DIY Life

A newspaper is a great way to pass the time when on a bus or a subway, or sitting in the coffee shop. The problem is, a broadsheet-style newspaper (which is to say, most of them), is awkward. You don't want to be the obnoxious guy (or gal) with their arms spread wide, blocking the view and crowding the fellow sitting beside you.

There is a way for you to catch up on the news without catching your neighbor in the eye with the paper. Check out the four easy steps on Real Simple. A matter of a few simple folds, and you'll be able to scan, flip through, read, and store your paper within a minimum of space, and without annoying the people around you.

I have always loved giving photographs as gifts. In my young and single days, I'd elegantly frame my own photographs of landscapes, flowers, or architecture. Now, people get pictures of my kid. He's pretty cute, so it works out on all fronts, but I think the gift is most appreciated when the photograph comes with a classy frame, made by you.

Every Dad needs pictures of his kids at the office, right? For this cute "Dad" frame, all you need is some oaktag or poster board, scissors and glue. The holes in the letters D-A-D frame photos of your kids -- cute! Martha Stewart has a similar project with a template for the D-A-D.

A rustic photo frame made from twigs can go with just about any decor, from country to modern. Using twigs, twine and a little glue, you can make one is a few short minutes. You could frame your child, but this type of frame would also look nice around a woodland landscape that is somehow meaningful to the recipient.

Have you heard? Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia recently announced that their magazine Blueprint, around for less than two years and full of achievable DIY domesticity, is kaput: the January/February 2008 issue, which should be out next week, is the last.

The news has not exactly been greeted with cheers of joy, and the company is apparently still trying to decide what to do with the brand. It may be folded into Martha Stewart Weddings (a decision they seem to be rethinking, based on reader feedback), or exist only as web content, or as an occasional "special issue."

The November/December 2007 issue of Blueprint directs readers to a nifty little project on its website: a printable 2008 calendar designed for display in a CD jewel case. You need:

• paper
• a printer
• a CD jewel case
• a paper cutter, or a craft knife and straight edge

Pay attention to the comments on the project at the site: you may need to change the printing scale to 85%, and you'll almost certainly have to disassemble the jewel case and flip one side so that it'll stay open as shown in the photos. The calendar itself exemplifies the appealing art direction that the magazine has been known for, but it will probably only look as good as the quality of the printer and paper stock you use. (Time to pull out that resumé paper you bought a while back!) When you're done, you'll have a stylish and practical little desk ornament for the new year.

If you have a definite opinion about the cancellation of Blueprint, or simply an idea about how Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia can address younger women who aren't as affluent as the target Martha Stewart Living reader, they're asking for suggestions on the Bluelines blog. Of course, the top suggestion so far seems to be, "Bring it back!"

Small children and babies are so often fascinated by the twinkling lights and beautiful colors of the holidays. Unfortunately those things are sharp, too small, or just downright dangerous for a baby to hold or touch. Martha Stewart offers a simple solution for babies to enjoy the holiday fun without the fear of them ingesting a string of colored lights: a tree mobile.

This design is absolutely beautiful in its simplicity. All you need to create you one is:

• a utility knife or Xacto knife
• some colored matte board
• a glue stick
• string or thin wire

Follow the directions for cutting and assembly and this beauty can be yours and your baby's to share and enjoy!