How to Make New Wood Look Old

Earlier this week I shared a 15 minute DIY towel hook.   Now I can let you in on my little secret....about 14 minutes of that project was spent getting the new wood to actually look old and distressed. 

The scrap wood I used to hang the hooks on wasn't actually 'new' wood from the lumber yard.  It was wood I had in the garage, but it looked relatively new aside from a few splotches of paint.   The surface was smooth, there were no splinters or dings or nail holes.  I didn't want the wood to look this new though, I wanted it to look old, worn, distressed, loved...

Furniture Painting Tips: Polycrylic vs Polyurethane

Let me start off by saying...I ain't no furniture painting expert.  I'm just a girl, a SAHM, a wife, and DIYer who can't sit still so I started painting furniture.  And then I started selling my painted furniture...and with each piece I paint, I learn more and more about painting furniture.

One of the biggest quandaries I had was about finishes and top coats.   People always say 'poly' and my question is always 'poly what??'  I think most people assume polyurethane, but there is a time and place for polycrylic, too!

I have found they are both essential in painting furniture - sometimes on the same piece.  It was
recently when I was selecting my finishes for a piece with a stained top and a painted base that I realized sometimes the two must have a play date.

And so since I think I have finally wrapped my head around many of the pros and cons of both, I thought I would share what I have learned and that way others may have an easier time deciding the answer to "Polyurethane vs Polycryclic?"

DIY Oversized Clock (and KlockIt Coupon Code)

A few months back I shared how I made this fun oversized clock that I made out of fence slates.   It was my first attempt at making a clock and I really had no idea what I was doing as far as the actual mechanism.  That's why, you might remember, the face of my clock sat sans hands for weeks as I researched the best movement and extra long hands.  

Waiting...waiting...waiting for the right hands

Eventually I found both - at a very reasonable price - at Klockit.  With a simple hole drilled through the middle of my clock I was able to easily install the high torque, long shafted clock mechanism and hands.  Click 'Read More' below to access the KlockIt coupon code.

DIY House Number Sign (And how to drill into brick)

If you follow us on Instagram (you don't? GO DO IT NOW!)  you know I've been working on DIY house numbers.   We have one little house number on our mailbox, but if it's dark out people can't see it at all.  If I'm honest, even if it's daytime guests often miss us, because they're looking on the house for a number.   No more drive-bys...I've got you covered, my friends!

The actual house number sign only took me a few minutes to make, it was figuring out how to drill into brick to hang the plaque that delayed me more than a week.  It's not that it's that hard (well actually, it is hard...get it hehe) it's just you need the right tools to actually hang anything on brick and mortar.

More on that below, but first let's get to how I made this easy house number plaque.  I purchased the numbers at Home Depot for a few bucks each.  I could have just mounted them right one of the wood pillars we have out front or even directly onto the front door, but I wanted to jazz them up a little.

I found an old picture frame that was no longer being used for anything except collecting dust.  I took the frame apart because I literally only needed the frame - not the back, the mat, or the glass.  I made sure the house numbers would fit (they could have been placed vertically or horizontally, but I went with vertically) and then I spray painted the silver frame black to match the outside of our house.

How to cut chair rail trim with a miter box saw (Photos and Video)

Okay, so before I explain all this to you, let me just tell you that I learned how to cut trim with a miter box saw the hard way - by screwing it up.   I quickly learned that not only do you have to pay attention to the angle of the cut, which is determined by the corner, you also have to be careful about the way you position the piece of wood in the saw.


Since my recent $100  $84.41 bathroom makeover was my first go at it and I screwed it up, I had to live with my mistake and fix it as best as I could so I didn't blow my budget.

But now I'm here to tell you how to use a miter box saw correctly so you don't screw it up and end up with this...

Drain worms and DIY Re-caulking the shower

I can't even believe I am about to put this on the record, but we have these nasty things in our shower...WORMS! My husband claims he doesn't see this little black wiggly things, but oh, believe me, they are most definitely there.  And they have been now for the better part of a month.

We had a pest control guy come out and he said they must be coming from the drain..hence their name: Drain worms.   I had a hard time believing this since they are along the edge of the shower - where the wall meets the floor.  Anyway, before Mr. Bug Man pours any poisons into our pipes he suggested we clean them out first, as that's where the drain worms live.

DIY Starter Kit: 10 essentials for every DIYer

There's really nothing you have to have to do DIY projects, but a few key tools and craft supplies will definitely make life a whole lot easier.  Here at 2IY life is made easier because Stephanie married a man who just so happens to love tools.  I married a man, who, I am lucky can handle a hammer.

And so if you are in the same boat as me...you may want to start with a simple DIY Starter Kit.  I'll assume you at least have a hammer and a screw driver and that's pretty much it.  Okay ready? Let's get started.  All of the items are readily available at craft stores like Michaels, AC Moore and Hobby Lobby or the hardware stores including Home Depot and Lowes.   To make your life easier I'm going to give you direct links to them on Amazon so they're literally just a click away and in T-3 or 4 days your entire DIY starter kit will be on your front door.

SANDER: This is the Black and Decker Sander with dust filter that I have...whether you get this one or not is up to you, but you really do need a sander for any type of wood or painting projects.

JIGSAW: A jigsaw is a DIY essential if you plan to cut, oh let's see, next to anything! The Black and Decker jigsaw is a good one to start with since it's lightweight, relatively inexpensive, and user friendly.

NAIL GUN: A nail gun will save you a lot of time and manicures...just get a nail gun. This WEN Nail gun/Brad nailer has great reviews for it's affordable price tag and ease of use.  It does require an air compressor to run.


CRAFT PAINTS:  Get started with a set of craft paints like these high quality satin paints from the Martha Stewart collection. You'll save yourself a lot of time from running to the store to buy a new color every time you need it. Once you discover a color you keep turning to, you can buy a larger quantity.  I say having a few key colors of spray paint on hand it also an essential although you'll be hard pressed to find them come in a set.  Heirloom White is always a popular color so should be among your DIY starter kit essentials.


PAINT BRUSHES and SPONGE/FOAM BRUSHES:  Having a collection of paint brushes and sponge brushes on hand is always a good idea. Purchasing a set of each will mean you'll have a variety of different sizes on hand for various projects.  They can all be washed and reused.
 
CORDLESS DRILL: A cordless drill will serve you on so many different levels - from easily hanging pictures on the wall or making pilot holes in wood.  A cordless drill is something no DIYer should be without.

HEAVY DUTY STAPLE GUN: 
Forget the plastic nail gun you may already have, many DIY projects require something more substantial. Investing in a heavy duty staple gun like this Stanley will serve you well on a wide range of projects including anything that requires upholstery.
SEWING & DYE CUT MACHINES: Depending on the type of DIY projects you find yourself doing a dye cut machine and/or sewing machine will make your life much easier. Sewing and creating stencils from hand is time consuming and not nearly as efficient when done without these machines. Popular Dye Cut machines including the Cricut and the Silhouette - they can cut paper, vinyls, and other materials into stencils to be used in countless ways.

MOD PODGE:  Find me a DIYer who hasn't used Mod Podge or isn't a fan and I'll call you a liar.  The gluey concoction is seriously genius and can be used in some any different ways to create unbelievable projects.  The classic decoupage has been around for 40 years and is still popular because of it's clear dry, easy to clean up, yet high quality results.  There are five different forumlas and finishes, so the Mod Podge starter pack is perfect for any DIY starter kit.

GLUE GUN: A little dab 'll do ya...sometimes nothing works better than to just break out the glue gun and get it done.  Glue guns are seriously cheap and they're so versitile which makes them an essential part of any DIY starter kit. 

What tools do you have in your tool kit that you simply can't live without? We'd love to hear what your must-have DIY tools are.

The opinions expressed in this post are exclusively mine and are based on my own experience with the products.  I did not receive any compensation from any manufacturers or retailers for this article.

Posted by: Melissa