Make a Padded Sewing Machine Travel Cover and a GREAT TOOL for Turning Strips

If I can't take my sewing machine I'm not going! Even though my husband and I live full-time in a tiny 19' travel trailer (RV ha!) I always bring my sewing machine - it has come in very handy - from repairing clothes torn on hikes, to sewing a new kayak sail when we almost got washed out to sea.

These are instructions to make a sewing machine cover using heavy craft or packing foam. If you want to use quilt batting, you do it almost the same. I am in the process of writing up those instructions.

This is a fairly easy project, but it's a little fiddly.

You will need about a yard of fabric, and some padding. You need basic knowledge of sewing, but it's not a difficult project. Read on for a full tutorial.

Grab N Go Soft Tissue Holder Two Ways! 15 Minute Simple Sewing Project

This tissue holder is perfect for your car, rv, or dorm room. Any place you need tissues but don't want a big box. You can divide a large box of tissues up between 2-3 of these.

Just what you need - a simple, quick tissue holder and two ways to make it.

For some reason, I always try to make things complicated. The last tissue holder I made took me days! 

This one was so quick and simple, I doubt it took more than 15 minutes. Let me show you how

Love Your RV Shower - Low-Cost Luxury Mod - Upscale Shower for Pennies!

If you spend any time in your RV you should be taking advantage of the wonderful bathroom facilities that are clean, close and should be comfortable. 

What's that you say? You can't take a shower for more than 3 minutes before you run out of hot water? It takes you half that time to get the temperature right and by the time you get in the shower, you're running out of hot water and have to start adjusting the faucet again?!

You try to make it work by turning off the water in between soaping and rinsing (navy shower). This entails standing naked and shivering while you soap up and wash your head?

Doesn't sound like luxury to me!

Pin it for later!

What if I told you that for under $40 you would never have to adjust the water temperature again? and for another $25 you'd have enough water to shower for half an hour on a 6 gallon hot water tank?

Interested? Keep reading!

How To Sew Your Own Kayak Sail for Any Kayak! DIY Tutorial with Photos

When we bought our first 'beginner' kayaks, they were really neat. They were made by Lifetime and were small, lightweight and best of all, they came with the sails you see in the photo.  We have long since moved on to better kayaks, but we use those sails with every kayak we own including a Hobie tandem. Since we lost a sail in a near death experience, I came up with a way to make them myself. Here's how I did it

How To Add a Two Compartment Sewer Hose Storage to A Camper/RV - Bonus How to Modify for Permanent 90' Fitting

If you're new to my blog, make sure you click here and check out all the tutorials & ideas I have on my blog. 

I love my little camper, but it doesn't have a bumper to store the sewer hose in. When you drain the tanks, it's bad enough to deal with the hose, without having to try to shove it into a bucket. I didn't like having it stored in the camper with the rest of our stuff, either. So I was excited to build this storage area for it. This post will show you how I built an RV sewer hose storage from a vinyl fence post that will work even if you have a permanent 90' fitting on the end!

IF YOU STORE YOURS IN YOUR BUMPER: Even when we had a trailer with a bumper, we did not store it in the bumper - the inside is metal, and rusts, and gets rough and will eventually make holes in your sewer line. So even if you have a bumper, this is a better way to store it. After making the holder, just strap it to your bumper.

I used a 5" square vinyl fence post, two fence caps, some metal strapping, screws and a piece of scrap plywood. 

Double Your Drawer Space

If you're new to my blog, make sure you click here and check out all the tutorials & ideas I have on my blog. 

I don't know about you, but I never have enough drawers! Especially in my camper, where I only have two small drawers.  This project will work in your home too!

I recently came up with a way to double the storage in my drawers!

Find Hidden Storage in your Camper Wall!

If you're new to my blog, make sure you click here and check out all the tutorials & ideas I have on my blog. 

If you've used every wall space you can find, how about finding some space WITHIN the wall?  I added about 5 feet of 4 1/2" deep shelving in my unused wall space! 

I discovered this when I installed my REAL stainless steel washing machine. Click here to check it out!

So, here's how to add more storage without getting a bigger camper or house (yes, this will work in your house too!)

How To Make A Secure Self Latching Cabinet For Computers Or Other Important Things

If you're new to my blog, make sure you click here and check out all the tutorials & ideas I have on my blog. 

I'll show you how to make a cabinet that locks automatically when you close it.
A simple way to make sure a cabinet door always stays closed. 

I don't like to have to remember to close things or latch things or bungee cord things before I hit the road with my camper. So I designed and made a quick and dirty self-latching cabinet. And here's how I did it.

How To Sew Your Own Sturdy Carrying Case for a Blackstone Tabletop Griddle or Propane Grill Plus How To Easily Make a Rain Resistant Zipper Closure

I just got an amazing Blackstone Griddle. It's a great size for cooking for a smaller group and does a fantastic job. It has such a loyal following, it even has its own facebook group! Two, actually, one for owners, and one for recipes.

Here is what it looks like - it's bigger than it appears.

 It's about 18" x 18" which doesn't sound very large, but it's hefty!

Since we are going to use it as weak travel, I needed a bag for it.

How to Make Your Own Sink Cover for More Counter Space DIY Tutorial.

This is a simple project, and really adds a lot of space. Most campers/trailers/rvs come with a cover for your sink, but some are not very useful. Mine was made of the same chipboard/formica as the counter. I couldn't even use it as a cutting board, and after a few years, being by the sink made the chipboard swell up and become 'unsightly'. Of course, if you buy a second hand camper, you might not even get one!

I decided to make a more useful, durable and attractive cutting board / sink cover myself.

How I Raised My Low Camper Sink! Added Storage Too!

THIS IS MY FAVORITE MOD EVER! I can't tell you how much I love this!! I go into the camper and just stand in front of my 'new' sink and smile!! It's so nice and much more comfortable! Plus it looks snazzy! and has new storage . . . .  

I love my camper!!! But one thing that has always been irritating is

How to Make Easy DIY PVC Awnings for Your Camper - Fully Adjustable & Removable

The large roll-out awning on the front shades most of our camper. However, there is a window at the head of the bed that seems to get a lot of HOT sun, no matter where we are parked. Or rain, it gets rain, too. I decided that there must be some way to make an awning that would work for protection, but be removable and break down for storage. Oh, and fully adjustable, that would be nice! 

Table System - How to Finish the Tops of the Table Legs

You've probably seen the knock down tables I built for my camper. Oh, you didn't? Well, check it out - it is a table system that makes 2 snack tables or a dining/game table, comes apart, stores flat, takes up very little room and can be easily built with inexpensive materials! See it here!

When the dining table is up, the tops of the legs are visible. So, I thought I should finish them off a little nicer than just bare pvc. 

First I filled them with a wood dowel. This worked great, but when I made a second set, I didn't have another dowel.

I did however have a can of Durham's Water Putty.

Rolling Storage Trolley with 8' of Storage in 11" and FREE Landscape Pattern

More Found Storage - When I replaced the dinette with a storage couch, I ended up with about 11" of empty space between the couch and the bed.  I built a rolling trolly to fit there. It has about 8 feet of storage space!

Replaced My Dinette with a Couch & Storage Bins! Step-by-Step Part 2

This is how the couch turned out. It takes up so much less room and is sooo comfy! Yet - it has exactly the same seating capacity as the original dinette!

I have updated the cushions with new fabric, post to come!

Silk Flower Envy - Amazing DIY Table System - 2 Snack Tables and Dining Table

This amazing table system stores away in very little space -
but becomes 2 snack tables or a dining table! Simple and inexpensive to build. And I'll show you how!

How I built my Kayak Rack!

UPDATE - After 10,000 miles at highway speeds, the kayak rack has had no problems. I did just replace the bottom boards because they warped a little from being stored outside, but it was a simple job. 

I finally built a kayak rack, and it's been an unqualified success. I've had a lot of people ask how I did it -  I initially built 2 racks, one for each end of the kayaks as shown in the photo above.

But I found that instead of 15 MPG towing the camper, we got 9 MPG when we had the kayaks over the cab of the truck.

We even carry a Hobie Tandem Outfitter Kayak this way and still get great gas mileage.

Lighten Up - Paint Your Dark Refrigerator! and FREE Silhouette Cut File

One of the things I love about my camper is the giant refrigerator!

But I don't like how it dominates my tiny camper!

How to Mount a TV on a Camper Wall DIY - with Invisible Reinforcement

I added a washing machine to my camper! Although it was a big improvement, it did require me to move the tv.  Here is the BEST way to mount it!

How I Added a Laundry to My Camper and You Can Too!! PLUS MORE HIDDEN STORAGE!

Eight weeks on the road is going to be a lot nicer! We now have a wonderful laundry! If you can find 18"x18"x35" you can have a wonderful laundry room too!! Here's how I did it.