DIY Life

Stay safe this hurricane season

Lisa Hoover — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: miscellaneous, seasonal, recalls and safety

Hurricane season has been in full swing for a few weeks now, but thankfully it's been very quiet so far. Don't let the lack of named hurricanes lull you into a false sense of security. The season stretches all the way to November 30th, and the peak of it -- August to October -- is yet to come.

Don't assume you'll have time to make preparations "if the needs arises." Of course, we all remember the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. And in 2004, Hurricane Charley was expected to head into the Gulf of Mexico and collide with Tampa. At the last minute, it made a sharp right turn and landed substantially farther south, obliterating entire neighborhoods and barrier islands.

If you live in a hurricane-prone area, and haven't yet made preparations in case one heads your way, here are a few of the most important steps you can take to keep you and your family safe this summer. You may never need to activate the plans you have in place, but it's good to know they're there.

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Say "I do!" to these wedding tips

Lisa Hoover — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: wedding, crafts, jewelry-making, entertaining, gifts

If you're getting married this summer, it's probably a little late to start planning your big day right now. If you're tying the knot next year, however, or just looking for some last minute tips then -- wow! -- have we got some ideas for you!

Blushing brides learn what to do with treasured wedding mementos, hopeful grooms get pointers on the perfect proposal, and if you're the maid-of-honor, you'll be her hero for suggesting economical ways to make table center-pieces and party favors!

Continue reading Say "I do!" to these wedding tips

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Tips for a great Fourth of July

Lisa Hoover — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: food, seasonal, crafts, staying green, entertaining, knitting and crochet

Fourth of July celebrations are synonymous with BBQ, fireworks, and picnics. Let's take a look at some of our favorite posts from across DIYLife that will make your Independence Day celebration the best ever.

Whether you plan to grill steaks, burgers, fish, or even corn on the cob, there are a few things you can do to make sure your cookout is red, white, blue, and green. If you're feeling really creative, you can build your own BBQ pit, but no matter what grill you cook on, you're still going to have to clean it.

To keep uninvited pesky guests away while you're cooking (and eating!), build this useful trap to snare wasps, and follow these tips to keep mosquitoes at bay.

Want more cool tips? Keep reading!

Continue reading Tips for a great Fourth of July

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Clever ways to honor Dad this Father's Day

Lisa Hoover — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:10:00 EST

Filed under: kids, miscellaneous, art, crafts, sewing

The ties that bind - Dad's probably got enough neckties hanging in his closet and doesn't need another one. If you can get your hands on an old one he doesn't wear anymore -- or one you wish he didn't -- then make him a protective sleeve to fit around his hot coffee cup. As an alternative, you can always involve the kids in a making a skinny tie cake, or just send him a virtual tie to wear while he plays virtual video games.

Picture this - Even thought they might not come right out and say so, dads love to show off pictures of their family just as much as mom and grandma. We've got loads of ideas on how to package your favorite photos besides the standard wood frame from the local department store. How about a frame made from Legos, puzzle pieces, or nuts and washers?

Stylish! - If you're handy with a needle and thread or paintbrush, why not make Pop some monogrammed cufflinks or custom-painted BBQ accessories?

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Clever ways to honor Dad this Father's Day, page 2

Lisa Hoover — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:10:00 EST

Filed under: kids, miscellaneous, organization and storage, DIY with Dad

Don't forget the romance - Fathers deserve to be spoiled on their special day, and we've got seven ways to romance your man and let him know that you think dads are sexy.

Offbeat ideas - This year Dad might be expecting typical gifts like golf balls and car accessories. Why not surprise him this year with an unexpected present, like a family key keeper or his very own nightlight?

New traditions - Maybe Pop is feeling like handymen are a dying breed, but you can let him know that's not the case. This year, start a new tradition based on our DIY: With Dad series. No other gift in the world will make Dad happier than spending time with his kids, even if it's just pushing a rock across the backyard.

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How to live with curly hair

Lisa Hoover — Fri, 16 May 2008 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: miscellaneous, beauty and skin care

You know how it is: gals with straight hair envy their curly-haired friends, and ladies with straight hair wish they could have bouncy ringlets. As a member of the curly-hair club, I've always envied the people I know whose stick-straight hair looks terrific first thing in the morning -- and doesn't go frizzy at the first sign of humidity.

After years (and years, and years) of trying to wrestle my locks into submission, I've learned to embrace the corkscrews and go with the flow. With a little patience, you can learn to love your locks, and here are some of the best tips I've found:

Continue reading How to live with curly hair

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How to remove the label from a wine bottle

Lisa Hoover — Fri, 16 May 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: household hacks, miscellaneous

Though I love a good wine, I'm not a wine snob. Part of the fun of choosing a wine at the store is looking at all the whimsical labels. Sure, a bottle's design doesn't tell you much about what's going on under the cork but if the wine turns out to be not-so-great, at least you have a nice label to look at, right?

I like to keep the labels from some wine bottles that are of particular amusement or sentimental value to me. Here are a couple of tricks I use to get the sticky little buggers off with out wrecking the paper or scraping it off with my fingernail.

Continue reading How to remove the label from a wine bottle

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Clever ways to honor mom this Mother's Day

Lisa Hoover — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: miscellaneous, seasonal, crafts, jewelry-making, gifts, health and wellness, beauty and skin care

Mother's Day is right around the corner, but if you don't have a gift yet, there's no need to panic. We've rounded up a bunch of posts to spark your creative juices and make your mom feel like a queen.

If you're planning to give mom flowers -- or if you get some yourself -- keep them looking fresh for a long time with these simple steps. Some, like changing the water daily, you might already be aware of, but did you know you should also trim a bit of stem off each day?

Looking for a perfect Mother's Day craft for little tykes? How about terracotta flower pots covered with handprints of the grandkids? Older kids can take a crack at making roses out of maple leaves or coffee filters.

Moms, if you get roses from the kids this year, keep the fallen petals as they drop and make rose petal beads. The project will take some time, but in the end you'll have a beautiful necklace that smells great and will always remind you of Mother's Day 2008.

Speaking of flowers, if your mother likes the look of fancy framed professionally photographed exotic plants, but doesn't care for the price tag, make her one yourself. You don't need to be a photgraphy expert; just use these tips to take some professional-looking pictures, get them developed and framed, then watch Mom smile.

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Clever ways to honor mom this Mother's Day, part 2

Lisa Hoover — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: miscellaneous, seasonal, crafts, jewelry-making, gifts, health and wellness, beauty and skin care

If you're good with your hands and have some nice rocks and stones handy, consider making Mom a water feature for her yard. You can put one together in a single afternoon for about $25, but your mother will enjoy it for years to come.

Remember making a necklace out of yarn scraps and soda can tabs when you were a kid? Even though it maybe wasn't the prettiest jewelry she'd ever owned, she wore it proudly because you made it. This year, make her a necklace out of pink rhodonite. She'll wear it just as proudly, but this time she won't struggle to keep a straight face.

Serve Mom breakfast in bed in a keepsake tray she'll love. Dress up an inexpensive serving tray with pictures, handprints of the grandkids, and some pretty bows, then use it to take coffee and toast to your Queen for the Day.

If you've got a Flickr account, upload some photos you know mom will love, then make a free picture cube. Or, you could go a little more high-tech and build her a digital picture frame. To really amaze your mom with your crafty skills, give her a box of specially covered pencils that, when lined up, reveal a picture of you!

Taking Mom out to lunch? Make her the prettiest corsage she's ever worn. For a more subtle approach, or as a good craft for the kids, make flower pins from fabric, felt, or yarn instead.

For a quick list of some great gifts (including a couple of spa treaments) keep reading!

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Clever ways to honor mom this Mother's Day, part 3

Lisa Hoover — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: miscellaneous, seasonal, crafts, jewelry-making, gifts, health and wellness, beauty and skin care

Give mom a home facial with these steps from our recurring series "The Scentual Life"

Save some money by making fabric flower cards for mom.

Make mom the perfect breakfast in bed with these tips.

Our series "Avant Yard" brings you the top 10 Mother's Day gifts for gardening.

Need a frame for photos? Make this clever fold-out album for her.

Another regular series, "Kiddie Crafts," features a variety of Mother's Day ideas that you can try.

And "The Scentual Life" brings you a how-to on a home spa, with a focus on feet-- because we know how much mom is on those!

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DIY for Earth Day

Lisa Hoover — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:00:00 EST

Filed under: household hacks, miscellaneous, gardening and plants, staying green, DIY Earth

Eco-friendly. Go green. Environmentally aware. Call it whatever you want, we love it when the DIY tips we give you are also good for the environment. As we celebrate Earth Day today, let's take a look at some of the ideas we've shared in in the past that can help you get green.

Nothing says "I'm helping save the Earth" more than a compost pile filled with leftover food scraps and grass clippings. Here's everything you need to know to start your own compost heap, including what kind of organic materials you can toss in (egg shells) and what you can't (meat scraps).

This long list of ideas on how to make your home eco-friendly covers everything from programmable thermostats to spark igniter pilot light systems. Even if you already practice green living, you might find one or two ideas on here that you never thought of.

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DIY for Earth Day, part 2

Lisa Hoover — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:00:00 EST

Filed under: fix-it, household hacks, miscellaneous, preventative maintenance, gardening and plants, staying green, cleaning, DIY Earth, health

Make spring cleaning a little less onerous this year by tossing out the harsh chemicals you usually use and cleaning up with essential oils instead. Find recipes for bathroom cleanser, dish soap, glass cleaner, and more.

Many people like to celebrate Earth Day each year by planting seeds and flowers in the yard. Before you haul out the hoe and shovel, consider making seed bombs. Let 'er rip!

Have you pledged to your family and your wallet to cut down on fuel consumption and pedal around on your bike instead? Pull that forlorn bicycle out from the corner of the garage, dust it off, and then use these handy tips to give it a tune-up.

Weed killer and other pesticides can be bad for the environment and terrible for your health. Try this approach that uses a common household ingredient that you probably have leftover from Easter.

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DIY for Earth Day, part 3

Lisa Hoover — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:00:00 EST

Filed under: household hacks, kids, miscellaneous, toys, bathroom, plumbing, staying green, DIY Earth

Water: can't live without it. Learn some painless ways to conserve it around your home, both inside and out.

Have you just gotten home from the market loaded down with organic food and don't know what to do with the plastic grocery bags? Go fly a kite!

Are ready to commit to a low-flush toilet and aren't sure how to retrofit your commode? We can help.

In many homes, the bathroom is the last vestige of privacy (unless you have kids) and also one of the most eco-unfriendly spots in the house. Here's several things you can do to change that (sorry, no advice on how to keep the kids from interrupting your bath).

For even more Earth-friendly tips, be sure to check out our sister blog, Green Daily.

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Make scrapbooks online with Smilebox

Lisa Hoover — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: kids, miscellaneous, scrapbooking, computers and internet

Make a postcard - it's easy!

If you've ever wished you could make scrapbooks of your kids' lives the way all the cool moms you know do, then you ought to take a look at Smilebox. It's an online scrapbook maker that lets users create their own cool scrapbooks to post on a blog, email, or print out to show off to others.

Smilebox requires Flash 9 to run and only works on Windows for now. Since I'm all thumbs when it comes to crafts -- especially scrapbooking and other uber-creative projects -- I wasn't sure I believed the Web site's claim that I could create my own scrapbook in "less than five minutes."

That turned out to be true.

Once you register, the site walks you through each step, from choosing which of your digital photos to use all the way to emailing the finished scrapbook of your kids to an unsuspecting grandmother. Each design is customizable, some even down to the color of the flowers, and the end results are pretty slick indeed.

The basic service is free, but you can pay to upgrade to other plans for additional features and ad-free projects. While Smilebox is clearly aimed at moms, I could easily envision my elementary school-age children using it to create scrapbooks of their own. Be sure to bookmark the site, it's a great rainy day project for the kids.

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Clean your Scooba so it keeps cleaning for you

Lisa Hoover — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: preventative maintenance, cleaning

If you've been reading DIY Life for a while, you know that I really love my Roomba. Well, now my loyalties are divided because I recently met Roomba's floor-washing cousin, the Scooba.

For the uninitiated, Roombas and Scoobas are robots that vacuum and wash your floor, respectively. I was skeptical that either device would do a particularly good job, but I'm happy to have been proven wrong. To keep my Scooba happily cleaning my floors for a long time, I baby it just like I do my Roomba. If you've got a Scooba, here's how to keep it in tip-top shape.

Continue reading Clean your Scooba so it keeps cleaning for you

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Personalized serving tray makes a great gift

Lisa Hoover — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: home decor, miscellaneous

Even though we're pretty savvy DIYers around here, I know there's a lot of you out there that have really got it going on. Take my good friend Jill, for example. She recently came up with a terrific make-it-yourself gift for her mother-in-law -- a personalized serving tray.

Gallery: Personalized serving tray

Continue reading Personalized serving tray makes a great gift

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Make a thing a day at Thing-A-Day

Lisa Hoover — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: art, crafts, music, photography, scrapbooking, wood working, soap-making, jewelry-making, knitting and crochet

If you like to make stuff -- and if you don't, I guess you wouldn't be here -- then you'll love this idea. Inspired by a year-long class project at NYU, Thing-A-Day is a unique idea designed to encourage people to create one new item, object, tool, or work of art every for the entire month of February. Now in its second year, there are already more than 40 people signed up to participate.

The process is simple (well, simple to write about, the execution may be another matter). Beginning February 1st, you'll make one thing of your choice each day, then hustle over to the participant blog and post details of what you've done (including pictures, if you choose) before midnight. Then repeat the next day. And the next. And the next.

Organizers say you should spend at least 20 minutes a day on your creation, but not more than an hour on each project. Short on ideas? Be sure to comb the archives of DIY Life for more ideas than you could use in a month's time.

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Need shelves? Try rain gutters

Lisa Hoover — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: home decor, kids, organization and storage, weekend projects

My kids and I are voracious readers and we seem to accumulate books at the speed of light. Basic build-it-yourself bookshelves are fairly inexpensive but, let's be honest, they're also really boring. The other day, I went looking for some new and interesting ways to store books and came across the neatest idea at FamilyFun.com: rain gutter shelves.

Here's the plan: measure the walls where you want the shelving to hang, then run down to the nearest home improvement store. Gutters are typically sold in ten-foot lengths, but ask to have them cut shorter if you need to. Then grab a handful of brackets to attach the gutters to the wall, some decorative end caps, and head home.

Hammer the brackets to the wall (use a level to make sure your shelving will be straight), then insert the gutters and place the end caps. There you have it, instant bookshelves!

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Mouse in the house? Here's how to clean up

Lisa Hoover — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: cleaning

Although some people think little mice are adorable (I admit it), the truth is that the wild mouse population in North America can carry a rare but deadly disease called Hantavirus. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the illness is contracted by handling mouse droppings or even breathing the air where infected mice have been.

Recently, a reader wrote in to DIY Life to ask for tips on cleaning up after an invasion of mice in the family kitchen. The reader had already washed, rinsed, and dried the cabinet shelves but wanted to know what else we could recommend to make sure the area was truly clean. That's a great question, and here are some things to try.

Continue reading Mouse in the house? Here's how to clean up

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How to care for your American flag

Lisa Hoover — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: miscellaneous, seasonal

Are you one of the millions of Americans celebrating Veteran's Day today by flying the flag? There's more to properly displaying Old Glory than just running it up the flagpole, so here's a refresher course on what you need to know.

Learn the proper way to fold the flag. Once you take it off the pole, you can't just wad it up and stuff it in the closet. Grab another person and take a minute to fold into in the familiar triangular shape you've probably seen over the years. If there's no one else around to help you, lay the flag on a clean flat surface (not the floor), and fold.

Contrary to popular belief, it's not necessary to destroy a flag that has touched the ground. It's possible to wash or dry-clean a flag that is dirty or soiled.

Though many people prefer not to fly the flag during inclement weather, many flags are made of all-weather material these days. They're meant to be used during rain, sleet, snow. Just remember to take your flag indoors during high winds so it doesn't become tattered.

A damaged flag must be disposed of properly but burning it isn't always practical. Simply take it to your local VFW post or American Legion hall and they'll make sure your flag is disposed of properly.

Flying your flag at night? The Flag Code specifies that it should be "properly illuminated" but doesn't offer specifics. A strong porch light or a spotlight on the ground underneath should suffice.

If you're displaying more than one flag, make sure the American flag is always higher than any other.

Teach your kids about the American flag with any of the great resources from these sites. Feeling creative? Make your own flag.

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