10 Tips for Decorating on a Budget.

Make it beautiful, and make it cheap. Holly Becker has collected ten tips from her own experience of decorating a small one bedroom in Germany. Go and do likewise.

1. Take IKEA seriously.

2. Yard sales!

3. Bargain at flea markets and secondhand stores

4. Share a car.

5. Shop online at places like Craigslist, Ebay, and Amazon

6. Do it yourself.

7. Bundle your services like phone, internet, and cable.

8. Recycle and repurpose.

9 » READ MORE

January 06, 2009

0 comments  |  190 views

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String Lampshades

See the lampshades behind the attractive well dressed couple? They're DIY-able! And they actually seem pretty simple. ReadyMade has instructions that are based around the kind of paper mache stuff you might have made in school.

You'll need

• a round balloon
• some string, yarn or wool
• some fabric » READ MORE

January 07, 2009

0 comments  |  190 views

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Intro to Digital Photography: Class #1 (Am I already behind?)

So yesterday was the first day of my 8 week photography class, and the minute I walked into the room I felt like I arrived at the wrong party. The class is small, only about 10 students who all had their cameras out, sitting on the communal table. They were some serious cameras for a beginner digital photography class, and they made my little Canon A720 look like....well....crap. I immediately began trying to figure out a way to get » READ MORE

January 07, 2009

1 comment  |  168 views

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How to turn a prescription bottle into a hide-a-key

This proves, once again, that the simplest ideas can be some of the most cleve. A prescription bottle upcycled into a » READ MORE

January 08, 2009

0 comments  |  158 views

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How-To: Remove a Stripped Screw

Nothing bugs me as much as stripping a screw. While taking apart this weird and wonderful rocket chair, one of the soft metal screws just wimped out and lost its grip. See how to quickly remove the pesky » READ MORE

January 07, 2009

1 comment  |  140 views

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How to Make Teardrop Balloon Luminaries

Check out these wax luminaries made out of water balloons. Yup, water balloons! Besides the balloons, you'll need some high melt paraffin wax, a double boiler and a cookie sheet. Other than that, the proceedure, which seems simple enough, goes something like this:

1. Fill balloon with tepid water.
2. Melt your wax in the double boiler to 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Slowly dip your balloon into the wax, hold it for a few seconds.
4. Withdraw the » READ MORE

January 07, 2009

0 comments  |  130 views

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Homemade Non-Toxic Mold Prevention Spray

Mold. It's BAD NEWS. As well as just being gross it can do some pretty rotten things to your lungs. Prevention is definitely the way to go, as once you've got mold it's the very devil to get rid of. Luckily, you don't need harsh chemicals to stop mold arriving and bringing 50 gazillion of it's friends. Jennifer Chait, green-mama-maven over at Inhabitots has a recipe for an all-natural mold prevention spray.

You » READ MORE

January 08, 2009

0 comments  |  128 views

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Window-less House

Architect Ken Niizeki must be the bane of peeping toms in Tokyo. His window-less home creation only looks window-less from the street. Inside, it actually has quite nice light. My favorite thing about it? No window treatments » READ MORE

January 09, 2009

3 comments  |  118 views

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10 Ways to Save Money by Going Green.

It's hip, it's good for the environment, and even corporations like WalMart and Pepsi are getting into it...and, it can save you money. Inhabitots points out ten ways that living more eco-friendly can use less of the earth AND your resources.

1. PLANT A VEGETABLE GARDEN.

2. HOST A BLACKOUT!

3. HOST A TOY EXCHANGE.

4. MAKE YOUR OWN ART SUPPLIES.

5. CHECK OUT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY

6. ORGANIZE A MAGAZINE COOP

7. USE CLOTH NAPKINS

8. GO » READ MORE

January 06, 2009

0 comments  |  114 views

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Sun Tattoos--Perfect for Trypanophobes

With the help of designer Yu-Chiao Wang's cloth stencil, every one, even those who are afraid of needles, can have a tattoo, and a full body one at that, with a little help from the sun. Although Wang suggest that it's better if you use sunless tanning cream to get your 'ink' on. Via.

January 07, 2009

0 comments  |  112 views

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Apartment Decorating Inspiration

These apartment interiors by Ozhan Hazirlar are so perfect, they almost look fake. Which is probably why I like them. Bright, minimal, linear. Doesn’t get much better than that. Note the repeat of the curvy lozenge (and half-lozenge) shape from room » READ MORE

January 08, 2009

0 comments  |  105 views

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Natural Peanut Butter Mixer

I LOVE almond butter, but like natural peanut butter, it's a pain in the neck to mix, which is why this item caught my attention. Just take the lid off your regular nut butter and put the Peanut Butter Mixer lid on instead. Slide the mixer arm through the lid's opening and stir away. I'm guessing it's much easier than using a knife or a spoon to mix the stuff, AND no more oil spills. When you're done mixing, just slipped the handle b » READ MORE

January 08, 2009

2 comments  |  79 views

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How-To: Easy Crown Molding Video

Crown molding may not be a value added home improvement, but it may help your home sell faster in this sluggish market. Buyers perceive that a home with crown molding is more custom and thus, believe it to be a better quality house. The reality is that m » READ MORE

January 09, 2009

0 comments  |  76 views

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Simple plans desk

After making a children's desk i figured i had better make a full size version.

This a a simple plan review desk, meant to embody the architectural form of a modern building.

Constructed out of Stainless Steel and Makore, with a urethane finish.

January 07, 2009

1 comment  |  69 views

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15 Alternative Uses for Credit Cards

Has the economy prompted you to cancel a credit card or two even though you’re still getting those fake ones in the mail? Here’s 15 ways to make use of all of them that won’t cost you a thing. Actually, in some instances, they’ll even save you money.

1. Open a spring latch lock. (Doesn’t work on a deadbolt, thankfully.)
2. Ice scraper.
3. Paint scraper.
4. Aquarium glass scraper.
5. Caulk edger, like one of these things.
6. Shims for tight spaces. » READ MORE

January 09, 2009

0 comments  |  62 views

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