DIY Life

I'm on bread duty this Thanksgiving and would love to bake a few homemade creations. Looks like I'll be tuning in to this great video -- and stat!:



Here are your step-by-step instructions!:

Step 1: Mix the flour and salt
Mix the flour and salt in a medium-size bowl.

Step 2: Combine yeast and water
Put the yeast, water, and half the flour mixture in a large bowl and mix it together with your hands until it's doughy. Cover with a clean dishcloth and let it sit at room temperature for three hours, until it more than doubles in size.

Step 3: Add remaining flour
Using your hands, mix the remaining flour mixture into the dough.

Step 4: Knead it
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead it for about 10 minutes.

Step 5: Oil a bowl
Place the dough in a large, lightly-oiled bowl, turning the dough around in the bowl so it gets covered with oil. Cover with a dishcloth and let it sit for another hour. It should nearly double in size.

Step 6: Preheat oven
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and knead the dough one more time for about five minutes before dividing it into three parts. Roll each part into a long baguette with your hands, and let them rise in a warm, draft-free spot, for another half hour.

Step 7: Slash and moisten
Make four lengthwise slashes on top of the loaf with a sharp knife, going no deeper than ¼ inch. Lightly spritz or brush the top with cool water. If you're not using the baking stone, cover an upside-down baking sheet with parchment paper and sprinkle it with cornmeal.

Step 8: Bake
Place a medium-size bowl filled halfway with water on the bottom rack of the oven. Bake the baguettes in the middle of the oven on the baking stone or sheet. Remove the bowl after 15 minutes. Continue baking the bread until golden, 20 to 30 minutes total.

Good luck!

It seems when house shopping comes around, the bigger the better. But how do you make massive rooms into cozy spaces you can call home? AOL's resident decor expert Kelly Edwards gives us the inside scoop on turning big rooms into cozy hideouts:



One of Kelly's great tips is to divide the rooms with a touch of color. Different colors used on walls (either patterned or solid) will create the illusion of separate rooms. Not a fan of too much color? Try molding! Because you can also use furniture or architectural detail to delineate space and split the rooms, molding works well.

To put molding on the walls, first measure the area and purchase your trim accordingly. It's a good idea to get a little more than your measurements to cover your mistakes and trimmings. And yes, there will be mistakes, as every good homeowner knows.

Good luck!

My husband and I put an offer on a fixer-upper (ahhh, the agony of moving yet again!) this past weekend and if our bid is accepted, it looks like we'll be facing a super intense kitchen makeover. Of course, helpful tips like Kelly's rolling kitchen cart makeover will come in handy when it's time to tackle that kitchen island.

The best part about this easy-to-do tutorial? It uses a basic side table as its main material, and we all know how many side tables are scattered among garage sales and thrift shops. Why not keep your eye open for a side table next time you're out and about? Chances are, you can score one cheap and splurge on a nice countertop material (I'd love white marble or slate!) and caster wheels.

Another option? Cover your side table with stainless steel sheet metal for a sleek, modern look. You'll get a few more scrapes and dents in the island, but hey --- isn't that the definition of character?

Today's how-to video comes from Home Depot, and I love some of the tips shared in this helpful tutorial. Although I'm not a massive fan of sponge painting or glaze, I love the look of color blocks, argyle and stripes using just a bit of chalk and painter's tape. Check it out!:


My favorite decorative painting technique? Stripes on stripes. Choose your favorite shade of paint in both matte and hi-gloss and tape off some vertical stripes using painter's tape. Alternate between hi-gloss and matte paint for a beautiful effect that adds both dimension and drama to the room. The look works great in a home that may need a boost in architectural elements.

The possibilities are endless with a can of paint and a few tools, and paint is one of the fastest (and cheapest!) ways to transform a room. Get to work!

It seems that every DIY tutorial I've come across in the past few weeks involves spray paint. Whether I'm transforming a patio set, desk or kitchen cabinet hardware, spray paint often seems to be the quickest and easiest route. Yet when I attempted to create a wooden stand for a project I'm working on, my spray paint job looked a little less luxe and a lot more... well, loser.

AOL's home decor expert Kelly Edwards came to my rescue with this quick and easy tutorial on prepping, priming and spray paint techniques. If you're ever unsure how to create that lacquer-finish look with a can of spray paint, this is the tutorial to watch:

And once you've learned the art of spray painting, why not tackle that old chandelier in your dining room? Even if you don't love the result, you can turn the empty can into a light fixture of your own!

Has the summer bug bit you yet?

If it has, you may be itching to try a new outdoor activity. Hiking and biking may have become passe, so get yourself a skateboard and wheel off to enjoy the great outdoors.

Expert Village has created a skateboarding video series that will teach you the basics, like how to stand, push, and turn on your new board. When you are ready for the fancy moves, watch their videos on the Ollie tricks and how to skate on ramps.

Heck, as a self-proclaimed DIYer, you just may want to build yourself a skateboard ramp. There are lots of free ramp plans available on the internet, and wikiHow even gives you step-by-step instructions on how to build your ramp based on your own plans.

So fire up that enthusiasm for your new hobby and learn to skateboard in style!

If you have a family, you're probably in a state of constant chaos, and romancing your man might not rank high on your list of things to do. You've spent hours coordinating your children, and helping them make monogrammed cuff links and hand print crafts. They'll present these to Daddy first thing Sunday morning, and you'll all enjoy a family day, celebrating Dad.

When the day comes to a close, and the kids are tucked in, don't retire to your separate laptops... instead, turn up the heat, and spend a little time letting him know how appreciated he is. This isn't about modeling sexy lingerie (though I'm sure that would be a welcomed surprise!) or buying him expensive concert tickets. It's Father's Day, so spend some time reflecting on the wonderful ways that he contributes to the family, and thanking him for being such a great parenting partner.

So, what does a dad find romantic? I surveyed some of the men in my life, and it turns out they are pretty easy to please. So many dads are busy balancing work and family that all they really want is a little break.

After the jump, I'll share some husband-certified ways to spoil him this Father's Day.

Many kids pick up a musical instrument or two at some point in their childhood. Sometimes I think that my own childhood could be retold as a chain of instruments adopted and discarded: piano, violin, clarinet, recorder, and a terrifying two-week stint on the French horn, not to mention years of singing lessons.

Once you're an adult, though, it can be difficult to pick up an instrument... particularly if you're doing it for your own amusement, and have no intention of pursuing a serious course of study.

What do you do when you don't want to become a classical virtuoso... when you really just want to play songs for friends at parties, and don't want to have to spend a lot of money, or work lessons into your schedule, to accomplish it?

What are we trying to achieve when we express our individual style? I'm typically looking to show off a bit of my own flair, letting the world in on who I am and what I'm about. Adding one-of-a-kind accessories is a great way to do this.

If over-sized diamond-encrusted initials aren't your idea of personalized style, then this recycled book handbag might be just the expressive piece of fashion that you're looking for.

There isn't much that says more about us than the books we read and the classics we've enjoyed. Take one of those old favorites, and turn it into a funky handbag. I'm excited to try out this project because it looks relatively straightforward, and the final handbag is sure to be a piece that gets people talking.

Scrounge the thrift stores for a copy of your favorite book, or find an interesting classic. Match it to your fabric of choice, and some purse handles. With these personalized pieces, follow the instructions in the video, and enjoy your newest and hippest accessory.

So another weekend has rolled around. Here I am, at my computer, goofing off diligently planning my weekend house projects. What should I stumble upon, but this very funny clip on You Tube. The video was taken from Australian comedy show The Chaser's War on Everything. In it, a couple of guys play a cheeky stunt on local Ikea store employees: they intentionally assemble some Ikea furniture ridiculously badly, then take each item back and request refunds. Return items include a futon/bookshelf/side table combination. It's pretty funny watching the employees being all nice and polite about it.


According to Wikipedia entries about the show, The Chaser's War on Everything is the creation of a bunch of Aussie comedians. Apparently, they've gotten themselves into some hot water over the stunts they've pulled...stunts that make the Ikea gag look like child's play. Most notably, the team managed to breach tight security at the 2007 APEC meeting in Sydney by cruising through checkpoints in a totally fake motorcade. Once inside the security zone, cast member Chas Licciardello, exited one of the vehicles dressed as Osama bin Laden...and was promptly arrested. Norty, norty!

The video above is the Valentine's Day episode of Threadheads, from Threadbanger. In it, you'll see the creation of a corset and a pair of boxer shorts, all using recycled fabrics. The Threadheads will also point you to some funny anti-Valentine stencils.

The following pages will be useful if you'd like to do any of the projects:

• How to make a corset has the assembly process and finished photo.
• Corset pattern teaches you to draft a custom pattern to your measurements.
• How to make boxers from old pillowcases is a photo tutorial.
• The Boxers pattern could turn out to be really useful, particularly if you have access to a thrift store with a lot of solid-colored sheets.
• The Extras page has the anti-Valentine stencil designs, plus lots of other Threadbanger goodness, like a widget for your blog that will automatically play the latest episode of Threadheads!

I had one quibble about the corset instructions in the video. Please join me after the break, where we'll talk a little more about undergarments.

I like to think I'd make a pretty good Crime Scene investigator, but with most of my knowledge coming from crime dramas, I suspect that I'm not actually equipped for the job. If you want to try out some of these investigative skills without actually gaining access to a crime lab or one of their fancy and fully loaded tool kits, then check out this fingerprint lifting tutorial.

The video shows us how to professionally lift fingerprints. Here's what you'll need for the experiment:

1. Superglue
2. Light bulb
3. Aluminum foil
4. Cardboard box
5. Sticky tape

Executing this experiment isn't simple, but it yields professional quality results. If you've got a suspect item with fingerprints on it, gather the rest of your materials, follow the details in this video tutorial and get started on your investigation.

This video presents a creative way to spend some time out in the cold and keep warm at the same time. The videographer has a good idea, but one I believe can be made even better. Why not repeat the process of making snowshoe imprints in the snow every time there is a snow storm? In addition, by adding snow to the walls in between the trodden trails, the labyrinth will increase in height and create more intrigue. By the end of the winter your yard could be an entertaining spot sure to attract the entire neighborhood.

Waking up in the morning is never an easy task, and for many people actually rising when the alarm clock rings is a lost cause. If you happen to fall into the category of not hearing your daily alarm, here is the ultimate clock for you: the fire alarm. The assembly looks fairly easy, requiring just an old fashioned fire alarm bell and a cheap, battery powered alarm clock. It is sure to not only wake you up with a jolt, but to scare the heck out of you with your first waking breath of the day.

After our kids are in bed, Jason and I can be found downstairs rocking out to Guitar Hero. While I'm sure we both look like total dorks, and I am admittedly pitiful at any song that is even mildly complicated, we still have a blast. A little spirited competition and some classic rock tunes are just what we need at the end of a long day.

There are lots of instructions out there that will tell you how to customize your guitar, but none that are quite as clear and well documented as these. This instructable walks you through the dis-assembly, painting and reassembly of your Guitar Hero SG controller. You'll be taking out nearly 40 screws, so clear your workspace and get organized before you get started. Once you have it apart, painting can be as simple or as detailed as you want. The metal finish that this instructables author chooses looks great. He suggests using a spray paint, but you'll still need to be careful and take your time. If you want to get really creative, try stenciling on a some flames or even a design of your own.