Making and Mending


Beauty Cream – The French Alternative

Jackie French has a beautiful complexion (for someone who spends most of the time outdoors), and she owes it all to her Aunt Ethel’s homemade moisturiser. Don’t bother with expensive commercial products – Aunt Ethel’s moisturiser is cheap,...

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Building a Swing Set

In our segment Scott Cam built a swing set for toddlers for around $200. Scott reckons if you build this swing set for your kids you’ll be a hero, yet this will be one of the easiest home projects you’ve ever attempted! Siting the swing Choose a site on...

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Cleaning Silverware

Rita Hill demonstrated how to clean tarnished silver without using any elbow grease! The tarnish on silver is a layer of black silver sulfide, formed when proteins come in contact with the silver. When silver is cleaned using an abrasive polish, some silver is...

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Polar Fleece Throws

Rita Hill ran up some brightly coloured, polar fleece throws to keep the family warm through autumn and winter. These throws are particularly good for kids, because polar fleece is 100% polyester and fully machine washable. Best of all, each throw cost under $30 to...

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Renovating a Stool

Rita Hill gave some old leather bar stools a new lease of life. They were in good structural condition, so all they needed was a quick makeover. Bar stool brush-up 1. Rita covered the rubber feet with masking tape, then spray painted the metal legs with a brilliant...

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Skateboard Ramp

SKATEBOARDS AND SKATEBOARD RAMPS ARE DANGEROUS It is the responsibility of builders of skateboard ramps and users of skateboards to ensure maximum safety.   Scott Cam received a letter from Luke Davis, who lives with his grandparents, asking for plans and instructions...

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Wax Lanterns

Rita Hill showed how to make wax lanterns to give your home a warm, cheery glow. They can be used indoors or outdoors and they’re wonderful for parties, or for that special romantic dinner. You will need helium strength balloons an old, medium-sized saucepan...

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Woodfired Oven Garden

When Chris and Michelle Hetherington bought an old house north of Perth, they realised they needed to ‘makeover’ the garden. They also needed extra space in the house. They achieved both aims with a covered garden room or pavilion between the house and...

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Peg Rack

Rita Hill put some laundry pegs to good use in the kitchen. Using only wooden pegs, a length of timber and some glue, Rita made a handy rack for hanging bills, postcards, greeting cards, notes and all those wonderful artworks the kids bring home from school! You will...

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Yellow Makeover

This makeover is a classic example of how to extend adventurous colours from the house out into the garden.   Don was driving along the street recently and noticed a house painted in fabulous colours. The owner had actually mixed the main brick-red colour himself,...

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