The sun is out, and there is no better time to spend outdoors than now. Summer is upon us, and this is no time to be cooping yourself up inside doing one thing or another. Of course, I totally understand that not everyone can spend the entire summer traipsing around the country or the world; so if you have some spare time on your hands, and you like using them to create some thing useful, why not plan several DIY projects for the summer?
Summer is the perfect time to engage in DIY projects – especially those that involve the whole family. Let me help you get creative by listing down some fun summer DIY projects. Remember, anyone can get their hands dirty, but it never is the same unless you get the entire family involved. You’ll get so much more pleasure out of your creations at the end of the day!
Make some homemade sunscreen.
Summer is the time to go out in the sun. Whether you are planning on spending some time at the beach or you are planning on discovering cities on foot, you cannot do away with the need for some sunscreen. Even staying at home working in your garden will necessitate the use of sunscreen!
Instead of buying bottles and bottles of commercially produced sunscreen, why not make your own? It’s not so hard, if you get down to the basics. Instructables provides a step by step guide that will teach you how to concoct homemade sunscreen. Just imagine all the fun you’ll have when you use something you actually created!
Make your own corkboard.
For one reason or another, most families I know have corkboards in their kitchens. Some even have them in the living room! I guess corkboards can come in quite handy at times. In any case, if your old corkboard is getting ratty, don’t head out to the store to buy one. Just make your own!
This DIY project is perfect for people who love to drink wine – don’t throw out all those wine corks! Instead, stash them away and gather as many as you can to create your very own homemade corkboard. All you need is a frame (which you can also make on your own if you wish), some glue (good old Elmer’s wood glue will do the trick), and those wine corks of yours. For inspiration, check out how this lady did it at the Green Upgrader. (The photo is actually her finished product.)
Make your own vertical garden.
There is no doubt about it – having green and other splashes of color from vegetation can liven up any living space. Even if you live in the city in a small apartment, having some plants can make your home look nicer and brighter. If you’re cramped for space, why not create a vertical garden?
It’s not as complicated as it may initially seem. To make it easier for you, visit Vertical Earth Gardens, the experts in this area. They can provide you with the tools and the information that you will need to create your own at home.
Make your own ant killer.
Summer is perfect for outdoors, but unfortunately, it is also perfect for ants. How many summers can you remember wherein you had to battle with this tiny critters? Leave a small amount of food on table or counter top and before you know it, you’ll have ants all over the place!
Don’t grab that can of Baygon immediately – you can make your own ant killer mix! This is the simplest way to do it: grab that bottle of baby powder that you use to smell fresh and nice and dump it along the walls where the ants come out (they have to come from somewhere!). That baby powder may smell nice to you, but they are deadly to ants. How so? Simply because the scent makes them lose their sense of direction, and ants rely on that to get around. Thanks to your baby powder, they get lost and die. Of course, make sure to sweep the floors after applying your trustworthy ant killer.
Make your own waterproof camera case.
What’s a trip to the pool or the beach if you can’t take pictures underwater? You have three options: buy a waterproof camera, buy a waterproof camera case, or make your own waterproof camera case! Here’s a video of how Kipkay created his built his own underwater camcorder housing. I think you can use this as a springboard to create your own housing to suit whatever camera you have.
Make your own outdoor shower.
Summer = heat + water.
This equation has proven to be true for all summers. And, if you can’t spend much time at the beach or the pool, the next best thing is taking an outdoor shower at home. (Now this does not mean having to strip to take the shower!)
All you need is a wall where you can install the shower and some basic plumbing tools and materials. For a step by step guide, visit DIY Network and you’ll be enjoying splashing under the water right in the comforts of your own backyard.