​Hello all, Martin here. You get me two weeks in a row. That’s because I’m on a DIY roll this month seeing how many creations I can come up with using Inteplast Building Products Accent Planks that you can purchase from Lowe’s. If you aren’t familiar with this product, it’s used mainly, well, as the name implies, to create a unique accent wall in a variety of patterns and color options. These planks are cool because they don’t have the permanency—or the installation pain—of wallpaper. That’s because they are completely removable and replaceable, applied with 3M Command Strips. That means no hammer and nails. They have the popular weathered look without splinters and bugs, and they come prefinished and ready to use. 

​To demonstrate their ease-of-use and versatility, I’ve challenged myself to see how many DIY projects I can create using the Accent Planks. Here’s another one: A picture frame backdrop that adds weathered character to any wall in your house. Let’s get started.
 
Materials you’ll need

• (3) 13"x 15" picture frames.
• (3) 1/4"/5.2mm plywood cut to 22-1/4" wide and 24" long (22-1/4" width allows 5 full size planks). Any home center will make these cuts for you.
• Black permanent marker for darkening the edges of the plywood.
• Accent Planks from Lowe’s. I used the multicolor kit, but you can choose from reclaimed white, river gray, sierra brown, or whitewashed pine. 

​​The first step is to cut various lengths of Accent Planks to get your desired effect. Feel free to experiment to fit your style. I cut these planks in a range from 24”, 18”, 12”, and 6”.

​Next, attach the Accent Planks to the plywood with the 3M Command strips that are included in the kit. Don’t forget to darken the edges of the plywood with the marker. You can also use paint if you’d like.

Finally, attach screws to the planks to mount the frames. The screws were included with the frames that I bought, but any screw long enough to go through the plank into the plywood will work. 

Now all that’s left is to select the photographs you want to display and hang them on the wall using any frame hanging hardware. Look for my next project, and as always, let me know what you’re working on. 

Hi all, Martin here with a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Remember those porcelain chalkboards in school that took up an entire wall? I can say that I spent many frightening moments standing at that board in front of the class, forced to perform mathematical problem solving miracles that I always got wrong. Well today it seems like most classrooms have gone to dry erase boards instead. But I love going into a coffee shop or restaurant where they still use old fashioned chalkboards for their ever-changing menus. In fact, an artist friend of mine makes some decent cash as a chalk board muralist for local establishments.  To add a bit of a vintage vibe to my own kitchen, I recently created a chalkboard with a weathered wood- look frame using Inteplast Building Products new Accent Planks. This is an easy one folks. I promise you can have it done in a couple of hours.

​Materials you’ll Need:
•           (1) sheet of 1/4" plywood (or 5.2mm hardwood sold as dimension) cut to 24” x 36” (I got a pre-cut piece at my local retail store.)
•           (3) Inteplast Accent Planks
•           Chalkboard paint
•           Paint roller
•           Picture frame hanging wire and eye bolts
•           Hot glue gun
•           Mitre saw (you can also use a circular saw and a speed square)

​The first step is to cut your plywood to 24” x 36”. Next, paint the plywood with the chalkboard paint and let that dry. I used two coats, but just check out the recommendations for the type of paint you use. Don’t forget to paint the edges of the plywood too so the sides are less visible when you go to hang the chalkboard. 

Now, let’s work on the frame. Measure and cut your Accent Planks at a 45 degree miter. You can purchase Inteplast’s Accent Planks at your local Lowe’s retailer. I used Sierra Brown but you can choose from a range of their prefinished colors like Whitewashed Pine, Reclaimed White, River Grey, or a multi-color kit. The best part about working with these planks - no splinters, bugs, or mildew!  And because they’re PVC, they’re easy to wipe clean. 

Almost done. The next step is to affix the Accent Planks onto the chalkboard using a hot melt glue gun. Let the glue dry, and then you’re ready to hang it. Just attach the wire and eyebolts in the position you’d like—vertical or horizontal—and hang it on the wall. 

​That’s all there is to it. Get yourself some chalk and start writing reminders. If you’re so inclined, create your own chalkboard artist-inspired murals. Or, just keep track of doctor’s appointments like I do. Yep, I’m still old school when it comes to calendars. Until next time, keep up the DIYing. 

​This time of year reminds me of spending an entire weekend helping my daughter get settled into her college dorm a few years ago—her first home-away-from-home. Already facing the stresses of being away from home, finding her classrooms, and making new friends, I wanted to help her create a space that she felt comfortable and relaxed in.
 
In addition to the necessities like linens, office supplies, toiletries, lamps, laptops, and other electronics, Here are some inexpensive, easy to install, stylish suggestions to help turn a bland dorm room into an inviting, homey place that your student will be happy to come home to—and hopefully study.
 
An accented wall. When most colleges have rules about what you can and can’t put on walls—specifically no paint, personalizing a dorm room can be difficult. I wish these Accent Planks from Inteplast had been around when my kid was in college. These self-adhesive, removable planks that look like reclaimed-wood are easy to apply and even easier to remove. Put them up on the wall to define a study corner, or create a headboard. You can get these at Lowe’s too.  
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​Small storage options. Dorms are typically tight on space, especially if you have a roommate. It’s important for students to have a space for their personal things like keys—instead of tossing them on an end table. Here is a unique DIY hidden storage cabinet that doubles as a picture frame. You can make this as stylish as you want from Inteplast’s varied color and profile selection of moulding. 

​Familiar photos. A bout of homesickness can strike a college kid at any time; especially if they’re stressed. I made sure my daughter had lots of photos of family and friends hung prominently on the wall that she could look at every day to remind her how much she was loved. Again using prefinished moulding from Inteplast that you can purchase from Lowe’s, you can create this inexpensive rotating photo frame that students can easily switch out photos or other artwork. 

​Updated furniture. Having a piece of furniture from home is another way to feel at home in a dorm. It also means you don’t have to go out and buy something new. But sometimes old furniture is, well, old. Maybe a childhood piece of furniture just needs some visual interest to make it new again. You can easily do this by adding prefinished decorative moulding profiles like they did to this dresser. Minimal DIY know-how required. 

​It’s not easy when your kids go off to college, but knowing they’re comfortable and safe can make life a little more worry-free. All of these Inteplast Building Products can be purchased at Lowe’s. Of course if you aren’t the DIY type, there are lots of other ideas out there to personalize a dorm room. Let us here your suggestions. Thanks for reading. 

Well, it’s officially August now. I can’t believe how fast the summer has gone by. And I still have a ton of things to do before it ends—like the 5 remaining crafty endeavors I have on my summer bucket list. Last week I shared with you Part 1 of the DIY projects I accomplished the first half of the summer. This week, I’m talking laundry room shelving, installing some premium door jambs, and upholstering a headboard, just to get me started. You can do these yourself in a few hours or a couple of weekends. And away we go…
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6. Adding shelves to the laundry room.
I cringe at clutter…I’m guilty of cluttering, but it still makes me cringe! Some folks don’t put much thought into organizing and decluttering a laundry room, but when I recently knocked down all of the outdated, about-to-fall-over cabinets in my laundry room, I wanted a deliberate change. My plan is to create modern open shelving units using Inteplast Building Product’s pre-finished  moulding in crystal white. The open shelves will force me to keep the clutter to a minimum (at least that’s my logic going into this).
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​7. Making a fabric guestroom headboard.
Now I know some of you don’t want to go too overboard with a guestroom suite because you think your guests will never want to leave (I’m in no way talking about my own family). But there is something about making visitors feel comfortable, relaxed, and appreciated that warms my heart as a hostess. My next project is creating a duvet with a matching fabric framed headboard. Using Inteplast’s prefinished moulding again, this time in mahogany, you can create a frame that attaches directly to the wall behind your bed for a cozy focal point. Who knows, you might get inspired to start your own B&B.
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8. Creating some pizzazz with premium door jamb kits.
You can add opulence to any door in your home, all by yourself, with a pre-finished door trim kit. This premium door jamb kit from Inteplast Building Products comes with fluted casing, two decorative corner blocks, and two additional plinth blocks to give the frame a solid base look. You can buy the kit from your local Lowe’s, and with just a little elbow grease and a couple of hours you’ve got a wow factor!

9. Replacing a weathered park bench with a sturdy composite one.
I sat down on my wood and metal park bench this past spring to admire my azaleas, and bam, the weathered wood plans broke! PVC and composite benches are the perfect alternative where the elements can be harsh, and they’re a natural fit for any home garden, trail, or pathway.

​10. Taking a cue from summer’s trending pallet of soft gray.
Now, I’m not suggesting that you repaint your walls or siding every few months based on the whim of a seasonal color trend, but, if you are ready to paint this summer, like I am, and looking for something cool for the summer but that will carry you throughout the year, how about soft gray. This wistful shade goes with most any décor and has a calming effect—inside and out.  

All right my fellow DIY fanatics, I’ve got a lot to do before the end of the month. And you better get busy too! As always, please share your pics with us, and don’t forget to check out our Pinterest site for more fabulous DIY inspirations.