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Home-Dzine It’s all about caring for and improving your home

April 2010

Fall Colour & Holiday Crafts

Also in this issue ...

• Midas touch

Add a touch of metallic gold to your interiors

• Crafts and DIY projects aplenty

Easter crafts for mom and kids, metallic wall stencil, wood graining, and more

WIN a Dremel Series 300 MultiTool All you have to do is book an EASY-DIY Workshop for yourself and 2 friends and we’ll automatically enter you into the draw to own your very own Dremel Series 300 MultiTool, valued at over R1000!

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE EASY-DIY WEBSITE

Features & Benefits * New and unique design - Improved ergonomics and increased comfort * Comfort switches - More comfortable when handling and better control * Variable speed 10.000–33.000 RPM - To match speed to the project at hand * Second attachment interface - To attach DREMELite * On-board wrench storage - To have the wrench always at hand * Integrated hang hook - For hanging the tool while working with the Flexible Shaft * Soft grip - For reduced vibration and a better grip * 125W motor - Optimal performance Contents * Dremel 300 Series * 55 high quality Dremel accessories in Mini Accessory Case * Dremel high quality Flexible Shaft * Convenient and elegant storage case * Inspiring Welcome Poster

a word or two

Do it!

Wishing you all a blessed Easter and fun holidays. This issue offers more of a craft theme than usual - specially for those at home for the holidays with children to occupy.

For those of you who asked - we have now added even more topics to our DIY DIVA workshops, such as Welding, Building Basics, Tiling and Mosaic, Router Techniques, working with a Scrollsaw and Jigsaw and making Picture Frames.

We’ve got some BIG brand prizes up for grabs to be value of over R50,000. All you have to do is attend a workshop and we’ll automatically enter you into the year-end draw.

Janice Home-Dzine Online is written and compiled by Janice Anderssen.

All projects in this issue, or any other issue, remain the property of Home-Dzine and Janice Anderssen, or the respective copyright holders, and may not be copied or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission.

Image and content credits: meredith publishing - good homes - family handyman - sunset publishing - popular mechanic - house & home - georgia pacific - expert village - channel4 - pottery barn - flikr - nkba - resene - mitre10 - lowes and any others.

Durban Divas discover how to ‘Do It’ Have a day out with the girls!



Decorate

shades of

autumn

As the cooler weather heads our way, if you have plans to give your decor a makeover, think about using earth tones and neutrals in new ways to warm up your interiors.

The deep oranges and browns in this dining room capture the hues of autumn and the richness of falling leaves.

Designer Christopher J. Grubb uses both matt and glossy oranges here for varied texture. A glass-globe chandelier and a coordinating centrepiece complete the room.

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Get the look:

Don’t confine colour to the walls. The bright sideboard, chairs and coordinating table accessories add interest and dimension to this otherwise neutral space.

Prominent Paints Matt, Satin or Sheen in Orange Zest (0718Y32R) on large expanses of wall, combined with Ginger Cream (1429-Y57R) have just the right amount of spice to warm up any dining space.

For scrubbability use Prominent Paints Sheen in Kalahari Sun (0618-Y32R) and Papaya Juice (1529-Y61R).

Decorate ď ś

ABOVE: This space uses two of the most vibrant autumn shades - red and orange - without playing into fall decor clichĂŠs and by pairing funky orange chaises with a striking red crane, then grounding the space with a dark-brown sideboard and accessories.

RIGHT: For a more conservative feel, shades or orange have been paired with a selection of lighter, softer tones.

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Decorate

Green and blue are the colours of spring and summer, but the yellow hues in this room give the combination a warm autumn twist.

The designer used traditional, gold-framed artwork to add shine and an unexpected twist in a room with modern furniture in pale shades of green and gold and light-wood pieces.

Get the look:

Find ornate frames at ea markets or antique stores, then spray-paint them gold to add instant shine to your space - see next page for more ideas on painting old frames. Hang frames higher up the wall to draw the eye up and make any room feel instantly taller.

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Get the look: Prominent Paints Matt, Satin or Sheen in Frosted Sage (2211-G63Y) on a feature wall, combined with White Cloud (0702-Y) on larger walls keep this room light and airy with just the right amount of warmth.

For a bold accent colour, consider adding Evergreen Forest (5212-G03Y) to smaller areas

Decorate 

midas

touch

When In Monochrome

Reinvent white neoclassical chairs with metallic gold seat cushions, and put a glamorous slant on elegant black and white.

In Great Detail

Set a gilt mirror against black to really let the flourishes stand out. Coupled with modern mosaic touches, this combination becomes an instant design classic.

Simply adding flashes of gold in unexpected places for a quick way to dress up a plain piece or achieve a more subtle look.

Rust-Oleum Metallic Range

Makes it so easy to transform wood, plastic, ceramic, metal, and more, with metallic spray, leafing pens and Antique Gold kits.

Now available at your local Builders Warehouse.

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Decorate

metallic touch Sometimes I get the urge to do something completely different - just for the fun of it. As I was busy doing a dining room makeover, which is incidentally open-plan to a kitchen, staircase and passage and means that I also have to do those areas as well, I decided to try something a little different.

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Decorate



PREVIOUS PAGE BOTTOM RIGHT: The passage before I attacked it - pretty boring.

LEFT: Definitely no longer boring - this metallic design catches and reflects the light in the small space.

You will need:

Rust-Oleum Silver Leafing Pen Rust-Oleum Paint Pen - black and blue Pencil Artwork - see back pages Quality eraser and clean cloth

Here’s how:

1. Start by copying your design onto the wall using a pencil. Don’t press too hard - you only want a faint outline to follow.

2. Working from the bottom up - to prevent smudging of the pencil marks - fill in the areas with the Rust-Oleum Silver Leafing Pen. You may have to stop and start to allow areas to dry as you move up.

3. Once all the areas have been filled with silver, outline with black and blue for more detail. Obviously you can use other colours if you wish.

4. Remove any pencil marks with the eraser.

You can buy Rust-Oleum products countrywide at your local Builders Warehouse store, or contact www. tilecare.co.za for stockists in your region.

See back of magazine for large stencil design.

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

Crafts

Easter Egg and Bunny Shaped Cookies You will need:

Bunny Shaped Cookies One batch cookie mix (recipe makes 12) Lollipop sticks Bunny cookie pan (or make your own with tin snipped and shaped to size) Sugar paste in pastel colours (below) Candy beans A selection of patterned ribbons Easter Egg Shaped Cookies Batch vanilla cookies* (recipe makes 25-30) Easter egg shaped cutter Ready made sugarpaste in pastel colours Small quantity buttercream to act as glue Rolling pin 8

Here’s how:

Vanilla cookies recipe* 225g flour 5ml baking powder 100g butter 175g caster sugar 5ml vanilla extract 1 egg, beaten 1. To make the Vanilla cookies, rub butter into sifted flour and baking powder, add sugar then mix to a dough with vanilla and egg, roll out fairly thinly on a lightly floured surface, transfer to a lightly greased baking sheet allowing space for spreading, then bake until golden brown at 190c and cool on a wire rack before decorating.

Crafts  Some fun recipes that mom and kids can make together over the holidays, to celebrate Easter with colourful, fun goodies.

The kids can easily make the sugarpaste while mom does the cooking.

Click HERE for sugarpaste method.

2. To decorate, lightly grease work surface with the fat and roll the kneaded coloured sugarpaste to a thickness of approximately 3-4mm.

3. Using the same egg-shaped cutter that cut the cookie shapes, cut a shape from the sugar paste, lift carefully, moisten the back with buttercream and place on the cookie. Repeat with other cookies in an assortment of colours.

4. Use a finger moistened with water to smooth and round the edges.

5. Add designs to the sugar paste with coloured icing.

Sugarpaste:

1. Lightly grease work surface and roll the kneaded coloured sugar paste to a thickness of approximately 3-4mm.

2. Using the template, cut a bunny shape from the sugar paste, lift carefully, moisten the back with buttercream and place on the cookie. Repeat with other cookies in an assortment of colours.

courtesy hobby craft

3. Use a finger moistened with water to smooth and round the edges.

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

Crafts

roll-on

I love looking at product packaging—you can do so many creative things with all those bold graphics. Here, I’ve cut up some assorted boxes and woven them into baskets for Easter.

Once the holiday’s over, you could even put them right back into the recycle bin—or use them for organizing.

long as it’s made of cardboard, you can use anything you like. The larger the box you begin with, the larger your finished basket will be. I’ve made each of these baskets from a single box, but you could certainly combine cardboard from several different boxes if you prefer.

You will need:

Before you begin this project, make sure your box is nice and clean. Cut the four sides apart, following the fold lines. Cut off any tabs from the top and bottom of the box.

* Cardboard food boxes (see notes below) * Metal ruler * Pencil * Scissors * Craft knife * Cutting surface * Bone folder * Tacky glue * Paper clips

A few notes on cardboard: For the samples shown here, I’ve used a pizza box, a 12pack soda box, and a baking mix box.

Packaging comes in all shapes and sizes—as 10

Here’s how:

1. Start with the front or back panel of the box. Most weaving projects start with a little math and planning, so let’s get that out of the way first.

Measure out a rectangle that’s an odd number of cm wide. Then, add 6 cm to that dimension. This will be the length of

courtesy craft stylish

For this month I decided to concentrate on a few easy crafts for moms and kids ... enjoy!

easter basket

Crafts  your rectangle. So, by way of example, my rectangle here is 12 cm wide. Adding 6 cm, I get 18 cm. So I’m cutting a 12cm x 18cm rectangle.

Cut a second rectangle to match.

2. On the back side of the cardboard, measure in 7cm from each short edge and draw lines as shown. This should create a square in the centre—and again, it should be an odd number of cm and wide.

3. Measure and draw parallel lines that are 2.5cm apart across the ends of the rectangle, as shown here.

4. Use a metal ruler and craft knife to cut slits in the ends of the rectangle where you drew your lines. For each line, you’ll be making two parallel cuts about 5mm apart—I usually just cut a little to each side of my pencil line. These gaps will make your weaving lie flatter.

5. Using a bone folder, score both ends of the cardboard along the ends of those slits. Place a ruler along that score line, and gently fold the long tabs at the end of the cardboard upward.

Repeat steps 2–5 with the second piece of cardboard.

6. Place the two pieces of cardboard at right angles to each other, as shown. You can arrange them so the graphics face up or down—this will create different looks in your finished basket.

Glue the two pieces together in that centre square, placing glue along all four sides for extra sturdiness.

7. Time to weave! Use the remaining pieces of your box to cut four long strips, each 2.5cm wide. Then, start at one corner of the basket. Bend the long tabs in and out, alternating as shown.

8. Take one of your long cardboard strips and fold it in half. Place this fold at the corner of the basket and nestle it between the long tabs, as shown.

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

Crafts This is a good time to mention that you can place your weaving strips with the graphics facing in or out. For this tutorial, I’m facing all the graphics out for clarity.

9. Put a drop of Power Pritt gel glue where each tab comes in contact with this strip. Press the tabs in place, and secure them with paper clips while the glue dries.

Let the glue dry for 10 minutes or so before proceeding.

Place glue at each contact point. Hold the pieces together with paper clips while the glue dries.

10. You’ll have some extra cardboard sticking out at the ends. At the end where this strip passes over the last long tab, fold it to the inside of the basket.

Fold the excess strip to the inside at one corner.

At the opposite corner, where the strip passes under the last long tab, cut it to match the edge of the tab.

At the other corner, trim the excess off.

11. Fold another long strip and repeat steps 7–10 to weave from the opposite corner. Let this dry for another 10–15 minutes and remove all the paper clips.

12. Time to glue those two loose corners.

Each corner should now have one long tab, as shown. Place that to the inside of the basket and glue it in place. Hold it with two paper clips for extra stability, and let the glue dry for about 10 minutes before proceeding.

Repeat steps 8–12 to weave another row.

This time, reverse the pattern so that you weave over every tab you wove under in the previous row, and vice versa. For extra 12

Power Pri� GEL is extra strong and offers precise applica�on.

100% acid and solvent free.

Crafts  strength, start the weaving in the opposite two corners—the ones you glued in step 12. Let this second row dry another 10–15 minutes, then remove the paper clips.

13. Finish the top edge of the basket. Fold all the remaining tabs of cardboard to the outside. Trim so they’re rounded.

Or, you may prefer to fold and glue all the tabs to the inside, and glue some decorative cutouts to the edge, and add buttons, ribbon, or other embellishment.

14. Cut another 2.5cm-wide strip from the leftover pieces of your box for the handle. If you have enough cardboard to cut one strip that’s long enough to make a nice handle, great! If not, you can glue two pieces together end to end. (If you need your handle to be extra strong you can reinforce it with duct tape on the underside.)

Trim the handle to a size you like, and glue the ends to the inside of the basket. It’s a good idea to glue as much surface area as possible here, so make sure the handle is glued all the way to the bottom of the basket.

Fill your basket with some shredded paper or natural straw, add your Easter Egg shaped cookies (see next page) and you’re all set!

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Home



Winter is on its way, and for many in the northern part of the country, this could mean blackouts, power outages and general disrup�on of daily life.

Preparing for the unexpected can help you overcome difficult �mes. Being ready for a power outage is one such scenario. By taking a few steps now, you can feel safe later if your home is to lose power.

Step 1: Put together an emergency kit Every household should have an emergency kit for a power outage that includes a flashlight for every member of the family and a few extra ba�eries. This emergency kit should be in an open space that is easy to get to. Don’t hide it under the sink or on the top shelf!

Step 2: Food and water

be prepared for a blackout

If you don’t have a built-in gas hob as part of your kitchen, invest in a small gas cooker - and be sure to keep gas containers handy.

A small ke�le and a couple of pots will allow you to rustle up food and drink in the event of an extended power outage. Get an ample amount of canned goods and at least a few bo�les of water to help you survive if worst comes to worst. Make it a habit to fill up a vacuum flask every morning in the event that power is off when you return home from work.

Step 3: Keep cell phones charged

courtesy she knows

You should make it a part of your daily rou�ne to keep your cell phone charged. If that’s not feasible, consider purchasing an extra cell phone ba�ery or a cell phone that is strictly for emergencies.

Step 4: Consider a generator A very effec�ve way to combat a power outage is to own a backup generator. A generator can provide 14

power to your house un�l the regular power is restored. If you live in an area prone to power outages or blackouts, a generator is a must.

Step 5: Keeping warm As power outages drag on, especially in winter, your house may get colder. Have plenty of blankets and warm clothing on hand for several hours - maybe even overnight - in an unheated house.

Step 6: Brighten the mood Make power outages fun by inven�ng games that can be played when the power is off. Get out playing cards and board games - some�mes the wai�ng actually can be fun!

Crafts



DIY guys

For beautiful mood lighting, just combine off-the-shelf parts -- and add mineral oil Uses an industrial fixture - made from cast aluminium and used for outdoor or hazardous locations - with rubber seals to keep moisture out. In our case, we are using the seals to keep the mineral oil in.

You will need:

Industrial or outdoor light Air pump Clear PVC tubing 3-wire 18awg cord Nylon liquid-tight strain relief with flex fitting.

Be sure to get a thread to match the threads on the fixture 3-pin male plug.

18awg wire nuts Light-viscosity mineral oil Coloured 40-watt bulb Drill plus 6mm HSS bit Screwdriver Wire strippers Utility knife

Here’s how:

1. Decide what length of electrical cord and air tubing you want. Cut to appropriate length.

2. Wire the male plug onto the end of your cord.

3. Open the housing [A] of the light fixture.

You should find two screws near the light socket on the upper part of the fixture.

You will find the upper part (cap) and the base on which the light socket is mounted.

Drill a hole in the base, through which you will run the air tube.

courtesy popular science

This article is specially for all our DIY Guys out there - enjoy!

light entertainment

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Crafts

 4. Screw the strain relief [B] to the cap, where you will find a threaded opening at the top.

Run both the air tube [C] and the electrical cord through the strain relief. Tie the electrical cord in a simple box knot -- this will ensure that no strain is placed directly on the connection between the socket leads and cable when the lamp is hung. Strip the ends of the wires back and connect to the leads with wire nuts.

5. Feed the air tube through the new hole, again, leaving about 20cm below the base. Screw the base back to the cap. When doing this, you should ground the fixture by taking the green ground lead and twisting it around one of the screws that connects the cap to the base.

6. When you have reconnected the cap to the base, gently tighten down the strain relief via the nut on the strain relief. Don’t tighten too much or you will squeeze the air tube.

7. Screw the bulb of your choice into the socket.

8. Fill the glass globe [D] about one-third full with mineral oil. Remember that the light bulb will displace the mineral oil, so you don’t want too much. Even though the rubber seals work fairly well, if you overfill, a little mineral oil will seep out. For this reason, when you have the whole assembly completed, you want to keep the fixture upright and not on its side. Screw the globe to the base, and then the aluminium grill [E].

9. Attach the air tube to the pump [F], plug the pump and the light in and, presto: bubble light!

You can hang it anywhere - a reflective surface such as a white wall picks up the reflections nicely. To hang, we generally 16

Get everything you need at your local Builders Warehouse

use an eye bolt mounted in the ceiling with a toggler, though of course the method of hanging depends on what you plan to hang it from.

If you choose, you can put a switch or dimmer in line for the light. Do not put a dimmer on the air pump line, as this will burn



The Lighter Side of DIY LEFT: Are your cupboards falling off the walls? Doors hanging by hinges?

Get out your car jack for a quick fix solution!

BELOW: We know that a staple gun is great for upholstery, but this is taking it a bit too far!

I fixed it !

If any of these images look even slightly familiar, it’s definitely time to sign up for an EASY-DIY or DIY-DIVAS workshop!

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 RIGHT: Blocked pipes? No problem!

BOTTOM RIGHT: Now here’s a way that you will never lose the key for the door!

BELOW: New uses for Lego bricks!

If your DIY is a disaster zone - sign up for an EASYDIY or DIY DIVAS workshop and find out how easy it is to ‘Do-It-Yourself’ the right way!

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ď ś

create the look of

real wood Standard masonite or pre-painted hollowcore interior doors can easily be updated with a faux wood-grain effect when decorating for a complete transformation.

courtesy scripps networks

Makeover

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

Makeover

You will need:

- Wood-graining tool/rocker - Paintbrushes* - 220-grit sandpaper - Paint tray - Scumble glaze and acrylic paint: golden brown, medium brown, dark brown - Masking tape - Water-based wax or acrylic varnish

Here’s how:

1. Prime and base-coat your door, sanding it lightly once dry and removing the dust with a damp rag between layers. In separate containers, mix one part of each wood-toned colour with one part water and one part glaze.

2. It’s important to paint in the direction of the wood grain so tape-off the horizontal (including mitred) edges of the trim. Make sure to push the tape down really well so paint doesn’t bleed underneath.

3. Wood graining is actually the strie technique with a new step added. Apply a small amount of the medium brown mixture as you would for strie with long, straight horizontal strokes. Some areas will be a little darker and some lighter, which is fine and enhances the natural feel of wood. Let dry.

4. For the second coat, apply a light, streaky coat of the dark brown mixture, and while it’s still wet, drag and rock the wood-graining tool through it to create the knots and grain found in wood. Use the edges of the tool to create different looks. If an area looks a little too dark, lightly sweep a dry brush over the paint. For areas the wood-graining tool won’t fit into, use the dry brush to create a strie effect. If you want more of a challenge, use the artist brushes to create additional wood effects.

5. Once you’re done wood graining in one direction, pull off the tape and let the door dry.

6. Repeat the process for the unpainted vertical sections of the door and let dry. Apply a coat of wax or varnish - work quickly, again going with the grain of the wood. Don’t re-apply the varnish in a wet area as that can gum up the surface. This layer will protect the finish and bring out the detail of the technique.

*For a perfect finish use the Addis Home Decor paintbrush (brown).

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Click on image for supplier of doublesided wood grain rocker.

Makeover

perfect paint job

 If you use enamel or oil-based paints for interior doors, it can be difficult to achieve a perfect streak-free finish, but with a few tips and tricks there are ways to get it right - the first time!

Preparation Don’t paint over layers of old paint. Use a Heat Gun to strip off the old paint and get down to the surface. I have a Skil Heat Gun that is absolutely fantastic!

Sand the door smooth with 240-grit sandpaper to remove any blemishes before you start.

Mask off or remove handles, etc.

I always prefer to start off at the top of the door - get’s the arm-aching work out of the way first. Start at the top corner (left or right) and only apply enough paint to fill a 20cm square area.

The trick is to brush up and feather down to smooth out the paint at the bottom.

This means that when you actually reach that area it is much easier to blend the paint in.

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Makeover

 Pain�ng �ps for working with enamel or oilbased paint • If you need to take a break from pain�ng, wrap your brush and paint tray with clingwrap to prevent the paint from drying, as oil-based paints become very s�cky during the curing process.

• If you need to do any touch up to the painted surface, rather wait un�l the paint is completely dry.

• To avoid spoiling the surface with loose paintbrush hairs, be sure to buy a quality brush. Addis have a Home Decor brush that is perfect for using with enamel and oil-based paints.

• Regularly scrap the brush against the inside of the paint tray to remove excess paint that accumulates at the base of the bristles.

It helps to prevent paint drops.

• Always use a drop cloth to protect your floors from paint drips and spa�ers.

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Do it Yourself



weekend

patio

Got some time on your hands over the holidays? Here’s an easy patio option that you can build in a weekend.

You will need:

Scaffolding planks - thick and long Cement stock or face bricks Plaster mix Fibre cement board Construction adhesive Henkel CF850 Chemical Anchor

Tools:

Circular saw Belt sander and plane Angle grinder - optional Building tools and accessories

Here’s how:

1. Start by digging out and placing 300mm deep foundations for the support pillars.

Leave to cure overnight before building up and plastering the pillars.

2. Measure, cut, sand and mount the front crossbeam using a roof truss bracket to attach to top of pillar.

3. Measure, mark and chase out wall mountings using a cold chisel and hammer or an angle grinder to one brick depth.

4. On each beam cut a rebate to a depth of 100mm to allow beams to fit onto crossbeam.

Insert the beams into the wall mounting and onto the crossbeam. Fill any gaps with Henkel CF850 Chemical Anchor.

Take note: Any structure added on to an existing building requires plans and municipal approval.

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Do it Yourself

Do it Yourself



Seaside Green Cottage Chairs

Last week, I picked up a pair of dusty chairs at a secondhand store. I loved the classic cottage shape and the cheap price, but the finish was so grungy. I brought them home and sanded them down to the raw wood, removing all the dirt and grime. Then I gave them a fresh coat of spring green paint !

Here’s how:

1. Start off with some intensive sanding to get rid of as much old paint, varnish or old sealer as possible.

2. If the surface is badly pitted or scratched, you might want to spend some time sanding with 180-grit sandpaper to smooth down the surface. Fill any holes with wood filler, let dry and then sand over.

Wipe clean with a clean cloth and mineral turps and leave in the sun to dry.

Rust-Oleum Painters Touch is an interior and exterior spray that is perfect for touching up or giving old furniture a makeover.

courtesy centsationalgirl

3. Grab a can of Rust-Oleum Painters Touch - satin - in your choice of colour.

For this project we used Seaside Green.

Do your spraying outdoors - it’s quick and easy as you will only need 2 coats.

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Do it Yourself

Do it Yourself

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