May 28
There are loads of decorative DIY crafting ideas out there but sometimes they catch our eye and we think are worth sharing.
This one is not a difficult one to achieve but the result is a beautiful paper light shade which would make a great piece whether it is used as a light or not. You can see more pics on designsponge.com and there are full instructions. These were made by Heather Jennings of Poppy Haus.
The idea is simple – take a regular paper lantern type shade, then glue gun white paper cupcake cases all over the surface. Follow this by glueing smaller decorative petit fours papers inside each one – the ones shown in the pictures are ideal as they give a lovely anemone look to the shade.
If you need some advice on using a glue gun, take a look at our project which explains what they are and how to use them safely. A glue gun is a great help when doing craft projects but must be used with care as they do get very hot!
May 24
Our new project on LED lighting explains what LED’s are, how they work, the different types available and how they can save energy – and save you money!
It explains the colour difference you can choose from with your bulbs, whether you want warm white or cool white in a room, and the options available for indoor and outdoor use. You can also choose whether you want dimmable LED’s or not.
LED’s last much longer than halogens and are 100% recyclable so far better for the environment. The project page gives examples of LED replacements for the type of incadescent bulbs many of us still have in our homes, so you know what you are looking for if you just want to swap the type you are using. It also gives advice on fitting ceiling lights and strip lights, so you can make you house more nergy efficient with all your lighting!
The project is presented by LED Hut who can supply all your LED solutions and are happy to give advice on what is best for you and your home.
Dec 30
Winter maintenance for your home is vital. We have a project identifying several jobs to be done at this time of year. These include:
- clearing you gutters - we know, no-one likes doing this, but it is worth it if it avoids blockages which could cause water to freeze and cause damage to pipes and buildings
adding drain tidys to keep leaves etc from blocking your drains- cleaning paths and patios to avoid them getting slippery and dangerous
- ensuring you have adequate outside lighting, ideally fitting PIR’s which will turn themselves on when they detect movement
- check your roof for missing tiles or damage
- go round the house filling any gaps you find round doors and windows as well as between floorboards
If you need to get a professional tradesperson in to do any home improvement jobs, you can get free quotes via our Find a Tradesman service, which finds appropriate, insured tradespeople in your local area .
Dec 14
Saw this great idea for using up old CD’s or those free ones you get sent sometimes and don’t know what to do with.
This example has full instructions here, but the guy making it did have to drill the holes in the CD’s to make them large enough for the bulb. You may well be able to find a bulb slim enough not to bother. There is another design for a second CD lamp here.
Dec 08
Following on from yesterday’s blog post on outdoor christmas lighting, we couldn’t resist this photo of a house (yes, there is a house in there somewhere!) which has been ‘decorated’ with lights. Dread to think what their electricity bill is…….
Please send us any photos of your outdoor christmas decorations, or maybe your neighbour’s. You can either post them on the blog or email them to office@diydoctor.org.uk and we will put them on for you.
