DIY Life

If you have a home workspace, it might be likely that it's also a multi-purpose space -- which means that you'll want it looking clean and organized as much as possible, since it's not only you who has to look at it.

Whether it's a desk in the corner of your guest room, a built-in nook off your kitchen, or a laptop on your ottoman with a portable file box, we think you'll find these organizing tips helpful for creating a space that's clean and clutter-free.

And speaking of clutter-free, check out our creative idea for organizing your computer cables with this surprising piece of plastic!

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.

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!

Let me start by saying that I do not fancy myself a cook. I'll spend hours baking and letting dough rise, but when it comes to preparing everyday meals I'm always looking for shortcuts. I mean, aren't we all? So for this busy, single working mom, 'shortcut' usually means stocking up at the supermarket instead of making things from scratch. This is the solution I've come up with for now, while I keep busy juggling a rambunctious toddler and a time-consuming job.

But here's the interesting thing: While I don't consider myself a cook, I do consider myself a problem solver, a home scientist and economist of sorts, and I love a clever solution. Like I said, I'm a busy mom.

Which brings me to this: I've been taking stock of the simple pantry staples I use the most and I've wondered if it really is economically advantageous to make versus buy some things. I'm thinking of items like instant oatmeal, peanut butter, jam, applesauce, hummus, butter, pickles, crackers, and so on.

So, I've decided to put my curiosity to the test here in this column. My hunch is that if I've thought about this, perhaps you have, too. Each week I'll pick one food item, make it, figure out the cost, and then write all about it here -- complete with my 'DIY or buy' recommendation.

Okay, let's get started ...

By Maureen Carter

It's summer and kids get bored. They want new things to play with and new things to do. Hey! How about playing in the sand. If you live in a landlocked state as I do, sand may be hard to find. So, why not make a sandbox?

Little woolgatherings has an awesome photo tutorial on how to make a sandbox in two hours or less. That means that in two hours your kids will have a new place to play and can quit saying "I'm bored!" for maybe two hours after that.

This look amazingly easy and fast especially if you are the DIY construction type. All you need are a few boards, tarps and sand. Check it out and make your kids an awesome new sandbox to keep them busy for a few extra hours this summer.

With the official start of summer quickly approaching, chances are we're all spending a lot more time outside and putting our outdoor living spaces to good use. If your deck or patio isn't set up for high summer traffic -- or for lounging on lazy Sundays -- it doesn't take much effort or money to give it a quick, fun and functional update. (Read: It's finally time to ditch that white plastic lawn chair with the broken leg. You know who you are!)

Transforming an outdoor space is all about adding a few key touches that bring the interior style of your home to the outside, with a touch of whimsy. Seating? Check. Tables? Check. But don't forget the paper lanterns, string lights and candles.

And, if you're working with a small budget, you can literally bring the indoors out to create an inviting summer space. AOL's home decor expert Kelly Edwards shares her Trade Secrets: