Practical projects and tips for the backyard DIY fanatic
Modern Art If you’d love to brighten your walls with some new artworks but can’t afford a Picasso or a Warhol, why not have a go at creating your own abstract paintings? It doesn’t matter if you can’t draw, the main thing is just to have a bit...
Finger Painting – The French Alternative Homemade finger paint can be a lifesaver when the kids are bored. The paint is simple to make and you’ll probably have most of the ingredients in the pantry. Ingredients 1 cup cornflour 1 litre...
Tap Timers Watering is more complex than many people think. Standing out in the garden with a hose is really a very inefficient way of watering your plants. You’d cut down on garden maintenance, save time and waste less water if you installed an irrigation...
Indian Curtains Rita Hill showed how to create your own colourful, soft, shimmery curtains using beautiful sari fabrics from India. Sari fabrics make fantastic flowing curtains for any bare window. They’re also perfect if you’re renting because you can...
Why Timber Rots Don looked at a typical example of dry rot in the timbers of a house. Water had been sucked into the ends of the wood by capillary action, creating a wet zone which rotted as it dried out. This problem is less likely to occur if the ends of the timber...
Pictures and prints add cheer and colour to your home, but they don’t always have to be framed and hung on the walls. Rita Hill showed how to use découpage to turn a plain timber tabletop into a stunning work of art. You will need A small table, old or new...
Aftershave – The French Alternative Jackie’s homemade aftershave is a great present for a bloke, and it smells good too! You’ll need 20 cloves 2 star anise 1 stick cinnamon dried rind of 4 limes 4 tbspns vodka mineral or distilled water Method Put...
Some of the most fashionable bathrooms these days feature wonderful bath mats made of wood. If your bath mat has passed its use-by date, just follow Rita Hill’s easy step by step instructions and make a new one. You will need 6 x 120cm lengths of pine dowel...
Are your nerves completely frazzled every time you go away on a family holiday? The trouble is that cars don’t have storage space for all the things kids need while travelling. Rita Hill came up with a perfect solution to this problem. She made bags to go over...
The whole family will have heaps of fun creating these wonderful handmade Christmas decorations. Rita Hill says they are really simple to put together, yet they add that special touch to a Christmas tree. Glitter Baubles corrugated cardboard roll, $4.95 from Lincraft...