DIY Life

Sure, a vegetable-inspired cupcake sounds like heresy in the minds of dessert lovers everywhere, but with one bite of this corn-on-the-cob, you'll quickly change your tune. Go on; I dare you. The Martha Stewart video gives you step-by-step coverage, including a written tutorial, so the process couldn't be easier. And the ingredients, unlike many Martha Stewart creations, are far from gourmet. Here's the list:

* Vanilla Frosting
* Yellow liquid food coloring
* 24 Vanilla Cupcakes, baked in white paper liners
* 3 1/2 cups small yellow, cream, or white jelly beans, such as Jelly Belly
* 4 pieces yellow fruit chews, such as Laffy Taffys or Starbursts
* 1 tablespoon black decorating sugar
* 1 tablespoon white decorating sugar
* 8 sets of corn holders (optional)

Go ahead; call your family and tell them you'll be bringing corn-on-the-cob for Thanksgiving dinner year. One less vegetable to make Fido scarf down underneath the table, and one more dessert to enjoy later! It's a win-win!

Decided to host a few friends over this weekend? Holidash shows you how to throw together a Halloween party... in 24 hours or less!:

Queen of procrastination here, and as usual, I'm spreading the gospel of how to handle your habit of last-minute planning (not that I'm encouraging you to postpone your responsibilities, but hey -- we all have to embrace our flaws, right?). If you're not a fan of impromptu party-planning, feel free to roll your capable eyes and ignore everything I write. But -- if you're normal and it's slipped your mind that you've invited the neighborhood moms over for dinner and a trick-or-treating send-off (not that I'm speaking from experience or anything...), listen up. This one's for you:

How to Throw a Last-Minute Halloween Party

Decor:
Gather a few items from around your home that could easily double as seasonal decor. I once decorated an entire table setting with items from my garage, so it can be done. Think creatively: a kaleidoscope as a vase, chalkboard as a menu, vintage scarves as placemats. Or, if you have a bit of time on your hands for a quick craft, ShelterPop shows you how to whip up a quick spider web table runner out of some black felt. Don't have felt? Use your husband's sweatpants. Trust me; he won't notice.

Food:
Can you say 'take out?' Order some chow mein and label a place card with the words "monster brains." An egg roll doubles as "troll's fingers" and the fortune cookie? Let's just rename that "message from Hell." Serve some store-bought apple cider and put the coffee pot on --- it's gonna be a late night getting those sugar-infused kiddies to bed...

Games:
Does anyone really enjoy games anymore? I suppose you could bob for the proverbial apples, or celebrate old school with a fun game of Old Maid. The most important form of entertainment is conversation, so put on your hostess hat and have fun!

See how easy that was? Forget changing your ways; procrastination isn't such a bad thing after all!

It seems every child I know these days is allergic to something. Whether it be dairy, soy, milk, food coloring or preservatives, feeding children is getting tougher by the minute. So how do you come up with a non-allergenic treat to hand out to the kids in your neighborhood? After all, you don't want an angry parent knocking on your door at midnight, waving an E.R. bill in your face.

Don't worry. There are plenty of inedible treat ideas that are sure to make the kiddies smile, whether or not they can ingest them in five seconds flat. In fact, with these goodies, you could be the most popular street on the block! Check out some of my favorite inedible treats from our friends at Holidash:

For ages 2-4:
For the tiny Tiggers that come knocking on your door, why not offer a mini can of Play-Doh? A case of ten is just $4 at Target, and the color selection is endless. Not only will the little tikes be happy, but parents will love your ingenuity when they don't have to fight the sugar rush that evening!

For ages 4-6:
So what's in store for the pre-K Piglets? Try a few glittery, washable tattoos that are sure to put a smile on any child's face. And at just $4 for 75 tattoos, the price will put a smile on yours.

For ages 6-10:
Don't worry -- we haven't forgotten the pre-teen Poohs. Give them a bit of anonymity this year with DIY Halloween masks. You can purchase a set of 24 for just $3 -- the perfect price for a great holiday.

For ages 10-14:
For the "too-cool" Eeyores in your life, why not pass out a few DIY Halloween bookmarks? The kids can create their own, or you can get them started with a few kooky designs yourself. The kit is just $5 for 12 -- the perfect price point for the few almost-teens that are brave enough to set forth on Hallow's Eve.

Proof that a sugar-free Halloween can be just as exciting -- and affordable -- as your candy counterparts.

I realize it is only July, but it is never too early to think about Christmas, or at least to get a head start on your decorating this year. If you are into recycling items some people would rather just throw away, then release the artist in you, and paint yourself some one-of-a-kind ornaments.

Since you probably throw away your old burned out light bulbs, I invite you to recycle them into handpainted Christmas ornaments, courtesy of Kraftykristen over on Craftster. Kristen cleans the bulbs with rubbing alcohol, uses acrylic paint to make a snowman, gingerbread man, or a Santa onto the bulb, and finishes up with an acrylic sealer.

So, the Fourth of July is upon us. That means fireworks, beer, grilling, beer, and oh, did I mention beer? But I digress. Let's talk grill hygiene. What's tackier than a grill with chunks of last week's burgers on it? Cleaning the grill doesn't have to be a big chore.

A picture is worth a thousand words, so a video must be worth, what, a million? The creative folks at Howcast have created a great grill-cleaning how-to video that makes the job a piece of cake. You'll need aluminum foil, a grill scraper, and a bit of patience.

There's also a great tip on making future clean-ups easier -- spraying the grill with non-stick spray while it's still warm. It reminds me of seasoning my cast iron pan. But that's a tip for another blog post!

[Via Howcast.com]

Little ones like to get in on the action when it comes to giving gifts. As much as they like to open a present, I always watch in delight when I see how happy a child is to give a grown-up a present, especially if they made the gift.

You can watch in delight too when your child makes the perfect Father's Day desk accessory for the special dad in their life. All you need is cardboard, craft sticks, acrylic paint, glue, and alphabet foam stamps, and of course, a willing child or two. This project is geared towards younger children, so you will have to help them cut out the cardboard that is used in making the letters, and also help them with the gluing of the letters.

Dad will love his new desk accessory, but if he doesn't have a desk, the cardboard decoration will sit perfectly among pictures of his loving family at home. Best of all, he'll get a charge out of knowing that his little DIYers made the Father's Day accessory themselves, just for him.

Father's Day is a special day for all dads who get to spend one day doing whatever they wish, even if that is nothing. Dads need to know that they are just as wonderful as moms, so it is important to give them a special gift that comes straight from the heart, and I don't mean a duct tape wallet.

Sometimes guys don't like to dress up, but you can make it easier for them with the perfect Father's Day gift. Monogrammed cuff links are sure to be a big hit with Dad, so head over to the purl bee to find Molly's awesome tutorial, complete with step by step pictures of the cutest handcrafted cuff links.

Molly found her cuff links on sale for under $20. At that price, you may want to get a few pair to make dad some extra special gifts throughout the year.

(Don't forget: the perfect tie for Father's Day could be monogrammed, too.)

If you are a dad, you are probably cringing at the thought of receiving another tie for Father's Day. If you have a dad, you most likely don't want to get your dad a tie for Father's Day, but it does make a nice gift.

How about a new twist on the traditional tie gift?

If you like to play jokes on your loved ones (and really, who doesn't?), try making and decorating a paper tie. This is an easy, open-ended project you can do with your kids, using only paper and whatever embellishments you would like: paint, makers, sequins, stickers, pom-poms; the sky is the limit.

For many Americans, Memorial Day is not just a day for getting together with family and friends. It is a day to celebrate the fallen heroes who have served to protect our country, as well as pay tribute to our combat veterans. It is also a day when thousands of people flock to their local cemeteries to embrace the memory of all their loved ones.

It is a great time to decorate the grave with fresh flowers, but even more importantly, to clean and maintain the grave marker.

To preserve a headstone, one must use the proper cleaning supplies, so as not to scratch or tarnish the marker. Maintenance is also very important to the upkeep of the cemetery and how it should look. You certainly don't want your deceased loved ones to have shoddy-looking sites. Although cemeteries have grounds crews to cut the grass, it should still be a communal effort to help keep the cemetery looking nice when the crews aren't working.

Depending on the age of the stone, cleaning can be either a difficult task, or a task that may take you a matter of minutes. Please join me after the break to find out how to clean and maintain a headstone.

Awesome craft idea spotted in the latest issue of Wondertime: DIY necktie coffee sleeve. It's cute and stylish, yet easy for the kids to make... maybe with a little help from Mom.

Here's what you'll need:
1 stylin' necktie that dad doesn't want anymore...er, one that you're sure dad doesn't want anymore!
1 two-inch strip of 3/4-inch self-adhesive Velcro

Here's what you do:
Step 1. Cut the tie 15 inches from the wide, pointy end. Put the thin end aside.
Step 2. Peel backing from one side of the Velcro and stick it to the underside of the tie, one inch from the point.

In this age of doing-it-yourself, handmade gifts are becoming more and more popular. The trouble with that is making sure your gifts are original and unique.

Making a spoon rest out of clay can be as one-of-a-kind as you want it to be, or you can make it simple and use a cookie cutter so your kids can help with the project. The article suggests making a heart spoon rest, but you could make anything you wanted to -- freehand, or use a cookie cutter or stencil of your choice.

You'll need air-drying clay, acrylic paint, both in colors and clear, and any tools you will want to use to work the clay. Suggestions about how to make hole to hang the spoon rest and how to make it rest on a flat surface easily are included in the instructions. You can paint it when it is dry and even put felt on the bottom for a nice base.

If your kids -- or you! -- know your way around a can of Play Doh, you can easily make a clay spoon rest as a keepsake gift for any occasion.

Attention, husbands: If you're just planning Mother's Day now, I won't scold you, but I will save you from the wrath you're about to experience if you don't get things together quickly.

Before you move on to showing her your personal appreciation, you'll want to make sure you've arranged something special from your children. If you're in a hurry, here are some quick and easy Mother's Day projects. You can also help them make this precious card, telling Mom just how much they love her.

Some suggest giving Mom a day without the kids, but personally that isn't what I would want. Mother's Day should be celebrated as a family, but once they've served her breakfast in bed, and spent the day honoring her in clever ways, the two of you can tuck in those sweet little ones and get on with some romantic appreciation.

If you're looking for a way to spoil her, follow me through the break, and we'll discuss how you can shower her with appreciation for little or no cost, and with little preparation (yes, you can pull all of these off before Sunday!).

Join me each week as I explore the naturally aromatic side of DIY. Helpful recipes for your "scentual" pleasure: from essential oils, herbs, and other botanicals to soap-making, body care products and other useful blends.

Last week, you learned how to pamper yourself, some friends or your mom with a home pedicure. Recipes for foot soak, foot scrub and foot butter helped to set the stage for a day of feet-lovin' fun. Use those newly neat feet to gather supplies for the best home facial you can give -- just in time for Mother's Day.

After the break, I'll share recipes for making your own facial cleanser, face scrub, facial mask and face oil, ideas for packaging them as gifts, and tips for choosing oils and essential oils based on your skin type.

Back in March, I wrote about Hinamatsuri, a Japanese traditional festival celebrating the happiness and growth of young girls. Hinamatsuri is interesting, but it's not a national holiday in Japan: that distinction goes to Children's Day (Kodomo no hi), which was known as Boys' Day until the late 1940s, when it was expanded to include girls. And Children's Day is today!

The most visible symbol of Children's Day to most people is probably the koinobori, or fish kite (sometimes called a koi kite or carp kite). These are colorful windsocks shaped like a long koi. They are usually tied to a bamboo pole, where the wind catches them and makes them look like they're "swimming."

There are a few legends attached to why the koinobori are displayed, but most relate to the koi being energetic and courageous in the way it goes against the current, leaping out of the water when it swims. The koi becomes a metaphor for parents' hopes for their children, particularly their sons.

Today is a perfect day for family members to make simple paper or fabric fish kites of their own. After the break, we'll explore some of the history and motifs of this holiday, and check out a variety of related crafts: not just koinobori! We'll also talk about some non-traditional, totally American ways to celebrate the kids in your life.

Flowers are a wonderful gift, if only they would last longer. With these flower gifts that you can make with your kids, they will last perhaps longer than the recipient would like them to! Or the flowerpots are perfect for presenting real flowers or plants.

Make this photo flower bouquet from paper, using photos as the center of the flower. Glue onto a chenille stem and present as a bouquet or in a vase. I like the idea of using patterned paper; handmade paper would look stunning, as would scrapbooking paper.

It is so easy to paint this clay flowerpot. All you need are some acrylic paints and your creativity. You can plan a pattern with your kids beforehand, use some stencils or let them go, Jackson Pollock style. You know they will come up with something spectacular, and uniquely "them."