Halfway Crafty – CONFIDENT TO DIY

Soltech Vita Grow Light Smart Home Integration & DIY Light Shades

I am just getting started with using grow lights and armed with my knowledge of LED lighting I greatly appreciate the vita grow lights impressive specs. With a Color Rendering Index of 95 and 3000 kelvin color spectrum, this shows that attention to detail was given when making this light and great consideration was given [...]

No Sew Potting Mat

Supplies For this project I only had to purchase the vinyl for $25.00 for 2 yards + S&H. Assembly Measure, fold and clip the 4” walls in on themselves to create a crease in all four corners. Next secure seams in place with the clips 4” on center from the top corner. Using the awl [...]

Adding Inline Switch to String Lights

I started doing this with making bottle lamps and now I am adding switches to my incandescent Christmas lights. #1. With the string lights plugged into power, use the no contact volt detector to determine which is the hot wire. #2. Mark the hot wire with a sharpie or tape. #3. Unplug the string lights [...]

Sew in Magnets

Using my food saver vacuum sealer I was able to package some neodymium magnets so that I could sew them into my drapes. I used old bags that I had saved for this purpose. It’s important to keep the magnets far enough apart inside the bag so that they don’t magnetize to one another. Next [...]

IKEA Cat Tree

The Ikea Elvarli Cat tree is great for anyone with limited space or wishing to have a damage free cat tree such as when living in a rental home or having plaster and lath walls. This cat tree works by installing a damage free pressure support rail that runs parallel between the ceiling and floor. [...]

Emergency Candle Kit In A Mason Jar

*I used candles readily found at the dollar tree and some from an army surplus store. The candles were different sizes and required the use of different sized mason jars. The more commonly found Dollar Tree emergency candles require using a 16oz wide mouth mason jars Because they are just barely too long for the [...]

Rooftop Tent Ladder Bag

I used the same principals for making a shopping tote bag to make my ladder carrying/storage bag. This was so easy to make that it was made before I could stop to take pictures. Here is the tutorial that inspired me Tote making guide. Start by measuring the L x W x H (31” x [...]

DIY Hot Knife Weller 940 solder

Believe it or not but the Weller pistol solder gun can easily be used as a hot knife. I purchased this gun new for $40.00 a year ago and am now finding other uses for it in my sewing room. So for $10 I ordered a R type tip for fabric cutting and yes I [...]

Making a Headboard from an Old Door

Project cost $$ Project time 3+ days This project was not completed quickly and takes time and precision. The cure time for wood glue is 24 hours. So it took me three days to glue all of the wood pieces in place without jeopardizing the stability and finish. This process could easily take an additional [...]

Upcycle Bike Tires

A very worthy endeavor and worth wild mention is Upcycling of old bike tires. I didn’t realize just how many old tires Eric had accumulated over the years. Until one day we decided to start straightening up the basement and he brought out a trailer full of old tires. My first project involved saving our [...]