Tricked out triceratops: rocking your houseplants with a $6 dinosaur
We said a quick goodbye, but the “squealing” sound he made when I cut into him with my Dremel will haunt my dreams. Sorry, dude, but I think it was for the greater good.
Learn a new skill: Make white milk paint at home
The paint we all have in our homes is often quite toxic, but you don’t have to buy a petroleum based paint — you can make your own and have it be totally toxin free: I’m talking about milk paint. Powdered milk paint can be purchased and just mixed with water. This would be convientent but would cost about $36.00 a gallon.
Making your own milk paint is relatively easy and half the cost of buying the ready mixed. The lime powder and the pigment are available at paint stores or craft stores. The results are amazing, flat muted color that resembles old-world plaster. Many artists still use this ancient paint because of its workability and the tone of color.
Make a creepy, glowing light for your yard or a party
Halloween rocks, but it can be hard to find time to do anything around the house when you have limited time and money. In this post you’ll learn how to make a spooky light for a party or to set up a creepy yard.
Tricks and treats: Make Star Wars Ouija boards and apple cinnamon vodka
Let’s get in the Halloween spirit with a look at two awesome photos from the Offbeat Home Flickr group… Make yourself some apple cinnamon vodka, and call up the Star Wars spirits!
How to build an easy to clean fire pit — and then make Italian style s’mores on it
This firepit doesn’t involve cement and it’s very easy to build. And it’s neat because you can clean it in a matter of two minutes! Bonus: a new recipe for s’mores.
Jack-o-lanterns last longer with one additional item from the drugstore
Halloween rocks, but it can be hard to find time to do anything around the house when you have limited time and money. This month, I’m posting several Halloween Hacks each week — really simple ideas to stretch your Halloween dollars and make the season spookier for all. If you have additional ideas, pop ’em in the comments!
Cardboard furniture part II: how to waterproof it all
In Episode 1, with a little bit of elbow grease, sweat and fun work, you built a handy piece of cardboard furniture. Time has now come to gorgeous-ify AND make it last.
There are several materials you can use to pretty things up: Nepalese paper, craft paper, wallpaper, paint — but whatever you choose, you cannot do without a Final Layer of Waterproofing Coating. This is the key.
How to refinish a hardwood floor — the complete manifesto
We took on the project to refinish the hardwood floors on the upper floors of our new home, The Turret.
This is my essay on how we did it — and the feeling of accomplishment we got after communing with our new home.