DIY Life

Now here's a creative way to upcycle those old books: Make a headboard out of them for sweet dreaming. -- CasaSugar

Make that vacation memory permanent by creating a quilted postcard out of your favorite photo. -- Craftster

Lamps are a complete mystery to me, but this restored lamp looks so great, it makes me want to learn. -- CraftyNest

Not sure to do with those old jeans and t-shirts that aren't in good enough shape to donate? Give them new life as a cute and colorful rag rug. -- eHow

Impress your kids during your next beach trip by building them the sandcastle of your dreams. Howcast shows you how.

If it's not the heat, it's the humidity. If summer's making you sweat, check out Lifehacker's best tips for beating the heat.

So you can't afford a house on the beach ... who can in this economy? With a little creativity and some treasure hunting, however, you can bring the beach to your house. -- Shelterpop

All your favorite fruits are in season right now. Buy them up at your local farmer's market right now while the price is low, then freeze them to enjoy all winter. TipNut will teach you how to freeze them for best flavor.

World's easiest fix: Worried about oil rings on your beautiful granite countertops? Dish it -- or keep them in easy reach, but safe and sound on an attractive dish. -- Young House Love

Looking at your child's messy room, wondering where to start? A good basket or bowl can make organizing a cinch. Baskets don't come cheap, though. Yarn bowls, though, aren't just great family fun -- they're an inexpensive way to help your kids keep their odds and ends organized.

The best part about a yarn bowl is that it can make use of all that leftover yarn you've got laying around from other projects. If the bowl is going in your child's room -- the crazier the colors, the better. If you'd rather display your bowl in a more grown-up area of the house, it's easy enough to choose coordinated colors instead.

Here's what you'll need:

• Several yards of yarn, cut into foot long pieces. For interest, try using a variety of different colors or textures.
• A play ball or a blown-up balloon -- the size of the ball will determine the size of your bowl.
• Glue -- you'll need plenty of it, especially if making a large bowl.
  

Check out the gallery below for instructions on creating your yarn bowl.

Contrary to urban legend, toothpaste isn't a magic cure for a pesky pimple you want gone by morning. But it can take the itch and inflammation out of a mosquito bite.

So often, we go looking for new products to solve our new problems. But toothpaste is one of those old standby's that has multiple uses around a home. In most cases, a white non-gel toothpaste works best, and as always, test a small corner out first to make sure you aren't ruining one of your favorite possessions.

Quick Fixes

• Got an old piano? Clean up those ivories with a little toothpaste on an old toothbrush, then wipe clean with a damp cloth. This works for newer, plastic keys as well. Also works well on silver and chrome.
  
• A household pet peeve: That gunk that builds up on the bottom of the iron, then rubs off on your clothes. Use some toothpaste on a (cool!) iron, scrub off with a rag, then rinse completely.
  
• College kids are savvy to this trick: When you're short on spackle, simply fill a nail hole with toothpaste, let it dry, then paint right over it.
  
• Tired of tape marks on your walls? Hang your kids' artwork or small posters with just a dab of toothpaste in each corner. When you're ready to take it down, the toothpaste will clean up with water.

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" opened on Wednesday. Get your fix with some of these fantastic ideas for Harry Potter DIY gear and crafts. -- Instructables

Gear and crafts aren't going to cut it for your Harry Potter fan? Then here's more: How to play a real life game of Quidditch and how to make pensieve punch.

Got a green thumb but no place to garden? Grab yourself an inexpensive shoe organizer and create a vertical garden. -- CasaSugar

Bring an old dresser back to life with a fresh, pretty paint job and an interesting design. Better than a brand-new piece of furniture. -- ShelterPop

It's mid-July, and your air conditioner is probably working hard. Here's how to give it a yearly check-up so that it'll keep you cool year after year. -- Lifehacker

Mmmm ... sushi. Only you can't eat this felt sushi, it's just pretty and fun to play with. -- Craftster

Keep the kids busy this weekend with a project that requires them to slow down a little -- egg shell people. -- eHow

This is going straight to the top of my "want" list. Remember those cute little kitschy suitcases you used to carry as a kid? Now you can make one -- wait for it -- for you laptop. -- Craftzine Blog

Nothing says "summer afternoon" like bubbles. Kids love water play, and bubbles add texture and visual appeal. So what happens when you mix bubble play with art? You get bubble prints -- water color-inspired designs that are both beautiful and and fun to make. Kids just don't get to make bubbles, they get to create multi-colored masterpieces.

Here's what you'll need:

• Bowls -- Preferably different shapes and sizes to add interest. Glass bowls won't be stained by the food coloring. Low bowls -- even flat pans like pie plates -- work best, because you'll use less water and therefore need less food coloring.
• Food coloring (various colors)
• Water
• White art paper
• Dish soap

Either find a safe place to work outside or cover your work space with plenty of newspaper, and let's get started.

We brought home a new patio set last week -- for an imaginary patio that's yet to be built, but that's a story for another day. After unpacking and setting it up, I looked at the huge pile of bubble wrap sitting on my lawn. Surely, there must be a way to reuse this stuff, I thought. So after letting the kids have a few pieces to pop, I got busy looking for new ways to put it to work.

What I discovered is that besides being a fun and addictive noisemaker, bubble wrap is surprisingly versatile. I've squirreled mine away so that I can try out some of these unusual uses:

• Use bubble wrap to line the crisper drawers in your refrigerator. It'll protect delicate fruits -- like pears -- from bruising when you toss them in. And when you forget the pears are there and discover them too late ... easy clean-up!
• Bring bubble wrap with you to the grocery store to wrap frozen items in before bagging, ensuring they'll still be frozen when you get them home.
• Start saving bubble wrap now for when the cooler weather sets in, then use it to winterize your delicate outdoor potted plants.

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

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.