Cat Scratching Post Supply List:

4×4 lumber, or two 2×4 pieces attached together
2×6 lumber, or something equally strong and heavy, for the base
wood screws
staples or tacks to attach the carpet
tools - hammer, saw, screwdriver, and staple gun if you’re using staples; utility knife to cut the carpet
scrap of carpet, indoor-outdoor carpet, sisal rope, or another suitable scratching surface
Caution: Wear work gloves and protective eyewear to make this woodworking project.

Cat Scratching Post Instructions:

1. Cut the lumber that you are using for the scratching post to the desired height. Keep in mind that the post must be stable, as your cat is unlikely to use it again if it tips over even once. The scratching post shown here is 28″ tall, with a base of about 18″ by 12″. At minimum, the post needs to be the length of your cat plus enough extra length to allow the cat to stretch out nicely.

2. The base on this model has two layers. The first layer is made by setting 3-12″ sections of 2×6 side by side. Cut 2 sections of 2×6 to match the width of the first layer (about 16.5″ as 2×6 lumber is, in truth, only 1.5″ by 5.5″). Place these 2 sections of the second layer on top of and parallel to the first layer. Attach the top layer to the bottom with wood screws. This makes for a heavy and stable base.

3. Cover the base with your choice of scratch material, which could be as simple as an old piece of carpet or AstroTurf. Natural rope like sisal is also nice, but takes a while to wrap tightly. Attach the material with a staple gun, or a hammer and flat tacks.

4. Place the scratching post in the center of the base. Attach it to the base by using one screw on each face of the post. Cover the post with your scratch material, and attach as described for the base.

5. Secure a dangling cat toy to the new scratching post to entice your cat to try it out. If your cat likes cat nip, rub a little of that into the scratch material or attach a cat nip toy. Try placing the scratching post near where your cat sleeps, as many cats enjoy a leisurely scratch upon awakening.

How-to Article is based upon the WikiHow page How to Make a Cat Scratching Post, released under Creative Commons license.

How to Make a Recycled Tote Bag or Purse

Many stores now have a “bring your own bag” policy to encourage the use of reusable shopping bags. While this is great for the environment, it usually means you end up buying some form of cheap fabric bag, printed with the store name, to carry your purchases home.

Here are some stylish shopping bag or alternatives - made mostly from recycled materials, it is true, but oh-so-much-better than turning yourself into a walking billboard for the local foodland.

Make a Purse from a Placemat

T-Shirt Purse

Lorain Blanken, the talented About.com guide for DIY Fashion, has easy step-by-step instructions to make a handy Placemat Purse; perfect for personal shopping or carrying smaller items.

Your local thrift store likely has lots of pretty placemats - pick out a nice one, and look for a set of purse handles (or make fabric handles in coordinating fabric). This project doesn’t even require a sewing machine; just hand sew the two side seams and fasten on the handle, and you’re done.

T-Shirt Grocery Bag

Recycled T-shirt Purses or Totes

I also like the project Lorain has for a casual T-Shirt Purse, made from two recycled tees, cleverly fashioned from two triangles of t-shirt fabric. Lorain provides how-to’s for hand sewing the triangles together; again, no sewing machine required.

You get a sense for how creative this designer is when you see the T-Shirt Grocery Tote that she made one night from two large t-shirts. Read her directions to make your own.

Doggie Bag Tote

Doggie Bag Tote

Pet lovers finally have a use for all those extra large (and extra strong) bags of dog food with recycling instructions from Beverly Watkins to make a Doggie Bag Tote.

Cat lovers, of course, can recycle larger bags of cat food for a feline-themed version. Apparently, the pet food aroma can be washed out, either by hand, or on a gentle cycle in the washing machine, followed by line drying.

Knit a Tote from Plastic Shopping Bags

Tote Knitted from Plastic Bags

No matter how hard you try, you’ll likely still collect a stash of plastic shopping bags on your travels. Knitters can put those to good use with this free pattern for a roomy and colorful Recycled Plastic Shopping Bag Tote.

Crochet a Plarn Bag

Recycled Plastic Bag Backpack

Over at MyRecycledBags.com, check out this stylish Recycled Plarn Backpack Pattern - as well as this free crocheted bag pattern, you’ll find detailed instructions on how to make yarn from plastic bags (plarn) and how to line a bag made from plarn.

Fuse Plastic Bags to Make a Tote

In the LeisureArts.com craft project Library, you’ll find great instructions showing how to make a Fused Recycled Bag Tote.

Fused Recycled Bag Tote

Essentially, this involves ironing a stack of plastic bags under parchment paper to fuse them into single pieces. The fused sections are then sewn together with simple exterior seams to form a tote bag. Love it!

RaisingSpaces.com had some interesting Upcycled Pendant Lamps to share for Earth Day, including instructions to make this Scooped Pendant Lamp (shown at right). Did you guess that it is made from recycled laundry scoops?

The Flare Pendant Light, (pictured at left), is a tassel-styled cluster lamp made from recycled glass bud vases. Thrift stores usually have tons of these glass vases on display for very reasonable prices.

This piece is called FLARE, and is part of the VESSEL lighting series at RaisingSpaces, a variant made using trumpet-shaped clear glass bud vases arranged in a bouquet. How-to’s are provided if you’d like to make a similar DIY chandelier.

Although glass baby-food jars have been partly replaced by plastic containers these days, you’ll probably find a sizeable stash somewhere near the bud vases in the thrift store. If so, consider making this Baby Food Jar Candle Chandelier from Natural Home.

You’ll need lots of baby food jars and tea lights, plus some barrel hoops, a length of rusty chain and a few other bits and pieces; a complete materials and tools list is included on the page, as well as detailed directions to make your own.

If you happen to have one or two wire planters hanging around, recycle them into an Outdoor Pendant Lamp like this one (at right), perfect for al fresco dining on the patio.

Finally, check out How to Make a Teacup Chandelier which, as you might expect from the name, is a cluster chandelier made from a teapot, tea cups and saucers.

Yard Sale Etiquette

What’s the right way to barter at a yard sale? Is it fair for “Early Birds” to get the bargains? And what’s the right way to price items? Here’s the basics of yard sale etiquette.

Just call me the Miss Manners of garage sales.

You see, I believe there’s a certain moral and ethical code governing the sacred act of selling and buying secondhand stuff. Contrary to popular belief, a yard sale is not an anything-goes, no-etiquette-needed free-for-all. As in any social situation, there are certain things you do or avoid doing in order to be polite.

Being avid yard sale shoppers, my husband, Michael and I often run across examples of bad manners, both by shoppers and by sellers. Here are a few of the faux pas we’ve seen that could have been easily avoided by the simple practice of good yard sale etiquette.

Buyers’ Blunders

Being an “Early Bird”
If the paper says the sale starts at 7a.m., don’t show up at 6 or don’t drive by the night before in hopes beating the other shoppers to the bargains. Yard sale shoppers who peer in garage windows with flashlights or knock on doors at 5:30 a.m. give the rest of us shoppers a bad name.

Not Respecting the Seller’s Property
Walking unnecessarily through the yard, stepping in flowerbeds, and blocking neighbors’ driveways are definitely in poor taste. If your children accompany you to a yard sale or garage sale, see to it that they respect the seller’s property as well.

Carrying Only Large Bills
While it is the seller’s responsibility to have adequate change, producing a $20 bill for a 25-cent purchase is extremely inconsiderate. Save small bills and change throughout the week for your Saturday yard sale trip.

Loud or Obnoxious Behavior
Just because the seller is up early doesn’t mean his neighbors are. Driving a noisy vehicle or speaking and laughing loudly will not endear you to the seller. Aggressive haggling or obnoxious negotiating tactics aren’t welcome, either.

Not Respecting Other Buyers
If you want to buy a large item or more items than you can carry, ask the proprietor to mark the item or start a “pile” for you in an out-of-the-way place. It is rude to claim items as yours while you continue shopping if you haven’t made any effort to let the proprietor and other shoppers know you intend to purchase them.

Sellers’ Slips

Not Pricing Items Clearly
I don’t know which is worse: not pricing items in a way that is easily understandable or not pricing items at all. Buyers shouldn’t have to work at figuring out the prices. If your pricing system is too confusing, some shoppers will get frustrated and leave without making purchases.

Accommodating Early Birds
Allowing early shoppers to get the bargains is unfair to the shoppers who respect your wishes. When sellers accommodate early birds, they only provide positive reinforcement to this inconsiderate behavior. Politely but firmly tell early birds that the sale is not open for business yet.

Trying to Sell Used Stuff at “New” Prices
If your stuff means that much to you, take it to a consignment store or sell it through a classified ad or on eBay. Yard sale shoppers are looking for bargains, not prices barely below what you’d find at a discount store.

Being Careless with Yard Sale Preparations
For the buyer who thinks she has found the item of her dreams, there is nothing worse than hearing, “That’s not for sale!” Remove things you do not want to sell from the sale area (lawnmowers, bicycles, wagons, etc.). If that is not possible, cover them with an old sheet or dropcloth, or use masking tape to rope off areas that are not part of the sale.

Not Taking Down Old Signs
After the yard sale is over, your yard sale signs are litter that should be disposed of just like any other garbage. Carelessly leaving old signs up ad infinitum is extremely inconsiderate to both shoppers and neighbors who must look at your weather-beaten signs for months to come.

If you have ever violated any of these social graces (as either a seller or buyer), take heart. Yard sale fanatics are a forgiving bunch. Just make a silent vow that in the future, you will always be on your best bargaining behavior.

About the Author: Nancy Twigg is the editor of Counting the Cost, a free twice-a-month e-zine devoted about simple, frugal and abundant living. She is also a popular conference and retreat speaker as well as the author of two books. To learn more about Nancy’s work, visit CountingtheCost.com

Additional Garage Sale Information:

Garage Sale Checklist
Use our garage sale check list to make your next garage sale successful and profitable.

Microsoft Office Templates for printable garage sale signs, garage sale flyers and postcards.

CBS News: Having a Successful Garage Sale
Information on what to sell, how to organize a garage sale, and pricing garage sale items.

Instructables has great step-by-step instructions to make a Literary Clock from an old book. A child’s book was used in this example, but how about an old textbook clock for a teacher, a Black Beauty clock for the horse lover, etc.?

Instructables also has a video tutorial, showing how to make the neat Recycled Book Lampshade, shown at right, or this interesting DIY project to make a paperback book into an ipod case.

Everyone needs a place to hide their stash, whether that be treasured jewelry, cash or, well, other stuff you want to hide from prying eyes or stealthy fingers. Make a Hollow Book Safe and slip it among the less-read novels on your bookshelves. Who will ever know?

Recycle several books at once when you make the DIY Network Stacked Book Lamp by artist and designer Alex Cobb. Use children’s books for a kid’s room, coffee table books for a table lamp for the den, or any books with pleasing spine designs that would look well stacked together.

Back to Instructables again for a wonderful way to revamp an old board book to make a Personalized Flap Book for Toddlers. This one will take a little time, since you need to get double prints of your photos, but the smiles will be worth it!

At right, a neat re-use for all those Reader’s Digest condensed books, or other similar-sized books that you’ll never be reading again - turn them into funky Stacked Book Table Legs; what could be more fitting for a library or study room?

Over at ThisAndThat, artist Jim Rosenau turns the whole concept of recycled books into a work of art. He doesn’t offer instructions, but will make bookshelves to order, and his gallery of beautifully finished pieces is well worth a look.

Finally, if you’ve just not ready to recycle or reuse your old books, donate any good ones to the thrift store or local library, or check out book swapping sites such as Paperbackswap or Bookmooch.

You can also let your books go free, releasing them into the world to take on a life of their own. It’s the brilliant idea behind Bookcrossing.com, and one that has so far been adopted by 720,165 people in over 130 countries. You just leave the book somewhere - in a coffee shop, or on a park bench, for instance, or anywhere it may find a new reader. If you register the release of your book at Bookcrossing you can then track the book’s journey around the world as it is passed on from person to person.

Create a Faux Marble Fireplace and Mantel For the Holidays

by Teresa Shoucair

Beginning the base coat

So you’ve decided to spruce up that blah looking fireplace before your company arrives for the holidays? Well, the good news is that you can do it over a weekend! Just so you know, creating a faux marble look is not the easiest process, but the result, if done well, is worth the effort. I recommend using a practice board before you start on your fireplace to make sure you understand the process.

The first step on your way to a fabulous fireplace is to find a sample of marble that you would like to mimic. It does not have to be real marble. Many of the kitchen counter tops that mimic marble are of some other material. I would start there to find what you need. Once you have found your sample, head to the paint store. You won’t need a lot of paint. For a mantel and surrounding fireplace, you are going to need approximately 4 quarts of paint and a gallon of glaze. Your paint expert can probably help match the colors on your sample to paint chips to get the best match.

Once you have chosen your colors, you also will need certain tools to do the job. The tools are not cheap, but, if you hire someone else to do the job you are probably looking at 3 to 4 times the cost. So, it will be worth the investment.

DIY Supplies:

• Blue Painters tape

• paint pan with 5 disposable liners
• 9″ paint roller, with two replacement rolls, get extension if needed
• 4 quarts of latex paint in various colors to match your marble sample.
• 1 gallon of glaze
• 1 quart of low luster polyurethane
• 4″ paint brush for latex paint
• feathers ( for creating veining) *
• 1 sea sponge
• 1 stippler brush (don’t skimp on these brushes, the better quality, the better effect)
• 1 softener brush (don’t skimp on these brushes, the better quality, the better effect)

* If you cannot find feathers you can substitute a script liner paint brush that you would purchase from an arts and crafts store.

Adding the glaze

Once you have your supplies, it’s time to start. Make sure you tape areas well that you don’t want to paint. You will need to paint your base coat first. From your sample, you should be able to determine your background color. It should be the lightest color. Again, your paint supplier should be able to help you with this one.

Day One

Step 1: Using your paint roller (make sure you cut in first with your 4″ brush) paint your basecoat and let it dry overnight.

Day Two

Step 2: Mix each color with your glaze in three-to-one ratios, more glaze than paint. The glaze allows longer drying time and will thin out the paint. Remember that mixing with the glaze will lighten your paint colors by one step, so make sure you choose darker colors by one step when purchasing your paint.

Step 3: Using your 4″ paint brush, start from right to left, top to bottom, at an angle painting 6 inch lines diagonally down the area to be painted. Don’t make straight lines. If you are imitating green marble this will start to look like camouflage if it is done properly. Make sure you let some of your base coat show through. Work in small sections because the paint will dry fairy quickly even with the glaze mixture.

Step 4: Use your stippling brush to pounce the paint before it dries and blend the stripes together.

Creating the final marble finish

Step 5: Use the softener brush to also blend horizontally even more.

Step 6: Save your darkest color to use with your sea sponge. Wet the sponge, wring it out and dip in your dark paint. With the sponge, go over 75% of the area with the dark paint allowing the other paint colors to show through to give the varied marble look. Keep adding until it looks right to you. Use the stippling and softener brush again to blend the colors.

Step 7: When you think you are at the final stage and everything is looking good, Use your feather or script liner to create the veining.

Tip: The best way to create veins is to picture a crack in the wall. Some lines will be thick lines, some will be thin lines. Do not make straight or rounded lines. If you paint some you don’t like just use the dark paint to cover it again and try again. Let this dry over night. See Day Two Picture

Day Three

Step 8: Paint one or two coats of polyurethane over the paint to protect it from normal wear and tear and fingerprints. And you are done! You now have more than a fireplace…you also have a conversation piece and a fabulous focal point.

Teresa Shoucair - Teresa Shoucair is the Resident Artist & Faux Finisher for the Silverspoon Murals website. Silverspoon Murals offers Custom Wall Murals, Children’s Theme Rooms, Trompe L’Oeil, & Faux Finishing Services in the Tampa Bay Area in Florida.

Weathervanes can be simple constructions or detailed works of art. They are often installed as an outdoor decorating feature, but a weathervane serves a useful function as well - it tells you which way the wind is blowing.

The Franklin Institute has a great series of how-to projects related to weather, including a simple plan to Make Your Own Weathervane. It would be ideal as an individual or group science project, as the basic supplies are easy to obtain - you’ll need a piece of dowelling, discarded ruler, aluminum pie plate, a metal washer and wire, plus some simple tools.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has an even simpler weather vane model to make from cardboard.

Teachers will find the Weather Scope page from CIESE has easy instructions to make a weathervane from readily available materials such as tag board, a pencil, eraser, clay, and a paper plate. Students will also use a compass to determine where north is, so they can track wind direction with their newly completed weathervanes.

For a more decorative touch, kids might like to paint a cardboard or thin wooden weathervane. You’ll find how-to’s and a lesson plan on the Folk Art Weathervane page at KinderArt, including links to some free folk art patterns like this rooster outline.

FamilyFun has instructions to make a Fish Weather Vane, using styrofoam meat trays.

Woodworkers may find this unique Animated Cowboy WeatherVane, from the Woodcrafter.net, an interesting challenge. The detailed plans are free to download as PDF files, but the creator cautions that this woodworking project requires extreme precision and attention to detail.

Shaping a propeller for a weathervane or windmill can be tricky for even experienced woodworkers. But the Woodcrafter also has a free PDF file of explaining how to make different types of propellers, using a protractor, a wood lathe and a band saw or mitre saw. As a bonus, you’ll find lots of other free woodworking plans offered on the same page.

Finally, for the eclectic collector of weathervanes, FineScrollSaw.com has a free PDF file containing directions to make a Novel Electric Weathervane.

~ Weathervane History and Background Information ~

You Need A Weathervane To Tell Which Way The Wind Blows

Weathervanes, or wind vanes, have been used for centuries. Since the time of the ancient Greeks, the weather vane has served a dual purpose. Since the advent of the weathervane, their use has been both decorative and functional. The source of the wind may not have been fully understood, but people of ancient cultures understood how important the wind is a predictor of the weather.

It is no surprise that the simple weathervane became as ornamental as it is practical. Historians believe one of the first weathervanes was part of the Tower of Winds in ancient Greece. The tower was believed to have been constructed around forty B.C. by the astronomer Andronicus.

The Romans constructed many weathervanes from images of the gods. Prior to the advent of recorded scientific observation, there was much superstition around the weather. Through good weather or bad, the gods were often given credit for the prevailing winds.

Ancient seafarers used a simple type of weathervane, in the form of a small piece of cloth fastened to the rigging. This makeshift wind vane came to be known as a telltale and is still used today by sailors.

The weather vane existed in almost every ancient culture. Aside from depictions of various gods, animal themes are common for wind vanes, even today. The use of animal characters usually had a connection to religious beliefs. Artisans have adopted the weathervane as a medium for their craft adding to the decorative qualities of these simple weather tools.

Balance is the key to a properly functioning weathervane, as the weathervane must be able to turn in reaction to the slightest breeze. The center of the weathervane must rest on a center axis and be equally balanced on both sides. A basic design includes a center post with the body of the weathervane resting over it. The center post may come to a sharply tapered point. The body of the weathervane would fit on the post in a way were the weight would be concentrated directly on the point. If the body of the weathervane is not allowed to move freely, its reaction to changes in wind direction and speed will be too slow.

The shape of the weather vane can vary from a simple arrow, to more ornate and decorative figures. Even a large weathervane can be designed in way that optimizes its reaction to the wind. The shape is probably more important than the size. The body of the weathervane must designed in a way that is somewhat aerodynamic. An airplane wing creates lift by generating a positive pressure under the wing surface and a negative pressure on the top. Think of a weathervane as a wing surface turned perpendicular to the ground. The reaction to both positive and negative pressure causes the weather vane to turn.

Farmers and ranchers often relied on the wind to operate water pumps. Anyone who has traveled the American heartland may remember seeing these simple windmills turning. A key to an operating windmill is its ability to rotate with changes in wind direction. These windmills have a tail stock that acts in the same way a weathervane does, helping to point the blades of the windmill in the optimal direction.

For most of us, the need for a windmill has little to do with whether we have a weathervane. In these days of modern meteorology, weather predictions are readily available, often in great detail. These advancements in modern technology have rendered the humble weather vane to a decorative addition to our homes. Like many pieces of Americana, antique weathervanes are collectible. Many diverse themes have been used for the wind vane from the artistic to the humorous. With a rich history and functionality, the humble windmill can add a touch of whimsy and lore to your home.

Author Mike OBrien is a staff writer for the quality online store FineWebStores.com. Shop for Weather Vanes for your home. ]]> http://howtomakedo.net/107/how-to-make-a-weathervane/feed http://howtomakedo.net/12/diy-recycled-headboard http://howtomakedo.net/12/diy-recycled-headboard#comments Sun, 03 Aug 2008 03:47:41 +0000 admin http://howtomakedo.net/?p=12 My daughter has a queen-sized bed without a headboard, and we’ve been looking at DIY options for making your own, preferably as a weekend project. There are tons of creative headboard ideas out there, but here’s some our favorites: