Fresh Home Magazine

I just got a flyer in the mail about a new magazine from the publishers of Reader’s Digest and The Family Handyman.  It’s called “Fresh Home”.  Well, I say new, but apparently it’s been around for a while and I’ve just been living under a rock!  Anyway, it’s being billed as “easy ideas for hands-on people”. 

In every issue you'll find easy and practical ideas for home design that reflects your personal style.  And, they feature tips, photos, ideas, and projects submitted by ordinary people like you and me!

Here’s an informative interview with the magazine’s editor from last year. 

And here’s another link to the press release of the magazine launch in 2009.

 

After the end of Domino, Budget Living, and Blueprint, I can’t help but wonder how long this magazine will last.  I have really dropped most of my magazine subscriptions, relying mainly on the internet for most of my design/organizing/decorating inspiration.  

Even though an annual subscription is just $10 right now, if you read the fine print you find out that the magazine is only published 4 times a year! I was ready to send in my $10 until I saw that.  I think I’ll just stick to my free Lowe’s Creative Ideas magazine for now!  Perhaps if they get enough interest and subscribers they will increase publication to monthly issues. 

So what do you think, are you interested in this magazine or will you stick to the internet for inspiration and how-tos?

Quick and Easy Paint Can

I learned this little trick from my mom several years ago during one of our many painting adventures.  Some of you may already do this, but I thought I would share anyway.  Instead of spending money on paint cups and containers from the hardware store, re-use and recycle a container you already have!

Any kind of jug will do….milk, juice, detergent…just cut it down and around the spout leaving an opening large enough to pour paint into.

Leaving the handle attached makes it comfortable to use while painting a room or furniture.

Just a quick tip that I thought I would share!  Linking up with Works for Me Wednesday and the Power of Paint. 

Quick Fixes for Your Home

As homeowners, we’re all guilty of becoming a little complacent at times when it comes to maintaining our homes.  Day-to-day life gets in the way and we tend to neglect certain aspects of  a healthy home.  But there are ways to take care of your home that won’t take up all weekend or break the bank.  Here are some quick fixes for repairing common household problems, inspired by a recent Today Show segment:

• Clean/change your showerhead.  If you notice your shower’s water pressure is low, a dirty showerhead may be to blame.
  

  Remove your showerhead and soak it in a bucket of a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water or a cleaner like CLR or LimeAway.  Scrub well with an old toothbrush or scrub brush.  If that doesn’t improve the problem, perhaps it’s time for a new showerhead! You can find a good one for less than $50.00 and it only takes a few minutes to change out yourself.

• Unclog your drain.  Slow drainage in your bathroom sinks is usually due to a build-up of hair and gunk (gross)!  Take a few minutes and snake all that grossness outta there.  The Today Show recommends a product called The Drain Claw, which retails for about $5.00.  This sounds like a job for the hubby.

• Re-seal your granite countertops. 

Granite (as well as all natural stone materials) is porous, allowing stains such as grape juice, wine, etc., to set in.  Clean your countertops well, caulk any joints, and take 15 minutes and $15.00 to spray on a sealer and let it soak in. 

Other quick-fixes include:

• Unstick stuck windows. A little silicone spray lubricant (sold at hardware stores) will grease the skids. Spray it onto a rag, then wipe along the tracks, whether they’re metal, wood, or plastic.
• Fix peeling wallpaper. With a knife, smear wallpaper paste onto a piece of writing paper. Rub the paper against the underside of the peeling section. Press the wallpaper against the wall. Slide the writing paper out and smooth away bubbles with a clean cloth.
• Clean a stained tub. Combine equal amounts of cream of tartar and baking soda with enough lemon juice to make a paste. Rub the mixture into the stain with your fingers or a soft cloth. Let sit for a half hour, then rinse well with water.

• Clean your dryer lint trap. Take the lint trap out of the dryer, remove the lint either with a damp cloth, a used fabric softener sheet or wet your fingers and scoop it up.  Now you can either vacuum the mesh part with the brush attachment, or you can rinse the whole lint trap in the sink with liquid dish soap.  No matter what you choose to do in step two, make sure you use a damp cloth on the plastic edges of the lint trap. Make sure you use a small amount of liquid dish soap on the cloth.

So what are you waiting for? Get busy!  Take a few minutes each weekend and before you know it your home will be in tip-top shape!

P.S. Don’t forget to enter my GIVEAWAY, one post below!!

Creative Craft Tips

In order to enter my giveaway last week, I requested that entrants leave their favorite creative crafty tip in the comments.  I wanted to take the time to share a few of my favorites.

• From DeeDee: “ My favorite organization thing...Is my recycled grill rack and pants hanger....I call it my Ribbon storage now.” Click the photo to see how she made it!

• From Marty: “My favorite DIY is shopping the house and rearranging with what I already have. Saves a lot of money and really changes things up.” I actually have a “decorating cabinet” where I store accessories that I change out throughout the house from time to time….makes it fresh and new without spending any money!
• From Mara: “I like to use jars- from sauces, salsa or whatever... and mod podge to cover the outside in magazine cut-outs or cute paper scraps. I use them to hold pencils, markers, etc on my craft table!” Several readers suggested using old bottles, jars and/or cans for storage, I need to start doing this more!
• From our winner, Andrea: “I wrap my ribbons around doll pins and secure with a ball headed straight pin. I then store them in a handled carrier. Works like a charm!” I have actually done this too and it works great and the ribbon takes up a lot less space!
• From Erika: “I love to re-purpose items, i.e. pillow cases/sheets into tank tops, dog bed covers, tote bags. And I buy my pillow cases and sheets at thrift stores and garage sales (and I sometimes find other items to re-purpose too!)”   Great idea, Erika!!

For more awesome craft tips and ideas, be sure and read the comments on this post.  Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway and shared their suggestions!