together easily and nothing should be forced.
Once we got into a rhythm the flooring went in smoothly. It took a bit of massaging to get the planks to fit around a small corner and near the sill, but Floorte is easy to work with and we figured in a few extra planks when ordering in case we damaged any during install or came up short during the install.
Once the flooring was in, that was it. We swept the room again, but there was no mess of tools or glue or any other hardware or building materials to clear. The floor is immediately ready to start using, which brings us to our final post in this series and that’s our review of how Floorte performs.
Forget everything you know about vinyl flooring. The next generation of luxury vinyl flooring offers high performance, lots of color and texture options, and a great price for the product and installation.
Our 100 square foot stand-alone studio space has ugly and worn out square plastic floor tiles. They are dirty and stained beyond repair, so we never cleaned our floors as they would just remain dirty looking. We’ve always wanted to update the floors in the studio, but the costs and time involved always kept us from doing it. A couple months ago Shaw Floors reached out to us about their Floorte luxury vinyl flooring line and asked if we were interested in checking it out. Immediately we thought of our studio space and how we’d love to upgrade the floors and give the room a makeover. The space needed a fresh coat of paint and a reorganization that just wouldn’t work without new floors, so we jumped at the opportunity to try Shaw’s new flooring.
We chose a floor from their luxury vinyl flooring line called, Floorte, which offers 71 different styles and colors. We requested three different samples and quickly settled on Mantua Plank in Elba. Mantua Plank is available in 9 different colors and we wanted a light neutral color that would work well with our white walls and light colored furniture. The wood pattern and color would add more depth to our room and a touch of sophistication our space has been lacking.
In addition to finding a design that we loved and could both agree on (that can be tough), we were really sold on the ease of installation and waterproof feature of the floor. Its Fold-N-Tap Locking system is precision-engineered with the most advanced technology possible-making it easy to use, strong, and durable. Floorte is also flexible and is installed as a floating floor. It conceals imperfections of the floor beneath-so less floor prep is needed. Our floors were in pretty good shape but not completely smooth, but Floorte covered them up nicely and the install left no gaps. The waterproof feature is a huge one, as we’ve spilled drinks on occasion and don’t want to have to freak out about stains or other issues.
The first step before installing the new flooring was to remove everything from the space. We’ve been in the space for 8 years so stuff has piled up. But this gave us an opportunity to purge and only keep what we really needed. Once we removed all of the furniture and office supplies, we chose to paint the room before laying down the new flooring. We went with a Behr paint and primer and gave the room two coats of fresh paint.
Because we were going to be pulling up the old tile we didn’t need to put down drop clothes. The walls are in rough shape but we’ll have to save any serious remodeling for another time. The next step was to pull up the old tiles, which was easier than expected. The glue holding the tiles to the floor had mostly dried up, so by using a demolition bar we were easily able to pull up all of the old tiles and there was very little residue left on the bare concrete floor. We used a broom and a Shop-Vac to clean the floors as much as we could. It felt so good to remove years of dirt that had built up and know that we were going to be putting down fresh new floors. Be cautious when pulling up old tile as there could be asbestos in the glue. If you have concerns, get it checked out by a contractor.
Check back soon to read about how we installed the Floorte luxury vinyl flooring, which ended up being one of the easiest DIY projects we’ve ever tackled.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Shaw Floors. The opinions and text are all mine.
In our family, summer equals road trips. We spend a good part of the year planning our road trips, from weekend jaunts to week long excursions. Our goal is to make sure our vehicles are in top running condition year-round, as we never know when a last minute trip to San Francisco, Las Vegas, or Tucson is in the mix. Besides changing the oil and making sure the air cleaner is clean and the tire pressure is right, it’s also necessary to take a peek at your brake fluid and window washer fluid. These fluids should be replaced as needed and here’s how.
Window wash fluid is specially formulated to clean your windshield of all types of dirt and grime, and in all weather conditions. Prestone has three types of windshield washer fluid that are made for three different applications ( De-Icer, Bug Wash, All Season 3-in-1). For our needs, the bug washer works best. The climate in southern California is mild year-round, and bugs are prevalent on the many road trips we take.
Refilling the window washer fluid is one of the best car DIY projects you can share with your children. There are no hot or toxic liquids to deal with and children can test their pouring skills so they only fill the washer fluid to the fill line. We’ve designated this task for our son to keep an eye on and it’s his responsibility to fill it when the washer fluid gets low. This duty helps him take ownership of the vehicle and understand that owning a car comes with the responsibility of maintaining it. He’s still a bit young to assist me with changing the oil, but when the time comes he’ll be doing that as well.
Wiper washer fluid is important, but arguably the most important system on your vehicle are the brakes. Regular inspection of the brake pads and rotors is important, but almost equally important is checking your brake fluid and making sure you replace as needed. The best way to check your brake fluid is by doing a visual inspection.
Good brake fluid should be clear, so if your brake fluid is a dark caramel color it’s time to change it. You can opt to bleed your brake system, which removes all of the old fluid, or simply replace the fluid in your master brake cylinder. You can remove the old fluid using an old turkey baster, then wipe the canister clean, and fill with new fluid. Follow your vehicle’s owner’s manual so you know how often the brake fluid should be changed and what type of brake fluid it requires. Prestone has every type of brake fluid you’d need, including DOT 3, DOT 4, or DOT 5. This type of project isn’t for kids, as brake fluid is toxic. You’ll want to make sure none of spills on your paint and if you have some left over, seal it up and dispose of it properly.
Working on your car is a great way to bond with your kids, while doing something constructive on the weekends. Everyone knows that regular maintenance will extend the life of your vehicle, so check out Prestone for all of your car fluid needs including anti-freeze, triple seal stop leak, and de-icer.
Check out all of these automotive products and more from Prestone.
This is a sponsored post from Prestone, but all opinions are 100% from Timothy Dahl of Charles & Hudson.
