The Home Know-It-All

Win a Black & Decker ScumBuster Xtreme Cordless Power Scrubber

Thank you for all of your entries. This contest is now closed. You can check out who won here.

It’s time for another The Home Know-It-All giveaway! Last time, one lucky winner received a Black & Decker Pivot Floor Vac. Now we’re giving away another great Black & Decker product to one lucky winner: a ScumBuster® Xtreme Cordless Power Scrubber.

This week at The Home Know-It-All, we’re in the middle of sharing our terrific $200 DIY Bathroom Makeover, so it seems like the perfect time to give away a product that can help your bathroom shine in no time.

If you’ve ever battled soap scum and mildew in your bathroom (and who hasn’t?), the ScumBuster Xtreme just may be your new best friend. Why? Because this cordless, rechargeable scrubber features a three-dimensional rolling brush for quick cleaning and easy scrubbing of corners and crevices. An extension handle even allows you to reach up high or down low without bending. Plus, the handle includes a refillable reservoir for holding your favorite bathroom cleaner (or water when it’s time to rinse). Easy as can be.

The ScumBuster Xtreme sells for $39.99 and is available at Blackanddecker.com.

Wanna enter to win one right now? Just leave a comment in this post that briefly describes what you’d do to make over your bathroom if you had the cash right now. (To comment, scroll down to the end of the post and click the link that says “comments.”) It might be as simple as “swap out my faucet” or as complex as gutting and redoing the whole space. The post is up to you, as long as it involves making over your bath!

This contest will end on Thursday, May 7, 2009, at 9:00 AM Central time. One entry per person. You must be a resident of the Continental United States and use a valid email address (that you actually check!) to win. The winner of the Black & Decker ScumBuster Xtreme will be selected at random and will be announced on the morning of May 7.

If you have questions about this giveaway, please check out our Giveaway FAQ page. Still have questions? Email us.

Happy scum busting—and good luck!
The Home Know-It-All

$200 DIY Bathroom Makeover: Wallpaper and Carpet Removal

Yesterday I shared the product picks for my budget bathroom makeover (check out Tuesday’s post for details about my self-imposed bathroom renovation challenge). Today I’ll cover the least glamorous aspects of the room makeover: wallpaper and carpet removal.

Removing Wallpaper
I started by tackling the wallpaper. Since I was planning to ditch the carpeting I didn’t bother to protect the floor during the messy, tedious and lengthy process of removing the wallpaper. While some sources recommend using a scoring tool to enable a remover solution to penetrate the wallpaper, I’ve had bad luck with that approach in the past. In my first house, I scored right through the wallpaper into the drywall, leaving ugly marks across the entire wall—marks that multiple coats of paint couldn’t disguise.

So for this project I skipped scoring the paper. First I tested a small section of wallpaper and found that I could peel away the outer layer by hand without wetting the wall. I made my way around the room tearing off all the wallpaper, while the backing remained adhered to the wall.

This is where remover solution came in handy. I had great luck with DIF from Zinsser and, when my local home improvement store was out of DIF, Roman’s Piranha. Following manufacturer’s instructions, I combined a bit of the concentrated solution with hot water. Though the manufacturers suggest applying the solution with a sprayer, I don’t have one (and didn’t want to blow the budget buying one) so I simply wiped the solution on using an old rag. I slowly made my way around the room, saturating the entire wall with solution, then waited about 15 minutes for the solution to loosen the adhesive. Then, working in approximately 3x3-foot sections, I reapplied the solution and, using a scraper, scraped off the backing.

Since I was dipping the rag into the solution frequently, the remover quickly became gummy from adhesive, so I had the best luck by frequently discarding old solution and mixing new. The hotter the water I used, the better.

If you’re tackling a similar project, allow plenty of time for wallpaper removal. I spent more than half of the first weekend scraping every last shred of paper and adhesive from the walls. Once the walls were clear of wallpaper and adhesive, I wiped down the walls with a clean batch of solution followed by a rinse with clear water.

Tackling the Carpet
While the walls were drying, I shifted gears to the carpeting. Compared to wallpaper removal, carpet removal is quick and easy—though I felt it for days in muscles I hadn’t used in years. I checked each corner of the bathroom to find the easiest spot for me to pull up a bit of the carpet. Carpet is typically secured by carpet tack strips—thin pieces of wood with small, sharp tacks—nailed around the perimeter of a room. Removing carpet is first a matter of pulling it away from the tack strips. No skill or tools needed; just get a good grip on the carpet and tug. Since my bathroom is very small I didn’t worry about cutting the carpet into manageable strips. If you have a larger room, though, it’s easiest to handle the carpet this way. I did have to cut the carpet at the door between the bathroom and bedroom. I used a metal straightedge as a guide and a utility knife to cut through the backing.

Once the carpet was up I put on safety goggles and gloves before pulling up the padding. The padding was stapled to the subfloor and when I pulled the occasional staple would spring up. Most of the staples stayed in the floor until I pulled them out with a needle nose pliers. The few that wouldn’t budge I hammered flush into the subfloor.

With the padding and staples gone I went to work on removing the tack strips. Using a hammer and pry bar, I eased the strips away from the subfloor.

Now I was almost ready for the fun stuff. First though, I did have to patch a few nail holes and re-tape some drywall that hadn’t been properly taped the first time. For basic instructions for repairing a crack or retaping a drywall joint, watch this short, simple video from Easy2DIY.com. To patch nail holes, check out these easy steps from eHow or check out Home Know-It-All Katie’s pointers.

Stop back tomorrow to see the room starting to take shape with wall, cabinetry, and trimwork painting.

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All

DIY Bathroom Makeover: $200 and 2 Weekends

Armed with $200 and the motivation to upgrade my little bathroom, I hit the home improvement stores on a mission. I had a few basic goals I really hoped to achieve: remove the wallpaper and paint the walls, spruce up the dingy vanity, and replace the carpeting with a more suitable bathroom flooring material. If I managed to have any money left, a new window treatment would round out the makeover.

Wall color
I started with the walls, as that seemed the simplest place to begin and would inform the rest of my choices. Since the bathroom is accessed from the master bedroom, I needed a wall color that worked in the bedroom as well (which also suffers from a hideous circa 1960s wallcovering). I love our bed linens—a rich yet subtle combination of spicy browns, creams and golds—so I looked to them for inspiration.

My first trip to the store resulted in a pile of at least 30 paint chips in variations of creamy beiges and vanilla shades. What in the store seemed a jumble of similar hues became a fairly simple choice once I was home and spread the swatches on the bedding. Pale Sand 2 was the one. ($27.48/gal.)

Trimwork color
With the wall color chosen, I spread the paler color swatches around the wall color chip to choose the tint for the cabinetry and trimwork. I had high expectations for this color. In addition to coordinating with the wall color and the master bedroom bedding, the bathroom trim color was a test run for my kitchen cabinets, which I am also considering painting. Alabaster seemed the best bet for a warm, soft hue. ($31.98/gal.)

Cabinet hardware
Paint colors selected, I headed back to the store to peruse the selection of door hardware. Though there’s only one fairly small vanity in the bathroom, it requires seven pulls. I had to be careful so I wouldn’t blow my budget before I made it to the flooring department.

I’ve written and read enough home decorating articles to know that hardware is considered the jewelry of a room. But with two little boys in our family, even jewelry needs to be fairly basic to withstand their rough and tumble activities. As a counterpoint to the buttery color I picked for the cabinetry, I went with these (above) simple brushed nickel knobs. I like that in their simplicity they have a timeless appeal. At $2.57 per knob, definitely workable with my budget.

Flooring
I had always pictured my remodeled bathroom with a heated tile floor. Check out this information from the US Department of Energy to learn about the options for radiant floor heat. Unfortunately with my $200 budget, radiant heating wasn’t a consideration for this project. Still I was leaning toward ceramic tile as my floor covering of choice. It’s a natural pick for bathrooms. (Learn more about the top 7 bathroom floor picks here.)

I found several basic ceramic floor tiles for only $0.88 per square foot. I was almost sold … until I considered the total cost. My project would have required purchasing backerboard, tile nippers, snap cutter, thin-set mortar, spacers, grout, and a grout float. There goes the budget!

Instead, I made my way to the vinyl flooring aisle to check out vinyl tiles. Impressive! I went with these thicker tiles (above) that have a bit of texture and a more natural look. No one entering the room will mistake them for the real thing, but a pleasing look nonetheless. And still a bargain at $1.08 per square foot.

Window Treatments
Thanks to savvy choices for the walls, floor, and cabinets, I had enough money left in my budget to shop for a window treatment. I considered making one myself, but I’m not the best with a sewing machine and don’t really have the space to spread out all of the fabric anyway. So I prepped myself to be satisfied with a basic roller shade, but I soon discovered my window was too wide to find many off-the-shelf options.

I started an online search which resulted in lots of choices, but not many that fit my budget. Finally I found this Spencer double Roman Shade with a subtle scroll pattern that would add much needed texture and pattern to the room. Even better, it was on sale—almost a steal at $59.00 and no shipping.

Miscellaneous necessities: primer, $14.98; drywall tape, $5.96; filler, $2.98.

Project total: $198.17

Now that I had all the goods, the next step: room prep. Check back tomorrow for the lowdown on removing wallpaper and carpeting.

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All

The Ultimate $200 DIY Bathroom Makeover

In the nine years since I purchased my house I’ve dreamed and schemed about the ideal way to completely overhaul my tiny, carpeted (ugh!) master bathroom. I longed for a bigger space: One with a walk-in shower, deep soaking tub, heated tile floor, and two sinks so my husband and I wouldn’t vie for elbow room. A bathroom sans dingy carpeting, dusty blue floral wallpaper, and coordinating floral cabinet hardware.

(Unfortunately I ripped all the wallpaper out and threw it away before thinking to snap a picture. But here are the door pulls, a snippet of wallpaper from the adjoining bedroom, and the carpet, right.) Coordinated? Yes. My style? Definitely not. Practical? No way! Despite having a family bathroom almost to themselves, my two little boys frequently find their way into my bathroom. (Bathroom carpet + little boys = disgusting.)

The adjoining bedroom isn’t big, so expanding the bathroom would be tricky. Years spent studying small-space bathrooms and the configuration of the second floor of our house finally resulted in the perfect plan. It involved moving two walls—one between the master bath and a family bathroom, and another between the master bath and a hallway linen closet—resulting in a larger master bath and a slightly smaller adjacent family bath that would still provide plenty of space for our two boys. The smaller linen closet wouldn’t be a problem either—fortunately, the house has plenty of closet space. In the process, plumbing lines would have been moved.

Enter the current economic slump. My grand bathroom scheme would have cost tens of thousands of dollars. Not feasible right now … nor in the foreseeable future.

But I couldn’t stand the thought of living with a cramped, carpeted, dingy bathroom for another moment. Enter the new plan: a $200 DIY room makeover. Why $200? It was low enough to work with my recession-era budget yet ample enough that I figured with careful shopping I could make a real difference in the look of the room. And the two weekends? For the sake of family harmony, I determined that my husband and our little boys could entertain themselves for that length of time; any longer without Mom involved in weekend activities and we’d all be in trouble.

Interested in how my little remodeling project came together? Check back each day this week as I walk through my $200, 2-weekend DIY bathroom makeover challenge.

Need some inspiration for your own bathroom makeover? I love this one from Kohler and this one from HGTV. And when you get into the planning stage of your project, definitely be sure to check out the National Kitchen & Bath Association for helpful planning info.

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All

Check out BHG’s 48-Hour Blog Challenge

I’ve mentioned the BHG.com 48-Hour Blog Challenge before (we’ve been working on it behind the scenes). If you haven’t taken a look yet, now’s the time to head over there and see what the bloggers came up with—on Friday we revealed the final projects!

If you’re looking for outdoor design inspiration, you’ll find plenty of it from the talented participants. The projects include two front porch makeovers, a potting bench, the ultimate grill cart, and an arbor. But don’t listen to me—see for yourself!

More to come later today,
The Home Know-It-All

Make a Rain Barrel

Man oh man do I have a weekend project for you.

As I’ve mentioned before, harvesting rainwater at home is a great way to save money, save water, and keep your yard or garden looking great.

And although you can buy some pretty nice-looking rain catchers from Gardener’s Supply, you can also make your own—even if you’re not all that handy.

Trust me. If I can do it, you can do it. And I did, thanks to a build your own rain barrel workshop last summer at the Ecology Action Center in Bloomington, IL.

For this week’s Green Around the House Challenge, I’m giving you the scoop on how I built the rain barrel so you can too, after hunting down a food-grade plastic barrel and a few other supplies at your local hardware store.

Supplies:

• One food-grade 55-gallon plastic barrel
• ½-inch female sillcock (spigot)
• Two #15 O-rings (little black rubber rings)
• ¾-inch flat washer (we used grade 8)
• ½-inch brass pipe nipple (this is the threaded pipe that passes through the barrel and connects to the spigot/sillcock)
• ½-inch brass lock nut
• Downspout adaptor
• ¾-inch pan head screws
• Hacksaw or jigsaw or sabresaw or Sawz-All
• 4-inch hole saw
• 7/8-inch hole saw
• 1¾-inch hole saw
• Drill

Steps:
   1. Use the 4-inch hole saw to cut a hole in the top of the barrel for your downspout.
   2. Use a 7/8-inch hole saw to cut a hole 3 inches up from the bottom of the barrel for your spigot/sillcock.
   3. Also use the 7/8-inch hole saw to cut a hole about 2 to 3 inches from the top of the barrel. This will be at the narrow part of the barrel and is where you will start to cut off the top of the barrel with your saw.

   4. Use the hacksaw or jigsaw or sabresaw to remove the top of the barrel.
   5. Wipe any residual oil or liquid from the barrel. (We used newspapers to absorb the liquid. It worked well but it can get incredibly messy.)
   6. Use the 1 ¾-inch hole saw to cut a hole about 2 inches below the open top of the barrel. This will be for the overflow.

   7. Screw the pipe nipple into the spigot/sillcock.
   8. Place an O-ring on the pipe nipple, as close to the sillcock as possible.
   9. Push the pipe nipple through the outside of the barrel to the inside. The spigot/sillcock is now outside, with the pipe nipple inside.
  10. Have someone hold the spigot outside while you place an O-ring on the pipe nipple inside the barrel.
  11. Place the metal washer over the pipe nipple.
  12. Thread the brass lock nut (or the steel conduit locknut) over the pipe nipple. Tighten it by hand as far as possible. Tighten another 1.5 turns with a wrench to secure it.
  13. Take the 4-inch plastic disc that you cut out of the top of the barrel and use a saw to cut it in fourths, like a piece of pie.
  14. Screw the pieces to the sides of the barrel near the top, with at least 1 inch protruding above the barrel.
  15. Place the lid of the barrel back on the barrel. The little plastic pieces will keep it centered. The lid usually only fits one way; line that up by referring to the hole you drilled near the top of the barrel when you cut off the top.

After your rain barrel is complete, all you have to do is position it near your downspout. It’s a good idea to stack some bricks beneath the barrel so it’s raised off the ground—this makes it easier to get to the spigot when it's time to hook up the hose or fill up your watering can.

Depending on where you position your rain barrel, overflow may be a concern. If you don’t want all that excess water shooting out the overflow hole you drilled in your barrel, you can place the male connector end of a sump pump hose, pointing outward, into the overflow hole at the top of the barrel. A trap adaptor will secure it to the inside of the barrel. The sump pump hose will connect to the outside of the barrel.

Another option is to purchase a downspout diverter, like this one from Garden Water Saver. That’s what I did, only the gutter wasn’t very cooperative and, to be honest, I’m not sure that it’s a very reliable setup. So I may be going back and drilling that overflow hole, then sticking with the original downspout adaptor after all. We’ll see—the rain we’re expecting this weekend will be the test.

If you’re looking for more step-by-step info on making a rain barrel, watch Sherry & John in action over at This Young House as they build their own. Or search online—there are plenty of other ways creative folks have made their own rain barrels.

Until Monday,
The Home Know-It-All

Closet Organizing Tips from the Pros

To kick off spring-cleaning season last year, we dished out all sorts of closet organization ideas. And now that it’s that time again this year (I admit it, I’m playing catch-up on my spring cleaning), we have even more ideas to help you whip your closets into shape. I called up Tim Woollen, owner of Closet Tailors in Madison, Wisconsin, for expert advice. Here’s what he had to say:

Q: What’s an inexpensive idea for corralling all those clothes and accessories that tend to pile up in the closet (and sometimes on the floor)?

A: Use lots of storage bins and baskets to contain out-of-season clothing. Clear plastic bins—which you can buy for a very low cost—are really effective, and you can use them year-round to rotate your clothes and accessories. They protect your clothes until you’re ready to use them again. Plus, you can easily see what’s in them and can label them for quick identification.

Q: What’s an easy clothes organization technique that people might not know about?

A: I like this neat little trick: Rather than hanging clothes with the hanger going forward, hang them with the hook facing behind the rod (so that the open end of the hanger faces you). As you wear clothes and eventually put them back in the closet, hang them forward as you normally would. This allows you to determine which items you don’t wear, so it’s much easier to de-clutter your closet.

Q: What must-have closet organization products do you recommend investing in?

A: A valet rod is a tried-and-true item that’s really helpful. It pulls out, allowing you to conveniently hang dry-cleaned clothes or tomorrow’s outfit. Also purchase belt racks and tie racks. I see so many closets where these items are strewn all over the place, and custom racks are a good way to keep these items at arm’s reach. These items are often overlooked, but they really help a lot of my customers on a daily basis.

Q: What’s the best way to improve accessibility and function within your closet?

A: Consider the space you’re working with. When organizing their closets, people often tend to overlook how they’ll feel when they’re actually using the space on a daily basis. For example, if you’ve got a walk-in closet, consider where you’re hanging items. It’s a good idea to situate clothes and accessories toward the back of the closet so your shoulders don’t brush against them when you’re in there. This creates a more open space so you don’t feel cluttered and stressed.

Also, rather than stacking clothes in tall piles, stack them 2-3 items high at most so you can easily reach them and so they don’t topple over.

Q: What’s the best way to make the most of a non-walk-in closet with little space to spare?

A: If you have a single pole and shelf that extends left to right and don’t intend to change it, you can use a cascading hanger (right) that allows you to hang your items, and then unhook one side to minimize the space needed on a regular basis.

If you want to get the most out of your closet, I recommend taking out the existing shelf and pole and replacing them with as much double hang space and shelving as you need to best meet your needs. For about $200-$400, you can typically get a new and improved closet for yourself. See the illustrations (below) for reference—you gain 11 more feet of shelf space plus two additional feet of hanging space with the closet system.
 

Q: Any other pointers to share?

A: More people are incorporating small chests of drawers into their closets. It keeps items easily accessible, and it’s a great way to gain additional floor space in the bedroom.

Thanks for sharing your closet organization tips and tricks with readers, Tim. I can’t wait to try these ideas in my own closet (I’m finally making the switch from winter to warm-weather clothes).

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All

Happy Earth Day!

Exactly 39 years ago today, Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, established the first nationwide environmental protest. For the first time ever, 20 million people stood in unison against oil spills, toxic factories, pesticides, wildlife extinction and much more. Today, hundreds of millions of people and more than 180 countries participate in the Earth Day celebration.

Whether it’s organizing a neighborhood cleanup, mailing letters to our congressmen and women, or riding a bike to work, we here at The Home Know-It-All can’t wait to do our part this year! Want to know how you can get involved? The Earth Day Network can point you in the right direction.

It’s also important to remember, however, that environmental activism isn’t something that can happen once a year. Go green year-round by following some of our green living suggestions and choosing the right products. Here’s a list of our favorite eco-friendly companies:

Trex: This manufacturer of composite deck, railing, and fencing materials is one of the nation’s largest users of recycled grocery bags. You’d never guess by looking at the beautiful decking that it’s made from plastic sacks.

Simmons Natural Care by Danny Seo: Affordable and eco-friendly, these mattresses seem too good to be true. But they’re not. They’re made from natural latex, soy-enhanced foam, and sustainably harvested wood—and they only cost between $2,500 and $4,500. (That’s almost half the price of other eco-friendly mattresses!)

The Body Shop: Since it opened its doors in 1976, this cosmetic company has sold only ethical, eco-sensitive beauty products. By providing suppliers in developing countries a decent wage and promoting social and environmental integrity in all dealings, The Body Shop is not only eco-friendly—it’s also socially friendly.

Kohl’s: This department store buys 236 million kilowatt-hours of green power each year, making it the second-largest retail purchaser of green power in the country. Kohl’s has also recently announced a solar initiative to power many of its stores by the sun.

Have a good one!

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All

Indulge with Chocolate Brown Decor

Chances are, you’ve got some form of brown in your decor—whether it’s your hardwood floors, leather sofa, or beige walls. It’s an earthy, cozy shade that’s a popular decorating staple for good reason. But today, I’m focusing on my favorite shade of brown: chocolate.

With its deep, rich finish, chocolate brown is sumptuous, warm, and comforting (though have you ever met any form of chocolate that wasn’t comforting? I didn‘t think so). Ready to see what chocolate brown can do for you? Keep these tips in mind.

Let there be light. Because of its dark finish, chocolate brown works best in rooms that receive lots of natural light—especially if you’re planning on painting all the walls. (Don’t have abundant sunlight streaming in? Consider opting for a lighter shade of brown.) Before you begin painting the entire room, test a sample spot to see how your selected shade looks during the day and at night.

Create contrast. Another way to keep a chocolate brown design scheme looking fresh rather than overpowering is to keep your woodwork, cabinetry, trim, and other accents a contrasting neutral color, such as white, cream, or light gray. This is especially important if you’re working with a small space. See how chocolate and cream are balanced in this living room. Dark brown also looks exceptional with pink, blue, yellow, and a bunch of other lighter hues. Sisal and bamboo accessories also enliven chocolate brown, giving it more dimension.

Go all out. Who says you have to stick to chocolate brown accents and furnishings to cozy up a room? When it’s paired with the accents I mentioned above, brown walls make a warm statement. See how chocolate brown walls—with cream accents—give this living room an inviting vibe without feeling too dark. And see how my fellow Home Know-It-All Julie’s mom used brown for her entryway, too.

For more tips on tastefully incorporating chocolate brown into your décor, check out this About.com article as well as this one from HGTV.

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All

Online Garden Planning

If you’re like me, you’ve probably been thinking about your garden off and on since, oh, last fall. But now, with spring flowers in full bloom and prime planting time just weeks away in many parts of the country, it’s time to get serious about garden planning.

This season, it will be easier (and cheaper) than ever, thanks to a slew of free online garden planners. Go ahead, try them out. Whether you design your garden to scale (I didn’t, but many of these planners make it easy) or simply play around with planting bed locations and color combos, everything you need is right at your fingertips. A few to try:

Garden Planner Online—You can purchase the program to download, or just use the free online version like I did (above). The flower and plant selection is incredibly limited but if you’re trying to plot where hardscaping, bushes, and planting beds should go, Garden Planner Online makes it easy.

Plan-A-Garden—With this BHG.com app, you can get specific with flower varieties and resize the plants and other elements to make them the right dimensions for your yard. (One caveat: You will have to register—it’s free—to access the planner.) Unfortunately, if you’re a front-yard vegetable gardener like I am, you’re out of luck—that’s why one of my planting beds in this example (above) is blank. Or if you’re not up for designing your own, check out the free downloadable plans for container gardens, perennial gardens, and more—I used a few to jumpstart my planting last year.


Landscape & Garden Planner—The Lowe’s planner is the most detailed of the bunch—but you’ll have to register to access it too. You can customize the plant selection by hardiness zone, add sidewalks, houses, and the like easily, and even print a shopping list when you’re done. Resizing the plants can be a real pain though and takes quite a bit of patience, so be prepared to spend some time with this one (above).

Kitchen Garden Planner—If you’re looking to grow produce like I am, Gardener’s Supply is here to help with its incredibly easy planner. Simply drag and drop an image of the vegetable or herb you’d like to plant into a 1x1 square and you can create a 3x6 vegetable garden in no time. Or check out the preplanned options—I’m thinking that this is a good year for the salad garden.

While you’re at it, be sure to check out the site’s step-by-step planting and care info too.

Although I haven’t tried them out yet, I’m also interested to learn more about GrowVeg.com and PlanGarden.com. GrowVeg.com offers a free 30-day trial and PlanGarden.com a 45-day one, so if you check them out let me know what you think.

What other online garden planners do you swear by? Any garden planning techniques you’re willing to share? Leave a comment here!

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All

Cross-Stitching Tricks

Truth be told, I’m terrible at cross-stitching. Give me a needle and thread, and I’ll surely make a mess. But this is so unfortunate because I truly want to be good at it. I want to be able to make this and this and maybe even this. (That last one seems like a doozey, huh?)

If I’m ever going to be able to whip up creations like that, I’ve got some serious learning to do. So far in my quest to become the cross-stitch queen, I’ve learned these tricks:

• Always use an embroidery hoop to keep the fabric taut and in place as you stitch.
• Keep the length of your thread to a minimum. Most cross-stitch experts recommend using a piece that’s no longer than 12 inches. This will prevent knots and lessen the wear and tear on the thread.
• Rather than try to “carry” your thread—or jump to a different section with the same color—it’s sometimes easier to just cut the string and start over. (As someone that’s prone to knotting, I’ve found this is always easier for me.)
• Removing the fabric from the embroidery hoops after you’re done stitching will prevent crinkles.

If you need to start with the basics, here are a few of my favorite tutorials:

• This is a tutorial from Primrose Design that even I can follow. Be sure to download the free morning glory pattern at the end of the post! And if you’re curious about other embroidery stitches, she’s got a tutorial for almost every one of them.
• Although this article is specifically written for children learning how to cross-stitch, I find that it suits my abilities perfectly (however sad that is).
• Here are how-tos on just about every embroidery stitch, ailment, and technique.

Until Monday,
The Home Know-It-All

Going for Gray Water

The average American household consumes 90 gallons of fresh drinking water each day, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And a good portion of that water goes to waste.

But it doesn’t have to, which is why today’s Green Around the House Challenge is getting serious about conserving—and reusing—water. Specifically, it’s all about gray water.

Water you use at home for dishwashing, showering, washing hands, and laundry—called gray water—comprises 50 to 80 percent of residential water waste, according to Graywater Central. But gray water doesn’t have to go to waste. Instead, it can be used to water your yard.

A gray water system includes a surge tank into which all gray water drains, a filter to remove particles that might clog the system, and irrigation pipes or lines that move the gray water from the house to your plants. You can learn more about gray water basics from this helpful Natural Home article.

Yet you don’t have to install a complex system to reuse water. Simply leave a bowl in the sink or a pail in the shower to catch water for giving thirsty plants a drink. Or collect and reuse water from your dehumidifer. Another common method, according to the Colorado State University Extension is to drain your washing machine water directly onto outside vegetation (although, admittedly, this method is illegal in most states).

Gray water systems, which can capture and recycle as much as half of your daily household water, are growing increasingly common in newly built homes and are being retrofit into many existing residences. Yet many areas regulate the use of gray water—and some even ban it. So before you spend the cash on a gray water system, be sure to check state and local gray water laws and policies. If gray water systems aren’t allowed in your area, perhaps you can start a movement to change policymakers’ minds.

Wondering whether it’s good to use “dirty” water on your yard? The UMass Extension offers some handy guidelines for safely using gray water. Some of their pointers include:

• Use the right soaps. Although soap and detergent is biodegradable, it can cause problems if you use gray water for a long time (because excessive amounts of sodium salts, present in many cleaning agents, can damage soil and plants). In particular, avoid detergents with “softening power,” phosphates, boron, and chlorine.
• Know how much gray water your yard can handle. A square foot of well-drained, loamy soil can soak up about a half gallon of gray water per week.
• Opt for shower and bathtub water first. Next up, use water from the bathroom sink, utility sink, washing machine, kitchen sink, and dishwasher in that order. UMass Extension actually recommends not using kitchen sink or dishwasher water because it may contain higher levels of grease, food particles, and other materials. And whatever you do, don’t recycle water from a washing machine used to wash baby diapers or water from the toilet.
• Stick with fresh water for vegetable gardens. The gray water is great for ornamental plants and shrubs, but you should use fresh water for the food you’ll eventually eat.
• Apply gray water directly to the soil surface rather than splashing it around or pouring it all over plants.
• Rotate gray water and fresh water applications to avoid contaminant buildup.
• Use gray water only on established plants, not seedlings.

If you’re interested in learning more about watering plants the gray way, visit the Greywater Guerillas website or check out this article from Natural Home magazine that covers the nuts and bolts of gray water use.

Or if you really want to get serious, read Create an Oasis with Greywater or The Builder’s Greywater Guide.

If you’d rather not pour used water on your plants at all but would still like to conserve, here’s another use for your gray water: toilet flushing. It’s easy with the Aqus system, which captures water from the bathroom sink, filters and disinfects it, and sends it into the toilet for use when flushing. The savings are considerable: in a two-person household, using the Aqus can reduce metered water usage by 10 to 20 gallons a day, according to the manufacturer.

What else do you do to conserve water around the house? Leave a comment here!

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All

How Well Do You Know Your Soil?

Good-quality soil is an essential element of a healthy garden, regardless of what you’re growing this spring. That’s why it’s important to start taking your soil more seriously.

Performing a soil test allows you to get better acquainted with your soil by monitoring pH balance, nutrient levels, organic matter levels, and more. Because it profiles your soil type and diagnoses any problems, you can confidently pick the best plants for your garden and make specific amendments to improve soil quality.

Soil testing should be done once every three years at the minimum. Ready to learn more about your soil? Here’s how to get started.

Prepare a soil sample. Using a clean spade or trowel, collect soil from several different areas in your garden, digging approximately 6 inches deep in each area. Your subsamples should be free of roots, wood, stones, mulch, or other debris that could skew test results. Then mix all subsamples together in a clean bucket or jar. If you’re working with wet soil, lay it out on clean paper or plastic to air dry. Once the soil is dry, pour two cups in a clean plastic bag, making sure to squeeze out excess air. Label the bag before submitting it for testing. Read more about gathering good soil samples here.

Get it tested. Next, send your sample to your local agricultural extension office, or purchase a DIY soil test kit such as this one from Lowe’s ($11.97) or this one from Planet Natural ($16.95).

Review the results. When testing is complete, you’ll receive detailed results as well as information on location-specific soil amendments to make, such as how much lime you’ll need to add to balance your pH levels and which fertilizer is best for your garden. If, for example, your soil has a high pH, you can lower it by adding sulfur to the soil surrounding existing plants. Or if your soil is low in potassium, work potash or wood ashes into the soil. For a whole list of soil-improving recommendations, check out this handy chart from Lowe’s.

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All

Oven Buying Guide

If it were up to me, I’d have one of these stunning gas ranges from Viking. But it’s not up to me. My landlord and wallet make that decision, and they’re screaming “NO” so loudly you can probably hear it. 

So it’ll be awhile before I’m in the market for a new oven, but if you’re ready to buy one, be prepared: There are a number of decisions to make before you fork over the cash. To guarantee your oven fits your needs, ask yourself these five questions:

1. How much room do I have to work with?
If your kitchen is short on space, consider purchasing a wall oven that’s separate from the burners. Splitting the two features can give you more flexibility in layout and often make the workflow of your kitchen a little smoother.

Once you’ve narrowed down where the new oven will sit, it’s important that you measure the space as exactly as possible. Depending on the measurements, this could narrow down your options significantly.

2. How much interior space do I need?
Do you have a large family? Or do you often cook for a bigger group? Although ovens are available in only 24-, 27-, and 30-inch varieties, the interior cavity space of each may surprise you. So if you’re worried about fitting that 20-pound turkey in there, you better open it up and take a look for yourself.
Before heading to the store, measure your largest baking sheets. You’d hate to buy an expensive oven only to discover you also have to buy new bake ware because they don’t fit.

3. What type of baking/cooking do I do the most often?
Are you a big baker? Pay special attention to the multi-loop element in the bottom of your stove. A longer one with more loops will cook your cheesecakes, pies, and breads more evenly. And that can make the difference between good cinnamon rolls and out-of-this-world cinnamon rolls!

If you cook odd-size foods—like hams, turkeys, and roasts—check out how many rack levels there are. Many ovens only come with four levels, but you should look for an oven with five if you cook taller foods often.

Folks that spend a majority of their time in the kitchen should also consider purchasing a convection oven, which comes equipped with a fan to circulate heat more efficiently. This means you can cook multiple dishes without worrying about their place in the oven.

4. What features do I need?
Ovens can come with a variety of bells and whistles. Everything from a self-cleaning feature to electronic touchpad controls and a frameless glass door are available. Narrow down your must-haves before heading to the store.

5. Is the oven energy efficient?
You’ll get the most bang for your buck if you purchase an oven that uses the least amount of energy. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy can help you choose the greenest option.

With these questions answered, it should be a breeze picking out your new oven. Good luck!

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All

Safe Digging Strategies

Digging—or any form of yard work—is an excellent way to squeeze physical activity into your daily routine. But it’s strenuous work, and can do more harm than good if not done correctly. The next time you break out your shovel, keep these safety tips in mind:

Use the right shovel. Before you dig into any sort of outdoor project, you’ll want to make sure you’re using the best shovel for the job. According to nationally syndicated newspaper columnist Tim Carter, a round point shovel breaks into dense soil much more efficiently than the oft-used square point shovel, which is better used for loose materials such as sand and pea-sized gravel. Need to crack rocks within the hole you dig? Try a spud bar instead. See what else Tim has to say about shovel and tool selection here. And for even more pointers on picking the best shovel for landscaping projects, from scooping to transplanting, click here.

Call before you dig. It doesn’t matter whether you’re building a new fence or planting a new shrub. Regardless of the size and scope of your digging project, you should always dial 811 before breaking out your shovel or you risk serious injury and a neighborhood service disruption. When you place the call, your local utility companies will have a professional locater come out and mark your utility lines so you can safely proceed. Learn more about calling 811.

Maintain good posture. Digging can cause serious back strain if you don’t use the right form. To avoid aching muscles, remember that your arms and legs should be doing all the work, not your back. Use your foot to push the shovel in the ground, but don’t actually jump on the shovel with both feet. (If you’re exerting that much force, you’re probably using the wrong tool for the job.) It’s also a good idea to alternate feet—so if you use your left foot to break into the ground the first time, switch to your right foot the next time around. Bend at the knees anytime you lift, and don’t twist your body—turn your entire body instead. And anytime you feel winded, take a breather!

For more digging do’s and don’ts, browse a This Old House slideshow on the subject.

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All

Easter Egg Decorating

Don’t get me wrong—I have nothing against a plain, ol’ Easter egg dye kit. In fact, I’ve seen some pretty stellar eggs made from those alone. But I want to shake things up this year. I want to really get creative. I want to—dare I say —forgo the kit entirely.

There are a few ways I can do that. Which technique would you use?

Naturally Egg-tastic
If you’re working with a recession-size budget or you’re a little tight on time, this may be the idea for you. (It’s definitely the method I’m leaning toward!)

All you need is turmeric, paprika, blueberries, and beets. Oh, and eggs, of course!
Grab at least four pots and throw one of the ingredients in each. You’ll need two tablespoons turmeric for yellow, two tablespoons paprika for orange, about a cup of blueberries for blue, and about a cup of chopped beets for pink. You can even try mixing the ingredients to create more colors. The blueberries and turmeric will create green, and the blueberries and beets will create purple, for example.

Once you’ve divided the ingredients, add water and boil. Remove the mixture from the stove, and let it cool. When ready, pour your natural dye into a bowl and add a half-teaspoon vinegar. Then just plop your eggs in and wait for them to get your desired color.

Egg-ceptional Coloring
This method is a cinch—but a little harder for the tots to help with. First, hard-boil your eggs. When they’re ready, turn off the heat, but keep them in water. Grab one egg with a paper towel, and while it’s still warm, draw on the shell with a crayon. The wax will melt ever so slightly to create a fresh effect. Ooh la la!

Egg-straordinary Dye
Here’s another technique that’s a breeze. Scoop food coloring paste into a glass, add hot water and a dash of vinegar, and your dye is complete! Next, you plunk the egg in and wait.

Those are some of my favorites, but there are a ton more ideas here.

Hope you have an egg-cellent time!

Until Monday,
The Home Know-It-All

Best New Gardening Tools

I may not have my own home garden to tend, but I still love checking out new gardening gear, whether it’s a cool watering can, planter, or pair of pruners. (Plus, I’m thinking of making my foray into container gardening, when I move to a new place.) Here are a few of my favorites:

Twice as nice. Heavy watering cans can be a pain to lug around. That’s where the 2.6-gallon Easy-Pour Watering Can from Fiskars ($19.99) comes into play. This convenient container features not one, but two handles (one of which is hinged!) so you can carry it in the way that’s most comfortable for you. But that’s not all. The rotating spout allows you to adjust water flow, so you can hydrate thirsty plants with a fine spray or steady stream.

Green gloves. Go after those stubborn weeds or dig around in the dirt: The durable Eco-Smart Work Gloves from Gardener’s Supply Company ($19.95) can handle it. They’re designed to stand up to the toughest gardening tasks, yet they’re comfortable too, thanks to their reinforced fingertips and padded palms. Velcro® cuffs keep dirt and debris out. And as their name suggests, they’re eco-friendly to boot. The stretchy, breathable fabric is made from recycled soda bottles.

Magic wand. To make watering more efficient, attach the 30” Touch ’N Flow Rain Wand from Dramm ($19.99 at Ace Hardware) to your garden hose (you can also purchase a 16” model or a 36” hanging basket wand). The wand comes with a one-touch lever-operated spray valve, so you can control the flow of water. And its 400-hole nozzle allows you to target the soil with a gentle spray, so you don’t unnecessarily splash foliage. Perhaps best of all? It comes in six bright colors.

A cut above. Whether you need to snip a few small twigs or deadhead your annuals and perennials, the heavy-duty Corona Adjustable Handle Bypass Pruner from Corona Clipper ($26.11) will stand up to the job. The pruners boast a high-carbon steel blade, and their narrow profile and slant ground hook allows you to access tight crevices. Plus the adjustable handles fit both large and small hands alike.

Found any gardening tools you can’t live without? Don’t keep them to yourself—post your ideas in our comments section below.

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All

Remodeling Recycling

You may find it hard to believe, but you can recycle almost everything that comes out of your home during a remodel. It’s true! With the right planning and preparation, you can practically skip ordering a dumpster.  (And that’s a good thing! Currently 136 million tons of waste is transported to landfills from renovation projects a year.)

Plastic, glass, cabinetry, batteries, doors, trim, sinks, tubs, and much more can all be recycled. Just think deconstruction, not demolition. That way you can keep everything in good working order. And before tearing things apart, try to arrange a new home for the item. Perhaps you can repurpose it back in your renovated space, but if not, check with the following companies to see if they’ll accept your donations.

Habitat for Humanity. In addition to providing housing for needy families, Habitat for Humanity also owns retail outlets called Habitat Restores. The stores sell used and surplus building materials donated by supply stores, contractors, demolition crews, and individual homeowners. Call your local Restore to see if they’ll take your used materials.

Gifts In Kind International. Gifts In Kind is the 12th largest charity in the United States, and it also will accept your product donations to redistribute to needy individuals. Click the “Donate Products” link to see how you can help.

Local Charities and Second-Hand Stores. These independent salvage yards are popping up all over the place, and because they don’t operate to fill the needs of a certain consumer, they accept a wider variety of building materials. Check your phonebook to find one in your area.

So what do you get out of this? Besides feeling the joy of diverting waste from landfills, you also help those less fortunate than yourself. On top of that, you receive a tax deduction equal to the price for which the items are sold. So be sure to keep your receipts! 

For more information on recycling after a remodel, see what the Professional Remodeler has to say.

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All

Ode to Orange

Orange. It’s the hue of many things that make us happy: Peaches, persimmons, pumpkins, tangerines, sunsets, and autumn leaves. And that’s precisely what makes it a hot decorating color.

Located between red and yellow on the color wheel, orange takes the best qualities of both hues—energy and happiness—and combines them into one warm, engaging color. It’s playful, invigorating, and stimulating.

Ready to give your home an energizing orange kick? Here’s how:

Orange in action. As with any bold color, a little orange goes a long way. Case in point: On this desk, orange fabric storage boxes and other accents pop against cool blue and white accessories. Featuring a few layers of orange paint, this bookcase interior provides an artful backdrop for favorite reads and other decorative objects—one that deserves a second look. And a paper lantern and candle display in striking sunset hues energizes this otherwise traditional dining nook.

Orange easily brightens rooms with little or no natural sunlight. Take my friend Erin’s basement, for example. To transform the room into a warm, cozy space that’s perfect for family get-togethers, her parents painted the walls a pumpkin hue. Paired with the ivory paneling on the lower walls, it’s a perfect option for a room with limited sunlight.

Shade selection. Soft shades like peach create the illusion of space and offer a more delicate feel. Bolder, eye-catching oranges, such as tangerine, are often used in entertaining spaces because of their energizing appeal. Oranges with brown tones give off more of a relaxed vibe. And muted shades allow you to ease into orange without going overboard.

Balancing act. Think orange doesn’t look good with other colors? Au contraire. Orange looks especially dazzling when it’s balanced with blue, its complementary hue on the color wheel. Bold, citrus-y colors look amazingly good with hot pink. Don’t believe me? Check out this chic bedroom. And orange really pops against neutrals such as brown, black, gray, and white. (When pairing orange and black, just be careful so you don’t end up with a Halloween-themed space.) Muted hues, such as lavender, help tone orange down.

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All

Budget Makeovers

If you’re not on a budget these days, you’re lucky. Most of us are looking for ways to scrimp and save, while still making our homes happy, livable places. It’s a tall order but one that can be done as long as you’re willing to substitute some good, hard (and in some cases not even that hard) manual labor for work you might normally hire someone else to do.

To get you started thinking about making over your home DIY style, here are some projects you can do without breaking the bank or spending every spare minute of the next six months remodeling. Sound good? I thought so.

Top off your living spaces. Installing crown molding is an easy weekend project you can do for less than $150 per room. And lucky you, This Old House walks you through the steps. While you’re looking up, why not add a new ceiling fan? It’s an easy way to update your space in no time.

A few other ideas from our archives worth trying:
• Create Built-In Bookshelves
• Repair and Refinish Wooden Window Frames
• Tear Down a Wall

Do the kitchen up right. A complete kitchen remodel can be a pricey endeavor. But you can make your cooking area look like a million bucks without actually spending that much cash (not even close, actually). The secret lies in the details—think paint and pulls. Don’t believe me? Check out this DIY Ideas kitchen redo that came in at less than $1,000. And oh, what a difference paint made in this adorable kitchen redo over at day-lab DIY. Remember the kitchen remodeling ideas we’ve already featured here too, like my parents’ DIY backsplash makeover that cost less than $200.

Make a better bath. Did you know that you can redo the surfaces in your bath—walls, floors, even new sinks—for $200? Total. No joke. We’ll actually show you how right here at The Home Know-It-All. The catch? You have to wait until the end of the month, when we reveal our big $200 bath makeover.

Spice up your yard. Some of our know-it-alls are busy working behind-the-scenes on a terrific project over at BHG.com that we’re sure you’ll find inspiring—and doable. It works like this: BHG.com asked five favorite home and garden bloggers to create clever outdoor weekend projects using $500 in materials from The Home Depot.

Over at BHG.com, the chosen five will be blogging about the process. And in May, you’ll get to check out the finished projects and vote for your favorite. I’ll tell you this: I’m already planning to tackle one, if not more, of the projects they’re creating—and I think you’ll want to too. So go follow along as the challenge gets underway!

Go all out. Ready to get inspired? Check out the Before & After photos of Sherry and John’s whole-house remodel over at This Young House (yep, they’re also involved in that blog challenge I mentioned above). Every room is packed with DIY ideas you can tackle yourself. Really.

I know there are about a million great budget makeover ideas out there online—not to mention in your own heads and homes. So please leave a comment below and share some of your favorite ideas and links with your fellow Home Know-It-All readers. And if you have a great DIY makeover you want to share, email us and we just may feature it on our blog!

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All

Flower Arranging in 5 Steps

Although it’s officially spring, you could have fooled me. It snowed here on Saturday, and the meteorologists are threatening more white stuff this weekend. I thought spring meant tulips, birds chirping, and rain boots. Please, tell me I’m not wrong. I wouldn’t survive the tragedy.

If you’re with me—wondering when the heck the warm weather will hit—maybe a cheerful flower arrangement will lift your mood. Don’t know the first thing about flower arranging? Not a problem. Flower arranging is a piece of cake if you follow these five steps.

1. Determine the purpose of the arrangement. Do you want to spruce up your dining room table? Or do you want to assemble a special bouquet? If you have an idea of where the end product will go, you’ll be better able to direct its creation.
   
   
2. Get inspired. Despite working with words as a career, I’m a total visual learner. I need pictures! Check out this site to get your creative juices flowing. Or see what they have growing over at Better Homes & Gardens.
   
   
3. Gather supplies. Head to your local supermarket to pick up a few simple bouquets. Or if you’re going big, try buying your blooms from a wholesaler. Fifty Flowers, Wedding Flowers of America, and Bloom Xpress are some of the favorites. Keep the smell of the flowers in mind—you’d hate to overwhelm guests with the scent of too many lilies or gardenias.
   
   You may also need a floral frog (no, it’s not an actual frog!), flower design wire, and flower tape. I prefer using a frog instead of floral foam because a frog is reusable, you’re less likely to break stems, and you can arrange and rearrange until you’re blue in the face.
   
   
4. Prep properly. Use the sharpest pair of scissors you have to cut your flowers. Always cut at an angle and immediately submerge them in lukewarm water. (If the flowers aren’t placed directly in water, air will travel up the tissues and plug the cells.)
   
   Once you’ve cut the flowers, start grouping them. Smaller flowers work well in a cluster. That way they don’t get lost underneath a large bloom. Wrap flower wire or tape around the stems to keep them together. These groupings will make it easier to arrange the flowers in a vase.
   
   
5. Go with your instincts. If you want to use your teapot as the vase, go ahead! And if you want to pair two flowers the experts don’t recommend, more power to you. In the end, it’s your arrangement, so it should look the way you want.

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All

Grow Your Own Produce

Ready to bite into crisp cherry tomatoes and cucumbers this spring? For tasty garden goodies, look no farther than your backyard. After all, you can’t get much fresher or more local than home-grown produce.

The hardest part of cultivating an edible garden might just be choosing what you want to—and can logically—grow. This iVillage article (excerpted from Gardening for Dummies) on recession gardening lists the top 10 easiest veggies to grow at home. BBC’s gardening page boasts growing guides for specific fruits and vegetables. And Better Homes and Gardens’ Plant Encyclopedia serves up care requirements for all vegetable varieties, so you can pick and choose which ones are right for you.

Ready to grow? Sow your seeds with eco-friendly gardening techniques in mind—not only will you conserve precious resources like water, your plants will thrive. The specific methods you use will vary depending on location:

In-ground. Get a dry garden soil sample tested at your local extension office to determine pH value and nutrient levels—this helps you determine how to remedy your soil, pick plants best suited for your garden, and choose the best fertilizer and prevent harmful over-application. (Want to do a soil test yourself? Learn how, from the folks at Lowe’s.) Enrich your soil with organic materials like shredded leaves or compost. And limit water usage with a drip irrigation system or soaker hose that delivers water directly to the roots.

Container garden/raised bed. Opt for large containers, which hold moisture longer, and look for specific plant varieties suited for container growth. Skip garden soil and instead buy a potting mix from your local garden center. Mixing it with compost in a 1:1 ratio creates better drainage and an even moisture level. Learn more about growing vegetables and fruit crops in containers.

Regardless of where you plant, follow the recommended spacing, depth, and site instructions on the seed packet or plant container (for example, if you’ve got a sun-loving plant, make sure it gets at least 8 hours of sun a day). This will prevent overcrowding and promote air circulation and optimal growth.

Now, get ready to enjoy the fruits of your labor. What types of produce are you growing this year?

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All

Book Covers for Book Lovers

I am a book lover to the core, as evidenced by all the books I have crammed onto shelves in my living room, stacked all around my office, and hiding in boxes in my closet. Plus there’s the whole collection in the crawlspace of my parents’ house in Wyoming (someday I’ll come get them, Mom, I promise!).

While I’m instantly drawn to the spine of books to peek at titles and authors, I also love the look of a collection of artfully covered tomes displayed on a table or lined neatly on shelves. (And no, I’m not talking that plastic that protects library hard covers here, either.)

That’s why I’m so excited to see all the great book-covering ideas I’ve come across recently. A few favorites I can’t help but share with you:

This origami book cover from How About Orange even has a pocket in the back—too cute!

Look at these lovely handmade linen book covers, showcased on Decor8 and available on Etsy.

If you love Kate Spade and are a fan of free (who isn’t?), you can download free book covers designed by the lady herself here.

Be sure you get thee to Book City Jackets for their kraft paper bookcovers—recycled, of course.

Or if you’re really feeling crafty, why not knit one?

Then again, all you really need to make a terrific book jacket is some cool paper and a tutorial that walks you through the cover-making steps.

Any other great book jacket-making ideas? Leave a comment below!

Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All