Blog Carnival of Everything Home - Last Edition for 2008
Welcome to the final edition for 2008 of The Carnival of Everything Home.
As always, there are lots of great contributions to this Carnival. Remember to include a link back to this post. Thank you again to everyone who contributed and I look forward to reading each and everyone.
I am taking this opportunity to wish every contributor and to all of our readers throughout the year a very Happy Holiday and a Happy New Year.
Green Living
Heather Levin presents When Does It Pay To Buy Organic? posted at The Greenest Dollar.
Condo Blues presents 10 Green Gifts That Suck posted at Condo Blues, saying, “There are a lot of good green gifts out there. None of them are one this list.”
Woman Tribune presents Donate or Recycle Your Old Mattress posted at Woman Tribune.
AdmirableIndia.com presents Trip to Kanyakumari: Chapter 4: Tamil Annai Park, Kanyakumari posted at AdmirableIndia.com.
Home Decor
HighGrace presents Christmas is a women?s issue: A magazine review posted at Face to the Sun.
Vic presents What Is The Best Yogurt Maker For Your Needs? posted at Yogurt Maker Central, saying, “Making yogurt at home is a great way to save money and stay healthy at the same time - it’s a quick and easy snack for the kids. This article compares some of the features available in the various yogurt makers on the market today to help you make a more informed decision.”
Margaret Garcia presents Spruce it Up – 25 DIY Tips to Improve your Home’s Exterior posted at Top Online Engineering Degree.
Myscha Theriault presents Dumpy to Divine on Less Than a Dime | Wise Bread posted at Wise Bread, saying, “This is a budget decorating article featuring ideas to spruce up those dumpier apartments on very little money.”
Home Improvement
Mark Donovan presents Preventing Ice Dams posted at HomeAdditionPlus, saying, “Mark dicusses tips on how to prevent ice dams on your home’s roof this winter.”
Thrifty Homeowner presents What’s a Renovation Coach? posted at The Thrifty Homeowner, saying, “Info about this “new” typr of contractor”
Other
Carole DeJarnatt presents A List of Hatcheries posted at Fowl Visions.
GrrlScientist presents The Psychology Behind Wrapping Paper [Reprise] posted at Living the Scientific Life, saying, “Scientific research asks; what does gift-wrapping do for the recipient? Is all this effort worth it for the recipient? For example, do recipients actually like gift-wrapped presents more than unwrapped gifts?”
Jim presents The Five Reasons Why I Recycle posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity.
HappyCampers presents MiceCube: A Review! posted at The Adventures Of The Williams Family.
GP presents EnLightening Gifts posted at Manely Montana, saying, “Enlightening gifts for the holiday!”
GrrlScientist presents The Hungry Scientist Handbook: Electric Birthday Cakes, Edible Origami, and Other DIY Projects for Techies, Tinkerers, and Foodies posted at Living the Scientific Life, saying, “[not sure if this is appropriate, but it is DIY and focused on the home!] by Patrick Buckley and Lily Binns, this is an entertaining and informative romp through twenty “kitchen science” projects [book review].”
Al Tepper presents ooffoo Competitions posted at ooffoo, saying, “Hope you think this relevant as ooffoo.com is a very green site - thought your readers might like to know about our £500 writing competition - entries close Dec 31 2008 SUMMARY: ooffoo is already a great place to inspire people, offer hope and present positive ideas. There is no chosen topic that articles must cover for this competition but the prize will be given to the article judged the most inspirational or ‘feel good’ about our world or the people in it. To enter simply upload an article on ooffoo.com and ensure one of the article tags is ‘ooffoo Laureate’. Your entry can be poem or prose, a play, a dialogue, an interview but whatever it is we want it to inspire us. It must be no longer than one ooffoo article and you may enter as many different articles as you like. Thanks for hosting!”
One Family presents Frugal Living – Ten Great Gift Ideas for Frugal Families (Christmas Holiday Shopping Tips) posted at One Family’s Blog.
banquet manager thatsme presents A Case of Miller Lite posted at So You Want To Be a Banquet Manager….
Gil Ortiz presents Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl posted at gilocafe.
Tisha Tolar presents Overwhelming Workload - YES! You Can Do it! posted at Empowering Mom.
Money Smart Life presents Save Money at Restaurants- Tips for Spending Less When Eating Out posted at Money Smart Life.
Debt Free Destiny presents Betting on a Big Payday Never Pays Off posted at Debt Free Destiny.
Matthew Paulson presents How to Host a Holiday Cookie Swap posted at American Consumer News.
Matthew Paulson presents Finding Ways to Give When Times Are Tough posted at American Consumer News.
Travel Advocate presents A Holiday Travel Gift: More Americans Traveling This Season posted at The Travel Advocate.
Savings Toolbox presents Save Up For College With FreshmanFund’s 529 College Savings Plan Gift Registry posted at Savings Toolbox.
Destroy Debt presents 3 Basic Principles for Good Personal Finance Habits posted at Destroy Debt.
Deposit Accounts presents The Painless Guide to Switching Checking Accounts posted at Deposit Accounts.
Credit Card Assist presents What College Kids Might Not Know About Credit Cards posted at Credit Card Assist.
apply4-credit presents Your Divorce and Your Credit Are Your Prepared? posted at Credit Card Applications Expert | Apply4-Credit.com.
Matthew Paulson presents Laid Off? What Now? posted at American Consumer News.
Travel Advocate presents Hidden Hotel Travel Dangers Safeguarding the Room for Kids posted at The Travel Advocate.
Travel Advocate presents I’m Dreaming of a Travel Friendly Gift and it May Not Be Snow posted at The Travel Advocate.
Deposit Accounts presents Will Opening a Deposit Account Affect My Credit Score posted at The Money Blog.
Ben presents Year End Policy Review Tips for Lowering Rates and Checking Coverage posted at Money Smart Life.
Real Estate
Joe Manausa presents Real Estate Supply And Demand | Tallahassee Real Estate Blog posted at Tallahassee Real Estate Blog, saying, “It really isn’t that hard to tell where the real estate market is heading. All we need to do is take a quick re-examination of Economics 101 and realize that Supply and Demand actually do matter in the real estate market.”
Joe Manausa presents What is a RSS Subscription? posted at Tallahassee Real Estate Blog, saying, “Have you ever noticed that anytime you read a blog, there is a Subscription Button that encourages you to subscribe to it? Well, I have been questioned about this often enough to recognize that most readers do not understand how RSS works and why bloggers should continue to explain it in order to expand their subscribers list.”
Don presents Investors Snatching Up Bargains In Las Vegas Real Estate Market posted at Las Vegas Real Estate, saying, “Fair weather investors are sitting on the sideline waiting for the markets to upturn before they invest. Wise investors are out in the field and finding plenty of bargains. One such marketer many are finding good deals in is the Las Vegas Real Estate market. Take a look at what you can expect in this bargain rich city.”
That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of a carnival of everything home using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
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How To Create An Easy Window Treatment
One of the things I really enjoy doing is making kitchen window treatments. If this is something you have never attempted to do, then I encourage to take a step and try it out. Everyone seems to spend a lot of their time in the kitchen and by changing the window treatment often, it can really change the look of your kitchen and brighten up the surroundings. You can even add accessories to match. Here is a simple way to sew an easy window treatment to add color and brighten up your kitchen.
First, pick out the material that you want to use. Usually you can find inexpensive material at your local store. You can use a sheer or opaque material. If you going for opaque, don’t forget to take a look at bed sheets. A twin size bed sheet is more than what you will need for the average window. For a basic valance you will need three times the width of the kitchen window for fullness.
Measure from the top of the rod for the length that you need. Usually the length is about 15 inches. Add two inches to the bottom and two inches to each side for the hem. The extra amount needed for the top of the valance is determined by the style you want to achieve and the type of rod you are using. For a regular one inch wide rod, add five inches for the top hem to create a ruffled top. If you are making a tab top valance, add only two inches because you will be adding tabs.
After you have completed your measurements, lay the fabric out on a flat surface. For me, it always ends up being the floor. Mark your measurements with sewing chalk. If you don’t have sewing chalk, you can use your ruler as a guide or use masking tape which comes off easily. Once you have done this, you can go ahead and cut the fabric. Remember and old rule, measure twice and cut once.
Now you are ready to put it together. If you have a sewing machine, a regular straight stitch is all that you will need. You can also use the iron on tape sold in the fabric department instead of a sewing machine. You must first do the each side by folding the fabric l/2 inch and folding again l/2 inch. You will end up with a l/2 inch hem that does not fray. Do this for each side. Use straight pins to keep it in place and sew removing the pins as you go along. If using fabric tape, then just iron each fold. Once the sides are done, go ahead and do the bottom hem repeating the same instructions.
For the top of the valance, fold over l/2 inch of fabric and sew or iron with fabric tape. Now fold over 4 inches and again sew or iron. For a ruffled top, measure down two inches from the top and sew a straight line across the width of the fabric. This will create a two inch pocket for the curtain rod to slide through.
For a tab top valance, repeat the same instructions as you did for the sides and the bottom hem. Then you will need to cut and hem strips of material about 8 inches and length and 3 inches wide to create the tabs. Hem the sides and ends each tab and sew on to the top of the valance. The tabs should be about 4 inches apart.
Now that you have created your own kitchen window treatment, you can use the remainder of the material to make cloth napkins or placemats. With enough material you can even make a matching table cloth. That’s what make this a fun project. Once you have the hang of it, it doesn’t take long and you can have everything in the kitchen match.
Window Cornices
We all have those little things that make us want to cringe. One of those things that just does it to me is when I go through all of this work ironing drapes or curtains only to have them look disheveled up by the rod. So I made a major decision to make wooden cornices for my windows. My parents did it way back when and the windows always looked so nice. So now I did it. Turns out that this is another one of today’s window trends.
Measure your window from side to side and add three inches to each side. Now add an additional five inches for the depth of each side (a total of 10 inches) which will give you the total length of wood that you need for making the cornice.
The length of the cornice from top to bottom is up to you. Usually six to eight inches is sufficient.
The top piece which is the shelf of the cornice will be the same measurement as the front piece in length from side to side. The width (from front to wall) should be 5 inches.
Remember to measure twice, cut once.
Assembling
Do a test run. Put the pieces together to make sure they fit right. It basically will look like a box without a bottom or back attached.
Using wood glue, glue each piece together. Then hammer small wood nails or finishing nails at all joints.
Finishing
At this point, you can paint it the color of your choice or stain it or you can get creative and paint a design on it. I used a decorative stencil, trace the pattern, and then used a dremel tool to carve it out. After doing this, I stained and polyurethaned the entire piece. You can also add a piece of decorative molding to the top or a medallion in the middle.
Another idea is to place a piece of foam on the board and cover it with fabric. You can use fabric that matches your upholstery or drapery.
Hanging
I found that the best way to hang these is on a piece of wood. Measure the cornice again from side to side and subtract 6 inches. Cut a small piece of wood (2 x 2 ) the length that you have measured.. Make sure that your drapery hardware (curtain rods) are already in place so that you leave enough room to work with drapes after the cornice has been installed. Place this piece of wood against the wall at least three inches above the drapery hardware and nail to wall beams. Now place the cornice on top of that and nail or screw into the board making sure that the overhang on each side is even.
You can also use “L” brackets, which can be found at any store, to attach the cornice to the wall.
There you have it. It really is easy to do and just makes a window look complete. No more messy tops of curtains or drapes that are buckling on top. Now if they do, who cares?! You won’t be able to see it anymore. That’s why I made wood cornices for every room of my home.
How to Upholster Furniture
Don’t throw that chair out yet! Do you know how easy it is to reupholster a chair? Years ago when I was raising my children, there were these two guys on television who used to reupholster everything. They taught very well. Since that time, I have done chairs, stools, dining room chairs and living room furniture. Personally, I like to reupholster a chair better than putting chair covers on them. If I want, I can match the cushion on the chair to the drapery in the room. Of course, you can just make cushions but if a chair is worn, just reupholster it.
1. Turn the chair upside down and unscrew the seat from the frame. Make sure to keep the screws in a safe place.
2. Most chair coverings are stapled on. You must remove all of the staples. Then just remove the covering that is on.
3. If the foam is worn, then this is the time to replace it. If it isn’t but you want more cushion, add a piece of foam to what is already there.
4. Place the seat cushion part down on the material you will be using. Pull up the material around the seat so that you know how much to cut. The entire underneath of the seat does not have to be covered but there must be enough material for you to staple and secure it down.
5. After it is cut, place the seat down again, foam side down. Pull up the material and start stapling. Staple in four corners first and then go around the seat to staple in between making pleats so that the top side is smooth.
6. When this is done, trim away any excess material from under the seat.
7. If you want to add decoration such as cording to the edge of the seat, now is the time to do it. You can easily add cording or braiding with a hot glue gun. It is also a good time to do any touchups on the chair frame or just give them a good cleaning or polishing.
8. When this is all completed, it’s time to put the seat back on to the frame. With the frame upside down, place the seat in position and put in the first screw. This part is easier if you have two people or something holding the seat on to the frame. Sometimes I hand the frame over the side of a table or counter to do this. You may also have to make a small hole in the fabric for the screw to pass through.
There you have it. A new seat cover, a fixed chair or just more cushion. It’s easy, it’s fun and it will make your old chairs feel like new.
Blog Carnival Edition No. 8 - A Carnival of Everything Home
Welcome to the October 8, 2008 edition of a carnival of everything home. The next edition is scheduled for October 22nd.
As always, there are lots of great contributions to this Carnival. Remember to include a link back to this post. Thank you again to everyone who contributed and I look forward to reading each and every post.
Green Living
George L Smyth presents One Minute How-To - How To Hang Laundry posted at George L Smyth, saying, “Charles Hodgson explains why one would want to hang laundry, and the most efficient way to do it.”
AdmirableIndia.com presents Trip to Wayanad: Day 2: Part 2: Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary or Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary posted at AdmirableIndia.com.
simon presents Principles of Operation posted at Pellet Stove Guide.
Condo Blues presents Twenty Percent Home Energy Reduction Challenge – Summer Update posted at Condo Blues, saying, “I’m trying to reduce my home’s natural gas and electricity consumption by 20% this year without replacing eveything I own. And guess what? It’s working!”
greenandchic presents I have a headache! - A word about perfumes posted at Green + Chic, saying, “The is about the use of perfumes and frangrances.”
kara thurmond presents An Hour In the Kitchen » Yogurt posted at An Hour In the Kitchen.
simon presents Quality of Shelled Corn posted at Corn Stove Guide.
Dave Hobbs presents The Right Nectar for Hummingbird Feeding posted at Hummingbird Feeding Guide, saying, “If you want to add beauty to the exterior of your home, consider a fine blown-glass hummingbird feeder. This post will help ensure you fill it with the right homemade mix to help attract these amazing creatures without doing them harm.”
KuleKat presents LED Home Lighting - Halogen Light Bulbs as an Interim Solution posted at KuleKat . com.
Heather Levin presents Green Cleaning- Go Green On A Budget posted at The Greenest Dollar.
Lauren Rose presents THE CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES | Own Home Style .com posted at Own Home Style .com, saying, “Nowadays due to the introduction of new hybrid varieties in vegetables, which are susceptible to pest and diseases, there is demand for more plant protection, usually with toxic chemica”
Alexis presents Store cooked pasta for 6 months and still eat it??! posted at Gadgets and Tricks for Saving Money In the Long Term, saying, “Hi, my blog is about how people can save recurring living costs by getting products that will help them cut down demand for goods and services on a recurring basis.”
Ben Dinsmore presents Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF): The Best In Green Building Technology posted at Trees Full of Money, saying, “Building a home out of Insulated Concrete Forms is substantially better for your wallet and the environmen vs standard wood frame construction.”
Home Decor
Jeune presents Master Bedroom Musings posted at Remodelle.
Giorgina Devereaux presents How to Clean Furniture posted at Home Decor Blog.
Dust-Mites.org presents Allergic Reactions to Dust Mites posted at Dust Mites, saying, “Article describes various allergic reactions people may have to dust mites.”
Annette Berlin presents Free Curtain Patterns posted at Craft Salad, saying, “If you’ve been considering making your own curtains, there are plenty of reasons to go ahead and do it.”
Other
Dave Hobbs presents Tiki Torch Parties in Autumn with Fire Pits posted at Tiki Torches Guide, saying, “Don’t let the onset of Fall drive you indoors just yet. With the addition of an outdoor firepit, you can keep your tiki torch parties going for another month of two!”
Jocelyn @ A Pondering Heart presents A Simple Woman?s Daybook: Week #8 posted at A Pondering Heart.
Alex Smith presents How to Teach Kids Self Defense Without Teaching Them Martial Arts posted at TBO-TECH.
Fiona Lohrenz presents After School Daycare Curriculum - What’s The Best Approach? posted at Child Care Only.
kara thurmond presents An Hour In the Kitchen » Introduction posted at An Hour In the Kitchen.
fred xiao presents 15 more selected blog stress releasing videos posted at Easy money attraction, saying, “15 more selected blog stress releasing videos”
Alex Smith presents Pet Safety Products posted at TBO-TECH.
Fiona Lohrenz presents Are Daycare Requirements And Day Care Regulations The Same Thing? posted at Child Care Only.
axel presents 2 Healthy Snacks posted at axel g.
Toni presents Fat-burning Soup posted at Wifely Steps, saying, “All-vegetable soup that’s good for you! And they say it’s fat-burning too. Easy to do!”
Cade Krueger presents How To Tie The Knot With The Best Home Based Business Opportunities posted at Write To Right.
Real Estate
Joe Manausa presents Bailing Out The Banks? Actually Bailing Out America! posted at Tallahassee Real Estate Blog, saying, “While mainstream media refers to this as the “fat cat” bailout for Wall Street, you might be surprised who really needs this bailout to occur. What would happen to your job if the credit market stopped for even 1 week?”
Reba Haas presents Certified Septic pumping companies for King County till end of 2008 posted at Team Reba Real Estate, saying, “If you plan on buying or selling a home that is on septic (aka, on site sewage) in King County, WA, then you’ll want to get to know this list of certified septic pumpers. Several articles are on this blog to help you learn what you need to know about King County requirements for septic systems.”
Greg Shuey presents The Beauty of FHA Streamline Loans posted at Utah Mortgage.
Matt Everson presents How to Sell Your Home Fast in a Slow Housing Market posted at Astuteo: The Free Advice Blog, saying, “At the time we listed our property, homes in our area were averaging over 110 days on the market. We sold ours in three and half weeks. While I can’t guarantee you’ll have similar luck today, I do know a few tricks for unloading your home fast.”
That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of a carnival of everything home using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
Technorati tags: a carnival of everything home, blog carnival.
