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Attach Rubber Bands to Slippery Knife Handles for Extra Grip

When it comes to cutting things, I’m all thumbs. Others in my house break out in a cold sweat when they see me pick up the butcher knife. I recently discovered that if you attach rubber bands to slippery knife handles for extra grip, you may just save your loved ones from having to drive you to the emergency room. Perhaps it’s not that dramatic for you, but using elastics on knife handles will make all the difference in your chopping endeavors. Use caution with any of the bonus hacks shown in this video, we cringed during several, including when they demonstrate that you should cut away from yourself by first showing someone cutting towards their hand – Yikes!

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Rating: 9 (from 29 votes)

Up-cycle Old Picture Frames with Milk Paint

Milk Paint Old Picture Frames

Milk paint is a non-toxic, water based paint with pigment added for color. You can make it yourself (online tutorials abound for this) or purchase one of the many brands available on the market today. It comes in powder form and has an almost forever shelf life as long as it is not mixed. To use you just mix it with water according to the manufacturers instructions. I love to breath new life into old picture frames with milk paint. You can get a multitude of interesting effects layering different colors or lightly sand each layer to create a distressed look. You can even create that ultra in vogue crackled paint look by using a specially formulated additive such as Old Fashioned Milk Paint’s Antique Crackle. For the ones pictured, I simply sanded some old frames, added a couple layers of milk paint, then finished with pure tung oil mixed with mineral spirits. For solid coverage and for paint to adhere to non porous surfaces, most companies sell a bond to mixed with the milk paint. I personally like to experiment and there are a multitude of online resources to research before you even lift the brush. Have fun with it!

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Rating: 6 (from 22 votes)

Make an Antique Window Frame into Art

Window Frame Art

Spruce up an old window frame and turn it into art. Discarded windows are great finds at flea markets, yard sales and thrift stores. Photographer Ruth Rosenfeld of Georgetown, Colorado took this curved Victorian window and used it to frame four of her own photographs of doorways and windows from around town. From one pane to multiple paned windows, the creative possibilities are endless. You will need an old window frame, photograph/s, paint (if you plan on painting your frame) and wood or cardboard. Choose a favorite photograph and have it printed to the size of your window pane. Slide the photograph into window, then apply glue to edges of your wood/cardboard cut-out and attach to frame behind photograph to hold into place.

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Rating: 3 (from 13 votes)

Tool Box Liner Hack, Use Rubberized Undercoating

Rubberized tool box liners are great for preventing tools from sliding around in your tool box. That is until they pick up the inevitable dust and dirt blowing around in your workshop. Liners quickly loose their grip and slide around themselves. Here is a great hack to keep your tools in place by YouTube’s Gearmo Auto. For this tool box liner hack, use rubberized undercoating or truck bed coating and follow Gearmo’s instructions.

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Rating: 1 (from 17 votes)

Transform an Old Trunk into an Outdoor Planter

Transform an old trunk into an outdoor planter

When my partner brought home two old rusted, smelly trunks and I refused to let him bring them in the house, he made lemons out of lemonade, and made me happy in the end. I would have never thought to transform an old trunk into an outdoor planter, but that is exactly what he did. In our case he mounted each chest to a wooden platform (which is optional). Otherwise, just fill the chest up with dirt and plant your favorite perennials, annuals or make a trunk herb garden, whatever you prefer.

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Rating: 10 (from 24 votes)

Use a Tennis Ball to Park the Car

Use a Tennis Ball to Park the Car

Have trouble judging how far to pull into the garage so you don’t hit the wall or stick out? Here’s an easy fix for that. Use a tennis ball to park the car. Well not literally, but as a parking guide in the garage. Park your car at just the right spot, then attach a tennis ball to some twine and hang it from ceiling so when you pull in, the tennis ball hits your windshield at that sweet spot of perfect parking.

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Rating: 13 (from 23 votes)