DIY Life

I'm excited about the new season, and all the glorious things that come along with spring. In Vancouver, this means April showers, and lots of them. This is when we pack up our winter boots, and pull out the good old rubber stompers. Both boys wore the same tiny boots, and now my youngest has outgrown them. I wondered how I could re-purpose the boots and preserve the memory.

This week's Kiddie Craft does exactly that. The color splash boots make a fun flower vase. Having them painted by your little ones, and using their old boots, make a great keepsake. Even if you're not looking to hold on to yesterday's tiny feet, these boots make a creative addition to any front door-step.

Materials

• Rubber boots
• Soap and water
• Acrylic paint - waterproof
• Paintbrushes
• 2 jars or cups
• Flowers

Follow me through the break for step by step instructions. As you can tell from the gallery pictures, my boys had fun smearing the paint. If you're working with older kids, ones who actually follow instructions, or working on your own, I'd suggest applying less paint and letting each color dry before working with the next.

Want colorful flowers this spring? No time to read that 500-page gardening book you got for Christmas? Well, time-pressed gardener, here's how to grow masses of beautiful pansies in 10 easy steps.

1. Know your zone. Is now a good time to plant? The answer depends upon your zone. Check the USDA's plant hardiness map. Pansies are grown as annuals in zones 2 to 11 (i.e. most of the US) during spring and fall. From zone 9 south to zone 11 (south Texas and most of Florida), they will grow right through winter. North of zone 9, they may die down during winter, but come back in Spring. Further north, the cold will kill them stone dead. Bottom line: if the weather is warming up for Spring and you don't expect any really hot weather anytime soon, you're probably good to go.

2. Buy smart. Don't be sucked in by the brightest blooms. Instead, buy dense, sturdy-looking plants with lots of healthy, green leaves and buds. These will give you more blooms in the long run once they get established. Another buying tip: it's better value to buy whole trays of baby pansies rather than pint-sized pots of mature ones. Be patient and those tiny plants will soon grow to full size.

Alarms, 2 way voice, video surveillance; you can ditch all these home security systems and follow Big Lou's advice for a DIY security system. Here's what you need:

1. Big boots
2. Large men's jacket
3. Gun and Riffle magazine
4. Beer

Curious about this odd combination of materials and how they come together to make one exceptionally reliable security system? Check out her video. Big Lou is a widowed mother of 4 teenage boys and the queen of DIY. Originally from New York, she takes care of all the repairs and maintenance in her Long Island home. She's gorgeous, tough and down right hilarious. Enjoy.