Jessica FriendBartlett, Author at Do It With Cans

Upcycling an old mirror in a weekend using Rust-Oleum furniture paint

Posted by Jessica FriendBartlett, on April 2, 2026.

There is no doubt that we all lead incredibly busy lives these days, typically juggling work, children and the challenge of fitting everything into our weekly schedules. Often, there simply isn’t enough time to accomplish everything, which leads us to frequently postpone those DIY projects around the house. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to upcycle a dated brown wooden mirror and refresh it […]

Create a cosy reading nook for wellbeing with a simple table makeover using Rustoleum & Rustins

Posted by Jessica FriendBartlett, on August 4, 2025. Tags: diy, paint, upcycle

In today’s fast-paced world, we all need a little sanctuary, a space where we can truly switch off, unwind, and take care of our wellbeing. One of the easiest and most rewarding ways to do this? Create a cosy reading area in your home! And even better – why not make it sustainable by upcycling […]

Little Tikes ‘Cosy Coupe’ Glow Up

Posted by Jessica FriendBartlett, on July 21, 2025. Tags: diy, kids, upcycling

If you’ve got a well-loved Little Tikes Cosy Coupe hanging around in your garden or playroom, don’t rush to replace it just yet. With a little creativity, you can transform a basic toy car into a unique and fun vehicle to keep your little one busy for hours! Step 1: Prep, Prep, Prep! The most […]

Brighten Up Your Child’s Room with Colourful Animal Storage Jars

Posted by Jessica FriendBartlett, on July 21, 2025.

Looking for an easy, family-friendly craft that tidies up the clutter and adds a splash of colour to your child’s bedroom or playroom? This DIY animal jar project is a fun and practical way to reuse empty jars and transform them into personalised storage pots for crayons, sequins, glue sticks, and all those little odds […]

Balcony Glow Up: DIY Pallet Planter Using Recycled Metal Packaging

Posted by Jessica FriendBartlett, on July 21, 2025. Tags: diy, kidsdiy

There’s something incredibly rewarding about turning a small, overlooked space into something beautiful and even better when you can do it sustainably. Our balcony had been in desperate need of a refresh, so we grabbed a few tools, got a little creative, and got to work. The highlight of our makeover? A DIY pallet planter […]

From mud pies to mint leaves: How I turned an old mud kitchen into a fun patio herb garden!

Posted by Jessica FriendBartlett, on June 10, 2025. Tags: diy, Herb garden, Sustainable, Upycycle

We live in a world that moves fast, and often, we throw things away just as quickly. It’s become all too easy to discard and replace, especially with so many disposable products at our fingertips. But our planet is feeling the consequences. Global warming, climate change, and too many landfills are just some of the […]

Plant pot painting project

Posted by Jessica FriendBartlett, on May 7, 2025. Tags: diy, kidsdiy, kidsDIYproject

Project by My Thrifty Life by Cassie Fairy, Photography by Andy Greenacre If you want to encourage your children to get creative, this quick and easy plant pot painting project is ideal for your youngsters. The activity can be enjoyed by kids of all ages from pre-schoolers (with supervision) to teens and even adults, so […]

Converting A Cupboard Into A Wardrobe Using Dulux Emulsion

Posted by Jessica FriendBartlett, on May 7, 2025. Tags: diy, spacesave

With modern homes being designed to maximise space and efficiency, it’s no surprise that we’re seeing more compact layouts—especially when it comes to bedrooms. But smaller rooms don’t have to mean compromising on comfort or style. In fact, they open up exciting opportunities to get creative and make the most of every corner. Take our […]

Transforming a green trunk of holly wood to a bowl – Design by Timber

Posted by Jessica FriendBartlett, on January 23, 2025. Tags: diy

I’ve been a furniture maker for over 20 years, but I am new to woodturning and after picking up an old lathe from a school that was replacing it, I have been enjoying teaching myself how to turn simple bowls. For this tutorial I have 3 pieces of holly from North Wales which I would like […]

Renter-friendly DIYs – How to DIY a custom runner rug to protect flooring

Posted by Jessica FriendBartlett, on October 16, 2024.

Project by My Thrifty Life by Cassie Fairy, Photography by Andy Greenacre If you’re renting a property, it makes sense to keep the interior looking lovely and in a good state of repair – not only so that you can enjoy living there but also so that your deposit will be returned to you at […]

FOLLOW US ON PINTEREST