7 End-of-Summer DIY Projects and Recipes

Todd

"We’re squeezing every last drop out of summer’s sweetness with some of our favorite projects and warm-weather treats."

- Todd Dermody


Here at Dunn DIY, we’re squeezing every last drop out of summer’s sweetness with some of our favorite projects and warm-weather treats.

From building a backyard sandbox to setting up a classic lemonade stand, making carnival-worthy kettle corn at home to shaking up a refreshing cocktail, below you’ll find seven of our go-to summer projects, activities, and flavors for both kids and adults!

How To Build an Outdoor Fire Pit

An outdoor fire is a great backyard addition and gathering spot. Note that if you’re constructing your fire pit in the summer, make sure to look up any restrictions your city or county may have on outdoor burns.

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An outdoor fire pit surrounded by lawn chairs.

How To Build a Sandbox

Know a kid who loves playing in the sand? This simple yet sturdy sandbox brings all the fun of a sandy beach or park to the convenience of your backyard.

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A wooden sandbox full of sand.

How To Make a Lemonade Stand

Having a lemonade stand is like a right of passage. While you could just set up a table and sign, this wooden lemonade stand is designed to be beautiful but also easy enough that kids can help too!

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Two kids behind a wooden lemonade stand that has a chalkboard sign reading “Lemonade 25 cents.”

How To Make a Slip-and-Slide

Building your own slip-and-slide means you can make it exactly like what you would have wanted as a kid—like with a little splash pool at the end. You can also customize it to fit your space.

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A kid sliding on a DIY slip-and-slide made with pool noodles.

How To Make an Airplane Swing

What little kid wouldn’t love swinging on their very own airplane? This project takes several days to finish and requires some planning, but the final product is worth the time and effort!

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A wooden swing shaped like a propeller airplane.

Kettle Corn Recipes for a Summer Movie Night

Making kettle corn at home is so simple—you only need a handful of ingredients, and it takes just five minutes to pull together! Here we share two ways to flavor the popcorn—regular kettle corn and maple bacon kettle corn—but you can customize the recipe in countless ways.

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A tray with a pitcher of water, a small bowl of candy, and a large bowl of homemade kettle corn.

How To Make a Scrappy’s Bitters Summer Cocktail

Scrappy’s Bitters is a local Seattle business committed to quality products and expert advice—two things we can really get behind. The DIY crew teamed up with Scrappy’s to create a refreshing summer cocktail celebrating clear skies, cozy bonfires, and our currently sun-drenched Seattle.

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Two people in a kitchen juicing a lime for a Scrappy’s Bitters Summer Cocktail with sliced cucumber, chartreuse, Beefeater Gin, Scrappy’s Fire Water, and simple syrup.

Looking for even more summertime DIY fun? Check out these five posts that make camping a breeze or these 10 outdoor living projects to level-up your deck or backyard.