Well, recently Walmart starting sharing a series of videos to help you with your to-do list…Projects Made Simple. All of the supplies you need can be found at Walmart.

After browsing through the videos to see which one I wanted to share with you, it didn’t take me long when I spotted the How to Repair a Running Toilet, after all…it’s been on a list for WAY too long.

We hopped in the Jeep and headed to Walmart to grab what we needed…

Supplies to Repair a Running Toilet

• Flush Valve Flapper
• Sponges
• Scissors

Doug made a video to show you just how easy it is.

I never thought I would be excited about a toilet that works properly. I’m hoping this will cut our water bill down a bit, and I also won’t have to hear the toilet running during the night.

Here is a the Projects Made Simple Video from Walmart, so you can see exactly what type of Flapper you will need for your particular toilet.

You can also find other Projects Made Simple like…

• How to Repair a Wall
• How to Install a Towel Bar
• How to Paint an Accent Wall

and many other projects. Stay tuned as we share easy projects to help you with your home improvement projects.

Disclosure: This post is part of a campaign I am participating in with the Walmart Moms. Walmart has provided me with compensation and product for this post. My participation is voluntary and opinions, as always are my own.

The Quilt Kit that I received was a pattern with four-patch blocks, but we decided to share with you how to make a quilt with simple blocks.  Even if you are beginner, you can learn how to make a quilt and be able to put a smile on a child’s face in the hospital.

Let’s get started…

Here’s a run down of what you need…

• Quilt Kit from Downy Touch of Comfort and Quilts for Kids
• Sewing machine with matching thread
• Sewing supplies – pins, scissors
• Quilting supplies – cutting mat, rotary cutter, quilting ruler

The first steps…

1. Lay out all the fabric and mark them with a piece of paper so you know where the pieces will go
2. For the Block Quilt – you will need 6 1/2 inch squares {watch the video to see how to cut them}
3. Sew together the blocks using a 1/4 inch seam allowance and press the seams toward the darker fabric

Stay tuned as we put together our quilt. I’ve created a Pinterest Quilting Boardwhere we can all share our quilts. I hope you will join me, learn a few sewing skills and spread a smile!!

Disclosure:  I am participating in the Downy Touch of Comfort Program, as always, the opinions are all my own.

I’m really happy with the way it turned out and the ideas are endless, you could make one for Teacher Appreciation, a Graduation Gift or even Mother’s Day.

We found everything we needed at Walmart…let’s gather our supplies…

DIY Message Board Supplies

• Cork Bulletin Board {found in the office supplies}
• Krylon Spray Paint – we used Blue Ocean Breeze
• Ribbon
• Buttons for the middle of flower
• Thumbtacks
• Paint Chips – free in the paint department
• Thread

First thing you want to do is paint the frame, add paper to cover the cork and tape off the edges with painters tape. Doug used a 220 grit piece of sand paper to scuff the plastic frame a bit before painting. This painting technique is the same we used on the Painted Mirror we shared last month.

Then while the paint is drying…it’s time to make the Ribbon Flowers and the Paint Chip Pockets.

1. Cut ribbon 2-5 inches long, depending on how large you want the flower {you need 4 pieces for each flower}
2. Fold in half to find the center
3. Add a glue dot in the center
4. Fold each end in, meeting in the middle and attach to the glue dot
5. Add a glue dot to the center of each piece of ribbon
6. Put the pieces together, attaching each ribbon with a glue dot
7. All the pieces are put together
8. Using a hot glue gun, attach the button center

Using a sewing machine, threaded with a contrasting color {I used red}, sew the paint chips together around three edges. I cut off the paint color words, but you can leave them on if you want, then place two paint chips together, making sure one is a little larger, it will be easier to put things in the pocket that way.

Then simply add the Paint Chip Pockets with the thumbtacks and attach the ribbon flowers with hot glue.

Join us in the Walmart Crafts Group and follow their Pinterest Boards for more great ideas!

Disclosure: This post is part of a campaign I am participating in with the Walmart Moms. Walmart has provided me with compensation and product for this post. My participation is voluntary and opinions, as always are my own.

Linking to…Saturday Night Special, Saturday Sevens, Sundae Scoop, Made by you Monday, Show & Tell Friday, Weekend Wrap Up Party

It’s easy enough for a child to make for Mom or Grandma, but also a great idea for you as well.

I found everything that I needed at Walmart…let’s gather our supplies…

Flower Pot Craft Supplies

• Clay Pot and Saucer
• Spray Paint
• Accent Paint – we bought a sample in the paint department {we ended up changing our minds and going back for a different color, but at only a couple dollars, you can easily change your mind}
• Paint brushes for accent paint – I used round sponge brushes for the dots {super easy}
• Gardening Gloves
• Flowers
• Ribbon

Directions:

1. Wipe down the clay pot and saucer
2. Spray pot and saucer with spray paint – be sure you work outside and give them a few coats, drying in between coats
3. After the pot and saucer are dry, add the accent paint, let dry completely
4. Add Gardening Gloves {or other gardening supplies} and tie with ribbon

Disclosure: This post is part of a campaign I am participating in with the Walmart Moms. Walmart has provided me with compensation and product for this post. My participation is voluntary and opinions, as always are my own.

Linking to…Sundae Scoop, Made By You Monday, Show & Tell Friday, Saturday Night Special, Saturday Sevens, Show & Tell Friday

Do you sew? And maybe quilt? No? Well…you are in luck, because I’m going to be teaching you! I am super excited to announce my participation in Downy’s Touch of Comfort Program. In the coming weeks I’ll be breaking out my sewing machine, sewing up a storm and bringing you all along with me.

Quilts for Kids seeks to help the millions of children who are hospitalized in the US each year by delivering them comforting, homemade quilts that they can keep with them during their stays.  To date, the program has delivered over 20,000 quilts to children that are grateful for the comforting thoughts that come along with them. Check out their stories and see the impact that your effort can have on the life of a child.

You can help bring a smile to the face of a child in the hospital!

If you would like to learn how to quilt and put a smile on a child’s face, be sure to follow along with me as I share this AMAZING program from Downy!  You can request a FREE Quilt Kit at Quilt for Kids and sew along!! We will be sharing our quilts on Facebook and also Pinterest!

If you’re a more advanced quilter, get a pattern for the official Downy Touch of Comfort quilt and follow along with us!

I hope you will join me, learn a few sewing skills and spread a smile!!

Disclosure: Logos and hospital photos from Downy. I am participating in the Downy Touch of Comfort Program, as always, the opinions are all my own.

There are many reasons to garden using raised beds… poor soil conditions, lack of space, drainage issues and weather conditions are a few of the problems that can be addressed. Our reasons are a combination of all of these. Let me give you a little overview of our site. Do you see all the pea gravel in the picture below? Well we didn’t bring that into our backyard, the previous owners had an above ground pool and apparently thought that the best option was to spread 6 inches of pea gravel over the entire yard… yeah, you gotta love that.

So after looking at our options we decided that removing and replacing the pea gravel with topsoil was just too costly and decided on some raised beds. We’ll also be able to extend our growing season, soil tends to warm up faster in raised beds and we can speed the process along by using the bed cover.

Let’s get started…

Raised Garden Bed Supplies:

• Four 2″x8″  8 foot in length
• Four 2″x8″  4 foot in length
• Four 24 inch Stakes
• 16d (3 1/2″) galvanized decking nails
• Landscaping fabric or plastic to line the interior
• Claw hammer, level, framing square

Mark out your area, keep in mind that you want to place your garden in the area of you property that gets the most sun. Also every piece of information you will find on garden suggests to orient them in a North-South direction, not to be one that bucks the system I went ahead and laid out this bed following those guidelines. This bed is only 8 feet long by 4 feet wide so I probably didn’t need to though but you can do as you like.

Remove any weeds or sod (one step we didn’t need to do) in the area that you are going to place your bed and dig a 2 to 3 inch deep trench for the framework to rest in.

I used 16d galvanized decking nails and lap jointed the ends to assemble the frames, this is a simple yet sturdy joint that doesn’t need special tools. To make it stronger you can glue the joints (use glue made for exterior use) and use galvanized deck screws.

 After assembling the bottom framework and placing into the trench…

 Drive in the stakes to secure it into place, this will also help prevent the framework from heaving due to frost in the winter.

Rake the stones to a rough grade, they don’t need to be perfectly level but you will want to fill in the trench to provide support to the frame.

Make sure that each section is level…

Add second level of the frame, leveling and securing to the support stakes. We added two levels because we wanted the soil to be at least 12 inches in depth. If you have good soil with no drainage issues you could easily get by with one level.

After the plastic is stapled in and the pipes are screwed in for the Bed Cover…in comes the soil, we first added a blend of topsoil and sand (3:1) 6 to 8 inches deep, then followed up with a layer of compost.

Then it was time to plant…

Here’s a little update and some more plants that went in

After only 5 short days…we have Chinese Cabbage sprouting through

Doug planted lettuce

And the first of the Zucchini plants went into the ground…I can hardly wait for Zucchini Bread

Project Notes:

• We used lumber lined with plastic to keep costs down, other types of wood recommended are cedar and redwood but these would have quadrupled our lumber costs. Just be sure to stay away from wood that is treated with creosote.
• If you don’t have a saw at home you can have the boards cut for you where you purchase it.

Linking to…Sundae Scoop

We first introduced you to Seeds of Change last week, when we shared the Herb Starter Kit. Now it’s time to share the Raised Garden Bed and how to make the cover.

Let’s gather our supplies…

Raised Garden Bed Cover Supplies:

• 1″ diameter PVC Rigid Water line – cut 6 – 12 inch pieces
• 1/2″ PVC Rigid Water Line – 3 – 10 foot sections
• 12 Clamps - 1 inch steel EMT Conduit Straps
• Plastic Sheeting – 10 foot width (3.5 mil thickness is a good choice)

First thing is to layout your area for the Raised Garden Bed. {Stay tuned for directions on how to make the Raised Garden Bed}

After the frame of the Raised Garden Bed is complete, install the 1″ PVC pipe at each corner and at the mid point of the longest sides using 1 inch steel EMT Conduit Straps.

Our frame is 4′x8′, we spaced out our supports on 4′ centers to provide adequate support.

To form each arch support insert the 1/2″ PVC Water Pipe into opposing 1″ support pipes.

All 3 arch supports in and ready for plastic.

We attached the plastic along one 8′ side with nails and a thin strip of wood. Cut plastic long enough to have extra to secure  ends. Pull plastic over supports and secure with heavy stones or large pieces of wood to prevent it from blowing off.

You can also add the cover to an existing garden bed, you will just need to dig out the soil where the pipes will need to be placed.

We made this short video to show you how to make the Raised Garden Bed Cover…

Now it’s time to plant the seeds…

We received several packets of seeds to try, including these Certified Organic Bilko F-1 Chinese Cabbage. You will want to read the directions on the back of the seed packet, it will tell you how deep to plant the seeds. A simple popsicle stick makes a good marker, then sprinkle in the seeds and cover with soil.

Seeds of Change is the country’s oldest organic seed provider and offers one of the industry’s largest selections of 100% Certified Organic vegetable, flower and herb seeds.

The Sowing Millions, Growing Minds program will be announced on April 24th at the spring opening of the Edible Gardens at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.  Stay tuned for lots of updates on this program, as we will be traveling to Chicago for this fun event at the Zoo, next week!

Learn more about Seeds of Change, follow them on Facebook and Twitter! And watch for the coupons in the March 30th. All You Magazine!

Disclosure: This post is part of a campaign I am participating in with the Walmart Moms. Walmart has provided me with compensation and product for this post. My participation is voluntary and opinions, as always are my own.

Linking to…Made by you Monday, Show Me How, Tip Me Tuesday, Sundae Scoop, Saturday Night Special