Featured Posts
Everything But The Squeal
By DIY Maven
The title of this post needs explanation. It’s something country folk my mother’s age say when referring to butchering pigs. And although as a vegetarian I find the origins of this edict revolting, I couldn’t agree with it more.
Snout to tail, nothing was wasted; everything but the squeal was used.
Fast Forward to the 21st Century
Which leads me to the leftover paint can lid from a previous post. It was a nice little paint can lid. It wasn’ » READ MORE
Paint Can Glam
By DIY Maven
What You Need
Empty, cleaned paint cans. I used a quart sized can, but gallon sized cans will work too. (If you don’t have an empty paint can laying around, most hardware stores sell new, unused paint cans. A quart size will cost you about a buck.)
Drill
1/8" drill bit
A Sharpie
Metal or wood block to support the inside of the can
Sandpaper. Any grit will do.
Small jelly-jar-sized-jar (or larger jar for gallon sized can)
Votive candle (or larger pilla » READ MORE
DIY Video Round-Up
By brunoTurning a credenza into an entertainment center:
Making a TV Antenna from a wine bottle (including cheesy 80s video game music for effect):
Instructions from a child on how to make a bed. I can't decide if this is funny or just boring:
Fake Paper Pictures: Capitalizing on a Stupid Idea
By DIY MavenBeside using newsprint to gauge furniture placement, you can use it to determine layout of pictures/art before you take hammer to nail.
So Easy You Don’t Need a "Need" List
Just measure and cut your newsprint to the size of the pictures/art you want to display. Tape and, better yet, RE-tape them to the wall of your choosing until you have them in the positions desired. And then hammer away. This also works great if you’re using those marvelous » READ MORE
Fake Paper Furniture: The Stupidest Idea Ever
By DIY Maven
Something called Lay It Out has "invented" life-sized furniture templates that help you envision where your furniture will go before buy it. Or move it in. Or whatever. This idea is so stupid, I’m tempted not to go on, but I will.
The Point
The templates, starting at $14.99, are available in various shapes including sofas, chairs, beds, love seats, dining tables and rugs. Yeah, that’s right, templates for rugs. Sheesh.
Save Your Money; Use Yo » READ MORE
Elegant Outdoor Luminaries: Free
By DIY Maven
What You Need
Plastic bucket or empty-ice cream pail
Small plastic jar or storage container
Stones, marbles, etc for weight
Votives or tea lights
Cold weather, or a freezer if you live in warmer climes
What You Need to Do
1. Place smaller container in center of pail
2. Place rocks, marbles, etc. in smaller container for weight
3. Fill larger pail with water until it reaches 1 inch or so from rim of center container
4. Place bucket outside in freezing weath » READ MORE
Cost vs. Value: The Worth of Remodeling
By DIY MavenWhen radio stations start playing Christmas music 24/7, I know it’s time for Remodeling Magazine to release its annual cost vs. value report. In it, they compare remodeling costs with resale values for the 25 most popular home improvement projects.
It Starts With a Survey
Remodeling Magazine surveyed 10,000 members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Of that, 2,188 responded and supplied the data to compile the report. The figures are » READ MORE
A Couch For Potatoes (really!)
By brunoPerhaps not the most convenient DIY project for us northeners (given that it's 5 degrees outside), but this how-to from ReadyMade on how to grow a lawn couch is super-cool:
I bet this thing's actually pretty comfortable (nothing like the feel of cool grass on your skin in the summertime).
Eco-friendly wood at the bottom of a lake!
By brunoMy friend Brian tipped me off to Inhabitat, a cool green-design blog where I found this:
Turns out there are thousands of underwater forests in the world just sitting there, doin' nuttin'. According to the Triton Logging Company, maker of the Sawfish (that cute guy pictured above), there are more than 300 submerged million trees worldwide (many due to flooding by hydro-dams).
Holiday Card Round-Up
By DIY MavenI few years ago, I saw Martha Stewart fashion a greeting card wreath using a wooden embroidery hoop, miniature clothes pins, a glue gun and a bit of ribbon. I tried it, and although it looked lovely, as all of Martha’s creations generally do, it didn’t hold up well. The hoop was too big and the little clothes pins kept falling off as they lacked surface area for proper gluing. Plus, it was a little too genteel. So, taking my cue from Her Highness » READ MORE
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DIY Maven
From: Minneapolis / St. Paul
ModHomeEcTea...
From: Indianapolis
