DIY Life

By Debra McDuffee

Make a sprinkler? Why on earth would you do that when you can go out to just about any store and grab a cheap one for less than ten dollars?

I'll tell you why:

• You could be reusing waste materials from other projects to make your sprinkler.
• It's an easy and fun project you could even do with the kids.
• Speaking of kids, you could make an impressive play sprinkler for them to romp about in.
• You could create a system that would water your entire lawn.

OK, so maybe you can't do the whole project with the kids (unless yours are old enough to help drill holes), but you can work with them to plan an elaborate sprinkler that will entertain them on hot summer days.

By M.E. Williams

Every summer, I look forward to cooking outdoors. Lots of people have propane grills, which make outdoor cooking fast and convenient, but I use a small charcoal model similar to a Weber Kettle Grill. I don't think I'd move up to a propane grill, partly because the food cooked on it can have a "gassy" off-flavor (also possible with charcoal, if you use too much starter). On the other hand, I'd love to have a backyard large enough for a barbeque pit, like the one I remember my late grandparents having.

The Arizona BBQ Association has assembled a page of links that will show you how to build your own backyard smokers and grills. The projects are of two basic types: those based on masonry and those based on metal barrels, which usually require welding. The BBQ Lodge pit project is probably the simplest, but still, the designer had to cut some concrete blocks to shape.

None of these is exactly an "easy" project, but if you get started now, you'll have something to show off on Labor Day Weekend... and some really great meals for the rest of the season!

By Francesca Clarke

Building a strong, safe campfire is a crucial part of your successful camping trip. Most of us know the basics of camp fire safety: never leave the fire unattended, never use fuel starters, and never build the fire close to your tent. Where I always struggle is building a strong and lasting fire.

Love the outdoors offers full instructions on building successful campfires. They discuss the three types of kindling, outlining the most effective order in which to add each. Pay particular attention to their tips on safely extinguishing a fire.

Bring on the s'mores!

By Maureen Carter

It's summer and kids get bored. They want new things to play with and new things to do. Hey! How about playing in the sand. If you live in a landlocked state as I do, sand may be hard to find. So, why not make a sandbox?

Little woolgatherings has an awesome photo tutorial on how to make a sandbox in two hours or less. That means that in two hours your kids will have a new place to play and can quit saying "I'm bored!" for maybe two hours after that.

This look amazingly easy and fast especially if you are the DIY construction type. All you need are a few boards, tarps and sand. Check it out and make your kids an awesome new sandbox to keep them busy for a few extra hours this summer.

By Diane Rixon

Summer vacation keeps rolling along. How long until your kids go back to school? Are they spending too much time lounging on the couch? Here are a bunch of summer projects to trick your kids away from their air-conditioned sanctuary and out into the great outdoors of, er, your backyard.

Okay, okay. So the backyard is not the great outdoors. True. But the main thing is to get the kiddos out in the fresh air, learning about nature, and learning about the noble pursuit of maintaining a garden.

Getting their hands dirty
1. Ask them to help with the weeding. Pay them a small amount of pocket money for their time.

By Debra McDuffee

Attracting birds to your yard can bring so much enjoyment. They are so much fun to watch, and my son loves naming the different types he sees at our birdfeeder -- goldfinch, robin, sparrow, blue jay....

We've shown you how to build a bird house with scrap wood; now I'll share some ideas on how to build a bird bath with materials you may have around the house.

You could use some chicken wire and cement for the bath part, some metal for the support post, and rocks for the edges, suggests Las Pilitas. Or how about an old cake pan, an old garbage can lid, or even a beat-up hubcap? If those are too crazy for you, a soft, flat rock or even a terra cotta pot's saucer will make an effective birdbath.

With the official start of summer quickly approaching, chances are we're all spending a lot more time outside and putting our outdoor living spaces to good use. If your deck or patio isn't set up for high summer traffic -- or for lounging on lazy Sundays -- it doesn't take much effort or money to give it a quick, fun and functional update. (Read: It's finally time to ditch that white plastic lawn chair with the broken leg. You know who you are!)

Transforming an outdoor space is all about adding a few key touches that bring the interior style of your home to the outside, with a touch of whimsy. Seating? Check. Tables? Check. But don't forget the paper lanterns, string lights and candles.

And, if you're working with a small budget, you can literally bring the indoors out to create an inviting summer space. AOL's home decor expert Kelly Edwards shares her Trade Secrets:

There's a lot of wooden objects that you just don't want to bring back indoors: patio furniture, picnic tables, planters, etc. One thing they have in common is the ability to stand up to wind, heat, and rain. You don't have to buy the expensive stuff, just make your own!

Water-repellent preservative recipe

As with any other time you mix various potentially hazardous or flammable materials, take precautions and ventilate the area properly. Mix together:

• 2 gal. Mineral spirits, Turpentine, or #1 or #2 fuel oil
• 5/8 qts. Boiled Linseed Oil
• 3/16 lb. Paraffin Wax
• 1 qt. Penta concentrate 10:1
• 1 to 3 fluid oz Color Pigment / gallon of the above mix
  

The paraffin must be melted in a double boiler; if you try to use a regular pan, fire is a very real possibility (keep an extinguisher close.) Let your concoction age overnight before applying it and stir it well; the pigments will settle.