DIY Life

Hammer nails without flattening your thumb. Yes, it can be done ... if you master the right technique. A gentle tap, tap, tapping is the secret. Here's how to hammer correctly and painlessly:

1. Grip it right. Hold the hammer near the middle of the handle to start a nail. This gives extra precision that will (hopefully!) protect your fingers.

2. Tap gently, swinging from the wrist. This gets the nail started in a hole. Remove your hand from the nail.

3. Swing firmly from the elbow. This will drive the nail into the hole.

Still banging your fingers ... or missing the mark completely? Frustrating! But here are a couple of tricks to try:

My uncle used to carry the coolest tool belt around everywhere he went, whether or not there was a construction project involved. Upon further inspection, I once found the usual suspects: power drills, nails, bolts, and ... a fork?

Turns out a fork was his secret weapon for when his young [cute, of course] niece offered to help him hammer in a few nails. To protect his fingers, he'd hold the nail in place with the prongs of a fork rather than his hand. The trick worked perfectly and he single-handedly (no pun intended) blended the duties of kitchenware and power tools. Go, Uncle!

Of course, you can also make use of a fork in the garden for turning over soil and/or harvesting potatoes. Or, use the hefty prongs to take out those double knots in your son's sneakers (that he's just so darn proud of!).

Proof that forks belong in and out of the kitchen.

Once there was a young woman who considered herself fairly handy in all things DIY. One stormy day, she heard a loud crash. Stepping outside, she discovered a fallen pine branch had clipped the trunk of her vehicle. The damage? Two quarter-sized dents in the paintwork. "My car!" she exclaimed and shook her fist angrily at the tree.

"I bet I can fix this myself," she mused. Next came a twinge of doubt, but she brushed it away. "A well-aimed tap with a hammer should pop that sucker right back out again," she told herself. The outcome to this particular DIY project was ... er ... not so great. Those taps were a tad too vigorous, leaving the car with unsightly bumps where the dents had been. Whoops.

Yes, that woman was me, and I learned my lesson. Turns out you can fix dents without special panel repair skills. You may not even need specialized or expensive tools. But you must do your homework first. Don't just grab a hammer and chisel like I did. (Gulp.)

My husband has a freakishly organized tool box. I tease him that it's because he spends all his time in front of the computer instead of working around the house, but the truth is, he just likes to keep things tidy so that he can easily find the tool he's looking for. Part of me admires him -- you know, the part that's not too busy teasing him!

Whether you're cleaning out an old overstuffed tool bag, setting up house for the first time, or putting together some dorm room necessities, you'll want to include these 11 must-have tools. Including the essentials, like a hammer, level, pliers, and screwdrivers, Dustin claims that these tools will get you through basic household repairs and simple projects.

People must feel passionately about their tools, because the comments bring out some heated discussions about the validity of these recommendations, and argue for tools that didn't make the cut. I wouldn't add any tools to the list, but I think every family toolbox needs the the ever-important duct tape, crazy glue, and some other useful odds and ends like zap-straps and string.

What are your household handyman must haves?

Basements can be a real source of grief for the homeowner. Holes and cracks in the basement walls and floors allow water and even ultra-nasty sewage to seep into the basement. This can subject the home to major health risks from debilitating mold, not to mention the offensive nose-bombs.

You can't let this situation go on -- it'll just get worse and worse, and compromise the integrity of your home's foundation. So, what's the first step to getting a grip on this situation? To nip this situation in the bud, and prior to even thinking about waterproofing, you need to thoroughly understand what causes cracks in the basement floor.

Enhance your summertime meals with fresh herbs picked right from your window-sill garden. Better yet, make that garden from old tin cans.

If you're imagining sloppy looking herbs spilling out of rusty cans, think again. This tin can herb pot tutorial will show you how to make beautifully decorated aluminum pots.

Intended as a family project, your children will enjoy painting their own patterns on the can. You can tie in lessons about recycling, plant life and sustainability; as they re-use tin cans, grow their own herbs and use them for cooking.

After the break you'll find more details on creating these tin can pots.

Step 1) Get your tools ready! You will need a drill with drill bits, a hammer, a tape measure and a pencil. And, of course, your window pins. You can use one pin per window or two -- one on the left side and one on the right. Your choice.

Step 2) Close and lock your first window. Use your measuring tape and pencil to locate and mark the point to drill your first hole. This is where the window pin will go when the window is in the closed and locked position.