Need something to do? Here’s some handy DIY ideas, perfect for quarantine!

Times are tough right now. There's no denying that. It's good to have a distraction during these uncertain times, so why not start a brand-new D.I.Y project? D.I.Ying is fun, we know that personally, but the hardest bit about starting a new D.I.Y project is trying to figure out what exactly you want to actually DO.

That's where we come in!

Oz General Store is run by avid D.I.Y enthusiasts, so I've taken the liberty of going around and asking what everybody's favourite D.I.Y project is! We're all tinkerers and builders, engineers and tradies, gardeners and motorheads. We've got a diverse cast here at Oz General Store, but the #1 thing we've got in common is our love for D.I.Y!

Come check out some of the Oz General Store team's favourite D.I.Y ideas!

1) D.I.Y Compost Bin

I don't know about you, but we've ALWAYS got pallets laying around here at Oz General Store. Even if you don't just naturally have a surplus of pallets laying around in your backyard, they're great to pick up for dirt cheap, as a cheap way to recycle wood.

So, here's one of my absolute favourite D.I.Y projects I've done!

Pallets are absolutely PERFECT to make into a compost bin! They're the ideal size for a good-sized compost bin, plus the slots that come in the pallets are perfect for aerating the compost inside! Organic matter needs to be aerated to properly be made into compost, and this can be done with a garden fork or shovel. But the slots that come in pallets remove the need to manually aerate your compost!

All you need to create the perfect compost bin is 4 pallets of similar sizes, and some form of adhesive or something to hold them together. Something simple like cable ties do the job well, but if you want to go for maximum durability, grab a hammer and some nails. We also recommend giving the pallets a good wash before using them for compost, especially if you don't know what they've been used for in the past. A sponge, hose and some soap will do the trick!

If you feel inclined, you can even go a step further and add a hinge to one of the pallets! This gives the compost bin a door you can open and close at will.

2) D.I.Y Tool Rack

If you're anything like me, you've been woken up many nights by a loud bang in the backyard. However, upon inspection, it wasn't a burglar - it was just one of my big shovels falling down in my shed! One day, I told myself "Enough is enough!" and set out to buy myself a tool rack. But halfway to Bunnings, I had another idea - what if I just made it myself?

With some planks I had leftover in the garage, I set out to work building myself a rack. All I needed was some junk wood planks, screws, and my trusty Katana power drill. Not even an hour later, I had my makeshift rack set up, attached straight to the wall so we wouldn't have any more embarrassing situations. It was easy! Even for me, and I'm about as handy as my dog. And he doesn't even have thumbs!

The wonderful thing about this DIY project, is that pallets work for this too! A pallet is the perfect size and shape for a tool rack - just attach it to the wall with some screws or nails, and you've got a perfect place to keep your tools!

3) D.I.Y Vertical Garden

I'm not much of a gardener myself, but even I've seen the growing (no pun intended!) popularity of the "Vertical garden"!

A vertical garden is a collection of plants and flowers grown upwards, or vertically, instead of along the ground. This can be done in TONS of creative ways, like stacking them upwards in buckets and hanging them from the wall, or growing them with a pallet attached to the fence, using an old tire, or even using old boots as planters!

There are so many ways you can make your own vertical garden, so get crazy with it! Use old pots and pans, or repurposed milk cartons! The wonder of D.I.Ying is coming up with creative ways to reuse things, so have a look around your shed or garage and you might find a hidden gem!

Just make sure you buy enough zip ties...

4) D.I.Y Display Shelf

If you're a car guy like me, or a mechanic like my buddy is, you're bound to have tires laying around. I've been throwing them out until I found all the different D.I.Y ideas you can use tires for! I've seen D.I.Y tables made from tires, seats made from tires, and of course the classic tire swing! But the tire display shelf is my absolute favourite ever since I saw it. A buddy of mine showed me his take on this idea, and it blew me away!

Grab an old tire, give it a clean, and hang it up in your man-cave or garage! Then all you need is some wooden shelving to put in, and maybe even some LED lights, and you've got your own amazing display shelf! Just make sure whatever you're holding it up with is sturdy enough to support the weight of the tire. They're pretty heavy!

Chuck some model cars in, and you've got a unique and stylish display shelf! Show off your car collection in style, with the added satisfaction of D.I.Y!

I know I personally would paint the tire to look like a classic "white wall" tire, then get 6-10 of my absolute favourite muscle car model kits, as well as some colour-changing LED lights. I'm really excited to try this one myself!

5) D.I.Y Face Mask

Last but certainly not least, the face mask. Boy oh boy, have masks become crucial in today's society or what? No matter your opinion on the necessity of face masks in the world right now, it's still handy to be able to make them yourself!

All you need is some leftover cloth or old clothes you can use, a malleable piece of wire, and some elastic. Make sure the cloth you're using for the mask is tightly woven cotton, 100% cotton, or cotton and polyester mix. You can hold it to the light to see how much light comes through, or use the "Candle trick" - basically try to blow out a candle with the mask on, or the material over your face. If you can't, it's safe! Also make sure you use two layers, one for the inside, and one for the outside. This practically doubles the effectiveness of the mask!

Use the wire for the nosepiece of the mask, laying it parallel with the top of the material to give a pliable and positionable support to the mask. Then attach your elastic to either end of the mask in a loop, and boom! Mask done!

Buying new masks every week is tedious and expensive, but this cuts down the effect on your wallet AND the environment! Plus they're washable