Sunday, February 8, 2009

9 Basic Steps to Construct Your Own Wall Pocket As Wall Decor

Are you a fan of Do-It-Yourself projects? They can save you money. They are fun to do. They can give you that same feeling of accomplishment that you had when you tied your first shoelaces. In the wide world of home decor, you can create several pieces on your own including wall decor. Here are some basic steps to follow, in order to create your own wall pocket:

Step 1: Secure your materials

For this project, you will need:

- bud vase
- drill bit (metal-cutting)
- electric drill
- floral wire
- safety gloves
- tin snips
- vintage ceiling tile (2)
- wire cutters

Step 2: Cut one ceiling tile

You can use the entire ceiling tile if you want. Another option is to cut it down to a smaller size. It is your call!

Step 3: Drill a hole in the tile

This should be from the top of the tile, and the hole should go completely through it. Make sure to wear safety gloves!

Step 4: Curve the second vintage ceiling tile into a tube

This curved ceiling tile will serve as the front of the wall pocket. Make sure to wear the safety gloves. Remember that one alternative to creating your own wall pocket is to purchase quality metal wall vases.

Step 5: Drill holes into the curved ceiling tile

The holes should go into both the sides and bottom of the tile. Make the holes near the perimeter, and roughly inches in from the tree side.

Step 6: Place the curved ceiling tile atop the other flat tile
Make sure that the bottom and the sides of the two tiles are lined up perfectly.

Step 7: Align the two vintage tiles

Next, cut a lengthy piece of the floral wire. At the end, tie a knot. Beginning from the bottom left of the back, feed the wire through the pair of holes. Draw the wire through the front and then push it back through the nest hole. This process should mirror the steps you use when tying up shoelaces on a pair of shoes.

Step 8: Using the end of the floral wire, tie a knot

You should take this step after you have threaded the final hole.

Step 9: Hang your vintage wall pocket onto the wall

Now you are ready to place the bud vase into the wall pocket that you created. Finally, place a flower into the wall vase. The function of the bud vase is to prevent rust from forming on the metal. If building your own wall pocket is too difficult, then consider buying metal wall vases instead.

Step 10: Seal the metal of the pocket (optional)

Use an oil-based burnish that is clear. Where the two tiles meet, use a clear epoxy glue to seal the juncture. This will provide temporary waterproofing for your wall pocket.

If you are a fan of DIY projects, then consider building your own wall pocket. This provides many benefits. Otherwise, consider buying quality wrought iron wall vases!



Autor: Jessica Ackerman

Jessica Ackerman writes for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, a site featuring metal wall vases and modern wall art.


Added: February 8, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Screw and Bolt Tips For the DIYer

Screws are a great invention; they secure things ten times better than nails and don't need any impact to insert. However there are quite a few tips you may need to know on how to deal with screws. Now not being a DIY expert myself I have looked up ways of solving some of the problems you have when using screws.

* Quite often we want to get a screw out and it has rusted up. If you soak it overnight with some lemon juice by wrapping a lemon juice soak tissue, this will make it much easier to remove.
* If a screw is stuck no problem here's a great trick to sort it out. Assuming the screw head is above the surface use a small hacksaw blade to cut a new groove
* You know those little bags of silica gel crystals you find in many electrical products packaging? Save them and put it in you screw boxes. Apparently it will keep them shiny.
* Another tip for rusty screws came up trying to remove it. Try using a soldering iron to heat the head of the screw. The heat will expand the metal and loosen the rust.
* Coca-Cola has a phosphoric acid content, which eats rust. So when you have a rusted screw dip it in some coke overnight and the rust will be gone.
* Yet another interesting, but successful tip for rusty bolts is the use of good old Tabasco sauce. Just squirt a small dose on the screw and make yourself a cup of tea. After which there shouldn't be any problem unscrewing it.

Finally, a very useful tip for the storing screws using a jam jar with a metal screw top. Simply drill a hole in the top of the lid and screw it to the underside of a shelf of table. You now have a place to put the jar and its contents, what a space saver this is.



Autor: Martin Miller-Yianni Martin Miller-Yianni
Level: Basic PLUS
Born in Erith, England in 1958 and coming from a working class background the author has spent much of his working life as a Primary ... ...

Martin Miller-Yianni
http://bulgarianslivatree.com
http://www.tipsnwrinkles.com


Added: February 7, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Are You Considering DIY Solar Power Or Using Solar Energy For Homes?

We are all trying to find ways to save money in today's economy. Our gas and electric bills seem to keep climbing and climbing with no way to stop it. One of the best ways to save money on your bill is to install solar panels in your home.

By installing solar panels in your home, you will be able to drastically reduce your billing costs. If you are to decide to do this yourself instead of hiring a company to come out and do it for you, there are a few things that you need to consider before taking on such a project.

For one, will your roof support the weight of the project that you are about to embark upon. You will also want to make sure that the side of the roof you are considering for the installation is in the direct sunlight for at least and no less than 6 hours. If it is not, the solar panels will not do you any good and you have wasted your time and money as well.

After doing an adequate amount of research on companies that provide solar panels, you will want to ask a lot of questions of them as well. Do they offer installation support, phone and technical support and do they have a warranty on their product are some of the most important questions that you should be asking.

The cost of installing solar panels into your home is not cheap. But, if you think outside the box at the savings you are going to be getting in the long run, you will realize that all of the hard work and the cost are going to be worth it in the long run. Some people even create enough electricity that they contribute to the power grid and get paid for it. There are definite cost savings right from the start when you use solar energy for your home.

Remember, it is important to do a lot of research on do it yourself installation of solar panels. This is not an easy task that you will be taking upon yourself by any means. This could be one of the smartest money saving moves that you can make for your home and your pocket.

But, make sure that it is the right decision for you before you begin. Nowadays there are so many great online resources available to show the homeowner what is involved and how to purchase and install all the equipment necessary for a green house using alternative energy sources.



Autor: Sturat Mitchel Sturat Mitchel
Level: Platinum
Name: Sturat Mitchel Work Email: sturatm@gmail.com MSN: sturatm@live.com...

If you are thinking of putting solar power panels on your house you first need to do the research and get the right resources to make sure it works the way you plan. Check out http://www.squidoo.com/get-solar-energy-for-homes for free helpful information and tips on Solar energy for Homes and other alternative energy sources.


Added: February 5, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/