Make art from a cabinet with Habitat’s Women Build in Philly? Yes, please.

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I shared a few inspired hours with Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build group in Philly.

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When my friends at Philly’s Habitat for Humanity asked me to teach a workshop for their Women Build group, I was super psyched at the opportunity to share my love of DIY, art, and tools. And I had the perfect project.

My idea for the DIY workshop was to challenge everyone to repurpose a base cabinet from Habitat ReStore into something new for their homes, or for a gift to someone they love.

I gathered my favorite DIY tools from our MyFixitUpLife besties: Rockwell’s BladeRunner, Sonicrafter, Gorilla Glue, Hyde Tools, Krylon spray paint, and met up with the group in Philadelphia.

Usually Women Build gets together to build a Habitat home. So this group was taking a turn into ‘DIY upcycle-land’ with me, and at first everyone was a bit coy about the idea of upcycling a base cabinet.

A base cabinet is full of terrific raw materials for an upcycler. There are several manageable sized sheets of materials, which work well as backers for wall art or as elements to create a little shelf or even a modular 3D sculpture. The possibilities are virtually endless, and after taking those cabinets apart, I think this group of Women Build from Lowe’s in Philly found a few possibilities that I had never dreamed up.

They made a cat bed, a serving tray, pineapple wall art, bull wall art, key hook rack, and so much more. It was so much fun.

I hope that this blog and the video below help inspire you in your next DIY project, to get involved in your local Women Build, or to shop Habitat ReStore for amazing home products that are perfect to use today or to reinvent like we did.

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Jasmine is taking apart her cabinet to find the perfect pieces for her project.
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Regina is getting her cabinet ready for the next step.
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Nina and Shanita can’t help but have fun at the DIY workshop.
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Shanna is sketching letters before she cuts them out using the circular saw.
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Sheree talks with Mark about a plan to transform this cabinet into a cat bed.
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Theresa is helping Shanita before cutting the pieces on the Rockwell Blade Runner.
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Gail is prepping her cabinet before she makes the first cut.
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This is La-Quannda’s first time using the Rockwell Blade Runner. We think she’s doing a great job!
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Mark showing Shanna the ropes of the circular saw.
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Jasmine is making the finishing touches on her mail and key holder with the Rockwell Blade Runner.
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Shanita using the circular saw with help from Lisa.
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La-Quannda finishing her project with the circular saw.
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Theresa got to help Rebecca cut out a pineapple using the Rockwell Blade Runner.
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Rebecca is using Gorilla Glue to attach the pineapple, she and Theresa cut out, to the cabinet.
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Diana is using the cabinet hardware and the door to make a serving tray. What a great idea!
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La-Quannda’s finished piece.
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Jasmine and Diana made this adorable mail and key holder.
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Pineapple art from Rebecca is awesome.
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Such a great DIY workshop with amazing women!
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Ta-da! I hope you’ll join me at my next Habitat ReStore workshop, or share your latest upcycle with me.
author avatar
Theresa
A handy designer and writer, she shares DIY projects, tool how-to, and home makeovers as a book author, home show speaker, DIY workshop coach, and radio host. Plus, she has a degree in journalism with a minor in architecture, and is a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPs) and certified color consultant. She's created fast-paced makeovers for TV shows, and shares home trends and DIY tips as a freelance writer and guest on news shows and satellite media tours for TV and radio.

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