Weatherproof just about anything

I hate that as consumers we feel limited to keep indoor items inside and outdoor items outside. Break the stereotype! You can weatherproof just about anything if you have the right products. 

Thompsons Water Seal: Ideal for Wood, Concrete and Brick

This product is so simple to use and can be applied to any furniture piece you'd like to keep outside. It helps to prevent water damage and says "it allows wood to gray naturally." Do not use on plastic or recently painted items.

Scotch-gard Water Shield: Ideal for Fabric, Clothing (aprons, jackets, etc.) canvas, umbrellas and patio furniture. 

I LOVE this product. You are no longer confined to "outdoor" fabric for your cushions. This product repels rain, snow and moisture.  It allows fabric to still breathe while quickly drying after water exposure. I would suggest doing three even coats when first applying and another coat each season.

Rust Stop Outdoor Paint (any brand): Ideal for metal products

You can easily coat any metal product with rust stop (outdoor rated) paint. You can prevent peeling, chipping, heat damage, fading, and more from weather rated paint. You'll be wasting your time and money if you use indoor paint for items that will be exposed to the elements. You can now bring your home decor items outside. I have painted my wood rack, metal folder chairs, house numbers, mailbox, planters and more. The possibilities are endless! 

DIY Beach Sand

I just returned from Mexico with my family. Vacationing with children is very different than just adults. My niece and nephew want to play non-stop and they both loved playing in the sand. You can bring the beach to your home with this easy and affordable project.

DIY Beach Sand
5 Cups Flour
1 Bottle Baby Oil (20 oz)

Whisk together flour and baby oil in a large tub. Next, using pliable plastic containers make sand castles, towers, animals and anything you can dream of.

Your hands will feel baby soft after playing.

You can make buckets and buckets for a children's end of sumer beach party.

Ring Holder Picture Holder

I am very fond of turning picture frames into jewelry holders, I have used lace and hooks for my earrings and necklaces storage but this still left out my stud earrings and my rings. I have a solution!

Items Needed:

Picture frame with mat

Glue gun and glue sticks

Felt

Cut your felt 5 inches with the width of your frame (width within your mat).

Hot glue your felt into tight rolls by gluing on each end and rolling together.

Next, hot glue your rolls onto your frame's cardboard. Then place your glued felt back into your frame and decorate with your beautiful jewelry. 

DIY Backyard Jenga

All of my friends know that I am a very competitive person. Jenga is no exception. I finally took the time (truly only took an hour) and made my own life size Jenga game for the Benson Veranda. 

Purchase 9 2x4's from  your local hardware store. Fact: 2x4's are not actually 2 inches by 4 inches. Lesson learned after I did my match. They are truly 1.5 inches by 3.5 inches. 

Measure and draw out 10 3/4 inch lines on your wood to cut. Your measurements may be different if you're using different wood. You want your length to be the width of three pieces together, hence 10 and 3/4 inches.

Safely, while wearing protective glasses, cut your wood pieces. I love the sound of the chop saw!

Lastly, sand off the edges of your wood pieces to eliminate the risk of splinters.

From Wikipedia:

Jenga is a game of physical and mental skill created by Leslie Scott, and currently marketed by Parker Brothers, a division of Hasbro. During the game, players take turns to remove a block from a tower and balance it on top, creating a taller and increasingly unstable structure as the game progresses.

Jenga is derived from a Swahili word meaning "to build."^[1]

Once the tower is built, the person who built the tower gets the first move. Moving in Jenga consists of taking one and only one block from any level (except the one below the incomplete top level) of the tower, and placing it on the topmost level to complete it. Only one hand should be used at a time when taking blocks from the tower. Blocks may be bumped to find a loose block that will not disturb the rest of the tower. Any block that is moved out of place must be returned to its original location before removing another block. The turn ends when the next person to move touches the tower or after ten seconds, whichever occurs first.

The game ends when the tower falls in even a minor way—in other words, any piece falls from the tower, other than the piece being knocked out to move to the top. The winner is the last person to successfully remove and place a block.

How to Dye or Tint Glass

I found many versions of glass dying when I wanted to join the trend. After many failed attempts, this process worked best for me.

Items needed:
Mod podge
Glass
Food coloring

Clean and dry your glass before using. Mix two tablespoons of podge with ten drops (less for a lighter shade) into your glass container. Next, stir with a spoon with a even distribution of the food coloring. Last, swish around your glass in all directions so your mod podge is completely covering the inside of your container. You may have excess that can be dumped out and tossed.

Now the hard part- wait 24-72 hours. The mod podge will dry clear but it takes a lot of time and patience. It will be worth that wait.

I think this process would be great for candy dishes, candle sticks, wine bottles, bath salt containers, glass plates and more.

Disclaimer: I'm guessing that the color will eventually wear off, especially if placed in the dishwasher. 

Revamped Sunnies

I am way too cheap to purchase sunglasses from the mall. I hot the $1 store and made my own funky sunglasses for summer.

From Forever21

From Forever21

$1 Store

Before

Wasabi Tape

Nail Polish

You can use nail polish, spray paint, glitter paint, tape, jewels, stencils, paint markers, mod podge and I'm sure many more things to transform your sunnies.