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How to Remove Tar from Carpeting

Posted on February 4, 2020 by Home

Getting tar on your carpet will ruin the appearance of your décor. Luckily, there are a couple of ways to remove this stubborn stain, but you do need to act as quickly as possible. If you need to find out how to remove tar from carpeting, sit down and take a deep breath. You can do this! Just keep calm and carry on.

Method 1: How to Remove Tar from Carpeting with Liquid Soap and Water

First of all, remove as much of the surface tar as you can with a knife or by scraping it off or by blotting it, depending upon how severe the tar is. Then run the vacuum cleaner over it, so that you can remove even more of the residue.

Mix warm water with liquid soap. Apply the mix to the stain working it through in a circular motion moving inwards, so you don’t risk spreading the stain.

Rinse the area with cold water. Repeat the process until the stain has gone. Then leave the carpet to dry overnight. Put down paper towels over the stain to soak up excess water, and vacuum clean when the carpet has dried out.

Method 2: How to Remove Tar from Carpeting with Hydrogen Peroxide

If Method 1 has not worked effectively and there is still a tar stain on your carpet, it is time to call in something stronger. Buy some 3% hydrogen peroxide from your hardware store, and spread this over the carpet stain. Leave in place for one minute, and then rinse off with plenty of water. Leave the carpet overnight to dry off naturally.

Method 3. How to Remove Tar from Carpeting with Carpet Cleaner and Alcohol

As with the other methods, act fast to remove surface tar with a knife, scraping off any excess if possible. Then try out the carpet cleaning products you may have. Hopefully, you will already have cleaned your carpet at some time, but if not, test out the cleaner on an inconspicuous place to ensure it doesn’t cause further damage.

If it is OK, add some rubbing alcohol to the tar stain and carpet cleaner mix, and blot it with a clean cloth. If the stain has been removed, rinse with water and allow it to dry overnight. If the stain is still visible, try spraying some WD40 over the area. This may help remove the stain too.

How to Fix a Hole in a Cabinet Door

Posted on February 3, 2020 by Home

Fixing a hole in a cabinet door is not difficult, but you have to do it right or your repair will look worse than the hole itself! However if you do it right, it will save you money and a whole load of hassle. If you’re wondering how to fix a door in a cabinet door, keep reading to find out the best way to do it.

How to Fix a Hole in a Cabinet Door: Step-by-Step

Step 1

First up you need to prepare the area around the hole. Sand down the hole to remove any old or chipped paint, remove the dust, and wipe away any residue so that the area is smooth and clean.

Step 2

Once the area is prepared and you are ready to start, mix the wood filler. Epoxy wood filler comes in two parts that have to be mixed together. You need to ensure that you do this in a well ventilated area, because you don’t want to inhale fumes. Wear protective gloves, eye protection, and a mask. This might seem extreme, but you don’t want the filler to splash into your eye as you mix it. You don’t want to breathe in those toxic fumes.

Step 3

Wood filler dries out very quickly once it is exposed to air, so you have to work fast. How to fix a hole in a cabinet door will largely depend upon the size of the hole.

If the hole in your cabinet door is small (around ½ inch diameter or less) you can use toothpicks to fill the hole. Dip the toothpicks into the resin and stick them into the hole. Carry on doing this until the hole is completely filled.

If the hole is bigger, you need to fill it with something that fills the space. Line the hole with the resin and then add your filling material such as dowling, cork, or a custom made piece. Add the wood filler on top until the surface is even.

Step 4

Leave the wood filler to dry completely. It can take up to 8 hours for it to dry, but check the packaging for more information.

Step 5

Once you are confident that the area is dry, you can snap off the tooth picks with shears. Try not to pull them away from the hole.

Step 6

Once you are satisfied that the hole is filled, you need to get your sander out or use sandpaper to make sure that the finish is smooth. If you can still see marks – or the surface is uneven, you can add a light layer of wood filler over the top. Do this and you will need to wait for it to dry again before you can sand it down. However it is worth taking time and doing it properly.

You will probably find that your cabinet door will need re-varnishing or painting, but the good news is that once you have finished, your cabinet door will be as good as new. Learning how to fix a hole in a cabinet door is an easy DIY skill that anyone can do, and as long as you follow all the steps you can rely on a successful result. 

How to Make Wooden Snowmen Crafts

Posted on February 1, 2020 by Home

Wooden snowmen crafts are gorgeously simple, and this is a major part of their charm. You can make these quaint holiday-themed objects from a wide variety of off-cuts and timber, and they don’t usually require any special knowledge of a vast supply of woodworking tools. All you need is some imagination and time. If you’d like to find out how to make wooden snowman crafts, here are a couple of ideas.

How do I make wooden snowman crafts? 

You will need some tools such as a band saw, a drill, wood glue, paint, and some decorations such as twigs or yarn for the snowman’s scarf. 

Project 1

One snowman that caught our eye was fashioned from three cut wooden circular slices of a tree branch cut with an ordinary band saw. The first slice can be laid flat on the table as a base and to this you drill holes and fix the perpendicular next wooden disk – the snowman’s body standing upright. The snowman’s head is then fixed in the same way to the body. The overall appearance (even before decorating your piece) is unmistakably a snowman.

Once you have your snowman structure in place, you can decorate with a cute face, add the sticks for his arms, and fix the yarn around his neck for the scarf. Cute, appealing, and very effective this basic prototype for wooden snowman crafts can be used in a variety of ways and works for all sizes.

Project 2

Alternatively, to keep things simpler, just cut a small branch from your garden and form into a triangular shape at one end and hopefully leaving the wood stable at the other end so it can stand.

Scrape off the bark at the pointy end, leaving the wood smooth underneath, and decorate with a painted face, a tiny Christmas inspired hat and a scarf. We painted a hat on the pointed end of the wood and added a real scarf made of green and red tinsel, but the choice is up to you.

These types of wooden snowmen crafts look really effective when stood together in a group. The beauty of this design is that you do not need to do any drilling or screwing. The only glue you will need is to stick on your scarf or perhaps a nose or some tinsel.

Making wooden snowmen crafts is a Christmas activity that reflects the changing of the seasons and celebrates the holidays. If you are working in your garden in the fall, don’t consign your bits of old branches to the trash. Keep them safe as you prepare for the onset of winter, and try making your own wooden snowmen crafts instead. 

For added holiday fun, turn on and sing along to “Frosty the Snowman” with your family after the project is all finished!For other fun wooden snowmen craft project ideas, check out some of our other favorite sites, Instructables and the DIY Network.

Things You’ll Learn in a Woodworking Magazine for Beginners

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Home

When you start a new hobby, it is important to set off on the right foot. There is a lot to learn about woodworking, so it is important not to be deterred by too much information and over ambitious projects. If you want to become a woodworker, a woodworking magazine for beginners is the best place to start.

Lessons for Beginners

The first thing to be aware of is safety. Woodworking tools are sharp, so it is easy to cut yourself, splinters of wood can get into the eye, power tools can be dangerous in many ways.

When you are embarking on DIY wood projects, always ensure you have your safety glasses on and always adopt safe working habits.

The woodworking workshop is not the place to be careless. Don’t decide to do some woodworking after drinking alcohol or using any type of drug that can impair your judgement.

Why Read Woodworking Magazine for Beginners

A woodworking magazine for beginners will tell you the best type of tools to use. If you are a complete newbie, this may be an investment, but it is worth buying good quality tools that are easy to use, rather than cheap ineffective ones that will make it difficult.

According to most advice you should invest in a jigsaw, miter saw, table saw, hammer, mallet, power drill, and screw gun. If by contrast you want to take up hand carving, a good quality set of chisels will probably be enough to get you started.

A great thing about a woodworking magazine for beginners is that it will suggest simple projects that are suitable for your skill level. Typical beginner projects may include simple household items such as a rustic candle holder, a pallet shelf (or other great pallet furniture ideas), a wall planter, a ledge, or a lettered sign. It is important to start off with projects that you can complete quite easily, rather than taking on something that you just can’t handle.

The important thing to remember about woodworking is that it is not actually that difficult. Although it can be intimidating at first with all those new skills to learn, millions of people do it and you can do it too. 

Sadly, we can all become easily discouraged and lacking in confidence when it comes to practical skills. Many women take up woodworking and find it is much easier than they ever imagined. Likewise, some men who have believed that these practical skills are easy may find it not suited for them.A woodworking magazine which is aimed at beginners will help you see that anything is possible with the right attitude, a desire to learn, and practice.

DIY Mickey Mouse Centerpieces for Your Kid’s Disney-Themed Birthday Party

Posted on December 17, 2019 by Beauty Home

A themed party for your child is a great way to celebrate his or her birthday. And although fashions change, and cartoon characters come and go, the one cartoon character who stands the test of time is Mickey Mouse. We’ve all grown up with Mickey, and if you and your child love Disney, a Disney-themed birthday party is great! So how do you make DIY Mickey Mouse centerpieces for your table? We’ll show you how!

How to Make DIY Mickey Mouse Centerpieces

First of all, if you’re short on time, you can actually buy these. They are on sale ready-made from Walmart or from online suppliers and craft makers via Esty or Pinterest. However, it doesn’t seem difficult to create your own designs, especially when all the Mickey Mouse supplies that you want are available online or at the local crafts store.

Types of DIY Mickey Mouse Centerpieces

Mickey Mouse Centerpiece Kit

One great option is the DIY Mickey Mouse Centerpiece kit. This provides you with 30 great centerpieces to create different iconic Mickey designs. One of the nice things about these DIY Mickey Mouse centerpieces is that they are easy to use and that they look very individual and effective.

Felt Props

Alternatively, why not try a pack of assorted Mickey and Minnie felt fabric props? These are designed as photo booth accessories but can also be used to create DIY Mickey Mouse centerpieces, by just placing in candy jars or containers for the table.

More Party Decorations

Talking about the tables, if you are going full out Mickey Mouse, don’t forget the table decorations, cups and plates. A Mickey Mouse birthday banner complete with ears will make any small child feel special. The iconic Mickey colors of red, yellow, white, and black add to the atmosphere of fun and life, and provide a traditional American flavour to any kids’ party.

Party Favors

Candy Box

A kid’s party isn’t a party unless everyone goes home with a party bag. The Mickey Mouse candy box is great for filling with goodies. These triangular shaped boxes are easy to assemble and are available in packs of 50. They’re ideal for guests of all ages.

Mickey Mouse Ears

Finally, you can’t really have a Mickey Mouse themed party unless you have ears! Picoway Mouse Ears come in packs of 20 comprising of 10 plain black Mickey ears and 10 Minnie ears with the adornment of a red blow for girls. The sizes are adjustable and will fit a toddler head up to a full sized adult.

A Mickey Mouse themed party is a great idea for children of all ages. Compared with many modern Disney characters, the theme is enduring and simple and reassuring timeless. In addition, you can create the Mickey Mouse Disney effect very cheaply. 

DIY Mickey Mouse centerpieces are extremely easy to create out of some Disney props, colorful balloons and streamers, and some Mickey Mouse ears. It will be enough to set the mood for a very happy birthday!

Woodworking Letters: How to Carve Words into Wood

Posted on December 10, 2019 by Home

If you love DIY wood projects, you’re in the right place! Wood carving is one of those great hobbies that is not only enjoyable; it creates extremely satisfying great results. If you are thinking of getting started on wood carving and are considering which type of project to embark on, you may hit upon the idea of making a sign for your house or your shed. Woodworking letters into a sign seems like a worthy ambition but how do you ensure that your efforts pay off with great results? Keep reading to find out!

Getting Started with Woodworking Letters

First, you need some good quality woodworking tools. To create woodworking letters by hand, you need a good quality chisel and a dummy (a mallet specially designed for carving letters). Alternatively, you can use knives or gouges or whatever you feel comfortable with.

The second thing you need of course is your wood for the sign. However, if you are new to carving woodworking letters, you should not even touch this yet. Instead, practice your carving skills on scrap pieces of wood so that you get an understanding of how deep you need to carve, the angle, and how to create the best possible effect from the wood. You can pick up free wood scraps at a local hardware store.

Which Type of Wood Should I Use?

The type of wood you use will large depend upon how you want it to look. However, some woods are far easier to work with than others.

Basswood is a great wood for beginners. It is inexpensive and easy to use and because it has very little grain and is soft, is a good one to start with.

Butternut and Aspen are also similarly priced and are easy to carve. Although these woods are all technically hardwoods, they are on the softer end of the scale.

Oak is a beautiful wood, but it is fairly hard and may be difficult for the novice hand carver. Oak works fantastically well with power tools but unless you are already experienced with power tools and creating woodworking letters it is not the best choice to start with. 

Black Walnut is beautiful. It is also expensive and not that easy to work with.

Designing the Sign

Once you feel confident with your carving skills, you need to design your sign. You can do this via your computer’s Word program. Find the font that you want with the correct line spacing and print out the word in the correct size. If your printer cannot provide this for you, a trip to your local printing or copying store will provide what you need.

Using some spray glue, stick the lettering to your piece of wood so that you can follow the pattern with your chisel. Once you have outlined the design, you can remove the paper from the wood and go it alone.

Using a Router Instead

If you don’t want to carve by hand, why not use a wood router? There are numerous router attachments specifically designed for creating woodworking letters. You can use a router freehand or use a simple plan and results can be equally impressive. 

Is it is good as hand carved sign? Yes! Is it as fun to create? This comes down to personal preference but for our money, you can’t beat hand carving for satisfaction and enjoyment.

What Soil Macroorganisms are Beneficial for a Healthy Garden?

Posted on December 3, 2019 by Garden Health Home

Your garden needs the right type of soil for anything to grow, yet sadly it often becomes depleted by over cultivation and the use of artificial chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Over cultivation and chemicals kill off vital microorganisms and strip the soil of natural minerals.  

What’s in Your Soil? 

The mineral balance of soil is important. The most common macronutrients are potassium, magnesium, calcium, and sulfur. Gardens also contain organic substances that have rotted down, such as dead plants and animal matter. You may also spot soil maccroorganisms like millipedes, snails, or mites who are feeding off your garden and help to decompose plant material, helping to fertilize your garden. 

You can improve soil macroorganisms with some simple gardening steps such as adding compost, avoiding pesticides which kill them, and by avoiding disturbing the soil too much. Mulching with organic matter can also help. Planting in companion crops can also help protect your plants and provide nourishment for macroorganisms.

On the other hand, soil microorganisms such as bacteria need food, oxygen, and water to thrive; so as long as your soil is fed with organic matter, kept lightly aerated and watered, it should retain its powers to grow your plants. However, as any farmer will tell you, soil is depleted by frequent cultivation, so it does need to rest or be treated from time to time.

Boost Soil Macroorganisms

To improve soil macroorganisms, you can try adding a natural remineralisation product to boost soil fertility. For example, Drangonite for Robust Soil Fertility by Premier Research Labs is easy to apply. This product contains premier quality volcanic basalt minerals that will revitalise your soil. You just work it into the first three inches of your topsoil and let nature do the rest. It is a preferred alternative to unnatural pesticides or chemical fertilizer. 

Volcanic dust is crammed full of minerals. Although in its natural form such as after a volcanic eruption, the acidity will kill everything in its path, over time the minerals become absorbed by the soil. Volcanic material does not contain nitrogen or calcium, but it contains just about everything else that your soil needs to thrive. It is the equivalent of a superfood for your garden soil.

Using this product in combination with organic material will improve your soil quality and make it more fertile. Feeding your garden with soil macroorganisms will create the perfect growing environment for the following season.

Try These Seasonal DIY Wood Projects

Posted on November 26, 2019 by Home

Once the weather starts getting colder and the nights start drawing in, it is a good time to start thinking about DIY wood projects. The type of DIY projects you pursue will largely depend upon your skills, your tools, and your confidence levels, but it is important to remember that all these things can be learned over time. So what are you waiting for?

4 Ideas for DIY Wood Projects

Small seasonal projects can be satisfying. Here are a few easy ideas to get started.

Christmas Table Centerpiece

A wooden rustic display stand that you can use as a table centerpiece for your Christmas candles, flowers, or decorative leaves, is a great way to liven up your room.

Candle Holders

What about some rustic candle holders? You can make these in an afternoon out of an old piece of fence post. Just cut the posts to the required sizes and paint them with a candy stripe decoration. Once the paint has dried, drill a small hole in the top of each one and insert a tea light. The result is a festive light stack which will look great indoors or outside in the garden.

Advent Calendar

Another great festive idea is to create your own advent calendar. Again, it is so simple that you will be amazed you haven’t thought of it before. Cut a triangular piece of wood and paint it. Then hammer in some nails as hooks for small galvanized tins, available in any hobby store. Fill the tins with seasonal treats and presto, you have your own homemade advent calendar.

Christmas Card Holder

Every year, the Christmas cards seem to increase in number. Keep them tidy and display them all in their full beauty by making a simple wooden tree holder. Get some lightweight boards and cut them into lengths – reflecting the conical shape of the Christmas tree. Paint the board in seasonal colors and fix them to a central board – the trunk of the tree. Now glue on pins for the cards and there you have it – the perfect seasonal support for your Christmas cards.

Your DIY wood projects don’t have to be big to be satisfying, and starting out on small decorative pieces gives you a way to build up your confidence and get used to using the tools.

You can find hints and tips online via Pinterest. If you are new to woodworking, following YouTube videos can show you how and suggest lots of great seasonal ideas to decorate your home.

One thing is for sure. Once you have the DIY home decorating bug, you may find that your ideas for DIY wood projects will grow ever more ambitious and complicated. This time next year you may even be considering making some more permanent pieces for your home. Happy holidays!

Toy Lawn Tools for Kids to Learn Basic Gardening Skills

Posted on November 17, 2019 by Home

Most of us want to get our kids away from the computer screen or smartphone and out into the fresh air. When you teach your kids basic gardening skills, this lesson will stay with your kids forever. A good way to spark an interest in gardening is with some toy lawn tools that your child can use to be just like mom or dad and help out in the garden. Keep reading to find out which toy lawn tools to add to your child’s collection.

Must-Have Toy Lawn Tools

There are some very sophisticated toy lawn tools out there. The leading toy lawn tool manufacturer, Husquvarna, sells a range of products aimed at young kids between 2 and 5.

The Husquvarna toy lawn mower, leaf blower and weed trimmer are identical in appearance to the real-life models and feature realistic noises and a gentle air flow. These toys will make your little one feel that he or she is helping out in the garden and helping you with the outside chores.

Another great option for toy lawn toys is the range of products from Constructive Playthings. As well as the lawn mower, leaf blower and weed trimmer, this set comes with a toy hedge trimmer and even a chainsaw. Don’t worry; it is not dangerous even though it just seems risky handing what looks like a chainsaw to a child. This range is battery operated and comes with included safety goggles and gloves so your child will feel and look just like mom or dad.

What about a toy gas lawn mower that looks like the real thing and makes mechanical sounds as your child pushes it around the garden?

The Little Tikes Gas and Go Mower would be a great choice for the mini gardener and can provide hours of fun. Your child can fill the pretend gas tank with water and as an added advantage, because the sounds are mechanically generated as it is pushed, you don’t have to worry about batteries.

Other Toy Lawn Tools for Kids

You can buy a wide range of child-friendly gardening tools such as trowels, buckets and watering cans online and in stores such as Target or Walmart. You can find rakes, hoes spades, and forks all in child-friendly sizes and bright colors.

Safe and well-constructed, your child will be able to actually dig and help in the garden with these child-friendly hand tools. He or she is more likely to want to plant and care for their own part of the garden if the tools are the right size for them to use.

One tool that many kids like is the wheelbarrow. A child-sized wheelbarrow enables your child to copy you in the garden and actually help with chores such as clearing leaves. Suitable for children aged 3 and over, this is a fun way to encourage your child to get involved in the garden.

You can’t start your child too early in the garden. With some toy lawn tools, your kids can discover the joys of gardening and learn basic skills that can last a lifetime.

When your kids are helping you with yard work, be sure to also include them in any outdoor building projects, such as those involving pallet furniture as well. Woodworking and building skills will help them in their futures just as much as gardening.

Great Pallet Furniture Ideas

Posted on November 6, 2019 by Home

Upcycling is popular right now and a popular trend that seems to go from strength to strength is making furniture out of pallets. The pallet furniture craze may have started with some basic simple ideas, but these days designs are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Who could have imagined that making furniture out of recycled wooden pallets would have ever become so fashionable and stylish?

The pallet furniture craze started with garden furniture. Keep reading to learn more exciting pallet furniture projects you can try at home today!

Pallet Furniture in the Garden

Pallet furniture used outdoors offers versatility, style, and convenience.

For example, a pallet bench can be easily created from just one pallet with some basic tools, a plan and some basic woodworking skills. An upright pallet makes a cool vertical planter and makes an attractive alternative to the more usual hanging baskets. Once you have tackled these easy projects, why not try a double seat and pallet table or even a picnic table and chairs?

An outside bar is also a great feature for summer entertaining. A pallet furniture bar will usually require 3 or 4 upturned pallets and is easy to make and great to enjoy. We have also seen a rustic and sturdy gate made from a shipping pallet.

Smart and functional pallet furniture is a great way to use your DIY skills and saves you money as well.

Pallet Furniture in the Home

These days, the pallet furniture craze has come indoors as well, and you can make some personal pieces of furniture at the fraction of the cost of buying new.

Pallet bed frames are attractive and stylish. These low-level beds (think IKEA) will suit a fashionable apartment and provide a comfortable support to any mattress or futon.

Storage areas, shelves, display cases, and seasonal DIY wood projects are a great use for pallets as well. If your woodwork skills are more advanced, even your kitchen table and chairs can be created from shipping pallets. The list is endless and only limited by your imagination. Pallet furniture is functional and fashionable; it seems that we can’t get enough of it.

Where do you find your pallets?

A few years ago, pallets were easy to find and many people gave them away as firewood. These days they are not so easy to find for free, but they are still an economical material especially when you consider how much money you will save by making your own pallet furniture.

Try your local distribution center or major hardware store. There are millions of wooden pallets in the world and up until the craze for making pallet furniture, they were seen by most people as a waste product.

Alternatively, look online such as on sites such as Craigslist. You might still be able to find good condition pallets for free, but even if you have to pay a small price for your pallets, it is certainly worth it.