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10 Really Cool DIY Gadgets That Will Take You no More Than 5 Minutes

Do-it-yourself is a popular topic online: there are hundreds of tutorials and how-tos. But most of them are too hard to replicate and require too much time, effort and skill. This collection shares 10 cool things you can do at home with no more than 5 minutes spent: great ideas for DIY gifts and fun gadgets. Enjoy! 1. Old TV Book Shelf Looking for some home decor inspiration? Estimated time needed: 3 minutes (to find the old TV in the garage) 2. This one will come particularly in handy during these long winter romantic nights! Estimated time needed: 2 minutes (to cut the plastic) 3. More great candle holders now: take a couple of old CDs, put them in a microwave oven for some time (no more than a couple of seconds) and add nice candles. Estimated time needed: 10 seconds (provided you have nice candles) 4. The concept is the most important here, not the material. Estimated time needed: 20 seconds 5. This one is probably the hardest of all but still easy… and so much fun! 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

DIY Star Lantern Also: ...and 69 more. How to DIY When You Don't Know Where to Start The easiest way to start is by just touching something.... anything really. Take (for example) a leaky faucet. You go to tighten it with some channel lock pliers, and because it's been leaking forever, it breaks off at the base where you were tightening. After figuring out how to replace the faucet, you go to home depot and get a new faucet, some teflon tape, and some other misc supplies. The next step is to turn the water off under the sink. Most Popular DIY Projects of 2011 2011 proved to be a great year for all things DIY, from repurposed and updated technology to computer building to cool things you can make for your own enjoyment. Here's a look at our most popular do-it-yourself projects and posts this year. P Top 10 Ways to Turn Your Retired Gadgetry into the Technology of the FutureP With the rapid progression of technology each year, it's easy to accumulate a pile of obsolete gadgets that you just can't bear to get rid of. Top 10 Space-Saving Household ProjectsP Whether you live in a tiny apartment or just have too much stuff, there's likely a lot of space you aren't using, like your walls, your ceilings, or the nooks and crannies in your furniture. How to Build a Hackintosh Mini for a Less Expensive, Faster MacP We've shown you how to build a Hackintosh with enough power to rival a Mac Pro, but for those of you who want a still powerful Mac on a budget you can build a Hack Mini. Turn Photo Negatives Into Artsy, Personalized LampsP There you have it.

DIY Artwork - Easy Painting Ideas - Paint Projects UPDATE: The long weekend is the perfect time to start some new projects, so why not try this awesome (and so easy) artwork DIY? This story was originally published on July 25. If there are two things that have been commanding our attention lately, they're cool artwork and chevron prints. So, we were obviously pretty stoked to find a way to incorporate both — for cheap! — in an amazing DIY project for your apartment. Inspired by the work of artist Nancy Ramirez, two stellar Refinery29 interns collaborated on this easy-does-it way to spice up an empty wall. From the moment we spied this Nancy Ramirez painting on Pinterest, we were smitten. Assemble your paints and squeeze a quarter-size amount of each color onto your palette. To incorporate all of our colors, we used one at a time, rinsing our brush between each and blending until we covered the canvas. Once you've covered the canvas, let it dry for a few minutes. Et voilà! Photographed by Maia Schoenfelder

wind-up paper butterflies are my fave (guest post from amelia) I had a baby so I’ve invited some fave guests to take over for me while I spend time with the little guy. Today’s post is from super crafter and cute mom, Amelia of The Homebook. Growing up, I had an aunt who lived in Canada. Every year for my birthday she’d send me a card and a fancy little gift. She always found the neatest things! I made my butterflies into Monarchs, but you could use different materials to create any sort of colorful butterfly. Materials: You’ll need heavy cardstock, 24 gauge wire, silicone rubber bands (I found mine in the hair aisle at Walgreens) needle-nose pliers, scissors, tape, a paintbrush, a black marker, and a white ink pen. Step 1: Measure and cut your wire. Step 2: Find the center of the longer wire. Step 5: Find the center of the shorter wire, and wrap it around the base of the paintbrush. Step 8: Draw the shape of your wings and cut them out. Step 11: Tape each wing to the body of the butterfly. See more awesome from Amelia on The Homebook

Homemade Wild Bird Treats If you're looking for a fun way to feed your wild bird friends, then make these seriously easy bird treats to hang from trees or outside windows. And they come together with ingredients you probably have on hand with really cute results, making them an adorable gift idea for any wild bird lover. Peanut butter is high in protein and a great binder for making these simple treats. Read on for the easy directions: Ingredients 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/2 cup lard 1 cup birdseed 1 cup bread crumbs 1/2 cup flour Directions Melt the peanut butter and lard in a small saucepan, and whisk until smooth. Information Category Bird Food, Pet Treats Healthy Low-Fat Organic Dog Treats Keep your pup in great shape with these healthy low-fat dog biscuits, which are easier than you think to make. Instead of heading to the store for artisan treats, you can toss these together with simple organic ingredients that only cost a couple of bucks. Plus, you can easily tailor the biscuits to your pup's taste. Free of sugar, oils, additives, and preservatives, these munchies are just the right thing to keep your loyal friend happy, healthy, and begging for more. Rather than using peanut butter as a base, these healthy low-fat dog biscuits are made with organic pumpkin puree and fresh spinach. Pumpkin is beneficial to your pup's digestive health, full of antioxidants, and aids in keeping your dog at his ideal weight. Keep reading for the directions. Notes If your dog isn't a fan of pumpkin, then use steamed or canned organic sweet potato as a base instead. Ingredients Directions Preheat your oven to 350˚F. Information Category Dog Food, Pet Treats

Homemade Chicken Jerky For Dogs A dog's gotta snack, right? And sometimes pup parents get a bit hungry while out enjoying long walks, too. Homemade chicken jerky is a tasty and healthy snack, and this recipe is irresistible to pups — and humans. Lightly marinated with dog-safe peanut butter and a touch of soy sauce, these crisp morsels are the perfect small bite for your favorite furry friend. Notes Chicken is a healthy protein for pups and gives the jerky a nice chew without being too dry. Ingredients 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts 1 tablespoon smooth peanut butter 1/4 teaspoon soy sauce Directions Preheat your oven to 170˚ F.Remove any excess fat or bits of bone from the chicken breasts and pat dry.Mix together the peanut butter and soy sauce, which creates the marinade for the jerky. Information Category Dog Food, Pet Treats Yield About 30 strips Cook Time 2 hours

Homemade Shave Cream Keep your legs looking amazing with a DIY shave cream that's filled with soothing ingredients. For only a few dollars, you'll have a luxurious lotion that leaves skin smooth and moisturized after shaving. Personalize it with your favorite essential oil, which transforms your morning shower into a mini spa experience. And repurposing a plastic squeeze-top container makes using this homemade shave cream even easier. Keep reading for the directions. What You'll Need: 3/4 cup grated shea butter soap2 tablespoons coconut oil1/4 cup aloe vera gel1/4 cup witch hazel5 to 10 drops essential oilSmall mixing bowlSmall saucepanBlenderSqueeze-top container or sealable containerPlastic Bag Scissors Directions: Grate the shea butter soap into the small heat-safe bowl. Makes five ounces of shave cream.

How to Make Coffee Ground Soap Don't toss those coffee grounds! Put them to good use, along with your stash of mini hotel bar soaps, with this easy-to-make soap that's a perfect gift for the favorite guy in your life that loves a strong cup o' joe. These soaps are seriously easy to make and exfoliate and deodorize, leaving skin nice and healthy without any froufrou scents. Read on for the directions. What You'll Need: 8 ounces glycerin soap1/4 cup used coffee grounds1 teaspoon vanilla1 teaspoon powdered milk (optional)Small saucepanSmall metal or glass bowlMuffin tinLadleButter knife Directions: Gather together what you'll need for making the soap. The homemade soap cleans with a java-infused lather, but remind your guy to keep his soap on a soap dish or tray to prevent unwanted coffee stains. Along with making homemade soap, here are a few more uses for used coffee grounds.

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