DIY Life

In cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, QVC has issued a voluntary recall of about 82,000 Topsy-Turvy Deluxe Tomato Planters with Stand (item numbers M16702 and M17499), due to the fact that the legs on the bottom of the planter can detach when the planter is moved or becomes unbalanced, posing a hazard to bystanders if the planter collapses.

QVC has received 347 reports of the planters collapsing. 155 consumers have reported injuries, including lacerations, broken toes and bruises. The firm has also received reports of property damage caused by the planter collapsing on nearby items.

They were manufactured in China and sold through QVC's televised shopping programs, its web site, and in QVC's Studio, employee and retail stores from March 2008 through April 2008 for about $30. The Topsy-Turvy planter is an upright planter used for growing tomatoes, peppers, or cucumbers. Please see the CPSC press release for more information on the recall.

Consumers are advised to take down the planter by having two adults tip it over on its side and return the planter to any QVC store for a full refund, if the consumer originally purchased the planter at a QVC store. Consumers who purchased the planter through QVC.com or a televised program were mailed instructions on obtaining a refund. Consumer who have not received instructions should contact QVC at (800) 367-9444 or visit the website at www.qvc.com.

I had some wooden planters just sitting around empty, so I decided to go to my local Pamida and get some flowers. Samantha loved marigolds so I got some of those to plant in her memory. One of my favorite flowers is a pansy, so I bought those too, then spent the afternoon planting them with my youngest daughter.

Now that one planter is full of potting soil and pansies, I can't move it. It's too heavy. I suppose I could transplant the flowers into smaller planters, but, simply put, I don't want to. Next year, I will make sure that I build a planter dolly before I decide to fill the heavy planter with flowers.

I love the look of outdoor terra cotta pots and planters: a little bit rustic with a European flair, yet simple to blend in with your landscaping and house style. Sometimes, though, I wonder about embellishing them a little with some paint, just for fun.

Can it be done in a way that the elements will not destroy all of my hard work? The Artistic Garden says yes, and it is simpler than I thought. All you need are water-based acrylic paints. Why didn't I think of that? Painting terra cotta pots with craft store acrylic paints is recommended, and the article suggests that you really do not need specially formulated patio paint at all.

I was delightfully surprised to see that no sealers or top coats are needed. Since the paints are about a dollar for a two-ounce bottle at craft stores and they dry in about an hour, I cannot think of an easier project. Now, to decide on my design....

If you are looking for other ideas on how to spruce up your outside pots and planters, try Diane's spray paint makeover for plastic pots and Francesca's flower pot fun with the kids, using stencils and sponges.

For some of us, gardening is fun. I wish I had more time for it, because digging in the dirt, planting spectacular growing things, and watching them change over the seasons is so rewarding. Having a beautiful yard helps me enjoy being outside even more.

Sometimes there is close to no time, though, or you simply don't enjoy doing yard work. There are quick and easy things you can do to make your yard beautiful with minimal work. Some take less than five minutes, others a couple of hours, but each makes an important impact on the eye appeal of your yard.

If you have five minutes...

• Buy a hanging plant -- or two, or three! -- and some brackets, and hang a plant by each entrance to your house. Petunias and begonias work well in sunny areas, impatiens if your doorways get less sun.
• Weed a small garden you have been neglecting: instant gratification.
• Stick a small garden flag at the entrance to your driveway or in the most prominent garden in your yard.
• Purchase a planter already teeming with greens and blooms and stick it somewhere noticeable.

Spring is almost here! As this week's kiddie craft, we're making mini terra-cotta wind-chimes. I let my boys make them because we're giving them to grandma and great-grandma as Easter gifts, and I guess it wouldn't really be a kiddie craft if I took over.

Still, the temptation was there, because I think I could have made something really beautiful (yeah, yeah, my kids did a beautiful job too!). So, even if you're not working with kids, I hope you'll try this one, and craft a hand-painted wind-chime for yourself or a friend.

If you are working without children, you could use larger pots and a strong rope to hold things together. The bigger the pot the less "chimey" the sound, but I think the heavier sound would be cool too. Anyway, enough daydreaming about what I could have done with this project. It is a kiddie craft, and a great one at that, so here it is... after the break, of course.

One of the most fun and educational things you can do with your child(ren) is to start your own garden.

You don't have to make it a veggie garden, although eating what they grow does tend to intrigue the little ones. You can do a flower garden, a butterfly garden, or a cactus garden, to name a few.

I am also going to teach you how to add another twist to it. You and the small ones can build a garden that moves!

Why make a mobile garden? A mobile garden means you can change locations so you can use different plants at different times of the year that have different sunlight requirements. It also means that you can bring the garden to you when you want to work on it. Details after the break!

Have you ever wandered through a garden store and wondered who would actually put a statue in their yard? Well, here's your chance, you can be that guy. Small tasteful statues actually do look great. The stone faces are particularly popular. Instead of buying one and noticing that same one next door, try building your own.

All the instructions are clearly laid out for you, explaining how to build the structure and add features. You get ultimate authority over what your statue looks like (yes, that also means that you're the one to blame if neighborhood children start fearing your front step). Decorate your own yard, build them as gifts or start a small business. Your first few may look like your first few, but once you get the hang of it, these popular stone statues will look professionally done.

Have you ever wondered what to do with all those takeout containers that you get from Chinese restaurants? They can certainly be thrown away, but then what fun would that be? They just take up space in the landfill until they break down, and that can take a very long time. There has to be a better way and something better to do with them besides tossing them into the garbage.

Instructables has an easy step by step idea for reusing those clean, empty containers by making them into planters. The coolest thing about this planter is that the majority of the items you need to make it are probably already in your house. The pins, the plant, screwdriver, razor and a ruler are pretty much standard items in any home. Potting soil is sold at almost any store. I usually pick mine up at the local hardware store, but I have seen it in my grocery store and even my dollar store. As far as the take out container, that is pretty easy too. Picking up your phone and placing a takeout order will solve the terrible problem of not have any empty containers in your house.

Being a crafty person, the plain white container is a little boring for me, so I would definitely liven it up a bit with some craft paint, fringe, or a few stickers to make it more decorative. I love the idea, which makes me want to run the 40 miles I have to go for some Chinese takeout!