DIY Life

By Anna Sattler

Summer is here, and about this time, you should be sending the kids off to summer camp. That means free time to get the house spruced up without little tykes underfoot. That doesn't mean lazing around on a hammock all summer, though; it really means getting out the paint brush.

If your stairs are looking beat up from constant foot thrashings, you can give them a makeover by painting a stair runner in vibrant colors that will be sure to have the kids tiptoeing around for a time. Domino says this is a project that will take you a few days, so it would be great to get started on the project this weekend, so you have extra time to let the paint dry between coats.

Over on AOL Decorating, the readers thought this was a huge waste of time, but I disagree. I think that the stairs look much more modern and cheerful with the red and white paint, instead of the drab, dreary wood. I also think that the paint is much safer than a carpet runner. My favorite color is green, so of course I would pick Hunter Green instead of red. What colors would you pick for your painted stair runner?

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.

I realize it is only July, but it is never too early to think about Christmas, or at least to get a head start on your decorating this year. If you are into recycling items some people would rather just throw away, then release the artist in you, and paint yourself some one-of-a-kind ornaments.

Since you probably throw away your old burned out light bulbs, I invite you to recycle them into handpainted Christmas ornaments, courtesy of Kraftykristen over on Craftster. Kristen cleans the bulbs with rubbing alcohol, uses acrylic paint to make a snowman, gingerbread man, or a Santa onto the bulb, and finishes up with an acrylic sealer.

I'm getting ready to re-paint the armoire in my son's room, to reflect his budding maturity at three-and-a-half years old. The stark white with the yellow star handles will become a taupe and navy masterpiece when the transformation is complete.

As I look around the house at all of the furniture I have painted, I notice one commonality: they all have newspaper stuck to the bottom, a casualty of the drying process.

Chica and Jo have a tip on how to keep painted items from sticking while drying, and I think it's a clever one. Simply use some push pins to elevate the drying item above the surface to act as "feet," eliminating the stick. Their example was for wooden letters to hang on a wall.

Now, I'm not sure if push pins would keep up a piece of furniture, but I bet a few narrow shims would do the trick. No more newspaper decorating the bottom of my masterpieces... it'll be a good look!

Do you have a piece of wood furniture or two that's got a few dings? Not quite enough to warrant the effort of stripping, puttying, sanding, and refinishing? Been there, done that. Well, there's an elegant solution that you can DIY in just a few moments (say, right before the company arrives)!

This little bit of touch-up magic comes in the form of a marker; it looks kind of like a magic marker and you can pick them up at most home improvement centers. I know, it sounds lame, but it really does work. The brand I'm familiar with is Mohawk, which is a company under the same corporate umbrella where RustOleum resides. That says quality to me.

The real trick is in matching the shade. I learned how to do this when I worked for a major hotel chain where guests seem to get a sardonic pleasure in abusing furniture the way they would never do at home. Anyhow, they only come in a certain number of shades. Here's the trick: swipe with a shade slightly darker than your finish and quickly wipe with a cloth. After wiping it'll be lighter than the marker says.

Repeat with the swipe 'n wipe until you've got a match. Each swipe will get you closer. Using the chisel edge of the marker, you can even match grain patterns with practice.

Most walls can benefit from a fresh coat of paint every few years. This is one project where you can make more work for yourself if you don't do your homework. Try these tips to paint like a pro!

• Use a 5 gallon bucket rather than a roller tray. There's less chance of spilling or putting your foot in it. It also allows you to mix more than one gallon together for larger jobs, guaranteeing an overall identical shade. Hang a roller screen in the bucket. They're cheap.
  
• Use the edge of a screwdriver blade to scrape off a tiny path of ceiling texture at the ceiling/wall junction. This will give you a crisp line when you cut in the top of the wall or the edge of the ceiling.
• Sanding chair rail or crown molding? Use sanding sponges rather than sandpaper. Conform to the curve!
• When you're rolling paint, be sure to hold the pole so that the open side of the roller (not the side where the handle connects to the roller) is, on the wet paint side of the wall. This will minimize "roller marks" and can cut your labor by 30%!
• Make sure to use high-quality blue painter's tape, not masking tape. Or, you'll be sorry.
• Wear safety glasses when rolling the ceiling. Splatter happens.
• When buying white paint for the ceiling, seek out the special paint that contains a disappearing dye. This will prevent missing a spot which you only notice after the paint has dried. Who wants to drag out the painting gear all over again?
  

Using these tip will make your painting experience less painful and more enjoyable. And faster!

Rust never sleeps, they say. The longer you leave exposed, rusting pipes untreated in your yard...well, you are ruining your pipes as they are eaten away by the elements. Rusty pipes, such as those leading to a gas meter, also make a house look a bit shabby and unloved. Let's take a look at how to deal with rusty pipes on your home's exterior. Spring is the perfect time to tackle this project!

Step 1. Select your paint
Go with a good brand like Rust-Oleum. By the way, Rust-Oleum has a fabulous website with lots of helpful advice for beginners. The company even has a special section on best products for really rusty surfaces. I recommend you check it out before heading to the paint store.

You will want to use an oil-based enamel paint. Oil-based paints are sticky and are not water-soluble. This makes application and cleanup a little tougher, but it's so worth it because oil-based paints are made to last. You have a choice between brush-on paint or spray paint. Personally, I prefer the traditional brush-on kind. On the other hand, spray paints mean no messy brushes to clean up when you're done!

A couple of months ago I made the switch from working full-time in a typical 8-5 office to working full-time from home. While I love working from home, my office leaves a little to be desired. Instead of the large office I used to have, I now work in a tiny corner of my living room.

So redesigning my office space is on the forefront of my mind: storage, comfort, and functionality are the priorities. When searching for creative ideas, I found an article from Shape with some great tips for creating a healthy home office. I'll share some of the tips I'm going to try after the break.