DIY Life

Leave it to Better Homes and Gardens. Somehow, they're able to inspire me without making me feel like a second-rate Martha Stewart wanna-be.

Since we joined our CSA farm last year, it's been a pleasure to have new fresh flowers in the house every week. BHG has created a gallery of flower arrangements that can be done in five minutes, and that look positively stunning. Some of their winning combinations:

• poppies surrounded by hosta leaves
• geranium leaves, roses, and trailing vines
• lavender stems and geranium leaves
• hydrangeas with bachelor buttons
• mounded zinneas with bleeding heart foliage

What I really love about BHG's arrangements is that most of the blooms could be found in your own garden, or even in a wild flower field. That makes these arrangements economical, too.

I've been combining wild yarrow with daylilies and daisies for a pretty display on my kitchen's center island. What's you favorite quick and easy flower arrangement?

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!

Sure, it is one thing to see a great mantel display and reproduce it in your own home. In fact, it is a great idea, because inspiration from other sources is what this feature is all about.

But what if you could learn to create your own original mantel displays using the same techniques the professionals use? Now there is a DIY skill you can apply time and time again.

Better Homes and Gardens Magazine has a tutorial online that teaches basic design points that you can apply to your own mantel designs.

So in the spirit of being inspired, and tutored in basic mantel design elements, I set out to create three show-stopping mantel displays in my home, one for each fireplace.

You know you have it. And you probably hate it, right? But dozens of wedding well-wishers bestowed upon you more crystal than you could ever imagine using in your wildest dreams.

Let's face it. There is nothing striking about a pair of matching crystal candlestick holders on a dining table or a single crystal candy dish on a side table. You want to be more current in your decorating style than that, don't you?

The June issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine gave me inspiration to put my crystal to good use. They clustered several different crystal candlestick holders together to make an eye-catching mantel display.

So I hauled my crystal out of the cabinets, dusted it off and arranged it on my dining room buffet.