My Weekend Project

My Weekend Project

By   8:28:00 AM   No comments:

Being on a budget it can be hard to remodel your house!
So first I started working on the half bath. I'm ALMOST done. Just working on the last finishing touch up paint and decorations. Decor can be expensive! I found a great idea at the craft store but the "paint molding clay" they used was more than the canvas'! So I improvised!

Here is what I did this weekend to fill an empty wall and only spent about $20 total!

Supplies Needed
3 - 12"x12" blank painting canvas'

1 can of spray paint in your chioce of color

Leaves, ferns, etc. from you yard (you could also use flowers and rocks)
Newspaper
Rubber Gloves
Small putty knife

CrackSHOT ® Spackling Paste - you only need about 1 cup total so a small container will work (You can get at your home improvement store)

 1. Using the small putty knife apply Spackling Paste over entire canvas about 1/4" thick. It is ok if you can see lines in the spackle. It adds to the effect.

2. Make sure your gloves are on and press (vien side down) your leaves, ferns, flowers etc. on the  Spackling Paste.

3. Now starting on the edges spray paint the sides of the frame and then start spraying over your leaves and such. You can spray as much or as little as you would like. I sprayed the outter edge darker then in the inner part.

4. Immediatly remove your leaves rocks, flowers, etc. Again you can leave the spakle underneath white or lightly spray over it which is what I did.

5. Repeat with the other two canvas'.

6. Let is dry over night and voila! you have three great pices of art for under $10 EACH!

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Tiling is not for sissys! Lessons learned today...

Tiling is not for sissys! Lessons learned today...

By   7:35:00 PM   1 comment:

So being home since August I have started taking on some much needed home improvement projects, from moving light fixtures, to fixing leaky pipes and now onto removing the MOST disgusting CARPET in our bathrooms and replacing them with porcelain tile.

My husband's comment was, we can put linoleum in the small bathroom because I don't think you will have fun doing it. I of course then insisted I start with the small bathroom that way I would not give up and had to finish BOTH bathrooms!

Well whoever said a woman could single handly install tile with a 1-year old at home was sadly mistaken, oh wait that was me!

Tips:
#1 Do it nude, no I'm not joking. This will save you from ruining your favorite lounge wear while it is now caked with mortar!

#2 Whoever said you could mix mortar by hand was smokin' SOMETHING!

#3 Unless you lift weights daily do not even attempt to drive the heads of the screws flush with the backer board. If you don't believe then ask me why there is a drill bit holding in part of the junction box for our new bathroom light and not a screw, um because I don't have that upper body strength and no one would help me!

#4 Don't try this at home.

OH by the way did I mention all I did today was install the backerboard? I do have to say I was HIGHLY impressed with myself that I was able to cut the hole for the toilet waste pipe And that it all fit nicely back together once I had to take it all out and put mortar under the backer board, yes some people actually believe this is the correct way to install backer board!

Tonight, the dry run! Tomorrow.....

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Benefits of Energy-Efficient Windows

Benefits of Energy-Efficient Windows

By   4:55:00 PM   No comments:

Are your utility bills too high? Do you often feel drafts around your window frames; do you battle constantly with dust and feel you’re on the losing end? Perhaps your worry about your furniture will fade. It is time to upgrade to energy-efficient windows. Although energy-efficient windows cost more than traditional windows they often return their additional cost investment through substantial savings on energy costs.

Energy-efficient windows can help increase the curbside appeal of your home and help protect it from the elements which can translate into substantial savings in your heating and cooling costs. Modern windows have gone through a technological revolution which allows them to achieve a level of energy efficiency as high as five times that of traditional windows.

It is estimated that homes with traditional single pane windows experience energy loss of as much as 30%. Energy-efficient windows work by using two panes of glass with an air pocket in between significantly reducing solar heat gain in warmer months and preventing heat loss during winter. The panes of the energy-efficient windows are typically coated with new glazes which actually reduce the amount of UV rays that come into your home, in some cases by 75%.

This can substantially reduce the fading of your carpets, draperies, artwork and furniture. Insulated frames virtually eliminate air leakage which not only prevents dust and allergens from entering your home but also significantly reduce unwanted noise from the outside. Furthermore, if you invest in energy-efficient windows before the end of 2010, you can receive a tax credit of up to $1500.00!

In a time when we need to reduce our energy consumption, energy-efficient windows are a great option for those who want to "go green" to help the environment. You would never buy a home without insulation so why have a house with poorly insulated windows? Now is the ideal time to replace those windows to lower energy bills, to create a comfortable home and to add beauty and value to your home as well!

About the Author:

Kathy and her husband own a company that sells and installs replacement windows in Houston. She enjoys writing about energy efficient products that can help home owners save more and spend less. For more energy saving tips visit http://www.superiorwindowcompany.com.

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Four Ways to Improve the Appearance of Your Home

Four Ways to Improve the Appearance of Your Home

By   9:33:00 AM   No comments:

Improving the appearance of your home may have been something that’s been on your list for what feels like decades. Together with grocery shopping, cooking, taking the kids from here to there along with everything else a mom has to do, there can be little time left to spend on the house. Since schedules can be crazy and cleaning is not necessarily a top priority, we’ve compiled four ways to clean up the house that shouldn’t take that long.

1. When it comes to the first impression, the outside of the house is what counts. That’s why it’s important to have a system in place for keeping the yard clean. Providing a routine for the kids to pick up their lawn toys each night before they eat dinner will help them learn good work ethic and take one more item off your plate, so-to-speak.

On the subject of yards, it’s also important to keep any excess vehicles in the garage or hidden out back. If it’s been difficult for you to steer an old car out of your driveway or yard, check the vane vacuum pump to see if the power steering is working for you. By clearing out the excess vehicles and keeping up on lawn toys, the first impression of your home will be a good one.

2. Loose the clutter. It can be hard to throw items away; however, it is a necessity. Storing too many old items that may or may not be useful in the future will only lead to a messy home. Make it a goal to do some spring cleaning at least once a year and get rid of the stuff that isn’t being used anymore. By lessening the amount of items in the home, it lessens the amount of organization that needs to be done.

3. Adding personal touches like family photos and finger paintings help to humanize any space. It’s what some may refer to as the difference between a house and a home. Homes have the tendency to look and feel more comfortable when the evidence of a loving family can be seen. Frame some family snapshots and hang them on the bare walls to result in a heart-warming, decorative look for your home.

4. Take it one step at a time. Trying to get everything done at once is overwhelming and often leads to giving up altogether. Instead, take it slow. Prioritize what is most needed in your home. If a paint job is due, start with the living room and then wait a month. Then tackle the kitchen. By taking on one home improvement job per month, you’re sure to make progress without giving up.

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Tips for Redecorating Your Living Room on a Budget

Tips for Redecorating Your Living Room on a Budget

By   9:03:00 AM   No comments:

The living room is frequently the focal point of a house, as far as entertaining is concerned. How it is decorated is important for many families because this is where the most time is spent. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to provide a new look without spending a lot of money.

Give new life to the old

While new furniture certainly gives a new look to the living room, purchasing many new pieces may not be in the budget. Instead, look at using current furnishings in different ways.

Rearrange it – Moving current furniture around the room can create a new ambience and might make better use of the space. This may even mean removing some clutter by getting rid of little-used pieces.

Cover it – If the furniture is still in pretty good shape but could use a new look, slipcovers are the way to go. They are available in a variety of fabrics and colors to fit most sofas, chairs and recliners. Slipcovers can be changed each season to redecorate the living room throughout the year.

Add to it – Fringe, ribbons, beads and felt patterns can be added to pillows to either make them more elegant or casual, depending on your personal tastes. Combined with new couch covers, you could completely change the look of your furniture in a few easy steps.

Paint it – While wallpaper comes in a variety of styles it can be expensive. Painting walls can add a fresh look at a much lower price, while meaning less maintenance on them in the long run.

Finding new pieces

There may be certain furnishings needed to finish off the redecorating process, but that still does not have to mean a lot of money has to be spent. There are several places to find furniture and accessories on a budget.

Classifieds – Local newspaper classified ads are great places to look for deals. The people selling the items are usually in the same area, so transportation is easier, and it can usually be seen before purchasing. Online classifieds, such as Craigslist and Freecycle, offer a wider range of goods but it may be harder to get them home.

Garage or Yard Sales – Just because people put out some of their older items for sale does not mean good quality items cannot be found. Often, people will try to sell their older furniture at a garage sale simply because they no longer have room or because they are going through their own remodeling. This means they may also be more likely to negotiate on price in order to make a quick sale.

Auctions – These are some of the best places to find secondhand furniture at bargain prices, providing you set a budget and stick to it. The pieces can be viewed before bidding and if the price gets too high, simply move on to the next item and try again.

Perhaps the most important thing about redecorating a living room on a budget is to have fun and use some imagination. This will ensure the room has its own unique style and nobody needs to know not a lot of money was spent.

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How to encourage wildlife in your garden

How to encourage wildlife in your garden

By   9:02:00 AM   No comments:

Whether you live in the city or the countryside if you have a garden, that garden can become a haven for wildlife. Increasingly we are becoming concerned with the ecology of our planet as environmental changes and the decline of species like the bumble bee are becoming more and more worrying. This article provides you with a guide to encouraging wildlife in your garden and will help you transform your garden into an ecological oasis.

Biodiversity

The greater the number of plant species in your garden, the greater variety of wildlife which will be encouraged. As your garden will support local wildlife it is important to see what sort of plant would thrive in your local environment. If you have alkaline soil, plant plants which like that type of soil as it is likely the local insects and animals will also like that type of plant. If you are concerned about the aesthetics of your garden why not plant the less attractive yet locally suitable plants in areas which are less visible, such as planting a climber on the side wall of your garage. This would also fill the vertical space in your garden which allows you to grow a greater variety of plants than if you were just growing plants flat in your flowerbeds.

Bird Boxes

Some bird boxes are designed to attract a particular species of bird, so before you purchase your bird box you need to decide whether you want to encourage a variety of birds or if you would like to help conserve a particular species. Bird boxes will not necessarily be inhabited by birds as soon as you put them up so it is worth being patient and persevering. Bird boxes are particularly necessary in the winter months as they can provide birds with much needed shelter.

Daisies

According to the RSPB, the daisy family are particularly good for encouraging wildlife. Daisies and dandelions are often some of the first plants we get rid of in our gardens, either by weeding or mowing the lawn; however, if you set aside a small area where they can grow freely this would be beneficial to the wildlife in your garden. This is because the Asteraceae family are great at either attracting insects for nectar or producing seeds which will attract small mammals.

Feed the birds

Hanging up a bird feeder or introducing a bird table to your garden can really help your local bird population. You should avoid using nylon mesh for your bird feeder as birds can become trapped; instead use a wire feeder which has quite generous spaces through which the birds can access the nuts and seeds. Fat feeders are especially good in winter and can easily be made at home. Simply put fat into a holder and either leave plain or push nuts and seeds into the fat for added nutrition. Another simple homemade bird feeder is achieved by cutting a coconut in half and hanging it from a tree.

John Barlow works for Artscape, a company that specialises in garden design in Berkshire. He loves to use vintage items and reclaimed furniture in his garden design.

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