DIY Lawn Games

Get out your lawnmower, your lawn chairs, your charcoal grill (and maybe your drill) cause it’s time for backyard barbecues! This year you can have the yard that all the neighbors are talking about and it’s not due to your horticultural skills. It is ALL due to your fearless DIY attitude and these blueprints for endless summer socializing. I’m talking about lawn games! I’m sure you’ve seen or played at least one of these games before and now you can build your own version using this list of Lawn Game DIYs we’ve provided below.

Ladder Golf

This game goes by many different names, some of which are anatomical in nature and the rules can be as varied as the moniker, but Ladder Golf is a new favorite in lawn leisure. Made from PVC piping, the “ladder” rungs are the target and two golf balls at each end of a rope is the projectile. The goal is to throw the golf ball bolo and wrap the rope around the rungs for points. This step by step tutorial at Mike Is Bored has the “official dimensions” for the ladder and when it comes to drilling those holes in the golf balls, try your local hardware store. For a small fee they will save you a lot of time both drilling the holes and cutting the PVC to size. Can’t hurt to ask, right?

Bean Bag Toss

a.k.a Corn Hole which gets it’s name from the filling inside the bags (feed corn). Check out this tutorial from the SewWoodsy husband and wife DIY team. This project requires woodworking AND sewing, but don’t be intimidated by power tools (yes, a sewing machine is a power tool). Customize your boards and your bags with your own design.

Giant Jenga

I think everyone has played this block stacking game but the stakes get higher (and higher) when the blocks get bigger. Giant Jenga is just that: an oversized version of the Jenga you played as a kid. The key is to cut down 2X4s so that they are 3X as long as they are wide. Because 2X4s are rarely 2″ X 4″, measure twice and cut once. According to the experts at Home Depot, the perfect cut is 10.5″ JENGA!!!

Kubb

The lesser known Swedish Lawn Game or Viking Chess is a game of strategy as well as skill. Throwing sticks at sticks doesn’t seem that difficult but check out the elaborate details here or for a brief description of the game try this page which lists trash talking as a reliable tactic. To build a Kubb set, you really only need a 6 foot length of 4X4 post and a large wooden dowel. Here is the step by step tutorial for building your own Kubb set which can be played by 2 to 12 people at a leisurely pace (breaks for BBQ) or straight through.

Beersbee

For those of you who like to mix your lawn games and your drinking games. No need to put down that adult beverage because Beersbee encourages, NAY! requires that you hold onto that summer shandy and keep your head up! A beer perched atop a pole is the target for each team’s Frisbee toss. The receiving team must catch BOTH the frisbee and the beer should it be knocked off the pole. Beersbee boasts it’s own official website where you can find the rules of play, but as for the setup, it’s as simple as two vertical poles (again PVC works well) and some beer bottles.

Frisbeer

Another version of the Frisbee/Beer combo game requires two poles (rebar or PVC seems to be the material of choice) at each team’s end of the playing field with a cup, upside down over each pole. The ultimate goal is to split the two poles which takes more skill but earns you higher points (3). Knocking the cups off of the poles is good for 1 point, unless your opponents are playing good D and catch the cup before it hits the ground. Check out the definition and rules for Frisbeer along with it’s alternative meaning (a beer served IN a Frisbee) here.

Well, that’s all we’ve got! Lot’s of links to good clean fun! Have a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Featured Community: Copper and Clay Bud Vase, Paper Cutout Lantern and Washi Tape Journal

Don’t be afraid to share and share alike!  The Projects Page is designed to highlight great ideas and encourage creativity so login to your free Whimseybox account and start spreading the love! Here’s how to save your favorite Whimseybox Community Projects.

Copper and Clay Vase

The May flowers are in bloom and you don’t need a full bouquet to enjoy their simple beauty. A bud vase with just a few flowers can add a touch of charm, especially with this juxtaposition of hard metal with soft clay. With some scrap copper tubing and oven baked clay you can create a vignette of violets or a display of daisies to ring in Spring!

Paper Circles Lampshade

Customize your task lighting by linking together paper cutouts and covering an otherwise plain lantern using pages from a book or in this case, an old atlas. These paper circles were coated in an acrylic sealant and linked together using jewelry findings. Shed a little light on the subject!

Washi Tape Mini Album

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Washi Tape has become a craft obsession of as of late. With all the patterns and colors available, it’s easy to see how this project went from cardboard and paper to a spring inspired visual journal. As the flora and fauna come alive after a long winter, this is the perfect almanac for documenting the transformation that is Spring.

See something you like on our projects page? Click on the ♥FAV button and the project will be saved to your profile under Favorites. It’s an easy reference for later.

Blogger Spotlight – Nimi Design

Welcome to our very first blogger spotlight! Tell us about yourself.

Hi everyone, my name is Minni. I’m a girl from Finland and I have a blog called Nimidesign that focuses on DIY projects and home decor. I’m a soon-to-be industrial designer and I live with my husband, who’s a musician and music producer.

What do you do?

I’m just finishing my studies in Industrial Design and I’m continuing my studies in Master’s Degree Programme in Furniture Design next fall. It’s going to be very exciting!

Very exciting! Tell us about your blog.

Nimidesign is a home decor and DIY blog. In the blog I show a lot of my own projects and home. I hope to offer new things to the blog world and inspire other people to try DIY projects. Blogging is currently a hobby that I enjoy doing and I wish I had more time to do more projects and posts. Maybe in the future… :)

What would you say your design aesthetic is?

I like monochromatic colors: black, white and gray. I mix those colors with wood to warm it up a bit. I always get tired of strong colors very quickly so I’ve learned that neutral colors work best for me. I love mixing different style furniture: modern and classic, new and old. I believe that as long as the colors go together you can mix any style. I love thrift stores and hunting for unique pieces that have a story to tell.

What inspires you?

I get inspiration for DIY projects from other DIY blogs, home decor magazines and Pinterest. But usually my inspiration for a project starts with a random object I have or that I see in a thrift store or a hardware store (which are surprisingly inspiring places for DIYers!). Something about the shape, material or feel of something can really fill my head with ideas.

Do you have any favorite DIYers?

One of the first home decor blogs I stumbled upon was Design Sponge. It’s still one of my favorites. They have great DIY tutorials and Before & After posts. Those projects inspired me to tackle my first paint makeover project for a sad, damaged MCM cabinet. I painted it white, and still love the way it looks!

Favorite material?

I love using things I find from thrift stores to make something amazing. It’s fun to get creative and figure out new ways of using different things. I would love to do woodworking more, but the space and tools in our apartment are sadly very limited.

Have you had any craft fails?

I don’t have craft fails very often, because I tend to plan my projects before I start them. I guess I’m also good at “making it work” if something doesn’t turn out the way I wanted. :)

What is your favorite DIY / makeover that you’ve shared on your blog?

My favorite DIY project is probably our industrial style bedside lamps. I used Ikea Fas lamps, teak and lots of metal parts. The planning required a lot of problem solving and the project had many steps but that makes the end result even more satisfying. That proud feeling of making something myself just can’t be bought!

 (Editor’s note:  Above: Materials, Below: Finished DIY. This is truly one of the most incredible DIYs I have ever had the pleasure to lay my eyes on!! I absolutely love the mixture of materials and textures. Amazing. You can find her inspiration and the three-step tutorial on her blog here.)

What have you learned from being a DIYer?

I’ve learned that power tools are not scary and that using them is really not even difficult. I’ve also learned that it’s better to be patient than hasty, because if you do something once, why not do it well.

And we couldn’t agree more! Thanks Minni!

Apartment Artifact: DIY Drop-Cloth Patio Rug

So last week we talked inspiration for a DIY Drop-Cloth Patio Rug. Team Whimseybox helped me decide on Option 1: The Jewel

Supplies:

• Canvas Drop Cloth
• Acrylic Paint
• Foam Brushes
• Foam Paint Roller
• Pencil
• Poster Board or Paper for design template
• UV-Resistant Clear Acrylic Coating

Lots of blogs have directions for making a drop cloth rug. I combined steps from my favs (Make Today Great, Less-Than-Perfect Life of Bliss) along with some ingenuity and scavenging and got to work.

I bought a 9×12 drop cloth and cut along a conveniently placed seam to make it a 9×4. The rest may make an appearance as a guest room rug – stay tuned. BONUS! The drop cloth had plastic sheeting attached to the back which should work as a spill barrier for the floor!

Steps:

1)       PREP the drop cloth – Run a quick warm iron over the whole thing to release the wrinkles.  If you have the time just drape it over a railing or clothes line, gravity will do the work for you. Head outside and spray that guy down with 1 can of the UV-Resistant Clear Acrylic Coating. DON’T SKIP THIS!! I tried and the cloth soaked up paint like mad.

2)      BASE COAT – As I mentioned, I tried to paint pre-clear coat and only got a 2’x2’ square covered before I ran out of allotted paint. Plan B: I scavenged some left over acrylic ceiling paint for the maintenance closet in the building, thinned it out with water and rolled it over the entire rug.

3)      DESIGN – Once the base coat is dry, go to town with your design.  I am terrible at free hand – I mean, never made a symmetrical shape in my life, so I practiced on poster board until I came up with the shapes I wanted, and then used that as a stencil.

4)      PAINT – Water will stretch acrylic paint forever! 1 $3.99 tube of paint and 8 oz of water was all I needed for each color. And look how vibrant they stayed! I painted each shape 3 or 4 times until the thinned paint ran out.

5)      OUTLINE – To pop the colors of the shapes and hide some of my edging boo-boos, I carefully outlined in Gold (which I am obsessed with!)

6)      FINISH – Once all of your paint is dry (overnight was all mine needed), head back outside and use the other can of clear coat to seal your finished product.

TADA!! I’m eagerly anticipating my furniture arriving next week so a proper patio photo shoot can show you how the rug really ties it all together! Happy Crafting

Jewelry 101: How to Use Elastic Thread

Hi, it’s Esther from WhollyKao. I’m excited to introduce a new series that’s centered around repairing jewelry. As a DIYer, I prefer fixing things myself  when they break. And yes, this applies to jewelry. Through this column, I’ll show you how to repair jewelry so you can wear it longer.

First up: how to repair bracelets using elastic thread. Lots of chunky bracelets are made using elastic thread. This allows them to look cool without having a giant clasp. With normal use, the elastic will wear down and break. It’s just a matter of when!

Materials Elastic Thread (I used .5mm, but feel free to use what works best for your bracelet!)

Needle (optional)

Clear Nail Polish or Glue

Start off by arranging all your beads in a row. Make sure they fit together correctly. For my bracelet, that meant matching the curves on each bead. Flip your beads over so that the holes are facing you, then start threading the elastic thread through the holes. String your thread through all the beads a second time, beginning with the one you started with. I like to do this because it’s sturdier. Make sure to keep your thread taut as you string it through that second time. To do this, hold the first strand down firmly with your left thumb, and use your right hand to string the second thread through. Tighten the thread as you go. When you reach the first bead, make sure both ends of the thread are inside the bead, and then tie a square knot. Now do it again, and trim your ends. The last step is to slide your knot to the inner edge of your bead (so that it’s almost at the hole), and glue that knot to the inside of your bead (you can also use clear nail polish instead of glue). This keeps the ends together so your bracelet doesn’t fall apart again. Follow the previous steps a second time for the bottom row of holes on your bracelet. It may be easier to flip your bracelet inside out and string it that way. When you’ve finished, flip your bracelet back to ‘right-side-up.’ Hope this tutorial has been useful to you! If you have any jewelry repair tricks or tips of your own, we’d love to hear them!