RYOBI 18V One+ Cordless Brad Nailer {Review}

Disclosure: I received this product for free to review. All words and opinions are my own.

I mentioned recently that I have a new RYOBI tool that is quickly becoming one of my favorites. It's the RYOBI 18V One+ Cordless Brad Nailer, and it is awesome! This nailer doesn't require an air compressor, and it's cordless, lightweight and easy to use. I plan on using this for several building projects this spring and summer (including a major project I'm working on right now - stay tuned!).

I've never used a nail gun of any kind before, so I didn't really know what to expect, but it was very easy to figure out and the tool itself was very easy to manage. I couldn't believe how easy it was to load too. You can set the air pressure and adjust the depth of drive which is great, plus I really like the LED worklight. Also, you can change the actuation mode which allows for very fast repetitive nail placement. I'm more of a "one nail at a time" kind of girl though, so I keep mine on the single sequential actuation mode.

As you can see in the photo below, I used this on my recent DIY framed chalkboard project. It was the perfect tool to attach my frame to the chalkboard quickly and easily.

Airstrike(TM) Technology means this nail gun can be cordless and doesn't require a compressor or air hose. There is also a construction ruler along the side of the magazine which allows for quick measurements, and the "dry-fire lockout" feature prevents the tool from operating when the magazine is low on nails. I like the fact that the magazine has an open window so you can see how many nails are left and you always know if you're getting low. There are also no-mar pads which protect softer woods against dents caused by pressing the nail gun into the surface of the wood.

In general, this is definitely a handy tool I would recommend, especially if you enjoy building or woodworking. Just remember to remove the battery whenever you aren't using it. As always, be sure to wear safety gear and use caution when operating power tools.

RYOBI tools are available at Home Depot. Be sure to visit the RYOBI Nation, where you can upload your own projects and/or check out lots of inspiration!

DIY Framed Chalkboard Tutorial

I was honored to be asked recently by RYOBI Tools to have a project featured on their RYOBI Nation site. Since I am still a power tool "novice," I knew I had to come up with a relatively easy and manageable project for them to feature, especially since I would be using a few power tools that were totally new to me. I opted to make this DIY Framed Chalkboard, and I'm excited to share a full tutorial with you today!

What I used:

• A leftover scrap of PureBond Plywood (My chalkboard size is 19"x42" because that's what I had on hand.)
• Door Frame Moulding
• Spray primer
• Rust-Oleum Chalkboard spray paint
• RYOBI Orbital Sander
• RYOBI 10 in. Sliding Compound Miter Saw with Laser
• RYOBI 18V One+ Cordless Brad Nailer
• 18 GA 5/8" brad nails
• Staining cloths
• Minwax American Walnut stain
• Minwax Polycrylic
• Paint brush

Step 1
Cut your PureBond Plywood (or whatever material you choose to use) down to the desired dimensions. The home improvement store will do this for you if you give them your measurements, or you can do it yourself. I used a scrap of leftover plywood and just left it "as is." Sand it smooth.

Step 2
Spray the wood with a coat of primer, and then spray with 2-3 coats of Chalkboard Spraypaint. I used Rust-Oleum.

Step 3
Measure and cut your moulding for the frame using a miter saw. Use 45 degree miter cuts to form the corners.

 
Step 4
Stain your frame. I used a pre-conditioner and then applied one coat of Minwax American Walnut stain, and added a topcoat of Minwax Polycrylic.

 
Step 5
Attach your frame to the chalkboard using wood glue and a brad nailer.

 
Step 6
Lean or hang your chalkboard. I opted to lean mine against the wall, but you can also add D-rings and hang it. Another option is to add thin moulding around the edges to hide the raw edge of your wood. I chose not to do this since it isn't noticeable where I placed it in my home.

 
Note: Always wear proper safety gear and use extreme caution when using power tools!

Will you be giving this project a try? What would you write on your chalkboard? Let me know!

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DIY Potted Herb Kit + Free Printable {Gift Idea}

Happy (belated) Mother's Day! Today, I wanted to share the gift that my boys made for their grandmothers. I know I didn't post this in time for Mother's Day (didn't want to spoil the surprise for my mom and mother in-law!), but feel free to pin this for next year. It would also make a great birthday gift, teacher's gift or "just because" gift.

My boys made a DIY Potted Herb Kit. I thought it would be fun to decorate a pot and plant herbs, but since our moms live far away we obviously couldn't mail them a potted plant of any kind. Instead, we came up with this "DIY" kit idea which would allow them to plant the herbs themselves, but still have the sweet little decorated pot from their grandsons. I included a print-out in their gift package which outlined what was enclosed in their package, easy instructions for planting their herbs, plus all of the necessary supplies.

My boys decorated the pots (which you can find at the dollar store or dollar section at Target) with paint markers. I purchased the paint markers at Walmart and Michaels. These paint markers will basically work on any surface - glass, ceramic, etc.

The boys decorated the pots however they wanted. They drew "flowers" (aka abstract art) and wrote their grandmothers' names on each pot. ("Meme" and "Grandma.")

 Free Printable

Here's the printable we included in each package (printed on cardstock), complete with a list of what you'll need to include and simple instructions. Our printable had my kiddos' names on it, but I made this one with blank spaces so that you can write in your kids' names. Click here to download this free printable!

My boys were so proud of these gifts. They were really excited about creating something special for their grandmothers.

Hope you all had a wonderful Mother's day!

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My New "Toy": RYOBI Sliding Compound Miter Saw! {Review}

Disclosure: I received this product for free to review. All opinions are my own. When I say I love RYOBI Tools, I seriously mean it!

I recently received a huge box on my doorstep containing this RYOBI 10 in. Sliding Compound Miter Saw. You see, I have major project plans coming up, and I needed this tool in order to build a few things. When the box arrived, I was so excited! And afraid. But mostly excited! And then afraid some more. The truth is, a tool like this can be intimidating, especially to someone like me who has very little power tool experience. I got my feet wet by starting with a jig saw, then moved onto a circular saw, and now this saw. It took me a while to get up the nerve to take it out of the box and set it up. But you know what guys? Turns out it wasn't all that scary after all. This miter saw opens up a whole new world of project possibilities.

This saw allows you to make all sorts of different cuts. I started with basic miter cuts since I am just familiarizing myself with this tool. (Can't wait to show you what I made! Stay tuned.) You can do bevel cuts, miter cuts, compound miter cuts and slide cuts. This saw is the perfect saw for cutting crown moulding, as well as for projects that require angled cuts of any kind.

I have several RYOBI power tools, and I would highly recommend them to anyone. I've been happy with every single product of theirs that I have tried. If you want to take your building capabilities up a notch, then you're going to need this sliding compound miter saw. As long as you follow all of the recommended safety precautions, and work slowly, then this tool really isn't scary once you get comfortable using it. I love it and I can't wait to build all sorts of fun things with it.

This saw has a laser guide which makes accurate cuts easy to achieve. There are also table extensions on each side of the saw which allows you to work with longer pieces of wood. I also really like that it comes with its own clamp to hold the wood in place while I cut it. It has a 13 amp motor to handle tough jobs, and an electric brake to stop the blade quickly after you finish a cut. I also like the fact that it has a self-retracting blade guard for added safety, and the slide bar is nice since it allows you to cut wider boards. The saw is easy to operate, even for a small girl like me. I read through the manual and was easily able to use this saw without having anyone teach me how. If I can do it, then you can too! I foresee myself getting lots of use out of this tool.

I have another RYOBI tool which I will be reviewing soon, and it is quickly becoming one of my favorites too, so stay tuned for that!

RYOBI tools, including this sliding compound miter saw, are available at Home Depot. For tons of inspiration, plus the chance to upload your own projects, visit RYOBI Nation.

Note: Always wear proper safety gear and use extreme caution when operating power tools!

Money-Saving Tips: Q&A with Kelly O'Connell from ShopAtHome.com

My friends over at ShopAtHome.com were nice enough to feature an interview with me on their site, so I wanted to share some info about their site as well as some tips from one of their money-saving experts. I'm a frugal girl, so any advice on how I can make my home beautiful on a budget is always welcome. If any of you are like me, you probably feel the same!

First of all, what is ShopAtHome.com? It's a site that features coupons and discounts, tips and advice, cash back deals and more.

Here's a screenshot to give you an idea:

 
Below is a Q&A I recently did with Kelly O'Connell, the Content Ambassador at ShopAtHome.com, and she shared some great advice on finding deals and saving money.

Q: What are some tips for getting the best deals on home decor?

A: Be resourceful, and don't be afraid to hunt. With the summer months ahead, garage and estate sales should be your new best friend. Find a local auction in your town or neighboring town to find one-of-a-kind pieces. Be aware of the half-off days at Goodwill and Arc, because there are some treasures waiting to be found there.


For quicker and more reliable forms of deals on home décor, use coupons whenever you can! These days, there’s coupons for nearly everything. Having a dinner party next week and need to liven up your décor? Switch out your current tableware with low-price kitchen goods from Cost Plus World Market. Order your flowers in advance for the party from ProFlowers and get cash back with your purchase! If you have a small paint project and are flexible with your colors, check the sales bin at your hardware, hobby, or craft stores for sample paint to spruce up your dining room chairs. They have all sorts of paint colors in small containers that cost no more than three bucks.


By thinking ahead and utilizing all of the money saving options out there, getting the best deals will become second nature.

Q: What is your advice for making sure someone doesn't overspend when shopping?

A: Research and price comparison is key. These days we have access to exactly how much each store is charging, and we can use that to our advantage to get the best deals. And by buying through a coupon site like ShopAtHome.com, not only are you getting great coupons and deals, you have access to cash back. Even though this does involve a little bit more time and due diligence, it pays off in savings and free money in your pocket.

Q: What is your number one money-saving tip for someone planning a room makeover?

A: Be creative! When I am looking to update a room, the first thing I do is acknowledge that this is a wonderful chance for me to be blissfully creative by being mindful of my resources. That means being creative with my budget, my projects, and with the overall design of my room. Can I move furniture around to give my room a quick facelift? Can I add a rug that will spice up the space? Will a new paint color change the dynamic of the room and save me money by not having to buy a new furniture set? I find I am most creative when I look for opportunities to repurpose any existing furniture, drapes, art, toys, lamps, and anything else that has potential for an upgrade. DIY’ing is not only so much fun, but it provides so much character and personality on a budget. It’s in that personality where you develop your own style and turn your house into your home. Your kids' artwork looks special in an oversized frame, or your mother’s old dressing table is now a statement piece with a modern coat of paint, and you are living in a space that is not just beautiful, but meaningful.

Q: What are some benefits of shopping online versus in a store?

A: Like I mentioned before, shopping online allows you to do your research and find the best deals out there. With amazing home décor and DIY blogs out there, plus the wonder that is Pinterest, it is easy to go from finding your inspiration to finding what you actually want to buy. With all the best home décor deals at your fingertips and all the opportunities for free shipping (both on purchases and returns), you can’t go wrong. And for the DIY’er who wants to start a project right away, many stores have the option to buy online and pick up in-store for discounts plus immediate access. Oh, and not to mention the amount of tutorial videos for about any DIY project ever imagined waiting for you online. Online shopping is good.

Q: Do you recommend shopping online for big ticket items, or is it best to purchase those in a store?

A: Here’s my secret. With big ticket items like a 60" plasma TV or a couch for the living room, I like to start by scoping out the scene in the store. Check out how the TV picture looks, sit and get cozy in the couch, and really determine if this is what you want. Is the couch soft enough? Will the color of the fabric go with your existing room? Is this investment going to pay out? Once you’ve made up your mind, write down all the necessary information—make, model, color, dimensions, etc.—and head home to your computer. From there, do that research we talked about earlier and price compare. Finally, when you are ready to make the plunge, head to ShopAtHome.com and use whatever coupons, deals, or cash back opportunities they have to make the purchase. This ensures that you will be getting the best deal and that the couch will be perfect in your living room.

Q: How can someone be sure they are getting the absolute best deal on an item?

A: Besides doing your homework on prices, know the best times to buy specifics things by following sales trends. For instance, in July you will find better deals for home goods, but you should wait until October to buy your patio furniture. I found this great infographic and have referred back to it whenever making determine when to make my purchases.  

Q: What is your best advice for saving money in general?


A: The best advice and hardest thing I have learned about saving money is to have a budget and hold myself accountable for staying with it. I love to shop!! And I’ve realized that’s okay, as long as I make room for it in my budget. It’s all about a give and take. If I buy a nicer outfit I know that I have to find deals for my next few. And if I find a few deals, I know I can treat myself later. Track your spending, and challenge yourself to save. Luckily, as a shopaholic, learning about ShopAtHome.com has given me access to an entirely new world of saving while shopping. I am indulging as I do my shopping, but through the coupons and cash back I am saving money where I wasn’t before. It’s pretty cool and my fiancé a huge fan of my newly implemented budget :)

About Kelly:

Kelly O'Connell, the Content Ambassador at ShopAtHome.com, now lives in Denver, Colorado, after stopovers in Berkeley, Los Angeles, and New York. While she has discovered cute clothes at shops across the country, her closet currently contains nothing to wear. Luckily, she has most likely found three perfect new dresses at various online retailers, which are now in her shopping cart. When she's not shopping, she wears a pony tail and rolled sleeves as she tackles home decor projects and DIY adventures with her new obsession: gold spray paint. 

Thank you, Kelly, for sharing your advice with us!

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this post. ShopAtHome.com featured me and I happily agreed to do the same in return.

My Lazy Girl's Guide to Reupholstering Chairs {A Tutorial}

There are two types of projects I really love: quick ones and easy ones. Upholstering furniture is usually neither of those. Unless you are doing a simple chair seat re-cover (unscrew seat, staple fabric onto seat, screw seat back onto chair), then upholstery projects are going to take time and effort. I pride myself on finding the cheapest, easiest solutions whenever I can. Ok, I don't really pride myself on it. Truth is I'm just lazy and cheap. (Ha! I'm kinda kidding.) So if I can find an easy work-around to something and have it end up looking ok, then I'm all for it. I'm not going to lie to you, this project is not easy - or at least it wasn't for me. But it was well worth the time and effort. Much of the difficulty came from this being my first try - I feel like if I took on another upholstery project it wouldn't be as hard. Hopefully this tutorial will help make this process a little easier for you than it was for me!

When I decided to try my hand at reupholstering for the first time, I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. I knew it wouldn't be a piece of cake, but truly wasn't sure what to expect. So I just dove right in. There's no "true" way to be lazy when reupholstering, but I at least eliminated the step of totally removing the seat cushion and all of the old fabric. Ultimately, the end result was this:

I'm going to show you how I upholstered these cane barrel chairs (which I posted about here), using the easiest method I could figure out. My goal was to recover them without removing the old fabric or disassembling the chairs in any way. I halfway succeeded at that. I'm not an upholstery expert (in case you hadn't figured that out by now), and I didn't want to totally ruin the chairs. I also didn't want to do anything that couldn't be "undone" just as easily, in case I ever want to change out the fabric again.

These chairs were a bargain Craigslist find (thank you Craig and your awesome list!). They were exactly what I was looking for, and they are perfect for our master bedroom sitting area. I love the size, shape, finish and... oh wait.. nope, not the mauve fabric. That can go. I opted for navy velvet, and actually found the perfect fabric in the form of a window curtain from Target.

Anyway, onto the process. Since I was using trial and error (and to some extent, you will too), I spread this project out over a few days since it took a few hours each day to get things "just right." For instance, I would remove staples one day, sew cording one day, attach fabric one day. It wasn't super quick. I have a feeling that the more times I do this, the quicker it will get.

Here are the steps:

1. Carefully remove cording.

Using pliers and teeny tiny scissors, I carefully removed the cording, keeping it all in one long strand so that I could reuse it.

2. If tufted, remove buttons.

I carefully removed the tufted buttons, which I opted not to reuse. If you want to keep your chair tufted, you can recover the existing buttons with the fabric of your choice. (Just make a circle out of your fabric, then use fabric glue to cover the original button.)

3. Remove fabric on the top part of chair.

Now, here's where it got tricky. I had no choice but to remove the top/back part of the chair completely. There just wasn't a way to make it look right from the back and front unless I completely redid it. The good news is, this part wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. After removing the cording, carefully pry each staple out and remove the front fabric first, then the foam and batting, then the back fabric.

4. Use the old fabric as a pattern to cut your new fabric.

Try to keep the old fabric in tact, and use it as a template.

5. Replace fabric and foam on top half of chair.

Face the front of the chair, and insert your "backing" fabric facing away from you inside the top back part of the chair, and staple it in place. Place the foam and batting in front of it, then the front fabric layer and carefully staple that in place too. Be careful with your staple placement! Try to line them up as best you can and position them inside the little divit that runs along the wood. You will be covering the staples with cording, so you'll want them in a straight line.

6. Now for the seat.

Ugh. The seat. Ok, most people will remove the seat the same way I removed the top/back of the chair and use the existing fabric as a template for the new fabric. That's a great idea and if it's easy for you, then you should do it. However, my chair seat was not going to budge easily, and I started removing the fabric but it was taking a hundred years to pry each staple out. I finally decided it would be a whole lot easier to just leave it as is and cover it. The first chair was a nightmare. It was trial and error, with an emphasis on error. The hardest part is getting the fabric to fit smoothly and carefully cutting it to fit around the parts where the back/sides meet the seat. (I didn't have the existing fabric to use as a template, remember.) It was bunching awkwardly and I kept cutting it to the point of butchering it. I finally found that it was best to a) not insert a single staple whatsoever until I have the seat fabric looking perfect and smooth and positioned exactly how I want it, and b) start from the back. I started pulling and cutting a little bit at a time until I could tuck the fabric around each support (? stick? arm? wooden thing?) where the back/sides meet the seat, then I would move onto each side, and finally the front. Pulling, tucking, cutting. Slowly and carefully. Don't be too scissor-happy!

When you finally have the fabric looking smooth and tucked just right, then carefully go around with the staple gun and staple it in place. If you have a pneumatic upholstery stapler, you are awesome. I for one simply used a regular old staple gun and an electric staple gun in some areas. As mentioned above, position your staples inside the little divit in the wood (if there is one on your piece of furniture), and in a straight line. You can use a small screwdriver or something similar to tuck any excess fabric inside the divit so it doesn't fall below your staple line/cording. After stapling, trim away your excess fabric, cutting it as close to the staples as possible.

7. Make your cording. 

First, remove the old fabric from the cording using a seam ripper or small scissors. Re-cover the cording using your new fabric. (Or just buy new cording to cover with fabric.) Now, most people would use a sewing machine for this. I would have been one of those people if my sewing machine didn't decide it hated my guts. You see, my fabric was super thick because of the blackout lining, and my machine rejected it and then promptly broke and I had to take it in to be repaired. (Sidenote, anyone in the north Atlanta area must check out Atlanta Sewing Center for all things sewing-related. They were amazing and fixed my machine for free since it was such an easy fix!) Since I was not patient enough to wait for my machine to be fixed, I hand sewed my cording. All 4 super long strands of it. Basically what you do is cut a 2 inch wide (and however long your cording is) strip of fabric. If your fabric isn't long enough, you can just add more length with a second or third strip. Use a cording foot or zipper foot to sew your seam as close to the cording as possible. (This is where I hand sewed instead.) Cut away excess fabric as close as possible to the seam.

8. Attach your cording to the chair.

Now, I don't have upholstery needles or knowledge, so I hot glued my cording on. Actually, the cording that was already on the chair had been glued on too. I just used my glue gun, carefully covering the chair with old towels so I didn't get any gnarly glue strings all over my newly upholstered seat. Just leave a small section exposed where you want to attach the cording. Go slow and work in small sections. Glue 3-4 inches at a time and attach the cording. Be sure to cover all of your staples. For the chair back, I started and ended the cording at the bottom so the seam isn't all that noticeable. With the seat, I started and ended at the back of the chair. The cording is actually attached very tightly and it would be hard to remove it, so I'm perfectly fine with the fact that it's glued on.

9. You're done! Now go take a nap. You deserve it.

Now let's look at a couple of photos of the final product!

Will you give reupholstering a try? If you have any questions, let me know and I will do my best at answering them!

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Reupholstered Chairs: Before & After

The master bedroom makeover is still coming along, and today I am so excited to show you my reupholstered chairs! I'm going to post a full tutorial soon, but I just couldn't wait to give you a little sneak peek and share before and after photos of these chairs. I've been searching Craigslist for a while now for "the perfect" pair of chairs for the sitting area in our bedroom. I was thinking I'd have to settle for something I didn't truly love, since I knew the odds of finding a pair of matching cane barrel chairs were slim to none. I found one a couple weeks ago (just one, and would have had to cross my fingers that another one would come along) but I passed on it when I found out the cane was damaged in some spots. Then, as fate would have it, I saw a listing for the chairs I had been envisioning all along. A pair of cane barrel chairs in perfect condition at a steal of a price. I wasn't in love with the mauve upholstery, but that could (and would) be changed.

Here they are "Before."

The lady I bought them from was moving and getting rid of several pieces of furniture. Turned out these chairs belonged to her grandmother and were hardly ever used. She said she would have held onto them if it didn't cost a fortune to have them reupholstered. I told her I was going to try to attempt to do it myself.

And attempt, I did. Previously, I had very little reupholstering experience. I have never done anything beyond stapling some new fabric on top of a chair seat. This project required a lot more work. A lot. It was extremely frustrating at times. It's not perfect, but it'll do. I'm so glad I did it, and hopefully my upcoming tutorial will help you if you choose to do this since you can skip the trial and error process I used!
I reupholstered these chairs in a navy velvet curtain I found at Target. Yes, a curtain! So I reupholstered both chairs for $30.00 total. I had planned on navy velvet all along (despite an eye roll from my husband), so when I found the curtain at Target I was ecstatic. Especially since it had a built-in blackout lining, making it thick, durable and perfect for upholstery.

Are you ready for the "After"?

I still plan on making throw pillows for the chairs, but I am so relieved to have this project done!

Lots more photos (plus a tutorial) coming soon! Oh, and my husband stopped rolling his eyes about the navy velvet and once he saw it, he actually liked it! One of these days he'll learn to just trust me.

Does your significant other roll their eyes at your DIY ideas too? Have you ever reupholstered anything, and if so did you want to pull your hair out during the process? Or is that just me...

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