|
Mini-Blinds Made Better
(NC) You can use spray paint to be kind to the environment by repurposing plastic and transform vinyl mini-blinds from bland and uninspired to home décor highlights. When paint and colour are used to create simple geometric designs on mini-blinds, they interact with sunlight for an endless variety of subtle visual effects.  An easy-to-use, one-step spray paint for this project is Krylon Fusion for Plastic. It can be used on wood, metal, wicker, hard vinyl and a wide range of plastic surfaces including ABS, PVC, polypropylene, polyethylene, fiberglass and rubber. Use it for all kinds of projects in and around the home, from sprucing up faded plastic patio furniture to freshening up plastic fences, mailboxes, shutters, planters and storage containers. Use a reverse-spraying process (background last) to create geometric designs on mini-blinds. Draw figures on almost any sticky-backed, removable adhesive paper and cut them out. Before you paint, hang the blinds with S-hooks in a protected area, covering surrounding areas with newspaper or drop cloths. Before applying the geometric shapes to the blinds, begin spray painting the first area you want to paint with your chosen colour. After the paint dries for one hour, apply an adhesive geometric shape over the colour. It will serve as a reverse stencil. Leave it in place. Repeat this process until all your coloured areas, except the background, have been painted. With the clear, geometric reverse stencils in place, apply the background colour. Let the paint dry completely for 24 hours then gently remove the adhesive shapes. Allow the blinds to dry completely for five to seven days before hanging to allow the paint to fully cure to assure adhesion. As you adjust the blinds, enjoy the play of the light and shadow on your geometric pattern. Materials Krylon Fusion for Plastic in selected contrasting colours Vinyl mini-binds sized for your windows, with hardware Sticky-backed, removable adhesive paper Drop cloths or newspaper Screwdriver or other tools necessary for hanging blinds Save time raking. Help your lawn by mulching leaves (NC)-It's great to have big shade trees in your yard. But come fall, you can start to resent them. Those big trees drop leaves, which means extra work, hassle and lost time. However, there's good news. A recent Michigan State University study shows that you can forget about raking, blowing and bagging leaves. Instead, just mulch them with your lawn mower and feed your lawn with a nitrogen-rich lawn fertilizer like Scotts TurfBuilder WinterCare. It'll save you work, improve your soil and add nutrients. Here's how to do it:  Chop those Leaves with your Mower Take the grass catcher off your mower, and mow over the leaves on your lawn. You want to reduce your leaf clutter to dime-sized pieces. You'll know you're done when about half an inch of grass can be seen through the mulched leaf layer. Once the leaf bits settle in, microbes and worms can get to work recycling them. Any kind of rotary-action mower will do the job, and any kind of leaves can be chopped up. With several passes of your mower, you can mulch up to 18 inches of leaf clutter. Feed your Lawn to Speed Up the Process Microbes do a better job recycling carbon from leaves when they have nitrogen. Scotts TurfBuilder WinterCare can help break down your mulched leaves faster. When you feed your lawn after mulching those leaves, your microbes will work harder and your grass will grow better. See Great Results in the Spring When spring arrives, you'll notice something. The leaf litter you mulched up in the fall will have disappeared. Your rake will look dusty and neglected, and your grass will look greener than ever. Mulching: a Better Use of Resources When you rake your leaves, it costs you. Your local taxes pay for trucks to sweep up your leaves or to pick up your leaf bags, the contents of which often end up in landfills. If you burn leaves, you're just sending clouds of carbon up into the atmosphere. Mulching leaves simply recycles a natural resource giving you richer soil for free. More information about healthy lawn maintenance can be found online at www.scotts.ca. |
Enjoy a worry-free season of outdoor entertaining (NC)- Summer in Canada may be fleeting, but while it's here, few can resist the temptation of relaxing with friends and family at an outdoor barbecue. There's nothing quite like enjoying great conversation and the unmistakable, mouthwatering smell of food cooking on the grill either in the backyard, up at the cottage, or out at the park.  While it's great to relax in such an enjoyable setting, it's important to take safety precautions into consideration too. To ensure your gathering is as worry-free as possible, keep these top tips in mind: Food for thought: Undercooking meat is a common barbecue blunder, since food can char quickly on the outside, appearing "done" while remaining raw inside. Make sure the centre of food is cooked right through - use a meat thermometer to be sure. Always wash your hands after handling raw meat, and use separate barbecue tools for cooked and raw meat, too. Be allergy aware: Enjoying the outdoors means sharing it with different types of allergens like pollen and insects. Bug bites and contact with certain types of plants, for example, can cause unexpected itching and hives. Keep some allergy medication close at hand for your guests - just in case. "Benadryl is the go-to choice for unexpected allergic reactions, and can start to work in as little as 15 minutes," says allergist Dr. Mark Greenwald. "The brand now offers new topical products with an antihistamine and a skin protectant. Benadryl Itch Spray and Itch Stick provide fast relief from the itch and pain of bug bites, stings and poison ivy." You never know what may hit you, so be prepared! Common sense 'cuing: Cooking around open flames always requires precautions. Make sure your barbecue is set up away from overhanging plants or nearby structures such as fences, and avoid wearing loose clothing that can dangle over the grill while you're cooking. Most importantly, never leave the barbecue unattended, and don't try to move it while it's still hot. Corral the kiddos: It's easy to get distracted when you're at an outdoor event, but be sure to always keep an eye on your kids. Don't just assume someone else is watching them or that they're fine playing by themselves. With backyard pools, hot barbecues and other tempting sights for little eyes and hands, you can never be too careful. These few simple steps will help ensure your outdoor barbecues are a summer success! Be prepared for fun - and safety - when camping or cottaging with the kids (NC)- Enjoying a summer long weekend or extended trek to cottage country with your kids can be a fun and memorable experience for the entire family. Make sure your first trip is even more enjoyable with these top tips:  Pack and plan together: Let the kids help pack the gear, shop for meals, and decide on what activities they'd like to try. Be prepared! Bring extra clothing, shoes, and a "preparedness pack" with sunscreen, insect repellent and first aid supplies such as bandages, ointments and allergy medication. Insect bites and poison ivy are all too common no matter whether you're hiking the woods, relaxing on the dock or playing games in the yard. Packing an antihistamine made especially for kids will help soothe minor to moderate allergic reactions quickly. Benadryl offers a number of kid-friendly choices, including Benadryl Meltaways that dissolve in the mouth and an itch stick and spray that can be used to relieve pain and itching. If you're camping, try backyard camping first: Sleeping outside away from home can be scary for little kids, so try camping out in your backyard overnight before planning an extended stay in the great outdoors. Anticipate a rainy day: Pack favourite board games and seek out nearby indoor attractions in case of inclement weather. Create lasting memories: Don't forget to pack the camera, and encourage your kids to keep a journal or start a scrapbook about the experience! |
Want a great garden next
year? Start now (NC)- "The fall is the perfect time to get a jump on a beautiful garden," says Syd Pell, gardens specialist at Miracle-Gro. "Most people think that there is nothing to be done once the weather turns chilly, but in fact this is the best time to get a head start on a great garden for next spring." Here are some tips:  Begin by cleaning up your garden: remove debris and weeds from the ground. Prune and shape trees and shrubs, and cut off dead wood and foliage. Now is the best time to plant new perennials, shrubs and trees, as fall planting gives them time to anchor and to establish new roots. Using a high phosphate fertilizer such as Miracle-Gro Quick Start will promote root growth. Anticipate spring with new bulb plantings. Plant bulbs in groups of three or five, about two-and-a-half times deeper than the size of the bulb, pointy end up. Be sure to include two to three inches of mulch with new plants. Rake leaves onto flowerbeds and around shrubs and bushes to create a warm blanket that protects plants against severe cold, or add a layer of quality mulch. Scotts NatureScapes is a natural wood chip mulch that slowly decomposes into beneficial organic matter, and it is guaranteed to keep its colour all season long. Eliminate potential winter homes for garden pests by ensuring sheds, porches and sheltered alcoves are tightly closed and cleared of items that encourage nesting. An ounce of prevention Take the time now to ensure gardening tools are in perfect condition. If you use a spreader for either fertilizer or seeds, remember to empty the bin. Repack leftover material and seal the package tightly. Wash the spreader thoroughly to remove all clinging material; hot water may be required to remove stubborn residue. Allow the spreader to dry thoroughly. Next, lubricate the axle bushings with light oil. Finally, store your spreader in a clean, dry location. Clean all your gardening tools. Sharpen all cutting edges, including your lawn mower blade. Lubricate all pivot points and spray bare metal and cutting edges with penetrating oil to prevent rust. Wipe wooden handles down with linseed oil. Remove your new Scotts Miracle-Gro LiquaFeed or Garden Feeder from your garden hose. Drain the water from all hoses and then coil and hang them so they won't sag or kink. Water heaters eligible for federal incentives (NC)-If you own your water heater or rent it from a utility, now may be an excellent time to consider replacing an older unit with a new, energy-efficient model. Not only will you save money on utility bills, you may also qualify for assistance from the Government of Canada.  Purchasing or renting a qualifying energy-efficient water heater can make you eligible for a grant under the ecoENERGY - Retrofit Homes program, which offsets the cost of measures that reduce a home's energy consumption and provide for a cleaner environment (visit ecoaction.gc.ca/homes for more information). Alternatively, you may be able to include a new water heater in a renovation project that qualifies for the new Home Renovation Tax Credit (visit www.cra-arc.gc.ca for more information). Selecting an energy-efficient model is easy, now that water heaters are included in the ENERGY STAR initiative in Canada. To qualify for the ENERGY STAR symbol, water heaters and other types of equipment must be among the top energy performers on the market. Lists of ENERGY STAR qualified water heaters are available at www.energystar.nrcan.gc.ca. Tips for reducing water heating costs (NC)-One sure way to save energy while meeting your household's demand for hot water is to purchase (or rent) an ENERGY STAR qualified water heater. A list of qualified models is available at energystar.nrcan.gc.ca. Here are some other helpful tips: Avoid rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Instead, scrape the food off and let the dishwasher finish the job. Wait until you have a full load to turn the machine on. Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. Only wash full loads, using the shortest cycle possible. Consider a front-loading washing machine. They can save your household thousands of litres of water a year. Install water-saving shower heads and aerators. Insulate hot water pipes. Insulate an electric water heater tank. |
