GYMNASTICS BEAM

Real beam dimensions are 4" wide x 16' long. My beam is a 4"x 4" x 8'.

 (Not truly 4" because finished wood is shy.) The height of mine is 16".

My braces

Dollar store carpet.  I used 8 mats.

Tools I used to put on the carpet.

Finished product.....

in....

ACTION!!!

CHEAP POOL COVER UPDATE

IT WORKED!!!

Cleaning the fallen debris off it from winter.  Rolled it up to use again next year.

Pool view right after taking the tarp off.  Not bad.  No green water, and minimal debris. We have left our solar cover on all winter before, and had more debris plus super green water.  We did have water collect on top of the tarp.  It turned pond green, but did not seep through to the pool.  I give our cheap tarp solution a high five...

INCLINE GYM MAT

Our neighbor was getting rid of this foam, and I jumped at the chance to take it.  FOAM IS PRICY!!

I used my trusty knife and cut it up. There was enough foam to make 3 mats. 24" x 24" x 15"

I used spray fix 77 to glue two layers together. Then I marked my diagonal cutting line. 1" down on left side to the center of the right side.

Use a long serrated knife; and, cut slow and sure.

Now take measurements of the foam sides. Transfer the measurements to fabric but make all the dimensions 1/4" wider for seam allowance. You will sew it at 1/2" seam allowance.  You want the foam to be tight inside.

I covered them in pleather.  The first two I made the wedge was connected by the top piece of fabric.  I made this one come apart; so, we could use it for two purposes: gymnastics and elevation.

 Awesome incline gym mat is held together with velcro.

Awesome wedge for sick kids whose noses need draining.

SWANTS!!

I came across a brilliant idea, and I had to copy it.  

http://westknits.com/index.php/2013/11/swants-tutorial/

I saw these; and, I really "SWANTED" some. Swants make for great family photos. Pictures by Jeff Archibald jcarchibald@hotmail.com

TRAMPOLINE NET REPAIR

Trampoline nets tend to only last three years before you need to buy a new one.  Here is the way I repair mine before the holes get too big.  We are on year two.

My nice holes.

 I use a small crochet hook and nylon thread.  I loop over the end to get it started, letting my thread be doubled to make it stronger.

I start two squares above the hole.  Chain three stitches. I hook the crochet hook around the next square down. Chain three again and hook it around the next square until you have gone two squares below the hole. Pull thread through and cut.  Complete all down chains first then crochet one(s) across if needed.

Clear as mud!  We shall see if I can get it to last longer than 3 years!

CHEAP WINTER POOL COVER

 Winter Pool Covers don't come cheap.  I decided to think outside the box; and, not purchase one from the pool store. Instead I bought a Harbor Freight tarp that was half the price.  Bought dollar store rope and tied the tarp to my fence. 

Don't forget to measure your pool first.  I ended up sewing two tarps together, but probably

didn't need too since I ended up with a lot of extra at the diving board.

I'll let ya know how it went at the 

end of winter.  We will see if it lasts more than one year too!

HANDME DOWN UPCYCLE

A cute little old lady gave me this 80's dress for my daughter.  It was missing one waist tie.

We decided to upcycle it.  I split the remaining tie and made two.  We added a cute crochet doily.

 I found some hand crochet trim and added that.

I inserted elastic in the sleeves to make them gathered and poofy.

The end product, a super cute non 80's dress.