DIY Life

Looking for a fun summer project? Here are 20 DIY projects that make good use of items you already own. - AOL Home

Remember those paper-mache piggie banks we used to make when we were kids? Here's a grown up version, only this one makes a beautiful light fixture out of cotton yarn. -- CasaSugar

Everyone's got one stuck in their drawer somewhere: A tee that's just too big or doesn't fit right. With a little scrap fabric, you can turn it into an adorable tank top instead. -- Crafster

Hey, wine lovers: Here's a trendy, stylish trivet to brighten up your summertime table ... and make good use of all those wine corks. -- Craftynest

Everyone knows how to go on a picnic, right? Well here's how to have the perfect picnic -- good food, good company, good fun. -- eHow

Your garden needs a water feature, so how about a fountain ... built out of bowling balls? -- Instructables

Too busy spending time outside or on your favorite projects to watch your favorite TV shows this summer? Good for you! If you can't bear missing them, though, check out Hulu's desktop downloader to save and view your favorite shows. At your convenience. -- Lifehacker

Love to cross stitch? Heck, even if you don't, you'll love these amazing designs. And did you know you can even get a cross stitch pillow of your favorite Tweet? Amazing. -- Shelterpop

Rather than pay for pricey reusable bags, make your own out of your old pillowcases. -- Craftzine Blog

Love the lamp you have but the lampshade has gotten dusty and dirty over the years? My lampshades all took a beating during a recent cross-country move. Instead of running out and purchasing a new shade -- anything but plain white is expensive -- why not remake the lampshade by covering it with some fabric that co-ordinates with your room?

You will need:

Scissors
Spray glue
Paper, for tracing the pattern
Fabric

Step One:
Lay your lampshade down on your craft paper, or the back of wrapping paper. Starting at the seam roll and trace the bottom of your lampshade until you arrive back at the seam. Then roll the lampshade back in the opposite direction and trace the top edge. For the most common style of lampshade, it will be a crescent shape drawing.

Summer is a social season. By its very nature, it lends itself to impromptu gatherings, potlucks, and evening deck parties. With more guests in your home, the more likelihood that glasses will get placed on unprotected surfaces.

To make sure you're not dealing with surprise 'rings' on your furniture today where a cocktail rested last night, how about whipping up these stylish, practical and eco-friendly cork coasters? Just make sure you make enough to equal the number of guests!

DIY Double Take: The editors here at DIY Life also love the thought of extending this idea to fridge magnets. Reduce size to 2" squares, stencil on the alphabet, apply magnetic backing, and either place on the lower half of your fridge for the kids to play with. Or, situate them on the upper half for you and your spouse/roommate/partner to create clever messages with.

Look: I'm completely addicted to those glossy Before and After-type home renovation magazines. But I often scoff at the money spent on those gorgeous refits. There's no way I can sink that kind of money into my, er, sinks. That is, while I can afford one nice (alas, not luxe) renovation job, I can't swing it for both bathrooms. What's a girl to do?

After four years (yes, really) of on-and-off agonizing, I've decided on what I hope is a winning strategy: A fairly major renovation of our master bathroom -- which has the world's tiniest shower stall -- with only minor upgrades to our hall bath. I'll be doing the easier repairs and all the cosmetic stuff myself, but hiring in experts for the bigger tasks.

In the coming weeks, I'll be blogging about my progress. First stop is this new photo gallery on how to repair small holes in a bathtub. Please come back often to see how I'm doing! And don't forget: We love feedback. Post your thoughts and/or suggestions in Comments below.

Friendships bracelets are back and more popular than ever, making them a perfect craft for a summer play date. But what do you do when you've got a multi-age group, with some kids too young for braiding thread or stringing tiny bead? Or if your crew is just too tiny or too active to even consider that kind of project?

Easy. Set the big kids up with their materials, then get the little kids started on these simple preschool-sized friendship bracelets. They'll feel like big kids -- since they're doing the same project -- but rather than someone making a bracelet for them, they can actually do this project themselves.

Here's what you'll need:

• toilet paper or paper towel tubes, one for each child
• poster paint -- preferably white
• paintbrushes
• multiple colors of tissue paper, cut into small squares
• paper plate or cardboard
• glue (optional)

Then just follow the easy steps in the gallery below.

Now that summer is here, most of us long to be outside enjoying the weather before the cold winter forces us to once again retreat into our homes. Since the downturn in the economy many people are now entertaining at home. And where people were once putting additions onto their houses, more and more people are rethinking the way they are using their current space.

One of these spaces is the backyard. No longer relegated to just children's toys and overgrown grass, the backyard is being reclaimed as an extension of the interior of the home. There is a growing trend of moving the indoors outside and creating living spaces such as family rooms and dining rooms in the backyard.

To create your own outdoor living space, read on.

Michelle Obama hosted a "harvest party" in the White House's organic kitchen garden, June 17. With a troupe of local school children helping out, Mrs. Obama began picking summer crops produced by the world's most famous backyard veggie patch.

The kids attending the event were the very same ones who helped break ground for the garden back in March. After gathering lettuce and sugar snap peas, they accompanied the First Lady back to the White House kitchen. There, they prepared a healthful lunch incorporating some of their homegrown greens and berries.

Photos and a video clip of the harvest are posted online at the official White House Briefing Room blog. You'll notice that Michelle was her usual casually chic self, donning colorful slacks and a coordinating fitted cardigan. Hardly genuine harvesting attire.

There's a certain self-sufficiency and freedom to camping. Just grab your camping gear, hiking boots, first-aid kit and toothbrush, and it's time for adventure. Whether you're hiking to multiple campsites or are pitching your tent in one spot, you don't want to be laden down with too many food items. But, given the alternative, you also don't have to subsist on tasteless, freeze-dried meal portions.

With some advance planning and a little ingenuity, it's actually possible to feast on quite a spread, both under the sun and stars. Check out this helpful Howcast video below for a full line-up of hearty and delicious campfire cuisine. Our personal favorites are bannock and breakfast in a bag. Alliteravely speaking, we simply say: Brilliant!