diy french cleat

I am going to teach you how to securely hang heavy objects on the wall with a board and a few screws. Using a French Cleat has been a tried and true method for hanging heavy objects and is used by professional cabinet makers and DIYers alike. It can be incorporated into the item being built or added after the fact.

DIY French Cleat

How to Make a French Cleat

What is a French Cleat?  A French Cleat is a board or molding with a 30°-45° bevel cut attached to the wall along with a corresponding beveled board or molding attached to the object to be hung on the wall. That sounds a little confusing but check out the diagram below and it will all make sense. First let’s grab a few supplies.

DIY French Cleat

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

  • 1″ x 3″ board or 3/4″ plywood strip (3″ minimum width)
  • 2″ screws

Tools:

Instructions:

Step 1:

Measure the length that you need your French cleat to be. Typically a french cleat is the length of the item to be hung on the wall and spans the length of at least 2 studs in the wall that the item will be secured to.

Step 2:

Adjust your table saw or circular saw to a 30°-45° bevel and rip your board along the center. (For tips on using a table saw safely, read this article.)

Step 3:

Secure the top piece of the cleat to the item to be hung (see diagram shown below). This can be done with pocket-holes, glued under a shelf, or with screws to the back of the item. (You may want to pre-drill your holes to avoid splitting the wood.)

DIY French Cleat

Step 4:

Choose the height at which you want to hang the item on the wall and mark where the bottom cleat will be placed. Mark the studs that the cleat will be screwed into and secure the cleat to the wall using wood screws and a level in the orientation shown above. (Again, you may want to pre-drill your holes to avoid splitting the wood.)

Step 5:

Gently place the object above the wall cleat and lower until the two pieces are securely nested together.

Often times the weight of the object and the angle of the beveled cleat is enough to keep the object securely in place. But, if you’re worried about children lifting the item, you can add a screw through the hanging object into the cleat or a wall stud for peace of mind.

DIY French Cleat

And if you’re excited about using a French Cleat, you might like to make a headboard that is hung on the wall using a French Cleat!

rustic-king-headboard-side-view

This is a great tip for hanging cabinets on the wall as well. I hope you try your hand at making and using a French Cleat soon. Let me know how it goes!

Hi! I’m Kristen, from In Her Garage, and I am a self-taught woodworker and DIY fanatic from Minnesota where I live with my husband and our two daughters. Between being a wife, mom and, registered nurse, I try to make as much time for DIY as possible. My love for building came after our family built our current home in 2015. After we moved in, we needed furniture and instead of spending massive amounts of money to order the pieces we wanted I decided that I would build them myself. I started with a buffet table plan from the fabulous Ana-white and quickly set out to remodel my entire home office.

Since then I have started a side business building furniture for the people in my community. I love hearing my clients talk about the pieces they wish they had whether it be a rustic buffet table, a one drawer side table, or a toy box and then making it a reality for them. While starting my small business it made perfect sense that I would document my building journey so I simultaneously launched the In Her Garage blog and I love sharing my plans, tips and tricks.

Making something beautiful with your own two hands through a little preparation and determination is an amazing feeling and I hope to bring inspiration and know-how to those looking to tackle a big or small project.
I am so glad that you found me here and please feel free to connect with me on PinterestInstagram, Facebook, and Youtube to see what I am working on right now.

 

 

Tutorial for making these DIY oilcloth, water resistant drink coasters for Summer!

DIY Drink Coasters - Water Resistant fabric and perfect for Outdoor Use and Summer Parties!

DIY Oilcloth Drink Coasters

Hi there!  I’m so thrilled to be back today with this super quick and easy project.  The weather in Seattle has been totally amazing lately and it’s got me thinking about summer.  And, summer entertaining is on the brain! This project will look great on your patios and outdoor spaces. Bonus, it’s totally water resistant too. Let’s take a mini-break and learn how to make these adorable DIY oilcloth drink coasters for gifting or entertaining.

What in the world is Oilcloth?

Oilcloth is a type of fabric.  It has vinyl on one side and kind of a soft mesh of cotton on the other side.  Vinyl has a slippery and plastic-like feel to it. The best part about vinyl is you can wipe it clean and it’s water resistant! This makes oilcloth a perfect fabric choice for outdoor items like tablecloths, COASTERS, beach bags etc.

The other great thing about oilcloth is that it just happens to be made in a multitude of funky patterns and bright colors.  This fabric was made for Summer!  When you get a minute – run a google search for ‘oilcloth fabric’ and you’ll see what I mean.  Such pretty patterns!

So this is the perfect little accessory for all those Summer fiestas and BBQ’ s you have in the works.  Or even for gifting away as little favors.  Tie a cute burlap string around them and presto! You have a lovely handmade housewarming gift.

Perhaps you own a pool or live near the beach?  Or know someone who does?  These coasters make a fantastic DIY gift idea for them.

Here’s the best part: these stylish oilcloth coasters took me 10 minutes to make – start to finish.

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Gather materials needed to make oilcloth drink coasters

  • Oilcloth Fabric – I chose these hot pink stripes from Fabric.com
  • Sewing Machine
  • Pinking Shears – these are simply scissors with a serrated edge.  They are used to cut a zig zag pattern in fabric to prevent fraying.
  • Tape Measure (for measuring your coasters to a perfect square)

Instructions:

Start by folding your oilcloth in half.  We need two exact squares to make one coaster (both front and back will be the vinyl, water-resistant side).

Fold your oilcloth fabric in half

Step 1:  Measure out a perfect square on your oilcloth fabric.

measure out your coasters using a tape measure or ruler

I measured approximately a 4 inch square coaster.  (It’s totally up to you on sizing. Most drink coasters are between 3-5 inches square.  For fun you can also cut circles instead of squares. Use a bowl or circle template to make a perfect circle.)

Step 2 :  Use your pinking shears to cut out your measured square.

Cut out the two squares of oilcloth fabric that you previously measured

Since your fabric is folded in half – you can pretty much cut two squares at once.  You can also use regular scissors here and even them with pinking shears after sewing.

Step 3:  Line up your two squares and sew them together vinyl sides out.

sew both layers or oilcloth fabric together

Use use small binder clips (another little sewing trick I use a TON) to hold your two pieces of fabric together while sewing.  I wouldn’t suggest using pins because the holes will be visible even after removing them.

A straight stitch is fine, but feel free to try something fun like a zig zag stitch.

Tips for sewing and working with oilcloth fabric :

Gently feed oilcloth through your machine so it doesn't stick to the presser foot

  • Because oilcloth is vinyl and kind of plastic feeling, it will stick under your presser foot.  To combat this,  use two hands to feed the coaster through.
  • An alternative is to purchase a Teflon presser foot – they are fairly inexpensive and won’t stick to the vinyl fabric as easily.
  • DO NOT IRON OILCLOTH.  It will melt and the mess won’t be pretty.  If your oil cloth is wrinkled, lay it out and throw some heavy books on top for a few days. This usually presses the wrinkles out.  Oilcloth also “releases” more wrinkles when warmed up a bit.  Therefore you can try laying it by a sunny window.  Don’t microwave your oilcoth. 🙂

Step 4:  Use your pinking shears to clean up the edges of your coasters

Even up the edges of your newly sewn coasters with your pinking shears

Simply snip along the edge without cutting through the seam to straighten and clean up the ends.

Guess what?  All done!  See how fast it was making these DIY oilcloth drink coasters?

These coasters look so cute and are perfect for Summer! Pin this image to share with a friend:

Tutorial for making these DIY oilcloth, water resistant drink coasters for Summer!

I don’t know about you, but I may need to mix up a batch of margaritas tonight.  I hope you guys enjoyed this tutorial!

Tutorial for making these DIY oilcloth, water resistant drink coasters for Summer!

If you enjoyed this tutorial, you might want to check out my tutorial on DIY frayed napkins.  They also make a nice gift and pretty setting for your tables.  And for even more inspiration – be sure to check out Brittany’s amazing backyard and patio reveal, what a beautiful space!

Outdoor Garden Patio Party Decorating Ideas | Pretty Handy Girl

You may also like this tutorial for making mosaic tile coasters

Mosaic Tile Coasters | Pretty Handy Girl

…or DIY personalized wood slice coasters.

I’ll be back here next month and I’m looking forward to connecting with you all again soon.

karen signature

~ See More of Karen’s Tutorials ~


karen from decor hintHello!  I’m Karen, the creator of the Home Decor and DIY Blog: Decor Hint . I’m a Native of the East Coast, but I currently live in beautiful Seattle with my hubby, our two wonderful children and our spunky wheaten terrier.

You can usually find me with some sort of craft in one hand and a coffee in the other. And I’m always rearranging furniture or moving lamps from room to room. I have a passion (read: obsession) for decorating, DIY, and gardening. In short, I love making my house into a home.

Like many, I’m inspired by what I see in home decor magazines, but I’m not so inspired by the price tags.  Consequently, I love finding and creating beautiful budget-friendly home decor items. In a head to head competition, I bet you’d never know the difference between the designer items and my DIY creations!  Many of my DIY projects focus on sewing, crafting, upcycling and organizing. Some of my favorite projects have been making pretty wreaths , sewing my own tassel hand towels, and crafting these trendy wood bead garlands . I can’t wait to inspire you and spark your creativity through my DIY projects.

You can always connect with me on Pinterest , Twitter or Instagram.

Beautiful Fall Tablescapes - Decorating Your Table for Fall

21 Beautiful Fall Tablescapes - Decorating Your Table for FallBeautiful Fall Table Decorations

Fall is approaching fast! Are you looking for some inspiration for your fall table decorations this year? This collection of beautiful fall tablescapes is full of creative ideas to motivate and inspire you to create a gorgeous fall setting in your dining room.

Inspiration:

This fresh Fall Apple Tablescape by Julie Blanner is simple, inexpensive, and gorgeous! easy-centerpiece-for-beginners-julie-blanner

A beautiful floral and pumpkin Colorful Fall Tablescape with small little pumpkins on each plate is the perfect way to decorate your table this Autumn.fall-tablescape-orange-pumpkins-pretty-handy-girl

This elegant, clean and festive White Pumpkin Centerpiece by Sand & Sisal is sure to brighten up your dining room.
White-Pumpkin-Centerpiece-Sand-and-Sisal

Feast your eyes on this softer Green and White Table Setting by Craftberry Bush.
neutral-fall-table-setting-craftberrybush

Fall Centerpieces with pastel Chalk Painted Pumpkins by Unoriginal Mom is so clever!
fall-centerpiece-with-chalk-paint-pumpkins-unoriginal-mom

This french country inspired Fall Dining Room by So Much Better with Age is festive and elegant.
french-chandelier-mora-clock-dining-room-So-Much-Better-With-Age

House by Hoff created this Gorgeous Fall Dining Room and Tablescape with a large glass bowl centerpiece that would look good on any table.
Early-Fall-Table-House-By-Hoff

This amazing Blue and Yellow Seasonal Fall Tablescape by Blue I Style Blog emits pure happiness.
Blue i Style - ThanksgivingTableSquare

Gorgeous and tall, this Neutral Fall Tablescape by Design Dazzle has beautiful flowers. Don’t miss the clever addition of a birdcage.
Neutral-fall-tablescape-Design-Dazzle

Unique, casual and elegant, this Blue Jeans Fall Tablescape by Cuckoo 4 Design is simply lovely.
Thanksgiving_or_fall_tablesetting_in_jeans_blues_Cuckoo-4-Design

This yellow leaf and pumpkin Cozy Fall Tablescape by Shades of Blue Interiors is charming for those who want to keep things a little more casual.
Fall-cozy-tablescape-Shades-of-Blue-Interiors

This beautiful and homey Colorful Thanksgiving Tablescape also by Shades of Blue Interiors covers the pumpkin in flowers; so pretty!
Colorful-Thanksgiving-Table-Shades-of-Blue-Interiors

A fall tablescape created by The DIY Mommy with a Faux Floral Garland stretching across the table achieves a soothing and beautiful palette.
DIY-Faux-Floral-Fall-Garland-The-DIY-Mommy

Check out this Classic Blue, Gold and White Table by Kelley Nan for a formal and stunning fall display.
Blue-and-White-Thanksgiving-Table-Idea-with-Sunflowers-and-Hydrangeas-15-Kelley-Nan

A bright, beautiful and delightfully Colorful Easy Thanksgiving Tablescape and Centerpiece by Cupcakes and Crinoline.
Thanksgiving-tablescape-and-centerpiece-cupcakesandcrinoline.com_

A Simple Thanksgiving Table by My Fabuless Life uses light colors to make any table welcoming.Easy-Inexpensive-Thanksgiving-Table-Setting-MyFabulessLife.com_

This creative and casual Natural Rustic Tablescape by Postcards from the Ridge gives a sense of warmth and comfort, just beautiful.
Natural Rustic Thanksgiving Tablescape-PostcardsFromTheRidge

A rustic creamy and white Farmhouse and Industrial Thanksgiving Table from AKA Design has the perfect farmhouse ambience.
Industrial-Thanksgiving-Fall-Table-akadesign.ca

A Fall Tablescape using White and Wood elements by Timeless Creations brings a natural atmosphere straight to the dinner table.
White Wood Fall Tablescape TimelessCreationsMN

Metallic and pretty, this Coastal and Casual Fall Tablescape by Artsy Chics Rule adds a little glamour to dining.
Coastal Casual Fall Tablescape Artsy Chicks Rule

Last, but certainly not least, this White Pumpkin Fall Tablescape with the wooden tray is simple, yet rustic and pretty.
white-pumpkin-centerpiece-pretty-handy-girl

I hope you like this roundup and found some inspiration for your Fall Table Decorations this season! Please share and help inspire others.

Other posts you’ll love:

Pretty Handy Girl Fall Tablescape 2016

Holiday Tablescape Tour 2016

 

24 Creative Fall Wreaths | Pretty Handy Girl

24 Fabulously Creative Fall Wreaths

 

Pretty Handy Girl's Colorful Fall Home Tour

Colorful Fall Home Tour 2016: Part 1

Holiday Woodland Tablescape 2015 | Pretty Handy Girl

Holiday Woodland Tablescape 2015 | Pretty Handy Girl

Welcome back for another holiday room tour! Today I’d love to have you join us in the dining room. Can I tell you a secret? I don’t usually make a big Christmas meal. Instead, I like to make a huge batch of pancakes and bacon or sausage. I’m definitely a breakfast for lunch or dinner kind of gal. In fact, we sit down in the dining room and the whole family enjoys a big brunch on Christmas day. Maybe one year I’ll surprise the family with a ham. Or maybe not.

Apparently I’m old enough to witness a trend go out of style and come back again. I’m thrilled to be able to dust off my blue and white Spode plates and use them on my holiday tablescape this year. Do you have a collection of blue and white plates? Do you use them all the time, only for special occasions or never?

Holiday Woodland Tablescape 2015 | Pretty Handy Girl

It was great to bring out the deer from last year’s tablescape.  They really add the woodland feel to our table.

Holiday Woodland Tablescape 2015 | Pretty Handy Girl

I purchased a mixed green garland from Kroger and pulled it apart to decorate the table and more! Gotta love getting fresh greens from the grocery store.

Holiday Woodland Tablescape 2015 | Pretty Handy Girl

Holiday Woodland Tablescape 2015 | Pretty Handy Girl

Speaking of table, did you notice that my table is different from last year? I finally made this beautiful farmhouse table from reclaimed timbers and Osbourne wood table legs. You can easily make your own table following this tutorial. Read more

Aging and Antiquing Furniture | Pretty Handy Girl

Reclaimed Lumber Farmhouse Table | Pretty Handy Girl

Aging and antiquing furniture legs is an easy task if you want to fake age on a table or chairs. With some stain, paint and glaze you can fool most people into believing that your new furniture is an antique.

There are many ways to age and antique furniture. This tutorial will show you my favorite technique for table and chair legs.

If you’re just stumbling upon this post, I shared the tutorial for building a table last week. The table legs I used are the rope twist legs from Osborne Wood Products. I worked with Osborne Wood Products and custom designed the legs, so you won’t find them anywhere else. I do think they should have named them the “Brittany” legs or “Pretty Handy Legs.” LOL. I’m just excited that they provided me with a set for my table at no charge. 😉

This tutorial works best with unfinished wood, but you can skip the staining step if you have pre-finished furniture.

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Instructions: 

Stain your furniture leg with the dark stain. Follow up with a second coat if you desire. Allow the stain to dry.

Reclaimed Lumber Farmhouse Table | Pretty Handy Girl

Paint the legs with white chalky paint. Add a second coat if you need more coverage.

Reclaimed Lumber Farmhouse Table | Pretty Handy Girl

Mix up the Miss Mustard Seed Milk Linen colored paint and brush on a layer of milk paint on top of the white paint. (For more variety, you could use a contrasting color instead of linen.) Read more