From handmade cards to presents for pets, this week's offerings are just right for sharing.
We know you want to live a more DIY life—it's just that you don't have the time to weed through the hundreds of projects, directions, and ideas that crowd the internet every week. But don't worry: we have the time. Every Friday we bring you the best do-it-yourself plans we've seen over the last week, so you can spend your time doing projects instead of just searching for them.
Best DIY Projects Around the Web This Week
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Make an Upside-Down Planter
Get the garden started early with these upside-down hanging growers from Instructables; they put empty plastic bottles back to work, keeping plants high enough to prevent animals and other ground-dwelling pests from snacking. Try it with herbs for fresh spices all summer long.
Image courtesy of DebH57/www.instructables.com.
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Use Empty Jars in a Chandelier
This project, found on Craft, was made with emptied (and cleaned) baby food jars, found wire, and old barrel hoops. The jars are just the right size for small candles, and the rugged, outdoor feel is perfect for gardens and informal porches. (This project can be found in the book Craft, by Susan Wasinger, available at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.)
Image courtesy of Susan Wasinger.
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Construct a Laptop Stand from Cardboard
We speak from experience when we say that staring at a laptop for ten hours a day will do terrible things to your neck and back—which is why we were excited to see this make-your-own stand on Green Upgrader. Download the pattern and turn a cardboard box into an office life(and neck-)saver.
Image courtesy of Matt Embrey.
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Turn Scraps into Pet Toys
These handmade pet toys are genius in their simplicity: just braid together old fabric (think project remnants, old clothes, rags), tie the ends, and voila: your pet's new favorite chewable. We've seen similar toys for about $9 each, but the directions for this project cost nothing at Free Pet Projects.
Image courtesy of Courtesy of Freepetprojects.com.
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Fashion Wallpaper Scraps into Notecards
Whether you need a note to send (maybe to, ahem, mom?) or want to make a set as a last minute gift (for, ahem, mom again?), these gorgeous handmade cards from Design Sponge are the perfect thing: just take scrapbook paper, wallpaper, or gift wrap and cover a boring blank card. (Don't have any blanks? Cardstock folded in half works fine; just get a heavier weight.)
Image courtesy of George Doyle/Getty Images.
