DIY Leather Door Wedge

[left]

Hey there! It’s Anna again from Annabode.  I’m popping in today to share with you an easy DIY door stop wedge that can be made quickly, and from scrap wood you might have lying around.  If you don’t hoard wood like a squirrel does nuts, never fear! Anyone can make this project in under an hour with just a few supplies from the hardware store: [/left]

[right]

[/right]

I’ve always used whatever’s been lying on the floor to prop open the doors in our house, anything from piggy banks to hatboxes, book ends to shoes…and occasionally the dog.  Whatever works, right? Especially now that spring is here (finally!) and we’ll be leaving the windows open, propping open the doors has become quite necessary–unless we want to be treated to a chorus of slams every time the breeze blows.

This quick & easy DIY door wedge has convinced me to up my door stop game (is that a thing?).  With just basic tools, you can make it in a jiffy from scrap wood and an old belt.  Or if you’re like me and are newly door-stop crazed, one length of craft wood and a small piece of leather will buy you a whole houseful of door wedges.  A houseful! Just think about all those pretty doors you’ll have…

Here’s what you’ll need:

• A piece of wood, about 1.5″ wide & 6.5″ long.  I found some hobby wood at The Home Depot that did the trick — 3 ft for $5!
• White paint (preferably high gloss)
• Minwax Polycrylic (again, gloss)
• Whatever kind of saw you have on hand
• Drill
• Leather strip, about .5″ wide & 5″ long
• #6 brass finishing washer
• #6 3/4 in. brass phillips flat head wood screw
• Sander or sandpaper
• Paintbrushes, pencil, ruler

First, use your pencil and ruler to draw a straight line diagonally across the wood.

Saw along the line and sand to a smooth finish.  Here’s a tip though: if you have a longer length of wood, it’s easier to mark the 6.5″ length and saw the diagonal line before cutting it off the larger piece.  Otherwise, you might need a clamp so you don’t saw your fingers off.  Just kidding!

Use the ruler to mark off a section at the bottom of the wedge and paint it white. Then use the polycrylic to coat the unpainted wood.  Do NOT use the polycrylic on the white paint — it will yellow it.

Take your leather strip and fold it in half, so that the two ends meet (don’t crease it though).  Using the other scrap half of your wood as a base, drill a small hole through the center of the two ends.  This just gives you a nice little place to put your screw.

Place your washer over the screw, and attach the new leather handle into the back of the wedge with the drill.

Now admire your handiwork…

And give it a test drive!

Visit Annabode for more beautiful and creative decor!

[left]

[/left][right]

[/right]

 FOLLOW ANNA HERE