DIY Life

Stephen Fanuka of TV show Open House to the Rescue dishes on contractor/client relationships. The "contractor to the stars" also shares his list of essential tools everyone should own. -- Shelterpop

Mmm. Make your own vanilla extract. Specifically, make lots, pour it into funky glass bottles and let it steep for a few weeks. You'll have a wonderful (and thrifty) holiday gift lined up for all your friends and co-workers. -- Bethany Actually

Speaking of cooking: Learn how to make authentic southern-style backed beans. The Pioneer Woman offers up step-by-step instructions along with luscious photos. Darn tootin.' --The Pioneer Woman

Dust off unused terracotta pots and turn 'em into a mighty budget-friendly birdbath. All you need is glue! This one's posted at Tipnut, but the concept is originally from Patricia's Pots. -- Tipnut

Keep your fridge stocked with only the freshest spreads and preserves. "The Table of Condiments that Periodically Go Bad" helps you know what's fresh and what's not. And, yes, it's designed to look like the Periodic Table. Cute. -- Back Table

Speaking of cute, I know you're just itching to do something crafty with all those unwanted paint sample cards from the hardware store. They're so pretty! I hate to throw them away, too. Here's how to recycle paint chips into adorable rhinestone-studded bookmarks. -- Go Make Something

Still haunted by your Rubik's Cube failure back in '86? Now the time to redeem yourself with these step-by-step instructions on solving the world's most famous plastic puzzle. Some may call it cheating. I call it skill-building. -- WS Binghamton

No digging? No weeding? As a totally lazy gardener, such proclamations get my full attention. Let author Mel Bartholomew show you how to get started with the square foot gardening technique that he masterminded. -- Square Foot Gardening

Get rid of it! Man breasts? Crow's feet? Annoying browser toolbars? Whatever's annoying you, chances are this site can tell you how to get it gone, pronto. -- Get Rid of Things