Practical projects and tips for the backyard DIY fanatic
Cliffhanger House Imagine how hard it would be to build a house on a very steep site. Don visited an amazing cliffside house and chatted to the owners about some of the challenges they faced. As well as the difficult situation, they also had to cope with a partial...
Colour Combinations There’s no such thing as a bad colour but there are some bad colour combinations. Tracy Marsh shared a few tips and basic rules on using colour to decorate in your home. Simply stick to one colour theme; reds (pale pink through to crimson),...
Soapy Ducks – The French Alternative Children of all ages love homemade rubber duckies. Simply use them instead of soap -they are wonderfully fragrant and they make great playmates in the bath! The recipe below makes two rubber duckies. Ingredients 2 tablespoons...
Photo Cards Choosing a greeting card to convey a special message to a friend or loved one is never easy. Bought cards are often so impersonal! Rita Hill demonstrated how to make cards at home that really say it with feeling. You’ll need glue cardboard photos...
Photo Frame Rita Hill demonstrated how to make a frame for your favourite photograph using a wax resist process. This is also a good technique for special birthday cards, post cards or anything else you’d like to show off. When designing the frame take your...
Moth Balls – The French Alternative Pomanders were once made of ambergris, a fragrant substance obtained from sperm whales. These ‘apples of amber’ were worn to protect against infection and foul smells. Today, pomanders are used as sweet smelling...
Any real estate agent will tell you that if a home smells good it will sell quickly, and they often advise baking a cake or a batch of biscuits before prospective buyers arrive. Jackie French also has some great homemade ideas on how to fill your house with pleasant,...
Wheat Pillow Rita Hill demonstrated how to make a fabulous wheat pillow that can be heated or chilled, then used to bring some comfort into your life. Hot pillows are particulary good to cuddle on a chilly winter night, and cold pillows are great for headaches, bumps...
Kids’ Costumes Children love to dress up as their favourite characters from story books or movies. The good news from Rita Hill is that these kids’ costumes are so easy to make you won’t even have to touch a sewing machine. Basic materials scissors...
Lip Balm – The French Alternative If you have trouble with dry cracked lips in winter, why not try Jackie’s homemade lip balm? It soothes, protects and moisturises, and it tastes pretty good too. Ingredients 6 tablespoons almond oil 3 chamomile tea bags 3...