Are you a handywoman?

Did you ever think of yourself as a handywomen? Well you can be!
Ok so I know the idea of holding a drill in your hand and getting to work is not exactly a fun Saturday night for many of you. However neither is the 2 page honey to do list for your husband or you waiting for it to get done someday! Solution? Do it yourself!!!!. I'll show you how.

 Don't worry I'm going to talk you through it. Ok first bit of knowledge you need to know. If you can lug a baby around all day you have the strength to do a lot of projects. Second thing, drills really aren't scary they just make a lot of noise. Third thing- Home Depot or Lowes is your best friend! They have planning desks to help you figure out the size of materials type, and thickness you need. If you need materials cut, they can do it for you, (Yaa no saws ladies) They can cut most materials.


Lowes will also help you with tools for the project. They have really nifty things you can attach to a drill. They have hole cutters something just big enough to put a cord through the back of your desk, They also have Allen wrench adapters for your drill. Let’s say you’re building something big like a play set for your child. You may choose to use bolts. (I always do) You can use the Allen wrench adapter; because you will quickly lose strength after the second bolt from hand cranking it the bolt in. If you start a project that feels too big for you to take on, don’t freak out just go to Lowes and tell them what’s wrong- they probably have an app for that, oh sorry wrong store, they probably have a tool for that. Something like the difference between hand shoveling and using a snow blower. Just because we are the weaker sex doesn’t mean we can’t do it, we just have to work smarter not harder. Now I know I am telling you that you don’t have to sit around and wait for your husband to do the project for you, however there are times you will need him, especially for heavy lifting. Sometimes though there may be another way. Case in point, I will have an entire play set built and laying on the ground and sometimes I do have to wait for my husband to come over and lift the darn thing for me, or as I have learned I can set the posts in cement and build it one piece at a time often with a ladder holding up the other end of the wood for me. Smarter remember. Over the years of building and fixing things I have learned little ways to do it on my own mainly because I inherited both of my parent’s patience or lack thereof.

Anyway if you still feel skeptical, over the next few weeks we are going to get together and we will make something’s together. Small stuff, not to scary, even if you have 12 of this thing I suggest you make it. Give it away if you have to, this is just to learn from. I am going to help you make 3 things sort of smaller and easier projects. Then I’m leaving you to the wolves, as it were. After my baby projects, no more holding your hand, I will however give you complete directions and even baby directions for things not covered in our baby projects. Then I will give you templates and designs for things you may really want to make or fixes for your home. For now here is a few teaser fixes, or little stuff fixes.
Ok so here are some tips. Just to help you feel more handy- You may want to read drilling 101 before starting these.

Screw came out of wood, shelf, door hinge whatever, break tooth picks in half or thirds, shove into hole of wood that is striped, fit as many in as you can to make it snug, if pieces are sticking up out of hole just hit with hammer. Add wood glue enough to seep through, let dry overnight, drill a smaller hole, then screw the screw in. Drill help, look up- drilling 101 post.

 drywall screw came out, go to Lowes and buy either a drywall anchor or a larger anchor then came with the original packaging of item hanging, anchors come in all different sizes, mostly to hang different weights of items

Cords hanging over the side of your desk,

Go to Lowes and bring your largest plug. Use that to find the size of drill bit you need. Use the drill bit as a template. On the side that shows take your template (cut out circle the size of drill bit) lay it out, and trace onto desk. Then drill with a pilot 1/8” drill bit at top and bottom to be exact on the top drill just under the line and on the bottom drill pilot hole just above line to ensure you don’t have 2 drill marks showing when you’re done. Go to other side, the side that won’t show or is at the wall (the side you start the drilling is often rougher looking then the side you punch through) Use your template again line up to the 2 holes you just drilled and draw the template out. Drill a pilot hole in the middle. If you notice the large bit you purchased has a point at the end. that is so you keep the drill in the correct spot as you drill through. Make sure you keep the drill level and parallel with the floor (it will stop or slow down the drill if you aren’t level, so if you notice it kicking back or slowing down then adjust your position)keep drilling till you punch through.  Then push your cords through your new hole and you’re done congrats!

                      More quick fixes to come.