Hometalk Ideas, Tips & Guides

We shared this on Chemistry Cachet several weeks ago, and we are already having readers write in saying they love it!

A while back I saw a post for a pool noodle chair and thought that, since my grandson was coming to visit, I'd surprise him with a float he could 'chill' in the pool with. Using the same method, this is what I came up with. (This is my first ever Hometalk post, so on that thought...here goes.

Well, that's the way it started… In the last year we renovated our house and there are too many things that are still waiting in our backyard to be reused (good luck with that… ).

Looking for a unique design element for your landscape? This stone wall will add beauty and function.

I constantly have mulch coming onto my driveway and walkway. I need a simple and clean edge to keep things in place.

A DIY greenhouse will extend the growing season of your garden by allowing you to start seeds earlier and keep plants producing later in the fall. Large or small, building a greenhouse doesn't have to break the bank.

Today, I am going to take you on a crafting adventure transforming humble foil pans into gorgeous DIY poinsettias.

I cherish my time outdoors, enjoying meals on the patio with my family and soaking in the scenery. However, the pesky presence of flies can quickly ruin the serene atmosphere.

I don’t know what it is lately, but for some reason every single project I’ve been attempting to tackle lately has turned out to either be more costly, more time consuming, or both than originally planned.

My husband and I participated in an exterior home makeover sponsored by Lowe's, and we built some window boxes for the homeowner. I wanted to share with you some of the details of this project!

Inexpensive and easy dish flowers for your garden!

To give a rustic style to the wrap around deck or porch, I built cedar flower boxes / planter boxes. This planters will hide the plastic container where the plants are grown last spring.

If you've ever sat by the edge of a pool, your back begins to hurt after a while. Ladies (or men in Speedos), we all know how the seat of our swimsuits gets those little pullers in them… so here's the perfect poolside solution!

If you're looking for how to get rid of carpenter ants, you've come to the right place.

Summer is made for backyard BBQs, picnics, and camping. But sometimes it isn't very comfortable to sit ground-level while enjoying an outdoor meal.

My sister-in-law, Bree, is getting married this fall so we are in full wedding planning mode over here.

Tired of buying expensive weed-killers that might be harmful to your family and pets? I've got a solution for you! This DIY weed-killer is not only effective but also safe for your kids and furry friends.

I decided to make a planter box out of a cable spool and here's how I did it.

Looking for a fun basket planter DIY? I got you covered. I recently stumbled upon some spacious outdoor storage baskets and had a brilliant idea – turning them into charming porch planters! With a few simple steps, you can create your own unique planters that will add a touch of greenery to your porch or outdoor space.

I don't know about you, but I have tons of scrap wood and this little project was a great way to use some of it up! We made rustic wood lanterns for our mantel.

The kitchen is often referred to as “the heart of the home,” but what happens when the weather gets nice and nobody wants to be inside anymore? Enter the outdoor kitchen. It’s the perfect place to relax with friends and enjoy the backyard. Today we’re sharing tons of outdoor kitchen inspiration, ranging in scale from giant outdoor kitchen kits to simple grilling areas made with reclaimed materials.

Fungus gnats are small, dark flying insects that thrive in indoor potted plants. These pesky insects also attack hydroponic gardens and can seriously destroy or inhibit plant growth.

When it comes to illuminating your home and outdoor areas, solar-powered creations are a great option for those in search of eco-friendly alternatives to more traditional lighting. Drawing their energy from the sun, they’re not only easy to use and simple to set up, but they have some pretty impressive green credentials too.

Okay this project will take you back, waaaaayyy back to the days that you got your first set of wheels, no not your first car but your your very first tricycle!!! I've been told I used to ride my red tricycle in just my red rubbers and undies but ahhh there's no photographs to prove it so I think it's just a tall tale mom tells to try and embarrass me! Hilarious I know, back to the present let's talk more trash...tossed tricycle trash was how this whole project came about and that's the truth!

Using wood from a section of our fence that fell in a wind storm, I built a bench to encircle our large maple tree in the back yard.

Are you someone who truly loves books and embraces the bibliophile aesthetic in your home? Have you ever wondered how to extend this charming vibe to your yard? Well, today's project is here to provide an answer.

With so many of us stuck at home and not being able to get to the craft stores, I thought I'd share a quick tutorial for making a ladybug mosaic using a sponge ball and left over mosaics. If you don't have a sponge ball,a roundish rock or polystyrene ball will work to.

Need to take that plain wooden side table up a notch? Make it Moroccan! In this tutorial I’ll show you how to create a stylish Moroccan side table that will quickly become a conversation piece. This technique can be used to create a variety of designs, so you can apply it to any project you want! Ready to make a side table worth of resting your morning coffee on? Follow my step-by-step tutorial below to get started today!

If you like lanterns and you want to have the most romantic and cozy atmosphere on your patio or porch, don’t throw out your large glass jars. Yes, you read that right! All you need is large glass jars and knitting yarn. I’m sure you have those large pickles jars and I’m sure you have knitting yarn at home. If not my friends, hurry to your grandma's to get some.

These are perfect to use in BBQ parties, birthday party or even weddings as a table decoration piece and to light up the party when the sun goes down. It's very easy to do it and will cost almost nothing.

Learn how to make a DIY solar pool heater with supplies from the dollar store. Heat your pool by harnessing the power of the sun with this easy tutorial using a pool noodle, hula hoop and a trash bag.

One of my favorite things to do upcycle is tin cans and to make cool planters out of them ( like these popular gold crushed ones). I've been crushing tin cans again but this time to make a display outside my home that shows my house number too.

Inspired by trendy furniture store, i came up with this hunting lantern for 2 dollars. I shopped supplies from Dollar Tree store and used a cheese ball jar from Costco that we enjoyed my kids and me. I love cheese ball and ended to have lots and lots of jars at home. The whole sale ones are super big compared to the grocery store. Anyway, ones I had everything in between my hands I started imagining how my lanterns gonna look like and how I will hang them. I got a black synthetic rope from dollar tree store that I lined all over the jar horizontally and vertically using a hot glue. For the handles I used an old rattan woven basket that i dismantled and covered with the black rope to solidify the handles. Finally, I drilled the bottom of the jar and insert the solar light for a convenient lighting.

Need an easy update for your backyard? Painting concrete pavers will add some pizzaz to your outdoor space! A few supplies are all that’s needed to create this fun project.

Last fall I made the tough decision to sell our hot tub. After it was removed, we were left with a big ugly hole in the deck! But I thought maybe this space could make a nice backyard lounge area?

I have always loved the look of benches made from head and foot boards, especially the ones made from metal. I found this one in the most unlikely places. It was leaning up against the side of a vault, ( a holding building for bodies to be buried in cemeteries. The caskets are kept here during winter months when the ground is frozen and graves can't be dug until spring.) It was buried half in the ground and deep in the trees. I was very excited with my find, my mother was looking at me with those eyes that quietly said my daughter has finally lost it but didn't actually say it… I went back to my mom's house and called the church secretary and asked if I could remove the bed. Ironically she didn't even know one was there. She said if I could dig it out I could have it. After some choice words under my breath, tree branches in some not so nice places, and falling on my behind while trying to get it out of the ground my determination paid off.