At Home Living: 062715

homes.cjonline.com

REALTOR

®

Saturday, June 27, 2015 An Advertising Feature of The Topeka Capital-Journal

Water wisely for a beautiful garden and landscape – 2 What are your options – home exterior materials – 5 Four easy treats for the 4th of July – 8 Siding factors to consider – 9 Star-studded crafts for July Fourth – 14

2 | Saturday, June 27, 2015 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | At Home

Water wisely for a beautiful garden and landscape

By Melinda Myers Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist

Too much or not enough water and never when you need it. That seems to be the long time plight of gardeners. Add to this extended droughts, flooding and watering bans. What is a gardener to do? Become a waterwise gardener.

Waterwise is not just about growing drought tolerant plants or eliminating plantings. It is a holistic approach to managing water to avoid flooding that overwhelms sewer systems, improper watering that wastes water, and poor landscape designs that generate too much work and require too many resources.

Make this the season that you incorporate a few waterwise habits into your gardening. You’ll find it is good for your garden, the environment and your pocketbook. Start with one or more of these strategies this year.

GARDENS continues on 3A

Melinda Myers, LLC.

Collecting rain in rain barrels when it is plentiful and storing it until it is needed is an effective way to manage water for the landscape.

At Home | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, June 27, 2015 | 3

Gardens: Plants need a healthy diet Continued from 2A n Select the right plant for the growing conditions. Plants that thrive in normal

growing conditions for your area will be healthier, require less care and need less water. Look for drought tolerant plants that require less water once established. n Keep water out of the storm sewers and in the garden instead. Prevent flooding while improving your garden. Adding several inches of compost to the top 8 to 12 inches of soil increases the soil’s ability to absorb and retain water. This means less runoff into the storm sewers and less frequent watering. n Use plants to prevent runoff and conserve water. Plant trees, shrubs, and groundcovers to slow the flow of rainwater, increase the amount of water that stays in your landscape for your plants, and to filter water before it enters the groundwater. Install one or more rain gardens to intercept surface water runoff for use by rain garden plants and to help recharge the groundwater. n Provide plants with a healthy diet.

Use a slow release non-leaching organic nitrogen fertilizer like Milorganite (milorganite.com). You’ll encourage slow steady growth, so your plants will require less water and be less prone to insect and disease problems. Plus, the slow release nitrogen encourages healthy growth and does not

prevent flowering and fruiting. n Water wisely. Water plants thoroughly and only when needed. Water the soil, not the plant, using a watering wand, drip irrigation or a soaker hose so less water is lost to evaporation. Water early in the morning whenever possible to reduce water loss during the heat of the day and diseases caused by wet foliage at night. n Manage your lawns to reduce water use. Select drought tolerant grass varieties to reduce watering needs. Prepare the soil before seeding or sodding or aerate and spread a thin layer of compost over existing lawns to increase water absorption and reduce runoff. Mow high to encourage deep roots that are more drought tolerant and pest resistant. Allow lawns to go dormant during hot dry weather. If irrigating, water thoroughly when needed, that’s when your footprints remain in the lawn. n Conserve water and reduce time and money spent on plant care. Mulch the soil around trees, shrubs and other plants with several inches of woodchips, shredded leaves, evergreen needles or other organic material. Mulching reduces watering frequency, prevents soil compaction from heavy rainfall thus increasing water absorption. It also adds organic matter to the soil as it decomposes. n Repair leaking faucets, fittings and garden hoses. A slow leak of one drip per

second can waste up to nine gallons of water per day. n Look for and use wasted water. Collect the “warming water” typically wasted when preparing baths and showers. Use a five-gallon bucket to collect this fresh water and use it for your containers and gardens. Collect water from your dehumidifier and window air conditioners for use on flowering plants. Do not, however, use this water if environmentally harmful solvents have been used to clean this equipment. n Check with your local municipality

Midwest Gardener’s Handbook. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment segments. Myers is also a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers’ web site, www.melindamyers.com, offers gardening videos and tips.

if you are considering using gray water.

Once you wash clothes, dishes or yourself, water is classed as gray water and most municipalities have guidelines or regulations related to its use. n Harvest rainwater if your municipality allows. The ancient technique of capturing rainwater in jugs, barrels and cisterns has made a comeback. Collecting rain when it is plentiful and storing it until it is needed is one way to manage water for the landscape. But first check local regulations before installing a rain harvesting system. Several states have banned rain harvesting, while others offer rebates or rain barrels at a discount to gardeners.

Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Can’t Miss Small Space Gardening and the

Melinda Myers

Mark Avery

4 | Saturday, June 27, 2015 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | At Home

At Home | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, June 27, 2015 | 5

What are your options home exterior materials

By P.L. Simons Special to The Capital-Journal

In the six decades since vinyl came along, new generations of exterior siding choices have appeared. Though all are likely to be more expensive to install and available in fewer colors than vinyl, many of the newer materials offer greater durability, longer warranty periods and similarly low maintenance requirements.

For an older house with minimal architectural details to accommodate, exterior siding may heighten curb appeal and reduce energy costs, with the added of benefit of a comparatively low-cost aesthetic renovation. A “Cost vs. Value� study published in Remodeling Magazine last year

SIDING continues on 6A

TruCedar single 6 inch steel siding in white.

STOCK PHOTO/TRUCEDAR

6 | Saturday, June 27, 2015 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | At Home

Siding: Aesthetics in line with architecture Continued from 5A reported that homeowners nationwide who added vinyl or insulated vinyl siding to their homes recovered 78 percent of their cost when selling, www.vinylsidinginstitute.com.

While still the least expensive and most common exterior siding choice nationally, early vinyl versions drew criticism for environmental reasons–linked to PVC, polyvinylchloride, content–and their tendency to fade and become brittle. Manufacturing processes were changed after 1971 to reduce health hazards to vinyl production workers, but environmental groups and firefighters continue to register their concerns about fire hazards and chemical toxins. [www.vinylsiding@wikipedia.com] Among property owners, home improvement outlets and exterior siding suppliers this spurred development of new materials to include card-thin, spray-on vinyl; UV protected vinyl or paint-treated steel, vinyl-clad aluminum and colored aluminum. Other siding options include fiber cement; wood shingles and slate; compressed wood and resin amalgams;

cypress, plywood, and other materials that combine natural and man-made elements to resemble stone, stucco, brick or clay.

Though not as popular locally, a second choice in this region is fiber cement, also called hardy board. Fiber cement is an amalgam of wood pulp, cement, clay and sand that can reproduce the texture and look of wood, stucco or stone. It can be painted for added aesthetic appeal, is guaranteed to be water resistant and impervious to changes in humidity and temperature. As warrantied, it is fire-resistant, wind and termite proof and will not rot. Though more costly than vinyl and vinyl-treated aluminum, fiber cement has won support among homeowners in other regions for its water resistance, durability and longer warranty. On the minus side, fiber cement is heavier to install and comes in shorter lengths – factors which add material, labor and shipping costs, while impacting aesthetics.

Newly Clad: Siding for Existing Homes

Vinyl, insulated vinyl and color-treated steel are preferred by Topeka homeowners

who are adding exterior siding to existing homes, according to Bill Wheatley, sales manager for Window Design, Co. These materials account for about 90 percent of their siding sales, nearly all of which go onto existing homes. When deciding on a siding option, “You want the aesthetics to be in line with the architecture,” Wheatley said, though reducing maintenance requirements or efforts to contain structural damage like wood rot also may motivate homeowners’ choices.

The cost of exterior treatments can range from about $2 to $10 per linear foot, for the low-end of vinyl sidings, to more than $30 per linear foot for manufactured stone, resembling anything from native, quarried limestone to river rock. Insulation materials may be calculated separately by siding contractors, and if custom installation is required for any choice in siding, the cost increases, dependent on architectural details or exterior fittings that require additional tools, time or skills.

Many exterior siding choices may present DIY possibilities to economical and skilled homeowners, but most require working with an installation contractor

trained in the specific material selected for cladding. “If you’ve got the skills to do it yourself, you can shave a large amount off your vinyl siding cost,” according to Matt Goring, at Homeadvisor.com. “If you’re unsure of your ability to do a professional grade job, then you’re better off hiring a siding contractor so you won’t experience larger problems down the road.”

Locally, per square foot prices for exterior siding—including insulation and installation—can range from $5.50 for vinyl to $9.50 for cement fiber. Mid-range alternatives that have proven more popular locally include a color-treated steel exterior at $6.90 per square foot and textured and color-treated compressed wood at $7.25 per square foot, according to Wheatley, of Window Design. Prices can fluctuate based on the thickness and form of insulation chosen, he said. Steel and vinyl insulated products carry a lifetime, transferrable warranty, while the cement fiber and compressed wood both have 30-year warranties.

SIDING continues on 7A

At Home | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, June 27, 2015 | 7

Siding: More colors available Continued from 6A

New Home Siding Choices

In Kansas, vinyl siding—including vinyl-covered aluminum--continues to be the preferred material for house exteriors on new home starts, according to 2013 statistics compiled by the National Homebuilders Association from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction. Vinyl accounted for more than 50 percent of exterior siding installed on new homes in the seven-state region, which includes Kansas and Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri.

Nationwide, the study showed vinyl to be the leading choice of exterior sidings for new homes, taking 31 percent of the market, with brick or brick veneer and stucco, at 24 and 22 percent, respectively.

Regional preferences seem to follow both climate differences and the preva-

lence of architectural styles. West Coast states, with more arid climates and a variety of Ranch and Spanish Colonial style homes, chose stucco most often for exterior siding on new homes. Stucco took 49 percent and fiber cement took 43 percent of the market in that region, comprised of Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon and California. In non-coastal, western states, stucco accounted for 58 percent and fiber cement for 28 percent of the market. Vinyl remained the top choice in the East: An arc from Wisconsin to Florida, boosted nationwide vinyl percentages by accounting for 38 to 80 percent of the exterior siding market, according to an NHBA blogpost for September, at www.NHBA.com.

The 2010 Census Bureau statistics, posted online by VSI, report that vinyl or polymerics remain the top exterior siding choices nationwide for homes in the price range of $150,000 to $399,000 and a

second choice, behind stucco, for homes priced between $400,000 and $749,000.

Improved Color Palette

Beyond house color standards, like white, yellow, tan or brown, innovations in vinyl composition have expanded the palette of available colors to 365, according to VSI. Lifetime warranties often reflect increased durability and improved color retention, achieved in modern vinyls during manufacture by adding titanium oxide or exposing vinyl to an extrusion process for UV protection. These refinements, and more efficient insulation materials, have improved the aesthetics, durability and energy efficiency of exterior siding while keeping maintenance requirements to a minimum.

Manufacturers recently introduced new insulation products that either separately or, as insulated siding, heightens the R-factor to increase energy efficiency.

Among these products are Thermowall™, a contoured foam introduced by Progressive Foam Technologies, that fits behind nearly any vinyl panel marketed in the U.S. Another upgrade is polystyrene backing fused to vinyl panels. Craneboard™ and Techwall Plus™, made by Crane Performance Siding, “fuse a contoured polystyrene backing material to a vinyl exterior facing for a solid insulated wall system with an overall R-rating of 4 to 4.5,” according to the NHBA research center, www.homeinnovations.com.

Additional information can be found at websites maintained by manufacturers of steel, aluminum, Hardy board and cement fiber. A few offer online demonstration tools with options to select different siding, trim and exterior colors and combine colors for a pictorial display on one or more house model.

8 | Saturday, June 27, 2015 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | At Home

Four easy treats for the 4th of July Casual and colorful desserts made easy Family Features

Everyone will be bringing something to the 4th of July picnic, but you can bring the grand finale. Each of these tasty sweet treats captures the flair of the 4th without the fuss. In just a little time, you can add patriotic color and fun flavor to classics like cupcakes, ice cream cones and cookies.

Dipped Ice Cream Cones: Add color and crunch to your cones with a dip in red, white or blue melted Candy Melts candy and a variety of patriotic sprinkles. The Cone Cakes baking rack holds the cones for drying and serving.

Red, White and Blue Swirled Cupcakes: Everyone loves picnic treats they can grab and eat, and these July 4th cupcakes also bring pyrotechnics to the plate. Each is topped with an explosive three-color swirl of icing, easily created with the Color Swirl Three-Color Coupler.

S’mores Crispy Cereal Treats: These crunchy cereal bars pack the flavor of traditional s’mores while being much neater to eat. The marshmallow, cereal and candy mixture is laced with warm cinnamon graham and creamy vanilla custard flavors using Treatology Flavor concentrates.

Creamy Coconut Cookie Flag: Give the day a flag-waving finish with red, white and blue royal iced cookies that hold up to the heat using the Color Right™ Performance Color System. The tropical taste combination of toasted coconut and creamy vanilla is just right for summer.

It’s a great feeling to bring a dessert that can’t miss. The Wilton Test Kitchen developed these deliciously easy ideas to go with your summer celebration so you can enjoy the fireworks with everyone else. For more party ideas, visit www.wilton.com.

Dipped Ice Cream Cones Yield: 12 ice cream cones

1 bag (12 ounces) Bright White Candy Melts Candy Sugar ice cream cones Jimmies 6-Mix Sprinkle Assortment Rainbow Jimmies Melt candy in microwave safe bowl. Dip cones about 1 inch deep around opening of cone. Cut small hole in tip of bag and drizzle melted candy 1 inch deep around opening of cone. Tap cone lightly to smooth, and sprinkle with jimmies. Position cone in cone rack. Let chill, about 10–15 minutes.

Add ice cream scoops at party and serve in cone rack.

S’mores Crispy Cereal Treats Yield: 20 servings

Red, White and Blue Swirled Cupcakes Yield: 12 cupcakes

Favorite cupcake recipe or mix 1 4.5-pound tub White Ready-To-Use Decorator Icing Color Right Performance Color System Icing Colors

Red (formula 186): 2 cups icing + 40 R White: Reserve 2 cups icing Deep Blue (formula 647): 2 cups icing + 26 B + 8 R+4P Bake cupcakes according to package directions in red, white and blue standard baking cups.

Tint icing following color formulas above. Prepare Color Swirl 3-Color Coupler according to package directions, filling one decorating bag each with red, white and blue icing and fitting with tip 1M. Pipe a swirl on each cooled cupcake top.

6 tablespoons butter 1 bag (16 ounces) regular-sized marshmallows 1/4 teaspoon Warm Cinnamon Graham Treatology Flavor Concentrate 10 drops Creamy Vanilla Custard Treatology Flavor Concentrate 1/4 teaspoon salt 10 cups crisped rice cereal 1 bag (10 ounces) mini marshmallows, divided 1 1/4 cups Light Cocoa Candy Melts candy, divided Prepare 13-by-9-inch baking pan with vegetable spray In very large saucepan, melt butter over medium high heat until it smells nutty and browns slightly. Reduce heat to medium low; stir in regular marshmallows, warm cinnamon graham and creamy vanilla custard flavors, and salt. Cook, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth.

Remove from heat; stir in cereal, 3 cups mini marshmallows and 3/4 cup light cocoa candy. Press into prepared pan. Sprinkle with remaining mini marshmallows and press lightly to adhere.

In small microwave-safe bowl, microwave remaining 1/2 cup candy on 50 percent power in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until candy is almost melted. Stir thoroughly until smooth and drizzle over treats. Let cool completely.

Creamy Coconut Cookie Flag Yield: About 3 dozen 3-inch cookies Cookies

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 1 egg 1/4 teaspoon Toasted Coconut Treatology Flavor Concentrate 8 drops Creamy Vanilla Custard Treatology Flavor Concentrate 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt

Icing

3/4 cup + 3 teaspoons water 12 cups (about 3 pounds) confectioner’s sugar, sifted 6 tablespoons Color Flow Mix Color Right Performance Color System (see colors tinted below) Icing Colors

Red (formula 32): 1 1/2 cups icing + 62 R + 8 O Deep Blue (formula 647): 1/2 cup icing + 27 B + 5P+6R White: Reserve 2 cups icing

Note: Make and decorate cookies 1 day in advance to allow for drying time.

Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and flavors. Mix flour, baking powder and salt; add to butter mixture 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition. Do not chill dough. Divide dough into 2 balls.

On floured surface with rolling pin, roll each ball into a circle approximately 12 inches in diameter by 1/8 inch thick.

Cut cookies with star nesting metal cookie cutter. Dip cutter in flour before each use.

Bake cookies on ungreased cookie sheet 8–11 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned.

Prepare Color Flow icing. Tint icing following color formulas above. Use tip 3, a parchment bag and full-strength icing to outline cookies: 32 in red, 21 in white and 16 in blue. Let cookies dry 1–2 hours.

Thin 1 cup red, 1/4 cup blue and 1 cup white icing. Use thinned icing and disposable decorating bag to fill in cookies.

Fill in 8 of blue outlined cookies with white icing and remaining cookies with matching outline color. Let dry 8–12 hours.

To serve, arrange cookies on tray in stars and stripes design.

At Home | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, June 27, 2015 | 9

Siding factors to consider

By P.L. Simons Special to The Capital-Journal

What are the most suitable exterior siding choices for a four-season climate that experiences extremes in temperatures and humidity? Here are some factors to consider while comparing choices in vinyl with other options: n Aesthetics: What’s the curb appeal and how does it lift your spirits to see your home looking neat, new and in an appealing and vibrant color? Is it worth the extra $15 per linear foot, above the cost of vinyl siding, to add an authentic-looking fabricated stone or brick exterior to your home? Does it look like the real thing, or is that repeating design of brick or wood grain just too perfect? Should you pop for a few cans of satin, high gloss enamel paint and hire a crew of neighborhood Tom Sawyers, instead? n Durability: What is the anticipated lifespan for the material chosen? For exterior sidings, this can vary from a few decades to half a century, or longer. The durability of the exterior material chosen should be reflected in the length of its warranty. Homeadvisor.com experts recommend thicker vinyls, .048 inches or more, to maximize moisture and wind resistance, optimize energy efficiency, and combat weather extremes--which directly affect siding’s longevity. Ask these questions in choosing other exterior materials, as well as finding out what insulation materials are recommended to compliment the choice of siding. n Maintenance: Will a little soap and an annual power wash be enough to clean up siding and return the vibrancy of its original color? Higher grade and thicker vinyls are available now, but without the

UV protection of titanium dioxide and extrusion, vinyl can fade and become brittle over time, according to HomeAdvisor. com experts. Ask whether the materials are UV protected. Errant pitches and stray RBIs from street baseball can shatter brittle vinyl and leave visible marks on the house’s exterior surface. With the same athletic treatment, aluminum also show dents and color may chalk with time. Even coated steel or wood amalgams can show some damage, if hit by a falling branch or bumped by a vehicle. n Warranty: How long does the manufacturer guarantee the material? Does the lifetime warranty transfer to a new owner? What protection is written into the warranty for everyday wear or incidental damages? If warranties do not include these factors, consider insurance that does. n Unanticipated costs: What will insulation or a custom installation add to the per linear foot cost quoted by the materials supplier? Newer metal sidings and modern vinyls may be manufactured with insulation attached to the house-facing side, or as a form-fitted base layer over which the vinyl is applied. If not part of the square foot price quote, these costs need to be added into overall material supply and installation charges. Heavier products, like insulation fused vinyls or cement fiber panels, may incur additional shipping charges which will be reflected in consumer prices.

Some materials and certain, older or architecturally ornate houses, will require expert installation and the use of special cutting tools and protective wear. These factors can add to the overall cost, though the investment pays returns if materials

FACTORS continues on 10A

10 | Saturday, June 27, 2015 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | At Home

Factors: Calculating square footage Continued from 9A and installation work carry an adequate warranty. n Energy Savings: Are there energy saving benefits, through improved insulation, to make exterior siding more cost effective? Insulation choices directly affect price and energy savings. Discuss this with your materials supplier, contractor and industry experts who can offer advice on how to achieve maximum efficiency for the region and climate. Then consult structural engineers or utility companies that offer energy audits, to find out whether the claimed savings are accurate.

NHBA’s research center website, www.

NHBA.com, offers information on exterior siding choices, including rated

durability, ease of installation, cost factors and energy efficiency at: http:// www.toolbase.org/ToolbaseResources/ level3.aspx?BucketID=1&CategoryID=35 . Homeadvisor, an online contractor and remodeler resource, provides consumers with blogposts on installation and materials at: http://www.homeadvisor.com/ article.show.What-to-Expect-with-VinylSiding-Cost.15039.html#ixzz3DUydNzSo

How to calculate square foot requirements for your house

If exterior siding costs are quoted in linear foot increments, how do you convert those numbers to calculate square foot requirements? What can a homeowner expect to pay for vinyl insulated siding priced at $2 to $10 per linear foot if her

house measures 20 feet wide, by 60 feet long, and 12 feet from foundation to roof?

Use this simple formula: Add the width to the length, then double that figure = 160.

Take the result (160) times the height, 12 feet, (160 x 12) = 1,920. This is the number of square feet required in exterior siding to cover the house. At $2 to $10 per linear foot, this would mean the vinyl siding price for this house would be $3,840 to $19,200— “not including extras and unexpected expenses,” according to homeadvisor.com.

“As with any major home improvement job, the unexpected is the norm, not the exception. Vinyl siding prices are no different.” Make sure quoted square foot prices include insulation and installation to reduce unwelcome surprises.

2015 Topeka Area Pond Tour Guide Corrections 24th Annual Pond Tour – Saturday June 27th 9am – 4pm & Sunday June 28th Noon – 4pm This years Pond Tour Guide has a couple of corrections. Please note these corrections and accept my deepest apologies for any inconvenience it may cause. – Chris Newell Bonus Pond - Old Prairie Town at 124 NW Fillmore Pond #1 - Mary Weaver, 4301 SW 17th Terrace (not Street as printed) Pond #2 - Dave and Sharon Fisher, 5914 SW Clarion Lakes Way Pond #3 - Kip and Paula Walker, 6526 SW Wentley Lane Pond #4 - Chuck and Sharon Tracy, 5020 NW Derby Drive Pond #5 - Keith and Lynne Pelton, 1609 NW 33rd Place (not Terrace as printed) Pond #6 - Anna Reb, 3412 NE Meriden Road Pond #7 - Larry and Barb Shipman, 3030 SE Paulen Road Pond #8 - Alan Beam, 5525 SE 45th Street Pond #9 - Dave and Mary Horner, 3912 SE Tomahawk Trail Bonus 1 - WaterScape Concepts, 715 NE Hwy 24 Bonus 2 - Waters Edge, 9th and Indiana, Lawrence Ticket available at these Topeka locations: HyVee, Jackson’s Greenhouse, Old Prairie Town / Ward Meade, Porterfield’s Flowers & Gifts, Skinner’s Garden Store, Topeka Landscape, Waterscape Concepts, Wild Bird House, and at each pond site. Plus in Lawrence at Waters Edge.

At Home | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, June 27, 2015 | 11

Service Directory

Service Directory

Boost your brand, product or service with an ad in the service directory! At Home Living is read by home owners, buyers and sellers across the Topeka and surrounding area. To place your ad contact your MultiMedia Sales Consultant or 785.295.1125.

12 | Saturday, June 27, 2015 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | At Home

At Home | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, June 27, 2015 | 13

14 | Saturday, June 27, 2015 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | At Home

Star-studded crafts for July Fourth Family Features

Celebrate your independence from another ho-hum summer gathering. Grab your family and friends for an evening of fireworks and a brilliant display of stylish crafts that give pops of red, white and blue.

Patriotic gatherings are a great way to get in some extra bonding time with those closest to you. Whether you opt for a traditional picnic, backyard barbecue or al fresco dinner party, step it up with patriotic themed food bars and chic buffets. You’re sure to receive a burst of compliments when you bring these colorful projects – created by the crafting experts at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores – to the table.

For more crafts to light up your Independence Day festivities, visit www.joann.com.

Patriotic Decorative Table Linens Project by Stef Knaus, thegirlinspired.com, for Jo-Ann Crafting time: Under 1 hour Skill level: Some experience necessary Supplies and Tools: Fabric for table coverings: n Toweling n Quilting cotton n Linen n Burlap Trim: n Ric-rac n Lace n Pom-poms Iron and pressing surface Sewing machine Basic sewing supplies 1. Determine desired size for table linens and cut fabric to size, leaving 1-inch excess on each side for hemming.

2. For neatly finished edge (on toweling, for example), hem each raw edge by turning fabric toward wrong side 1/2 inch, iron flat, and then turn 1/2 inch again. Press well with an iron. Sew across turned edge, approximately 3/8 inch from edge, to secure hem in place.

3. To add decorative trim to edge of fabric, match right side and raw edge of trim to right side and raw edge of fabric. Stitch using 1/4-inch seam allowance. Turn and press under raw edge of fabric so that remaining portion of trim extends out. Topstitch along edge of fabric to secure trim in place.

4. Use hemmed and decorative edge linens as tablecloths and table runners to stage food and beverage tables. Add height to table by stacking books and then draping with decorative table linens. Place cake stands or food trays on top.

Create a festive table top.

Stock Photo/Family Features

At Home | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, June 27, 2015 | 15

16 | Saturday, June 27, 2015 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | At Home