Table of contents for Winter 2016 in Do It Yourself

MAKE IT FLOATING NIGHTSTAND This double shelf may look like it’s levitating, but trust us that it’s snugged securely to the wall, putting a clock, cup of water, and eyeglasses within groggy reach. Bonus: Its “floating” design frees floor space underneath! To make your own, cut a 12×24-inch piece of crafts plywood (we got ours at a home center) in half to make two 6×24-inch shelves. Cut a spot for a drinking glass in the end of one shelf with a 2½- or 3-inch hole saw, sanding the edges smooth. Attach the two shelves to the top and bottom of a prefinished white shelf (also from a home center—ours is 8×24 inches) with 1-inch screws every few inches for stability. Finally, attach the whole assembly to the wall. We secured…

DEAR HANDY GIRL, Let’s talk trim. I’m a newbie at woodworking, in my first house, and I want to redo each room with simple but well-done woodwork. How do I figure out all those angles? Geometry class was a while ago... DEAR READER, I hear you: Everyone lied when they said we’d use algebra, amirite? So why is geometry all of a sudden so useful? And trim can feel intimidating. Saws! Coping! Angles! But don’t let that stop you. Here’s a quick intro to what you’ll need to know along with tips from the pros: A MITER BOX AND HANDSAW are basic tools that work for quarter round or areas where what you see is less important than getting the job done. Mount the box on a bench to prevent…

before you begin Indigo dye uses oxidation to turn the fabric blue. With creative shibori-style folding and tying of fabric and inserting objects between layers, you can create striking resist patterns. For our projects, including the artwork, below, we used the Indigo Tie Dye Kit from Jacquard Products. To prepare the dye, wear rubber gloves and add hot water to a lidded container. Add indigo packet to the water; stir with a paint stick (A). Stir in soda ash and reducing agent (B); place lid on container. Let sit for 15–60 minutes. Remove lid and gently remove the bloom from the mixture (C) before submerging fabric How to Make the Artwork MATERIALS • Basic dyeing supplies (see opposite) • Large square of natural-fiber fabric • Rubber bands • Artists canvas…

When Ashley Walker Delapp and husband Mark Lassiter first toured this house, it had languished on the market for a year as a flip that seemed to have flopped. “Potential buyers likely saw only an underwhelming sea of ‘greige,’” says Ashley, referring to the gray-beige hue swathing the walls of the Charlotte 1960 trilevel. But the couple instead envisioned a great home base for their combined family that includes seven children, ages 7 to 23. “Plus, it just had great bones,” Ashley says, including refinished original hardwood floors and a vaulted ceiling in the living room. For Ashley, an interior designer, the neutral palette was simply a blank canvas ready to receive her mix of confident color and hey-check-me-out geometric patterns—all achieved with strategically located wallcoverings, painted finishes, thoughtfully selected…

THE PERFECT COVER-UP A color-block buffet forms the basis for a winning hand in all your holiday entertaining. If your cabinet doors aren’t stainable, cover them with birch veneer. Cut veneer to size plus ½ inch on all sides. Mix contact cement according to manufacturer’s instructions and apply to the back of the veneer and to the front of the door; let set. Carefully align before adhering pieces. Using a veneer roller, roll the veneer smooth, starting at the center and working outward. Repeat with a smoothing blade. Flip door over and use a utility blade to remove excess veneer. Let dry and cure. See staining instructions on page 89. How to Apply Color-block Stain MATERIALS • Stains (We used Cabot Natural, Honeysuckle, Rhubarb, Seastone.) • Birch veneer cabinet doors…

This time of year, we’re reminded to stop and savor the moment. As the holidays near, each day seems to fly by faster, while your desire to enjoy the little things—the first snowfall, a favorite carol, a glass of wine with friends—grows stronger. We curated this issue of Do It Yourself ™ to help you make the most of this season’s whirlwind of get-togethers and to-dos. Whether you’re creating gifts (“Simple Nature Crafts,” page 100), whipping up decorations (“Hung with Care,” page 60), or welcoming guests (“Playing the Angles,” page 84), you’ll achieve the best results with our no-fail steps, product recommendations, and insider tips. You’ll even find sanity-saving gift ideas for all the tricky folks on your list, including tool-lovers (“Cool Tools,” page 18), neat freaks (“Order in the…

UNDER $20 1 EK TOOLS ENGRAVING TOOL simplicity.com // $16 Create custom designs on materials, including glass, metal, ceramic, and leather, using this cordless engraving tool. 2 TADPOLE TAPE CUTTER thegrommet.com // $6–$16 Cleanly and easily tear tape every time with this gadget that transforms rolls of painters, electrical, duct, and masking tape into tape guns. Best part? You can say goodbye to the struggle of finding the end of the roll. 3 HYDE 14-IN-1 PRO PROJECT MULTI-TOOL hydetools.com // $12 Versatility is the name of the game with this multitool that can be used 14 different ways. Scrape paint, set nails, open cans, spread putty, or use one of the four screwdriver bits stored in the handle. $20-$50 4 ADTECH PRO80 adhesivetech.com // $30 Interchangeable extension nozzles and a…

Make wrapping gifts for friends and family simple yet special this year. Start with plain white or brown kraft paper, then dress up each gift with pom-poms, layered washi tape, and other handmade embellishments. Your personalized presents are sure to impress. 1 Removable containers on this handy caddy make finding, rearranging, and switching out supplies a cinch. You can stack multiple handled units for easy storage. $30; deflecto.com for retailers 2 With six templates and a variety of colored string, this nail art starter pack is perfect for beginners. Simply paint as desired and use included nails to hammer away at your new wall art. $13; hobbylobby.com 3 Learn how to embellish light fixtures, vases, and more with Amy Butler’s comprehensive decoupage guide. Eighty pages of fabulously patterned paper are…

BUDGET BREAKDOWN GRID LIGHT PANEL $13 WALL HOOK $2 TOTAL // $15 TREE-MENDOUS TRELLIS If you’re tight on space or can’t get your hands on a real spruce, this geometric grid alternative is fit for you (and your living area). Mark your tree’s trunk at the middle of the short side of a grid light panel. Use the grid squares as a guide to indicate the branches and top of the tree. Once you are satisfied with your design, snip the edges of the grid along your guideline with wire cutters (A). When finished, hang the tree on a hook or lean against a wall. Decorate with lightweight ornaments. BUDGET BREAKDOWN PLASTIC SERVING TRAY $1 CLEAR CAST EPOXY CASTING RESIN $16 METAL LEAFING FLAKES $10 TOTAL FOR FOUR 9-INCH WREATHS…

1. LAMP-TASTIC Ashley Walker Delapp loves this line of handmade table lamps inspired by midcentury designs. Mix and match shapes, shades, hardwood accents, and 12 glaze colors to create your custom light. Prices start at $185; Alberta, above, in turquoise and cherrywood is $500. caravan-pacific.com 2. BRASSY SUGGESTION Swapping hardware remains one of the fastest updates for cabinets and furniture. Ashley fell in love with midcentury modern pulls in brushed satin brass finish (see page 71). Up-andcomer Forged Hardware Studio offers a bevy of glamorous designs that combine shapely metal and crisp Lucite. Prices for pulls shown, above, start at $4 each. forgehardwarestudio.etsy.com 3. SHINE ON Give furniture and accessories a glossy lacquered finish with a dynamic paint trio from designer Amy Howard. First apply Furniture Lacquer Primer ($14.50)…

MIX IT UP PULL PLANKS FROM VARIOUS CARTONS TO ENSURE A MIX OF PATTERNS AND COLORS How to Install a Vinyl-plank Floor MATERIALS • Broom or vacuum • Level • Leveling compound • Vinyl planks • Transition strips, if necessary • Safety glasses • Drill • Measuring tape • Oscillating saw • Jigsaw • Shear cutter, table saw, or chop saw • ¼-inch spacers • Square • Utility knife • Rubber mallet • Pull bar • Tapping block HOLD HELPER WOOD TOOTHPICKS HOLD ANCHORS IN CONCRETE. Step 1 Gather materials (A). Prep the floor by thoroughly sweeping or vacuuming up all dust and particles. Step 2 Using a level, determine if the floor is mostly even. If not, apply leveling compound to uneven spots, following the manufacturer’s directions. Step 3…

FIND CLICKABLE LINKS TO ALL THESE SOURCES IN THE DIGITAL EDITION OF THIS ISSUE. BHGSPECIALS.ZINIO.COM [P] Paint Color Because of the magazine printing process, paint colors depicted on our pages might vary slightly from manufacturers’ colors. Use paint color names or numbers, when provided, as a starting point. To get a color as it appears in the magazine, take the page to a paint retailer for matching. [T] To the Trade Contact a design professional to find more information about this product or service. TRY IT: RESIST PRINTING PAGES 8–13 Pages 8–9 White pillow for project, artwork on wall, teal pillow—HomeGoods; 800/888-0776; homegoods.com (product line varies). Black fabric paint—Jo-Ann Stores; 888/739-4120; joann.com. Textured pillow—West Elm; 866/428-6468; westelm.com (product line varies). Page 10–11 (top) White napkin set, place mats— HomeGoods; 800/888-0776;…

WHAT IS RESIST PRINTING? IT'S AN EASY WAY TO CREATE PATTERN ON FABRIC, WOOD, OR GLASS BY PRETREATING SELECT AREAS OF A DESIGN SO THEY’LL RESIST DYE OR PAINT. MIX & MATCH WE PAIRED OUR NAPKINS RESIST-PRINTED IN MULTIPLE COLORS OF FABRIC PAINT WITH PURCHASED VARIEGATED BLUE PLACE MATS. TEMPERA PAINT SHAPE & SHINE SIMPLIFY THIS PROJECT BY USING PRECUT VINYL WALL DECAL STICKERS. METALLIC GOLD SPRAY PAINT ADDS JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF SHIMMER. FOR RESOURCES SEE PAGE 108.…

ALL THAT GLITTERS Toast the New Year with soiree-ready signage. Print cheers onto paper in your desired size and font, cut it out, and pin it to an 18×12×1-inch rigid foam sheet; trace with marker (A). Cut out the word using the FloraCraft StyroCutter Plus, which makes intricate cuts in foam. TIP: To make art larger than a single foam sheet, trace the word onto multiple sheets and join the sections using toothpicks and Floracraft Styroglue (see “Shop for Success,” page 26). Coat the sign with decoupage medium; sprinkle with confetti. Let dry. Repeat as needed. Insert wood dowels in the bottom of the sign, and mount the dowels in a piece of scrap foam placed in a shallow vessel and surrounded with decorative pebbles. ROCK ON Bring the geode…

MATERIALS 101 Like any DIY project, sewing is easier when you have the right tools. Collect these items in a basic sewing kit. 1 TAPE MEASURE Take measurements around dimensional objects, such as pillows, with this plastic or fabric tape. 2 CUTTING MAT Use this self-healing mat to protect your work surface when using a rotary cutter. 18×24-inch Cutting Mat; fiskars.com 3 FABRIC SHEARS Reserve one pair of shears for fabric only—no paper allowed. RazorEdge Softgrip Fabric Shears; fiskars.com 4 IRON, HAND-SEWING NEEDLES, NEEDLE THREADER 5 ROTARY CUTTER This pizza cutter lookalike cuts several fabric layers. Splash 45mm Rotary Cutter; olfa.com 6 SEWING GAUGE Use this metal ruler to double-check your seam allowances when sewing or hem measurements when pressing. 7 WATER-SOLUBLE MARKERS Marks made with these are removed with…

1. DAMAGE-FREE DECORATING Create your own gallery wall—minus the nail holes—with the Command Picture Hanging Kit, which allows you to hang up to 15 pictures. The strips hold strongly and come off cleanly. Visit Command’s website for step-by-step instructions on completing this Gilded Modern look. $20; command.com for retailers. 2. TOTAL FANDOM Treat your guests to an eye-popping display by simply unfolding and hanging these multicolor holiday party fans. Each pack comes with eight fans in varying sizes with gold foil and glitter accents to add some temporary flair to your space. $25; mymindseyepapergoods.com 3. LIGHT THE WAY Building your own marquee light couldn’t be easier with the Heidi Swapp Marquee Love Christmas Paper Shape. Each kit comes complete with your choice of a paper star, snowflake, or evergreen tree…

ROUGHING IT Add chic substance to your office space by crafting raw, textured furniture and accessories out of concrete from Buddy Rhodes. Artisan concrete mixes lend an ease-ofuse factor—as well as a range of pigments and finishes—for first-time concrete crafters and aficionados alike. Although concrete needs water to activate, adding too much can cause it to slump. In the case of too much, wait for the mixture to stiffen and then remix, or add more concrete to the batch. Grab the construction details on the following pages. TIP: TEMPS MATTER When concrete mix comes in contact with water, a chemical reaction occurs and the mixture starts to harden, which allows projects to eventually retain their shape. But you want to slow that chemical reaction to allow time to complete your…

BUDGET OF BREAKDOWN STONES FOUND! OR $17 FOR 30 LBS TRANSFER MEDIUM $11 MAGNETS $13 FOR 14 MATTE MEDIUM $15 TOTAL // $56 OR LESS DOWNLOAD THE IMAGES FOR THIS PROJECT AT BHG.COM/DIYNATURE ROCK SOLID MAGNET Give your pal’s fridge a beautiful gift. Print our downloadable images on a laser (not ink-jet) printer. For each magnet: Daub a stone’s flattest side with transfer medium, then place an image facedown on it. Starting at the image’s center, smooth out any creases and air bubbles with your finger. Remove excess medium with a damp cloth. Let dry at least eight hours. Moisten the paper and let it sit for several minutes; then use a damp towel to rub away the paper and reveal the image. Seal with clear matte medium; let dry.…