Draft Stopper
Our mudroom was feeling drafty. The cold air is coming from the new storage area, because it’s right over the garage. Once we finish off the under side with insulation and more sheet rock it should be fine, but for now there’s a pretty good draft coming in. See, no insulation.
So this was my solution. Not very pretty, huh? It did work, but it just wasn’t working for me.
I noticed this scarf in the mudroom last week and had a great idea.
First, I cut it to the length of the door plus about 5 inches more. Then cut some fringe on the end I had cut off, to match the other end.
I folded it length wise with right sides together and stitched along the one side to form a tube. I can sew a straight line and that’s about the extent of my sewing.
I wrapped a rubber band around one of the ends at the bottom of the fringe.
Then I started filling it with rice. Is it okay to use food storage rice to keep a draft out of your home rather than eating it? I was wondering if the rubber band would hold all the rice in, but it did. It took about 1 1/2 cans of rice to fill the tube.
After it was full, I secured the other end with another rubber band and then tied ribbons over the rubber bands, for a finished look.
It took about 20 minutes to make the whole thing. I’m pleased how it turned out and it looks much better than the rolled up towel, don’t you think?
Another free project completed. Doesn’t it feel good to re-purpose something and think of new uses for old things?
I’m linking to:
Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage
Strut Your Stuff Thursday at Somewhat Simple
Get Your Craft On Thursday at Life As Lori
Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous
Creative Cats Friday at Poppies at Play
Inspiring Finds at The Inspired Room
Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On The Porch
Make It For Monday at Cottage Instincts
Make Your Monday at Twice Remembered
It’s So Very Creative at It’s So Very Cheri
Just Something I Whipped Up Monday at The Girl Creative
Trash to Treasure Tuesday at Reinvented
DIY Day at A Soft Place To Land
Get Your Craft On at Today’s Creative Blog
Talented Tuesday at My Frugal Family
Works For Me Wednesday at We Are That Family
Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design
20th Penny Pinching Party at The Thrifty Home
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26 Responses to “Draft Stopper”
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Great idea and you’re right, it does look better than the towel. I noticed you have those swirly light bulbs. Did you read the post at Old Centennial Farmhouse yesterday about these bulbs? Here’s the link: http://oldcentennialfarmhouse.blogspot.com/2010/01/cfl-light-bulbs-government-mandated.html
We have a really old house that came along with lots of drafts; we are trying to stop them…but for now, I made some of these a while ago. They aren’t as cute, I just used old khakis so they are very neutral.
I sewed a loop in the center to hang on the doorknob when we are going in and out a lot, and we call them our “snakes”.
We just moved into an older farm house that has drafty doors and I really wanted to get some of those twin draft guards to that they would move with the door. But I thought that I should be able to make something easily enough. But I was wondering what to use for the tubes. I really like the rice idea. And with the ends not permanently closed up, the rice could be removed for washing.
Love this idea and your blog. I long to be Organized and peeking into the brain of an organized person helps.
This looks great Leanne!
I love your draft stoppers – another thing you could use to fill them is kitty litter or that stuff you put on garage floors to absorb spills – they are both a clay based product…and cheap!!! Love your blog – I really like seeing other people’s ideas!!
Thank you so much for the step by step! This is a great idea!
I love this idea!!!
i love the scarf:)and thats a great idea!!
What a great way to keep the cold out. It looks much better than what they sell on T.V. Can’t remember the commerical.
Thanks again for joining the party!!!
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing.
What a great idea this is. I’ve wanted to make some of those draft stoppers you see advertised on TV, but for the life of me could not figure out what to use for the middle part. Now I’ve got a great inspiration thanks to you.
Great idea! So cute!
Fabulous idea!!!
Great idea and stylish too! I have one now but could use a pretty one…thanks for the inspiration!
always feels good to repurpose something! Way to go!
That’s awesome! And no, there is nothing wrong for using food storage rice for a perfectly useful household object. If you are starving you can always cut it open:)
Great minds think alike!! I have a post saved in my drafts using a scarf for the same thing! Just need to do it and then will post mine too.
That is awesome! I need to fix the leak in my door on the top though, not on the bottom.
I’m jealous that you can sew a straight line!
I’m still working on that, but getting better I think. That is a really fabulous idea, may have to try that one around here, it can get pretty drafty.
Great idea. I bought one for $30.00 what a waste of money.
[...] unused scarves lying around? Then be sure to check out Leanne’s tutorial on her custom made draft stopper. I think this is a quick & easy solution to a problem we all have. Be sure to check out the [...]
I just did something similar. Ran out of rice. I filled the remainder with beans — maybe it will work!
What a great solution! It’s very cute and functional!
Well, now, ain’t that just a kicker of an idea! My front door has a sagging threshold(sigh) and so know I can see daylight underneath(sigh). I’d bet my Target has scarfs on clearance(January in Phoenix means swimsuits in Target)…I could so make this even without a sewing machine.
Lady, you just might be genius.
Such cute door stopper!!!
It looks great!
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