Indice dei contenuti per Summer 2014 in Do It Yourself

Look to the Web for even more DIY projects, clever tips, and must-try ideas. Makeover mission Ready for a furniture rescue? See how we turned seven Dumpsterbound Befores into pretty-as-can-be Afters. BHG.com/DIYBeforeAfter Free for all Download patterns and plans for garden projects, stenciled walls, stitched pillows, and more. BHG.com/DIYFreePatterns First impressions Increase curb appeal with a front-door makeover. After taking our simple quiz, we’ll give you ideas that suit your style. BHG.com/DIYDoorQuiz Outdoor oasis Whether it’s laying pavers or building a dining table, learn how to create a backyard patio that’s perfect for summer gatherings. BHG.com/DIYPatioPlan…

1 Briggs & Stratton Mow ‘n’ Stow Engine & Compact Lawn Mower briggsandstratton.com $369 WHAT IT IS: This gas-power mower folds up in three simple steps and stores upright. A revamped engine design ensures gas and oil won’t leak. WHY WE LIKE IT: This model takes up 70 percent less floor space than traditional mowers. The fold-up design also makes the underside easily accessible for maintenance. 2 Fiskars PowerGear Bypass Pruner fiskars.com $30 WHAT IT IS: Gears multiply leverage so these pruners can easily cut through branches up to ¾-inch in diameter without a hand workout. WHY WE LIKE IT: A contoured handle and secure-grip touch points provide ease of use. 3 Ames NeverLeak 250-Foot Hose Cart with Hose Guide ames.com $55–$60 WHAT IT IS: This cart makes it easy…

New products, creative tools, and clever kits help you get in touch with your wild side this summer. Double draw Double-end markers, available in hundreds of colors, including 44 new hues, feature both chisel and fine tips for a variety of art projects. The nontoxic ink blends beautifully. $3 per marker; prismacolor.com Cuddly critters These adorable animals arrive as ready-to-stitch kits with hand-printed fabric, embroidery how-to, stuffing, and thread. Available in several styles, each creature stands about 5 inches tall. $19 per kit; purlsoho.com 1. All in one Eliminate the need for a bulky toolbox when you edit down to this efficient multitool. The Kelvin features 23 tools, including a mini hammer, level, flashlight, magnet, measuring tape, and a range of screwdriver heads. $30; kelvintools.com 2. Pretty sweet The Summer…

1. Get framed Learn to frame it yourself. Ashley and Jamin’s book, Handmade Walls, takes you stepby-step through making your own custom frames. E-book: $9.95; thehandmadehome.net. Hard copy: Prices start at $14; amazon.com 2 Picture this Wake up your walls with artwork picked by Ashely and Jamin. No matter what your style is, you’ll find the perfect print in one of three books: Art for the Contemporary Home, Art for the Traditional Home, and Art for the Eclectic Home. Each contains 40 easy-to-tear-out prints. Prices start at $13; amazon.com 3. Photo happy To create your own photo collage, download an app to have your Instagram photos printed directly from your phone. Have prints shipped to your home using Printstagram (printstagr.am), below. Or, send photos to your local Walgreens with Printicular…

projects KATIE LEPORTE before photographs JAY WILDE I always wanted a front porch reminiscent of neighborhoods past. I longed for a place where warm summer breezes and tinkling wind chimes prevail, a spot where my husband, Mike, and I could swing and sip lemonade, watch our daughter play, and simply relax. With dreams of a sun-filled outdoor space filling my head, I turned my attention to the front of our 1940s-era home. Our existing porch had potential, but it was gray and weathered and in desperate need of repair and personality. I was ready to take on the transformation, beginning with the floor. With a carpenter’s help, we cut out the deteriorated wood on the perimeter of the porch and replaced it with durable gray-brown composite decking. Because the rest…

Sweet Soiree How to Make a Dessert Stand What you’ll need: _Glass jars about 2–4 inches in diameter and height _Clear glass saucers about 6 inches in diameter _Frosted-glass spray paint _Spray paint _Adhesive for ceramic or glass (We used Elmer’s ceramic and glass cement.) step 1 Gather materials (a). Apply a coat of frosted-glass spray paint to the outside and inside of each jar and the bottom of each saucer. Let dry. Spray the outside and inside of each jar and the bottom of each saucer with spray paint (b). Note: Do NOT paint the top of the saucer, as it will come in contact with food. Most spray paints are not food-safe. step 2 Apply a thin bead of adhesive to the top of one jar and the…

1. Wrap up Simple enough for beginning seamstresses, this picnic wrap combines utensil storage and placemat into one tote-ally adorable piece. The downloadable pattern features step-by-step photos and instructions. The finished piece is equally suited for a picnic in the park or lunch at your desk. $4; alicecantrell.etsy.com 2. Take note Flowers are always a favorite for expressing well wishes, and this set of printed cards, featuring reproductions of original pressed flower motifs from designer Ellie Roden, offer beautiful ways to say “thanks” or “thinking of you.” Set of six 4¼×5½-inch cards feature two each of three different flowers. $10; vtpressedflowers.etsy.com 3. Grab and go Gather farmer’s market finds inside a removable handlebar basket you’ve sewn yourself. The PDF pattern has directions for constructing the basket with or without straps,…

Summer lovin’ What could be better than lounging on a porch swing with a glass of lemonade and a great book? I can think of only one thing: knowing you made that porch swing yourself. My friend, designer Katie Leporte, had a vision for the dated front porch that aged her entire house (page 70). She wanted an indooroutdoor oasis that was safe and fun for her toddler daughter, yet sophisticated enough to serve as an entry point to her home. But tackling a porch makeover seemed daunting and expensive. So Katie got creative. Rather than replacing the entire floor, for example, she tore out only the worn sections along the perimeter and replaced them with composite decking, then painted and stenciled the existing floorboards for a look that’s fresh…

Team DIY Pamela Porter Repurposing interesting finds is a fun way to add character to your home. Putting those objects to work containing clutter makes it all the more satisfying. But beware—it’s hard to stop once you start rescuing cans and cartons from the recycle bin. After all, you can only store so much! Why spend a fortune purchasing storage bins and boxes if you don’t have to? Simply look at objects in a new way, and you’ll discover all kinds of creative containers just waiting to organize your life. We framed this wire baking rack, opposite, to make a magnet board. Start your repurposing adventures today! 1. Farm fresh After cleaning and sanitizing this old galvanized chicken feeder, we let it organize stationery atop a desk. We scored our…

RIGHT PLANT, RIGHT PLACE A table overflowing with delicious fresh produce begins with a great growing site. Get started with these tips. Deciding what to plant in your backyard garden is a lot like making a grocery list. What produce does your family like to eat? What is commonly in your shopping cart? Many vegetables are easy to grow in a home garden. Tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers are some of the most popular, but don’t overlook beans, melons, and flavor-rich herbs. SUNLIGHT Vegetables, fruits, and herbs require at least six hours of direct sunlight per day to produce ample fruit and foliage. The best edible garden location is bathed in eight or more hours of sunlight every day. When selecting a location, consider nearby trees and buildings. Although they may…

projects KATE CARTER FREDERICK, VAN HOLMGREN, AND ANNA FREDERICK How to Make a Nursery Pot Wreath What you’ll need: _12-or 14-inch foam wreath form _Moss mat _Heavy-duty glue _Hot-glue gun and glue sticks _Plastic nursery pots _and cell packs _Patterns from BHG.com/DIYGardenArt _Spray paint for plastic (We used Krylon Fusion.) _Floral wire, floral pins, or nails (4D coated sinkers) _Awl _Crafts beads with large holes _28-gauge wire step 1 Gather your supplies (a). Set the wreath form on the moss mat and cut around it as widely as possible (b). step 2 Glue the moss mat to the wreath form with heavy-duty glue (c). Use the remaining moss mat pieces to cover the entire wreath form. step 3 Download and print the flower and leaf patterns. Cut the nursery pots…

1. Sun prints Collect specimens from your backyard to create stunning wall art with this sun-printing kit that includes 15 sheets of 8×12-inch print-ready paper, an acrylic overlay, and complete instructions. $16; sunprints.org 2. Pillow party Pump up the comfort with a collection of outdoor pillows. Copy Katie by painting your own designs on blank outdoor pillows, or collect an assortment of easy-to-update outdoor pillow covers made from trendy fabrics. $15–$30; mypillowstudio.etsy.com Completely floored Formulated for concrete and wood, Behr Premium Porch & Patio Floor Paint is ideal for high-traffic indoor and outdoor surfaces and can be tinted in a rainbow of colors. $28–$30; behr.com 4. Peppy paint Katie searched for the perfect shade of yellow for her porch swing, and she found it in Lemon Twist (#SW6909). Even if…

How to Make a Double-decker Fountain What you’ll need (a): _Glazed pots in two sizes (Ours are 18 and 8 inches in diameter.) _170 gph pump and fountain kit _Power drill and masonry bit _Plumber’s putty _Clear silicone _Bricks _Plastic nursery pot _Fieldstones _River rock _Terra-cotta pot feet step 1 Fit the pump cord through the drainage hole of the larger pot (b). If needed, enlarge the hole using a power drill and masonry bit. step 2 Leave 12 inches of cord inside the pot. Plug the drainage hole with plumber’s putty, sealing the cord in place. After the putty dries, reinforce the seal with silicone applied inside and outside the pot (c), smoothing with a fingertip (d). step 3 Set the pump on two bricks inside the large pot…

It’s summertime and we’ve got the travel bug. Choose your destination among these favorites from etsy.com. 1. City view Admire the Big Apple skyline while staying on time. $39.99; iluxo.etsy.com 2. On a roll Find your favorite Chicago landmark on this graphic window shade. $75–$200, 18–60 inches wide; apartmentb.etsy.com 3. Great states Go cross-country with a 44×26-inch embroidered silhouette. $110 (unstretched); jdmakesthings.etsy.com 4. Neighborly love Experience Boston with a 7¾-inch letterpress print. $22; archiespress.etsy.com 5. Map it out Pick your city for this graphic print, along with the size and color. $18–$100; jennasuemaps.etsy.com 6. Bay watch This embroidered map brings San Francisco landmarks to life. $130; needleandcompass.etsy.com 7. Button up Show your travel love with unique map buttons. $7.50 for pack of 10; bombus.etsy.com…

Ready-made Solutions For convenience. Waterproofing products make it easy to extend the resilience of outdoor fabrics and reapply protection as needed. A bar of plant-base Otter wax (otterwax.com) rubs onto canvas, denim, and other fabrics in quick swipes. The wax may darken the fabric color slightly. Water-base fabric protectants from Trek 7 (trek7.com), including Ray Bloc and Aqua Armor, are made without harsh chemicals and help prevent fading and stains. For Resources see page 108. How to Make a Waxed-canvas Canopy What you’ll need: _Duck canvas tarp _Textile paint (We used Jacquard Textile Color.) _Transparent base extender _Brushes _Iron _Refined beeswax _Paraffin _Double boiler _Blow dryer _PVC pipes and fittings _Spray paint for plastic (We used Krylon Fusion.) _Rebar _Hook-and-loop tape step 1 Gather materials to paint and wax the…

DEAR HANDY GIRL, Help! The moving van left a tire-width divot on my formerly perfect lawn. How do I patch it with seed so I don’t feel like I’ve ruined the place already? DEAR READER, Good instincts! Not only are you protecting your home’s curb appeal, you’re heading off what could develop into a tripping hazard. First, loosen the soil surface with a garden fork—insert the tines and pull back repeatedly. Next, add bagged soil to the divot to level the surface with the surrounding area. Work that dirt until it’s fluffy, so when you sprinkle it with seed, the seed makes good contact with the soil. After you’ve seeded, carefully press the area with the back of a garden rake, and water thoroughly. Finish by applying a starter fertilizer,…

When Ashley and Jamin Mills purchased a little builder-grade home, they didn’t plan to be there long. It wasn’t their style. It wasn’t their dream home. So they left the brown and beige house in Montgomery, Alabama, as it was, until one day Ashley decided to stop pining away for the beautiful farmhouse kitchen she wanted so badly and to make this home into one she could love. The makeover began with paint. No room was left untouched as the couple embraced their new philosophy: “Down with the brown, hello eclectic farmhouse love,” Ashley says. Ashley majored in art and is a graphic designer by trade, so it makes sense that she began to use their home as a canvas. “Color should be used or balanced like you would in…

How to Cover a Lampshade What you’ll need: _Lampshade _Wallpaper _Straightedge _Bone folder _Embroidery needle _Embroidery floss _Double-sided tape step 1 Measure around widest part of lampshade; multiply by 4/5. Measure height of shade; add 1/4 inch. Cut wallpaper to these dimensions. step 2 Working on wrong side of wallpaper, mark a parallel line 1 1/2 inches from each long edge. Mark 1/2-inch increments along each line (a). step 3 Use a straightedge and bone folder to score folding lines along length of paper at 1/2-inch increments (b). step 4 Fold paper accordion style along scored lines, turning paper over for each fold (c). step 5 Use embroidery needle to pierce a hole between each fold, along marked lines (d). Stitch through holes along top with embroidery floss, leaving a…

Most anyone who has remodeled a kitchen realizes that a sense of humor eases the process. Fortunately, blogger Holly Burns’ instinct is to see the light side. Her response to the dated kitchen of the San Francisco house she and husband Sean bought: “Hey, the ’80s called—and they don’t want any of this stuff back!” She’s also blessed with a good design eye. Looking past flowery wallpaper, dark cabinets, aging appliances, and dated tile, she saw a modern kitchen with a dining area for entertaining. Budget and deadline for the remodel were tight. The couple tackled most of the work themselves, finishing in just under a month. Even that brief time frame seemed too long to Holly. “Those were the four longest weeks of my life,” she says. The hurry-up…

Stake out a shady spot, fill it with sweet handmade projects, invite a few friends, and enjoy lunch alfresco. “The beauty of a flower press is that it’s this perfect little object that hints at the delight of slowing down the pace of things a bit (and later, provides you with little petaled souvenirs of that moment). KAREN BRADY AND ARIN HUMMEL PROJECT DESIGNERS How to Build a Picnic Tray Table What you’ll need: Two large rectangular trays (Ours, from westelm.com, measure 18X~28 inches.) __ Painter’s tape __ Spray paint (We used Aubergine by Rust-Oleum.) __ 1 1/8-inch square poplar dowels (We used six 36-inch pieces.) __ Sandpaper __ Wood glue __ 1 3/4-inch wood screws __ Drill and corresponding drill bits __ 1/4 20X2-inch elevator bolts __ 1/4X1-inch nylon…