Tutorials

Spend This, Not That: Easy Ways to Help Stretch Your Bottom Dollar

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:35:52 PDT

Obviously we know we should be clipping coupons like our parents did. But that’s time consuming and few people even get the Sunday paper anymore. My key to saving money...

Sink Solutions

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:39:01 PDT

Don't let kitchen rags and dishwashing gloves clutter the sink area. Instead, hang them from hooks screwed to the inside of a cabinet door, where the items can stay out...

Greenhouse Window

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:12:35 PDT

Instead of spending the winter gazing through glass panes at frozen flower beds, transform a window into a mini-greenhouse where herbs, houseplants, and even little pots...

Create a Wall Hanging Clothes Rack

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:25:59 PDT

Using an ENERGY STAR qualifyed clothes dryer will help lower your electricity bill and benefit the environment as well. But you can save even more by damp-drying your...

Make a Foldout Drying Rack

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:24:29 PDT

A simple foldaway rack makes ingenious use of laundry room wall space. The rack consists of two wooden frames -- a smaller one, fitted with eight horizontal dowels,...

Drying Rack

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 09:45:28 PDT

Running a household is much easier and more successful when you have the right tools -- such as a proper drying rack. Using a drying rack is eco-friendly, as it cuts down...

Sewing Room in a Closet

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:58:41 PDT

Just because you can't devote an entire room to a hobby doesn't mean you can't create a well-organized space to suit your purpose perfectly. A "room" in a closet provides...

Paper Peonies

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:58:34 PDT

1. Rip 20 sheets of 20-pound recycled paper into strips. 2. Boil ripped paper in 5 quarts water; let cool. 3. In a blender, pulse to reduce to a paper pulp. 4. Place 3...

Storing Seeds

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:58:24 PDT

To ensure that seeds wake up refreshed from their long winter naps, take the time to tuck them in properly. Moisture, heat, and fluctuating temperatures are a seed's...

Felt Sewing Book

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:58:09 PDT

When clothes need mending, reach for this book -- its felt pages are designed to keep sewing supplies organized. Devote one page to extra buttons that come with garments,...

Cardboard-Box Oven Craft

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:58:00 PDT

Cardboard file box with attached lid Scrap pieces of cardboard or cardboard boxes Mat knife or box cutter Hot-glue gun and hot-glue sticks Adhesive foam dots Spray paint...

Mending Kit

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:57:52 PDT

Ball jar with lid 6-inch square of fabric Pencil Scissors Fiberfill Poster board Pin Transparent adhesive tape Hot-glue gun and glue sticks Assorted buttons, threaded...

Good Thing: Ribbon Bookmark

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:57:42 PDT

Jenndowns This is so easy and they can be as simple or as fancy as you want. My Daisy Girl Scout troop just made these with buttons instead of flowers. It was a great...

Garden-Shed Crate Cabinets

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:57:34 PDT

Create custom cabinetry in your garden shed with vintage wine crates from flea markets or online auctions. Stack them horizontally and vertically, using some as bases to...

Erasable Labels

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:57:27 PDT

Get organized -- again and again -- with these chalkboard drawers. The labels can be erased as contents in each drawer change: Affix masking tape in square outlines to...

Basic Crafts Kit

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:57:19 PDT

Glues, Tapes, and Adhesives Glue gun and glue-gun sticks Adhesive transfer tape Double-sided tape Scotch tape Blue painter's tape UHU glue stick Krazy glue Sobo glue...

Setting Up a Pantry

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:15:05 PDT

Martha loves the pantry in Westport and often feels inspired to cook simply by seeing the abundance of ingredients on the shelves. More than a source of inspiration,...

Felt Cherry Pie

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:14:55 PDT

1. Enlarge and print template; cut out shapes. 2. Trace and cut two pie-top circles from red felt. Cut 1-inch-wide by 8-inch-long strips from tan felt with pinking...

Divide and Conquer

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:14:46 PDT

With cooler weather on the way, now is the perfect time to get your chest of drawers in order. We've done just that to the pair of bureaus here. The chest on the left is...

Polishing Copper

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:14:35 PDT

This treatment for cleaning copper amazes everyone who tries it. A pleasing bonus: It's chemical-free. All you need are a lemon and coarse salt. Sprinkle the cut side of...

Cleaning Appliances

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:14:30 PDT

Basic maintenance consists of periodically cleaning out crumbs and wiping down the interior and exterior. Interior: Remove racks; wash them in warm, soapy water. If the...

Etched Glass Storage Jars

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:14:23 PDT

Keep pantry staples organized with a set of glass storage jars customized with etched lettering. 1. Clean and dry the glass. Using painter's tape, mark off the area you...

School Days

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:14:15 PDT

A scrapbook can help organize -- and proudly display -- the steady stream of photographs, artwork, awards, and other keepsakes that accrue during a young person's school...

Family Organizer

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:14:10 PDT

Setting up a bin in the entryway for each member of the household is a good way to keep this busy space tidy. And with umbrellas, hats, and sunglasses near the door,...

Polarfleece Hats

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:14:02 PDT

Developed in the 1970s as a synthetic alternative to wool, Polarfleece is an excellent winter fabric because it's soft, lightweight, durable, and machine-washable. And...

Zipper Flowers

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:13:49 PDT

1. One zipper makes two flowers. To begin, cut the zipper stop and plastic reinforcement off the ends of the zipper. Open the zipper to divide it in half. 2. Place a dab...

Clay Flowers

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:13:43 PDT

Special thanks to Island Heritage and ClayCraft by Deco for giving the crafting guide, "Clay Art for All Seasons," available on welcometotheislands.com, and ClayCraft,...

Long-Term Care

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:13:36 PDT

Clothes and accessories stored for a season or longer need protection from light, moisture, and insects. A box filled with acid-free tissue paper, assorted cedar inserts,...

Stenciled Floral Curtains and Pillow

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:13:29 PDT

2 copies of both templates: star-shaped template and bell flower template 4 sheets of 8 1/2-by-11-inch waterproof paper Cutting mat Drafting tape Craft knife 4 sheets of...

Flower Arrangements in Eggshells

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:13:07 PDT

Hollowed-out eggshells make naturally beautiful vases for tiny flower arrangements. Break an egg at the top of its shell, drain the contents, and carefully rinse out the...

Message Center

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:12:52 PDT

Linen-wrapped Homasote fiberboard panels are mounted to the front of each closet door. A similar panel also rests on the back wall of a bureau-height shelf. They can...

Cleaning Kit

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:12:35 PDT

For easier spring cleaning, fill a bucket with basics that need to be toted from room to room: all-purpose and glass-cleaning sprays, a sponge, a toothbrush, a squeegee,...

Spring-Cleaning Checklist

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:12:29 PDT

There are few rites of spring more satisfying than the annual clean. For many people, however, the pleasure comes only after the work is finished. Your spring cleaning...

Organizing the Mudroom

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:12:19 PDT

If you don't have an entire room to set aside as a mudroom, you can adapt these ideas to work in a corner of a vestibule or hall, on a back porch, or on a landing at the...

Organizing the Laundry Room

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:12:13 PDT

Whether your laundry room is a tiny closet or a spacious basement, organization is key. These 10 tips will help you make the most of the space you have. 1. Arrange...

Sliding Storage

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 11:57:17 PDT

Normally used in kitchens, a pull-out pantry becomes a shoe closet when the shelves are installed at an angle; professional assistance is recommended for this project....

Safe and Warm

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:56:57 PDT

Wool scarves and mittens are ready to wear from one season to the next when wrapped in acid-free tissue paper and slipped into labeled craft boxes (available at...

Use Pegboard in the Closet

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:36:34 PDT

Pegboard keeps items off the floor, in sight, and within reach. The board is sold in large sheets; have it cut to size, or use a circular saw or jigsaw. Place furring...

The Ultimate Parking Space

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:57:45 PST

Garages were created for cars, but people park a lot of other stuff there as well. Garden shovels, sports gear, pet supplies -- you name it. The catchall can quickly turn...

Cleaning Appliances

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:27:32 PST

Basic maintenance consists of periodically cleaning out crumbs and wiping down the interior and exterior. Interior: Remove racks; wash them in warm, soapy water. If the...

Wool-Wrapped Bangles

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:25:49 PST

1. Create a ball of yarn slightly larger than a golf ball. 2. Densely wrap the yarn around a plastic bangle bracelet, making sure to neatly keep the yarn aligned, and...

Raising Your Financial IQ

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:21:57 PST

You can't turn on a TV or your computer without hearing something with a financial overtone. From our Nation's Capital to the tiny towns here is Kansas, we have to face...

It's In You

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:21:26 PST

Some days we get so distracted by all the "going on's" around us that we lose sight of the fact that regardless of the circumstance or situation, we can make it to the...

5 Vignette Methods for Your Photograph

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:20:59 PST

Vignettes add a professional and finished touch to any image and make your subject POP. Here are 5 of my favorite ways to vignette in Photoshop Elements. Each photo is...