Do It Yourself - CTnow

Trim your porch for Halloween

By Kathryn Weber, Tribune Media Services — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 04:15:00 EDT

Instead of just tossing candy to trick-or-treaters on Halloween this year, send them home with something to talk about.

Power to the pumpkin

By Kathryn Weber, Living Space — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 00:00:00 EDT

Grand ideas for decorating with autumn's favorite squash

Fall marks a time when corner lots, farm markets and grocery store parking lots are stacked with pumpkins for Halloween and Thanksgiving.

A home for Halloween goodies

By Amanda Formaro, Special to Tribune Newspapers — Wed, 3 Oct 2012 00:00:00 EDT

It's Halloween season and that means plenty of parties! Treat bags that kids can take home are always fun, but these cute little treat cups are even better. Fill each with wrapped candies and inexpensive trinkets. Kids can carry their loot home with the pipe cleaner handle.

How to repot a houseplant

By Barbara Mahany , Tribune Newspapers — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT

If you manage to keep alive a houseplant for, oh, more than a few months, there will surely come the day when it has outgrown its starter pot.

Try a patio makeover

By Stacy Downs — Mon, 8 Aug 2011 14:56:55 EDT

Arm yourself with a weekend action plan to make over your patio

Yes it can be a one-weekend wonder. Arm yourself with a weekend action plan to make over your patio.

How to use ordinary objects in extraordinary ways

By Aisha Sultan, St. Louis Post-Dispatch — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 02:32:46 EDT

See how ordinary, unassuming household products have hidden superpowers

Some ordinary, unassuming household objects have hidden superpowers. And most of these items cost less than a couple of bucks. There are cult followings of vinegar and duct tape. Entire tomes have been written about the virtues of baking soda.

The next DIY frontier: roasting beans

By Betty Hallock — Thu, 1 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Raw coffee beans get the do-it-yourself treatment as java aficionados jump at the chance to roast their own blend.

Raw coffee beans get the do-it-yourself treatment as java aficionados jump at the chance to roast their own blend.

How to fix a leaky faucet

By Barbara Mahany , Tribune Newspapers — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

One drip per second from a leaky faucet equals 3,000 to 8,000 gallons of wasted water a year, according to Paul Patton, senior product manager for Delta Faucet, and Chuck White, vice president of technical and code services for the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association.

Learn to plant a tree

By Bill Daley , Tribune Newspapers — Wed, 4 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT

Arbor Day Foundation offers advice in time for Earth Day

Plant a tree? Sure! If Queen Elizabeth II is out there doing it in her mid-80s, you can too. Here's how ...

How to cut your own hair

By Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz , Tribune Newspapers — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

While it's best to leave the pixie cut or layered bob to the pros, you can perform basic trims if you need to save on salon visits or need to tame those split ends.