Table of contents for Winter 2020 in Do It Yourself

THE MAKER: LAURA GALVIS The Cruda Soaps owner helps others limit their plastic footprint and works to share some natural goodness with the world. Q: How did you come up with the name? A: In Spanish, cruda is the feminine word for raw. All the ingredients I use are raw materials, so that’s where the name comes from. Q: How does using natural ingredients make a difference in the product? A: They give it quality. If you use natural, rich, raw ingredients, you see the difference in your skin. Even if I don’t put on any moisturizer or oil, my skin is already moisturized, nourished, and glowing because I use soap made with 100 percent natural oils. Products made with chemicals are super harsh and dehydrating. Q: What prompted you…

MAKE IT ENVELOPE PILLOW MATERIALS • Sweatshirt (or fabric for front of pillow cover)• Kraft paper• Straight pins• ½ yard of fabric for back of pillow cover (stiff cotton such as canvas)• Pillow form (ours is 18 inches square)• Tailor’s chalk pencil• Sewing gauge• Iron• Sewing machine• Thread Step 1 Use kraft paper to create a pattern the size of the pillow form. Mark the top center of pattern. Step 2 Lay sweatshirt flat on work surface. If needed to make the body lay flat, cut off sleeves and waistband. Mark top center of shirt design. Center pattern over the design, aligning the marks (A). Pin in place, trace with marker, and cut out (B). Step 3 Cut two pieces of stiff cotton for back of pillow cover. The width…

LEVEL UP A ladder might be an unlikely entryway furnishing, but it offers surprisingly convenient storage. The rustic model on the right side of this entry piece is made from salvaged wood and provides shelves to hold wallets, keys, and other on-the-go items. Rustic Wood 5-Foot Blanket Ladder, $55; wayfair.com HANG OUT In lieu of bulky lockers or cubbies, give every family member a hook. This sleek version is strong enough to hold heavy backpacks and winter coats. Richelieu Contemporary Metal Wall Hook, $7; wayfair.com INSIDE JOB Turn an old trunk into a stylish seat. Paint the exterior as desired, then add furniture pads on the bottom to prevent floor scratches. Hot-glue a seat cushion to the top, running a line of glue around the entire perimeter to secure. BIN…

TABLE TALK Source a science table from an online school supply shop or keep tabs on school closures and renovations to snag a used version you can retrofit with a bottom shelf, above. A laminate tabletop offers durability while also being more cost-effective than epoxy resin. Opting for a wooden base creates a cohesive look once the shelf and base are painted. MAKE IT COFFEE BAR SHELF MATERIALS • Science table• 1×3 poplar boards• Chop saw• Drill• Pocket-hole jig and screws• Wood glue• Pin nailer• Clamps• Sandpaper• Primer• Paintbrush• Semigloss paint Step 1 Create the low shelf’s front and back trim pieces by measuring the distance between the inside edges of the front legs of your science table and cutting two poplar boards to fit. Repeat, using the distance…

CHOOSE COLORS Master the art of choosing colors via swatches with these four easy steps. BHG.com/Swatches PAINT CABINETRY Get a remodeled look in your kitchen at a fraction of the cost with a few coats of paint. BHG.com/PaintCabinets PREP SURFACES Set yourself up for success with these pre-painting tips. BHG.com/PaintPrep CLEAN BRUSHES The painting is done—now it’s time to clean up. Follow our best tips for cleaning and drying paintbrushes to keep them in good shape for future projects. BHG.com/CleanBrush…

1 WHY KNOT To make these knotted hanging planters, first measure the height of the pot you’ll be wrapping and decide the length of the hanging portion plus desired tassel. Cut eight lengths of this measurement from rope. Group rope ends and make a gathering knot by folding the end of one rope down, then wrapping a second piece of rope (we used an 18-inch piece) around the gathered ropes and looping through the folded end to secure (A and B). Trim any excess rope. Decide where you’ll want the knots to begin on the pot, then begin the knotting process: Gather two ropes and tie them in a knot (C), then separate the ropes and tie each one in a knot with the opposite neighbor rope. Continue alternating ropes to make…

Light up your life with DIY pendant lighting. Choose cords from a rainbow of colors and styles to fit any space, then mix and match the rest of the needed parts for a fixture, all available on the site. Cloth Covered Electrical Wire starting at $1.50 per foot; colorcords.com 1. Fun foodie puzzles satisfy when you just want an appetizer. These are only 8×8 inches assembled and take about 20 minutes to complete. Little Puzzle Thing, $15 each; areaware.com 2. No glass-cutting required when you make your own mosaic tiles from polymer clay. The set comes with two sizes and two shape options. Triangle Mosaic Cutters, $10; sculpey.com 3. Create a woodland wonderland with this paper cut kit. Includes silhouettes, lights, and instructions for a cute cutting craft. 3D Nordic…

FAB FUNGI Go wild making a playful collection of touchable toadstools, this photo. Experiment with sizes, colors, and shapes to add a bit of whimsy to any tablescape. For these colorful mushroom caps, we raided thrift shops and clearance racks for stretchy velvet dresses in vivid hues. MAKE IT DECORATIVE MUSHROOMS MATERIALS • Driftwood (or tree branch)• Garden snips or handsaw• Chipboard• Stretch velvet• Hot-glue gun and glue sticks• Batting• Needle and matching thread Step 1 For a stem, cut a 2–3-inch length from driftwood. From chipboard, cut a circle to a size proportionate to the stem. From velvet, cut a circle about twice as large in diameter than the chipboard circle. Step 2 Using hot glue, adhere the stem to the center of the chipboard circle (A). On the…

ALISON ALLEN NEEDED A BREAK. NOT FROM THE NONSTOP HOUSE UPDATES SHE SHARES ON HER BLOG, DEUCE CITIES HENHOUSE. INSTEAD, SHE AND HER HUSBAND, JEFF, WERE LOOKING FOR A WEEKEND RETREAT TO GET THEIR KIDS OUT OF THE CITY (THEY CALL MINNEAPOLIS HOME) AND INTO THE WOODS. “Our sons, Finn and Gus, are 10 and 7, and we wanted to find a spot to get together but also get away from it all,” Alison says. Enter a circa 1968 chalet-style A-frame located about two hours away in Hayward, Wisconsin. With a secluded, tree-covered lot overlooking a private lake, the property resembled something out of a favorite storybook. The home’s interiors, on the other hand, were not worth writing home about. A dilapidated kitchen and wall-to-wall shag carpet made for a…

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED A mix of vintage and made-to-look-vintage correspondence will keep you inspired at your writing desk, this photo. What you need to get this look: removable adhesive dots, new stationery, old letters and envelopes, postcards, tea bags, and water. What you do: Soak new materials in tea about 30 minutes, then remove and dry on a rack. For different shades, adjust the soaking time, or dunk the material again. To display, start low on the wall and move up. Stick in place with removable adhesive. SPIN A YARN Keep the memory of a favorite city close to your heart with a yarn cityscape. Print out a fave cityscape, then adjust the scale to the rough size you want for your wall accent. Our tallest building is 5 feet.…

[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: EMBELLISH GLASS PAGES 6–10 PAGES 6–7 Ink for project Alcohol Ink Pallet, blending solution with metallic fixative Metallic Mixatives, both by Tim Holtz, hexagonal candleholder—Michaels; michaels.com. Giraffe—World Market; worldmarket.com. Framed plant artwork, cake pedestal—HomeGoods; 800/614-4663; homegoods.com for a store near you. Etching cream, etching liquid Dip ‘n Etch—Etchall; etchall.com. Spouncer, white paint marker—Jo-Ann Stores; joann.com. PAGES 8–9 Round…

1. Modern farmhouse meets cozy comfort with this black-and-white rug. Double it up with a larger rug or doormat for trendy dimension. Buffalo Check Rug with Tassels, $30; ahintofgold.etsy.com 2. Layer this large cotton blanket on the bed to stay warm during the winter—and add plenty of style. Stillwater Cotton Plaid Blanket, $139 for twin; pendleton-usa.com 3. Bring a little cabin chic to your party decor with these bowls, perfect for serving up warm soup or tasty dips. Buffalo Plaid Ceramic Bowls, $10 for four; orientaltrading.com 4. Let your pup get in on the plaid fun. This leash will have him styling on your wintry walks. Leashes are available in seven plaid colors and styles. Classic Dog Leash in Flannel, $30; shopmimigreen.com 5. Looking to fully commit to your love…

FRIENDS, I LOVE PAINT. Paint is where a lot of us got our Handy Girl feet wet and where a lot of us keep ticking up our home remodeling skills. Read on to see what I’ve learned from the thousands of strokes and swipes I’ve trialed over the years on my walls, furniture, and more. FIND YOUR SHEEN WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT FINISHES, HOW IS ONE TO CHOOSE? LET’S BREAK DOWN YOUR OPTIONS SO YOU’RE NOT STUMPED ON YOUR NEXT TRIP TO THE PAINT STORE. GLOSS ADDS SHINE—LOTS OF IT. IT’S EASIER TO CLEAN THAN FLAT FINISHES BUT HARDER TO APPLY. great for… TRIM AND CABINETS. SEMIGLOSS AGAIN, EASIER TO CLEAN. great for… WALLS IN HIGH-TRAFFIC SPACES SUCH AS A KITCHEN OR MUDROOM. SATIN SUPER POPULAR AND LESS SHINY. great…

THE MOYSA FAMILY (GEOFF, BRI, GREYSON, AGE 12, EMERSON, 9, AND DOG CHOPPER) SHARE A TWO-BEDROOM, ONE-BATHROOM 1,000-SQUARE-FOOT CONDO—AND FOR GOOD REASON. “Southern California is crazy expensive, and this is what we can afford … we can’t see ourselves too far from the ocean, and with that location comes an expense,” Bri says of their thoughts when deciding to buy a home instead of rent. “Do we move inland and get more house for our money, or do we stay here and make it work? We chose to stay and make it work.” Investing in their condo was worth it, thanks to a few fabulous features: the condo’s location (just 15 minutes from Dana Point), outdoor space (a nice-size backyard), and a nearly blank slate for transformation. But that also…