MiltonSearch.com Home and Garden

Disaster DIY: The six deadly sins of do-it-yourself projects you should avoid

Time
DIY’ers think they can renovate a bathroom or kitchen, build a deck or finish a basement in a weekend or in the evenings after work. They can’t. People often underestimate how long it takes to do a job properly. It takes even longer to learn how to do things right - I don’t know many people who learned to walk in a weekend!

Money
Buying the proper materials costs money. Hiring a professional costs money. There are so many variables in a renovation that it’s almost impossible to foresee all the costs. People don’t understand that for every dollar that’s saved, if it’s done wrong, it will end up costing more than double to fix it properly.

Skill
It takes lots of practice, trial and error to set straight and level tiles, create seamless joints in drywall or install trim or crown molding. But people buy a book, watch a show, put on a toolbelt - and abracadabra - they’re experts. Except they’re not.

Planning
Proper planning will result in a smooth(er) renovation. A lot of weekend warriors are the “shoot first” type. There’s only one way to plan a project: design, destroy, rebuild - in that order.

Mess
Renovation is a war - on dirt. A lot of people expect thousands of pounds of lathe and plaster to come down without creating a mess. Clean up regularly – it’s easier to see what you’re doing and it’s safer. When it comes to laying drop sheets, try taping up plastic sheets to keep dust down - an ounce of prevention is worth its weight in gold.

Enjoyment
When starting a DIY project, many people have expectations that far exceed the reality of the project. When the honeymoon’s over and the DIYer realizes that the project will take more time, more money and more skill to get the job done properly – that’s when the problems begin. The job is either left unfinished or finished incorrectly because it was rushed. Doing your own home renovation project is like getting married – you’ve got to know what you’re getting into. There will be good days and there will be bad days. It’s important that once you tear down that wall, you stay committed and do the very best you can.

Easy ways to spice up your holiday

Make Valentines from Household Supplies
Paint samples, playing cards, sponges, sugar packets, matches…

Original Purpose: Taking up space in your kitchen and desk drawers.
Aha! Use: It’s all there, and now you know why you’ve never gotten around to throwing it out: a private, inexhaustible stock of Valentine-card-making props. Dead AAA batteries ("I get a charge out of you"), old lollipops ("I’m a sucker for you"), stray keys ("the key to my heart"). Sit yourself down and grab a pile of craft supplies — construction paper, scissors, markers, tape, X-Acto blade, large-eyed needle and strong thread (or dental floss!), doilies, ribbon saved from the last party. Don’t worry about getting the edges straight. It’s the message that counts.
Reward: Recycling with heart.

Candy Canes as Valentine’s Day Treats
Original Purpose: Adorning Christmas trees and stuffing stockings.
Aha! Use: Valentine candy. With some minor melting, they can decorate cupcakes and gift boxes, or cards that will be hand delivered.
How to Do It: Remove the cellophane wrapping from the canes and form hearts by placing them hook to hook and tail to tail on a nonstick baking sheet or one lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350º F for 2 to 4 minutes (depending on the canes’ size) or until they stick together when you pinch the ends lightly. Cool thoroughly and remove with a spatula. If you want to make flat hearts with psychedelic stripes, bake for 8 to 10 minutes.
Reward: Leftovers that say "love."

Greeting Cards as Gift Tags
Original Purpose: Mantelpiece clutter, proof of popularity.
Aha! Use: Gift tags. Last year’s holiday and birthday cards may be too pretty to throw away, but they’re probably not meaningful enough to keep. Cut out hearts, flowers, or any other whimsical illustration from the card’s cover, avoiding handwritten notes on the opposite side, and stash them with your ribbons and wrapping paper.
Reward: It’s not regifting; it’s recycling.

Quick Valentine’s Day Treat
In between dropping the kids off, picking up the dry cleaning, and making your to-do list for the week, you’re supposed to fit in romance? Try this easy trick: Melt a Hershey’s bar in a saucepan over low heat and dip some fresh strawberries in it to make a treat for your sweetheart. Let them cool on wax paper. Candles and canoodling optional.

DVDs for an Instant Holiday-Theme Party
Struck by a mad urge to play Cupid, you’re throwing a Valentine’s party. First head over to Blockbuster and pick up an appropriately themed DVD—preferably a romantic favorite like When Harry Met Sally, Casablanca, or An Affair to Remember. Come party time, pop it in the machine, press Play, then mute the sound so the film can serve as a quiet but not-too-subtle backdrop for the evening. Bonus: If a partygoer gets tired of small talk, he can zone out and tune in to the on-screen romance until he makes his own love connection with bachelorette number three.

Wrap Presents with Newspaper
Original Purpose: Looking up words, getting the news, finding your way.
Aha! Use: One-of-a-kind wrapping paper. Leftover paper of all kinds — wallpaper, old maps, last week’s Sunday comics — begs to be recycled as gift wrap. You’ll see: Almost any mundane printed matter is transformed by a big, shiny ribbon. Use a copying machine’s enlarger function to make much of small things. Choose a dictionary definition to suit the occasion: love for Valentine’s Day, shamrock for Saint Patrick’s Day, ageless for an anxious friend’s birthday. Photocopy the page onto an 11-by-17-inch sheet of paper (if possible) at the highest magnification, repeat as needed to increase the word size, and squeeze in the choice part of the definition. When the boss catches you wasting paper and toner, offer to run off a set for her wedding anniversary.
Reward: Oohs and ahs from the impressed recipient.
Other Use: Lining a birdcage.

Decorate Plates with Ketchup Squeeze Bottle
Original Purpose: Dressing French fries.
Aha! Use: Decorating dishes like a professional. Run an empty plastic ketchup bottle through the dishwasher (or pick up a fresh one at the Container Store; $1, www.containerstore.com), then fill it with your favorite sauce or condiment. Drizzle some rosemary-scented olive oil across a bowl of white bean soup, a squiggle of fudge or raspberry sauce around the rim of your Valentine’s dessert plate. (If calligraphy is not your strong suit, practice on a paper plate or stick to abstract designs.)
Reward: Five-star-chef presentation in less than five minutes.
Other Use: Fill with a week’s worth of homemade salad dressing and squirt as needed.

Create the Perfect Setting
For a romantic and fragrant centerpiece, float a few small orchids and some tea lights in a glass bowl.

Tips to liven up your living space

With the dreary winter months spent scurrying from driveway to duvet, Seasonal Affective Disorder is bound to set in. Take some therapeutic measures and follow these tips on how to beat the winter blahs by spicing up your space.

Colour
Colour is the most powerful element to consider in vitalizing your living space. Not only does colour reflect our likes and personalities, but it also has the power to enhance or affect our moods. Warm colours (reds, yellows, oranges) evoke joy and excitement, while cooler hues (blues and greens) promote rest and relaxation. During the winter months when you want to "let the sunshine in," consider accenting your space with bright, energizing and uplifting colours. The trick is not to overpower your space with colour, but rather to create visual dynamics by placing colourful elements throughout your space.

If you consider taking on a painting project, create an accent wall that evokes vitality without overpowering your space. Use one solid colour or investigate painting techniques that incorporate appealing colour or texture combinations. If painting is too much, shop for colourful fabrics that can be framed or stretched like art canvases. In this way you can play around with colour, texture and pattern combinations without making a formal commitment to your walls. You can also change the arrangements on a regular basis, eliminating the feeling of commitment to a design or colour scheme. This also applies to accent items like throw cushions; draperies; table, bath and bedroom linens; and even tableware, which can be mixed and matched for variety. Use contrasting colours for dynamics, or complementary colours to create a more soothing, harmonious effect. Never be afraid to use colour!

It’s Alive!
There’s nothing that speaks vitality in your home like the presence of living things. Consider greening up your space with plants or—if you’re feeling ambitious—an aquarium. If you find you don’t have a green thumb or haven’t the patience or budget for an aquarium, consider bringing fresh, colourful flower arrangements into your home on a regular rotation. The colours and fragrances will have you hearkening to spring and summer, ultimately lightening your spirits.

Personality
Blank walls, neutral colour schemes and an overall lack of identity in a space do nothing but nurture the winter blahs. Make your home speak "you" by injecting a little of your personality into it. Display collections of your favourite items or showcase your own hobbies/creations/accomplishments. Liven up a dull corner or hallway by creating a collage of family photos arranged either chronologically or thematically. Consider colourful groupings in fanciful frames or dramatic black and white shots in more minimal frames. If you’re a crafter, create colourful, textural or "just plain fun" accent pieces for your home. Embroider some funky tea towels, quilt an exciting pillow cover, knit a new throw or have some of your favourite needlework projects framed. Consult crafting resources and speak with fellow crafters. You’ll quickly realize there are limitless possibilities when it comes to energizing your space and putting your own personal stamp on it with fresh, new ideas and projects!

– Kathryn Bailey, HGTV.ca

Got your game face on for the most watched TV broadcast? Host a Super Bowl party that die-hard fans — and those there just for the commercials — can enjoy

Here’s everything you’ll need to throw a winning Super Bowl party.

Beer and Beer Steins: Stock up on brands of brews that represent the two opposing teams. (For examples, go to www.realsimple.com/beer.)

Decorations: Show off your home-field advantage with a festive football-themed decor (shown). Cut coasters out of AstroTurf ($1 per square foot at www.ondecksports.com, or go to your local hardware store). Set out potted wheatgrass (available at flower shops and nurseries) topped with pennants and mini footballs (check out www.michaels.com and www.partycity.com). Design your table runner to look like a football field; just spread out Con-Tact Chalkboard Contact Paper ($6 for a roll, 18 inches by six feet, at www.amazon.com) and draw yard lines with chalk and a ruler. Then leave out the chalk and let your guests strategize their own plays throughout the party.

Food: Upgrade traditional tailgate fare with these healthier — and tastier — versions: Spec-Taters, Pigskins in a Blanket (with chicken sausage), and baked Kickin’ Chicken Fingers (see recipes).

Party Game: You will need tags, string, and a marker. In lieu of a football pool, have each guest predict the winner’s final score. Write each guess on a tag and tie it to his or her beer stein. Whoever gets closest to the correct score wins.

Recipes

Kickin’ Chicken Nuggets

1 6-ounce bag spicy pita chips (such as Stacy?s Texarkana Hot)
1 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped (optional)
1 egg
1 1/2 pounds chicken cutlets, cut into 3-inch pieces
1 cup sour cream
4 scallions, trimmed and chopped

Heat oven to 400° F.

Place the pita chips and Parmesan in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until coarsely ground. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in the parsley, if using.

In a medium bowl, beat the egg with 1 teaspoon water. Dip the chicken in the egg, letting any excess drip off, then in the pita-chip mixture, pressing gently to help it adhere. Place the chicken pieces on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake until cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes.

In a small bowl, combine the sour cream and scallions and serve with the chicken for dipping.

Yield: Makes 8 servings

NUTRITION PER SERVING: CALORIES 285(71% from fat); FAT 14g (sat 4g); SUGAR 4g; PROTEIN 21g; CHOLESTEROL 90mg; SODIUM 301mg; FIBER 3g; CARBOHYDRATE 17g

Pigskins in a Blanket

1 12-ounce package fully cooked chicken sausage
1 8-ounce sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
1/3 cup whole-grain mustard

Heat oven to 400° F.

Cut the sausages in quarters lengthwise, then in half crosswise.

Cut the puff pastry into strips 3 inches long and 1 inch wide. Roll the sausage pieces in the pastry strips and transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake until puffed and golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.

Transfer to a platter and serve with the mustard for dipping.

Yield: Makes 8 servings

Spec-taters

Swap a sports-bar favorite for a snack that’s more refined and better for you, too. Create a potato bar by baking a 15-ounce package of Alexia Oven Fries frozen potato wedges (available at supermarkets) and serving them warm with a variety of toppings, like chopped red onion, salsa, grated Cheddar, jalapeños, and low-fat sour cream.