Table of contents for Summer 2017 in Do It Yourself

STORE MORE MAKE YOUR OUTDOOR ROOMS LIVE EVEN LARGER WITH THESE NO-BRAINER ORGANIZATION IDEAS. THEY’LL KEEP THE OUTDOOR FUN FLOWING. BHG.COM/ OUTDOORSTORAGE PATIO REBOOT Perk up your patio with stylish seating and accents you can make yourself. BHG.com/DIYFurniture GROW KNOW-HOW Growing your favorite plants from scratch is easy. Just follow our simple tips for success. BHG.com/StartSeeds CREATIVE WITH CRATES Give new life to a simple wood crate with these three simple makeover ideas. BHG.com/Crates ART SCHOOL Don’t let leftover paint go to waste! Dress up a plain canvas with your own original artwork. BHG.com/CanvasArt KEEP THINGS NEAT AND TIDY WITH SIMPLE, PRINTABLE TAGS. BHG.COM /LABELS…

1. FISKARS STAYSHARP MAX REEL MOWER fiskars.com // $250 Easy to push and equipped with a reel that is designed to cut through tough areas, this mower is an eco-friendly option that will get the job done. The reversible chute sends clippings forward or backward, and the cutting system is designed to eliminate the need to sharpen blades. 2. WORX 20V GT 2.0 STRING TRIMMER/ EDGER/MINIMOWER worx.com // $100 Get three tools for the price of one with this string trimmer that converts to an edger and mini mower for small, hard-to-reach areas. The adjustable head tilts 90 degrees and it comes equipped with a spacer guard to protect plants and furniture from accidental cuts 3. TORO POWERPLEX BLOWER toro.com // $180 This compact blower can propel debris up to…

Let your creativity flow with this silk hoop painting kit. The starter set comes complete with brushes, three inks, metallic resist, salt, and three 9½-inch hoops. Bonus: The ink is photosensitive! $15; dharmatrading.com…

Kimberly Metz describes her daughter in two words: all girl! “She has always been a girly girl,” Kimberly says. “She loves ruffles and frills and pink!” So when it came time to give 4-year-old Gabby’s bedroom a big-girl facelift, Mom knew pink was a must in the color palette. An art director and a fan of bright colors herself, Kimberly knew she needed a design Gabby wouldn’t grow weary of too soon. “I’ve always liked the color orange,” Kimberly says, “so I paired pink and orange together for a girly look that was bright and fun. And I knew I could bring in some blues and greens for accents.” A willing grandmother happily sewed the colorful quilt from fabrics Kimberly picked out to complement the geometric painted design she had…

SHOW ‘EM LOVE GIVE YOUR FLOWER ARRANGEMENT A LONGER LIFE BY REPLACING WATER AND TRIMMING THE STEMS DAILY. Go green with this grab bag arrangement of Boston fern, spider mums, Kermit mums, hypericum berries, dianthus, and eucalyptus. Start by arranging the fern branches in the vase. Next cut Kermit mum stems short and at an angle so they sit low in the vase. Add the spider mums to round out the arrangement. The smaller hypericum berries and dianthus should be placed to fill any holes. Finally, add a few longer cuts of eucalyptus throughout the arrangement for a bit of height and movement. MILK GLASS MAKEOVER Give an old milk glass vase new life with spray paint in a soft pistachio hue—in case you needed more evidence that sometimes it…

FIND CLICKABLE LINKS TO ALL THESE SOURCES IN THE DIGITAL EDITION OF THIS ISSUE. BHGSPECIALS.ZINIO.COM [P] Paint Color Because of the magazine printing process, paint colors depicted on our pages might vary slightly from manufacturers’ colors. Use paint color names or numbers, when provided, as a starting point. To get a color as it appears in the magazine, take the page to a paint retailer for matching. [T] To the Trade Contact a design professional to find more information about this product or service. TRY IT: COLOR SPRAY PAGES 8–15 Throughout Spray bottles—Dick Blick; dickblick.com. Pages 8–9 Napkin Buffet Napkins, sold in set of six napkins in one color, several colors available—World Market; 877/967-5362; worldmarket.com.Spray dyes Tulip Color Shot in Neon Pink and Neon Orange— iLoveToCreate, a Duncan Enterprises company;…

The She Shed Is Coming! JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM @DOITYOURSELFMAGAZINE FOR REGULAR UPDATES THIS SUMMER AS WE CREATE AND DECORATE OUR SHE SHED, THE ULTIMATE OUTDOOR GETAWAY. AND DON’T MISS THE FINISHED PROJECT IN DO IT YOURSELF FALL 2017 “I don’t care what you do today— just do it outside!” That may be the classic parent line as days get warmer, but it’s also a great way to jump-start all the projects on your list. Every activity is just a bit better when you do it outside: work, eat, create, plant, build, clean, sleep.This issue gives you the inspiration, skills, and products you need to get going and have a good time doing it—whatever your summertime action plan. Start fast and fresh by creating the simplest flower arrangements (“Fresh Cut,”…

Tip: TWO THINGS YOU PROBABLY SHOULD NEVER PAINT: VINYL FLOORS AND VINYL SIDING. THEY JUST DON’T HOLD THE PAINT WELL. DEAR HANDY GIRL, I have a fireplace, which I love, but the brick is pretty ugly. Can I paint it? OH, DEAR READER, The short answer is: Probably. The long answer, which applies to every surface that you’re thinking about painting, is: Check first, and do it the right way. Here’s what I mean by that. 1. There are paint products for nearly every surface— from brick to fabric—to create a wide range of effects, including marbled and chalkboard 2. If you pick the wrong paint product for your surface, you’ll pay the price. Read the label carefully. If your surface isn’t listed, don’t risk it. 3. The paint applicator…

STEP UP Cultivate herbs—and a taste for their fresh flavors—by planting favorites including basil, parsley, rosemary, and oregano with edible flowers (pansies and violas) in a sun-drenched container. Make the space-saving planter, left, from a kit (Grow Bag Terrace Kit, $150; gardeners.com). Enhance it with a colorful wash of exterior stain and water mixed 1:1. Wrap outdoor fabric around the planting pockets, above. Fill the pockets with enriched potting mix and plants. GROW AN ARRAY OF CULINARY HERBS IN A TIERED PLANTER WHERE IT’S HANDY TO SNIP THE AROMATIC LEAVES OFTEN FOR USE IN SUMMER MEALS. OUTSTANDING Imagine gardening without stooping at a waist-high table, left. Build and paint this planter in an afternoon. Plant pollinator-friendly perennials, such as bee balm, catmint, lavender, echinacea, hyssop, and salvia. Like most herbs,…

1. CHALK IT UP To get precise lines in her painted wall border, homeowner Kimberly Metz used a chalk line and a level. Make one stripe–or a whole striped wall–with Tajima Tools’ Chalk- Rite snap line. $16; amazon.com 2. CUTE CUBED As Kimberly proves, storage units can have as much personality as the rest of a room’s decor—just fill them with fun canvas bins in colors that complement. $10 per bin; landofnod.com 3. BLANK SLATE Outfit a frame with cork, chalkboard paper, galvanized steel, or Dry Erase Material Roll (shown) to encourage a child’s creativity. Cut desired material to size and place on the glass of the frame. $6; orientaltrading.com 4. ART SMART Don’t have the right software to create custom art? No problem. Use CanvasPop’s Word Art Maker and…

For a rosy, rounded arrangement, start by arranging piles of prepped flowers and greenery organized by type. Lay a rose across your palm with the flower head between your thumb and pointer finger. Place a carnation next to the rose on the side near your thumb with the stem passing over the rose’s stem. Turning the bouquet in your hand counterclockwise, continue adding flowers, putting each new bloom next to your thumb to create an X shape with the stems. Finish by wrapping waterproof florists tape around the stems and trimming the stems to fit the vase. CHANGE YOUR STRIPES A glass vase from a long-gone florist delivery and a few scraps of fabric are all your need to create an eye-catching container. ONE Cut fabric into random geometric shapes…

BUDGET BREAKDOWN COOLER $34 PINE BOARDS $23 LEGS (4 @ $13) $52 STAIN $7 PAINT & TAPE LEFTOVER BOTTLE OPENER $9 HINGES (2 @ $2) $4 TOTAL // $129 CHILL OUT Follow the directions on the next pages to build a stylish cabinet to house your own drinks cooler. With painted-on stripes and hairpin legs, the lidded wood box brings sporty style to your alfresco gathering space. Its attached bottle opener makes the cabinet partyready— just add ice. WHEN NOT IN USE, THE COOLER OFFERS EXTRA TABLE SPACE OR A SPOT FOR POTTED PLANTS How to Build a Cooler Cabinet MATERIALS • 1×2 pine (14 linear feet) • 1×6 pine (9 linear feet • 1×4 pine (35 linear feet) • Table saw (optional) • Circular saw • Straightedge (36 inches…

BUDGET BREAKDOWN SILVER MEGA WIRE $5 GREEN MEGA WIRE $5 TWISTED FLAT WIRE $3 16-GAUGE BLUE WIRE $1.50 16-GAUGE GREEN WIRE $1.50 ROUND-NOSE PLIERS $7 TOTAL // $23 GAUGE REFERS TO WIRE’S THICKNESS. SMALLER NUMBER = THICKER WIRE WIRE IN BLOOM Use a different gauge and color of wire for each of five flower layers, opposite and above. Vary the size of each flower. Bend a series of petals, and twist together the bottoms to secure them, leaving a tail wire on each flower, right. Pinch petals for variety, or cut the loops to make stamens for flower centers. Stack the five flowers; twist the tails together to form one blossom, then suspend from a length of fine wire. BUDGET BREAKDOWN MEGA WIRE $5 ROUND-NOSE PLIERS $7 TOTAL // $12…

BUDGET BREAKDOWN NAPKINS (SET OF 4) $10 BLEACH $2.50 PAINTBRUSH $1 FABRIC SPRAY DYE $6 TOTAL // $19.50 WHITE OUT Make customized napkins the signature of your tablescapes, above. The process is so fun and affordable, you’ll be tempted to make sets for every occasion throughout the year. Wash and dry colored cotton napkins, then press if needed. Working on a protected work surface and in a ventilated area, place a napkin right side up. Dip a flat crafts paintbrush into bleach (A) and then press the brush to the napkin and paint a rectangular shape. Continue dipping and painting the bleach to create a repeating pattern. Let the bleached areas turn white, then use cold water to rinse out the bleach. Repeat with all napkins and let dry. Following…

KNOW THE ROPES For a quick makeover with a nod to nautical style, wrap cord around the bottom edge of a plain lampshade. Start wrapping .28-inch-diameter cord along the bottom, hot-gluing as you work around the shade. Switch colors after a few passes to create wide and narrow alternating bands of cream, white, and gold. DEEPLY FELT Folded strips of felt add color and texture via vertical stripes on this lampshade. Use a rotary cutter, straightedge, and cutting mat to make quick work of trimming 2-inch-wide strips from gray and white felt, cutting each strip 1 inch longer than the height of the shade (ours are 12 inches long). Fold each strip in half lengthwise, then hot-glue the strips to the shade along the folded edges so they extend ½…

How to Make This Bar MATERIALS • 1×10 pine, 3 pieces cut to 50 inches • 1×4 pine, cut to 50 inches • 1×2 pine, cut to 50 inches • 100- and 200-grit sandpaper • Exterior white latex paint • 2-inch finishing brushes (2) • Stain • Exterior polyurethane • 30-inch barstools (2) • Straight-side wood tray • Level • 18-inch ruler • 15?8-inch screws • Screwdriver • Vintage soda boxes (2) Before you begin assembly Sand all board cuts. Cover one 1×10 board, the 1×4 board, and both barstools with two or three coats of paint. Stain the two remaining 1×10s and the 1×2. Let dry; sand between each coat of paint and stain. Apply two coats of polyurethane to the stained boards. Next, determine the placement of the…

BASIL Plant this annual herb from seeds or seedlings. Varieties include large-leaf ‘Genovese’, citrusy ‘Mrs. Burns Lemon’, colorful ‘Purple Ruffles’, and compact ‘Spicy Globe’. Pinch offleaves often to prompt lush growth. Partner fresh leaves with tomatoes, cheese, or pasta. Freeze for future use. THYME Grown from seedlings, this perennial reaches 12–15 inches tall in Zones 5–9 and full sun. Use thyme fresh or dried in cooking where it blends well with other herbs and citrus. Thyme comes in dozens of flavors, colors, and forms. MINT Fragrant and flavorful, this vigorous perennial has lots of culinary and cosmetic uses—hot and cold drinks; salads and desserts; herb blends for baths, facials, and insect repellents. Varieties include apple, chocolate, pineapple, and mojito. Grow mint in part shade. LAVENDER Enjoy this fragrant perennial, whether…

FEED YOUR FLOWERS USE THE PACKETS OF FLOWER FOOD THAT COME WITH YOUR BLOOMS, OR CREATE YOUR OWN SOLUTION USING 3 TABLESPOONS SUGAR AND 2 TABLESPOONS WHITE VINEGAR PER LITER OF WATER—THE SUGAR FEEDS THE FLOWERS WHILE THE VINEGAR KEEPS BACTERIA AT BAY READY, STEM, GO WHEN WORKING WITH SHALLOW CONTAINERS, SHORTEN STEMS TO KEEP THE OVERALL ARRANGEMENT FROM LOOKING UNSUPPORTED. The secret to taking a standard mixed bouquet and making it look like a million bucks is all in the arranging. Start by grouping the flowers by color and trimming the stems short enough to fit into a shallow container for this arrangement. Use your largest flower as a focal point and form cohesive color patterns by placing your remaining blooms in a taped-off grid. Instill dramatic flair by…

HOMEGROWN SUPPLEMENTING GROCERY STORE FINDS WITH BACKYARD GREENERY AND BRANCHES IS A LOW-COST WAY TO ADD HEIGHT, COLOR, AND DRAMA TO ARRANGEMENTS. PUT A CORK IN IT Natural cork contact paper and an ombré paint technique are all it takes to elevate a simple cylindrical vase. ONE Use a cutting mat and crafts knife to cut the cork paper to size. Adhere paper to the vase. TWO Dry-brush the base of the vase solid white, and gradually lessen the paint coverage as you approach the rim. Prune a shapely branch to fit the vase. After removing most leaves from the stems of three hydrangeas, cut the stems at slightly different heights. The shortest flower goes in the front, the second off to the side, and then the tallest goes to…

DRESSED FOR DINNER A close relative of papier-mâché (which means chewed paper), paper clay relies on torn-up pieces of very lightweight paper to create shapes. It’s versatile and forgiving enough to fashion a whole host of objects—flower blooms, table elements, even wall art. 1 Once finished, paper clay containers should be kept dry. But they can still form the perfect vessels for an interior vertical garden of air plants, which are sized just right and need no soil. To create this paper clay masterpiece, hot-glue finished paper clay cups to the blank back of a shadow box topped by a frame (our box is 24×30×21/2 inches). Accent randomly placed pieces with pretty paint colors, see page 83. Wait until the containers are fully dry before painting. Add air plants as…

Patterned furniture legs add a playful note to our light, airy storage unit. “PAINTING BLUE TRIANGLES THAT GO FROM DARK TO LIGHT CREATES THE SENSE OF A RECEDING GLACIAL LANDSCAPE—WHICH MAKES THIS ROOM FEEL BIGGER.”…

FADED WASH Cluster several corkboard panels (we used 12) to create one large board above your work space, this photo. To get the ombré look, lay out all the panels, sides touching, on a protected surface in the arrangement you plan to hang. Use a dry-brush technique to paint across the panels. Put a small amount of paint on a brush and apply in long strokes from left to right to create a gradually diminishing effect. Continue dragging paint until you achieve the desired look. TOUGHEN UP ALLOW THE PAINT TO CURE FOR A FEW DAYS BEFORE REINSTALLING THE DRAWERS. APPLY A COAT OF CLEAR WAX OR MATTE VARNISH FOR PROTECTION. SPOT COLOR Add pops of color to a desk, this photo, with one pot of sample paint in a…