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Ashley Poskin's Recent Articles
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8 Big-Impact Projects You Can Do with Just Paint and Tape
These projects look complicated, but the materials list couldn't be any simpler.
Ashley Poskin
Jul 6, 2020
How to Replace a Light Fixture
With a few safety precautions and a little DIY know how, you can swap out your own light fixtures.
Ashley Poskin
Jun 30, 2020
The 5 Best Tools My Contractor Dad Ever Gave Me—and Why You Need Them, Too
The cheapest starts at just $13, and it's well worth it.
Ashley Poskin
Jun 21, 2020
Before and After: A Bold Renter-Friendly Paint Job That Will Wow You
The after will make your jaw drop.
Ashley Poskin
Jun 16, 2020
The Luxury Home Upgrade You Can Fake with Command Strips
The results look seriously high-end.
Ashley Poskin
May 22, 2020
How to Totally Transform Your Current Furniture—Without Paint
Get ready to embrace one of the best trends of the '90s.
Ashley Poskin
May 15, 2020
Before and After: This “Awkward Corner” Laundry Closet Gets a $150 Organizational Overhaul
Five hours of work and $150 later, this fresh new laundry space was clean and organized, and most importantly, fit her needs.
Ashley Poskin
Apr 14, 2020
The Foolproof Way To Paint A Room In Just A Few Easy Steps
Here's the trick to pro-level results.
Ashley Poskin
Apr 3, 2020
10 of Our Favorite Home Office Redos to Inspire Your Work-from-Home Setup
Spoiler: You can make a home office almost anywhere.
Ashley Poskin
Mar 20, 2020
How (and How Often) You Should Wash Your Pillows
It's a bit of a bigger job and one that tends to get put off.
Ashley Poskin
Mar 17, 2020
I Cleaned My Oven Door with a Dishwasher Tablet—And I Recommend It 100 Percent
I’ve never met a cleaning hack I wasn’t willing to try. And this one paid off.
Ashley Poskin
Mar 15, 2020
How To Make a Stencil For a Paint Pattern
Stencils are a fun and economic way to create a pattern or duplicate an image over and over again. They can be used on a vast array of items from rugs, and garden containers, to walls and ceilings. You can purchase them pre-made, but if you’re looking for something one-of-a-kind your best bet is to make it yourself. There are quite a few options when it comes to picking out the material for your plate.
Ashley Poskin
Mar 11, 2020
One Laundry Essential I Happily Splurge On, and One Place Where I Save
Maybe this says more about me than I should admit, but at the age of 35, laundry has become a very big deal.
Ashley Poskin
Mar 2, 2020
I Tried That Viral Essential Oil Laundry Hack and Here’s What I Thought
This could be a good option for those who choose to use free and clear detergent—but would like their laundry to be mildly scented and aren’t bothered by essential oils.
Ashley Poskin
Mar 2, 2020
Dryer Sheets Come Out On Top for Softer Towels—But I’ll Never Use Them Again
I recently tested name brand dryer sheets against two other fabric softening alternatives, and while the difference in softness was significant, it wasn’t enough to convert me to start buying dryer sheets. I know too much.
Ashley Poskin
Mar 2, 2020
Stay Healthy During Cold & Flu Season: Clean Your Keyboards
We all know by now the potential our keyboards have to become cesspools, so we’ll skip the gross-out statistics and just say you should be cleaning your keyboard often. Once each month is a good solid goal to start with, increasing the number of cleanings during cold and flu season or if you work in an office/share keys with other members of your household.
Ashley Poskin
Feb 3, 2020
How To Clean Hardwood Floors with Black Tea
It’s warm and soothing for your body, but did you know you can also use black tea to clean your hardwood floors? Tannins in the tea add a light, warm “stain” and help to bring out the wood’s natural warm tones. In addition to it’s beautifying qualities, black tea derived from the Camellia sinensis plant contain polyphenolic compounds that prevent microbial growth.
Ashley Poskin
Feb 3, 2020
How To Clean and Remove Odors from a Garbage Disposal or Blender
A dirty garbage disposal is often the culprit for bad smells in the kitchen. Food bits can cling to the disposal and pipes and create extremely unpleasant odors. The best way to de-stink your kitchen is with a healthy dose of all-natural ingredients that will loosen tough food particles and get the pipes moving! Any time I’m cooking or baking with lemons, I try to squeeze out any excess or leftover juice down my drains for that added smell of freshness in the kitchen.
Ashley Poskin
Feb 2, 2020
How To Clean & Maintain a Gas Stove
The cleaning up part certainly isn’t as fun (or as tasty) as the cooking part, but it’s a job that must be done. Check out these handy tips for a stovetop your mother would be proud of! Cleaning as you go truly is the best way to save yourself from having to cleanup a disaster of a mess like the one above. But sometimes life gets busy and there just isn’t time between the cooking and the eating and the evening’s engagements to wipe down that stove.
Ashley Poskin
Jan 30, 2020
I Bought a $170 Vacuum From a Thrift Store for $20—And You (Probably) Can Too
These eight quick tests will tell you if a used vacuum works well, and if it had a rough past life.
Ashley Poskin
Jan 12, 2020
Before and After: A Bold $70 IKEA Hack Is Just What This Entryway Needed
You'll want to steal this clever idea for your home ASAP.
Ashley Poskin
Jan 3, 2020
How to Blow Out an Egg for Decorating and Craft Projects
Whether Easter’s on its way or you’re just looking to decorate with eggs to add a touch of organic beauty around your home, blown eggs are a great way to utilize both the package, and the contents of the package with little to no waste at all. Raw eggs Thumbtack Toothpick or bamboo skewer Small bowl Straw (narrower the better) or syringe 1. Balance the egg vertically on the table and start by pressing a thumb tack into the very top point and bottom point of your egg.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
How to Make An (Easy!) Wooden Shoe Rack
A shoe rack is a great way to keep high traffic areas from getting cluttered with piles of shoes. To make one for the fancy footwear in your household, all you need is a free afternoon, power tools, and a can-DIY attitude! Personalize your rack by scaling up the length of the dowels for big shoes and boots, or scale down for those little pitter patters.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
Fast & Fashionable: A Sweet Wooden Wall Hanging to DIY
Who says Valentines Day has to be all about flowers and perfume, and delicate things? Sure, those are nice, but if your snookums fancies craft projects and lovely artwork instead — well, this project is for them! 3′ wood dowel rods (I used 2 3/4″ diameter rods) String or twine Wood, styrofoam, or clay beads in all sizes Craft paint Power drill Saw Drill bits Scissors Sandpaper Small level (optional) Wood clamp (optional) Packing tape (optional) Craft needle (optional) 1.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
Get Colorful: How To Dye a Sheepskin
Sheepskin and flokati rugs are everywhere these days — they add texture to a room, and instantly add comfort to a hard plastic or wood chair. But if you’re looking to make your sheepskin stand out from the run of the mill, or just need a little change, fabric dye is the ticket. Fabric dye 1 cup salt Rubber gloves or stir stick Soaking bucket or bathtub Water 1.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
How To Make A Filipino Christmas Star
Stars are a major theme at Christmastime. Crafted after the Star of Bethlehem, the star-shaped, ornamental parol is said to encourage hope and goodwill during the season. Hope and goodwill? We can totally get behind that theme, so we decided to make ours in the most colorful papers and maybe even keep it up in the house throughout the new year.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
Winter Wonderland: How To Make A Paper Snowflake
Ready to up your paper snowflake game? We’re going to let you in on a little secret: it’s all in the fold. No more of that “fold any old piece of paper in half one time and cut” business. If you want a really intricate, graphic design just follow our easy step-by-step guide to get on the path to paper snowflake glory. Lightweight craft paper Sharp scissors Bone folder (optional) 1. To make your snowflake you’ll need to start with a perfectly square piece of paper.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
How To Carve a Pumpkin
After examining endless short, tall, lumpy, skinny, and funny-looking specimens, you finally picked out that perfect pumpkin and are now ready to take it home and carve it. But before you get started, take a look at our materials list and stop by the hardware store to pick up a few important tools that will help to get the job done safely and accurately. Compass saw Fleshing tool (an ice cream scoop or ladle will work too!
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
How to Remove Stickers & Labels From Glass
Depending on your personality, peeling a label off could be the best or worst possible way to spend a half hour. If it’s your worst nightmare, we’ve got a great tip for you that will have your vessel sticker-free in just a few short minutes! Turn your hairdryer to high heat and hold it over the sticker for about 45 seconds. After 45 seconds of direct heat, test a corner of the sticker and see if it peels away easily.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
How To Wrap an Extension Cord Like a Boss
There are things contractors do that we all should take note of, and electrical cord storage is one of those things. It’s important to properly store your cord to elongate its lifespan- plus, it will save you the headache of having to unwind 100 feet of tangles and knots. The Over Under method is quite possibly the most popular way to store cords.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
House Tour Gotta Have It: How To Make Leila’s Pennant Pillow
One of the best things about House Tours is ogling all the interesting decor the homeowners have collected together in their spaces. We often fall in love with a piece of art, or a pillow- and just gotta have it! Sometimes the pieces are new and easy to source, sometimes they are vintage or one-of-a-kind, and sometimes they are the best kind: homemade and easy to DIY. This adorable pennant pillow from Leila’s Vintage Cocoon made our “Gotta Have It” list.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
How To Hide Home Wires
No matter how clean your space actually is, a tangled bundle of wires can instantly make the room appear messy and unorganized. Make your space clutter free and ready for its close-up with one of these helpful hints. Before you start: Turn off and unplug all your appliances and do a quick sweep to remove any dust bunnies that may have taken up residence in your wire pile.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
How To Make an Origami Paper Boat
The art of paper folding has been around since the 1700s, is a simple process involving a piece of paper and patience (no batteries required!) and is an enjoyable way to pass the time when you just need to step away from technology for a while. While learning this process won’t actually grant you the title of Boatbuilder, it’s a great party trick to have in your back pocket-especially at pool parties! 1. Start by laying an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper horizontally on a flat surface. 2.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
How To Make Any Ceiling Fan More Attractive
Poor ceiling fans- they’re the household appliance everyone loves to hate. Their design, no matter how trendy or modern, just doesn’t cut the mustard in most homes. If we have one, it’s because we need it- and on hot summer days, staring at that ugly household appliance is a heck of a lot better than swimming in a pool of sweat. Here are a few creative options for making the most out of our current ceiling fan situations.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
How To Grow Cucumbers
Cucumbers are one of the most refreshing things to eat straight out of the garden. Technically a fruit, this hydrating treat is made up of 95% water and can help keep you going on a hot day. Cucumber seedlings can be planted outside two weeks after the last spring frost. They love the hot sun, so be sure to make room for them in a bright area with fertile, well-drained soil. Plant a second crop one month after the first. Cucumber seedlings Organic compost Organic fertilizer Garden tools 1.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
How To Give Furniture a Distressed Painted Finish
Distressing is an easy way to add character and depth to furniture both new and old. The process is simple but can take a fair amount time, depending on the complexity of your piece of furniture and the amount of distressing you actually want to achieve. If you’re working with a newer piece, a few coats of a dark stain before you paint will provide a deeper richness once you’re ready to distress.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
How To Crochet a Foundation Chain
The ability to crochet is a skill set that comes in handy more than often than you might imagine. It’s an inexpensive hobby that helps pass the time, is great for handmade gifts, and the repetition can be quite relaxing. The foundation chain is one of the most important techniques to learn, as it serves as the base on which your projects are built. The chain will hold your stitches and all succeeding rows. Yarn Crochet hook 1.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
Smart & Simple: The Best Way to Sew on a Button
Save some dough by taking care of loose or missing buttons yourself; there’s no need to pay the dry cleaner to put them back on for you. All you need is a sewing kit and five minutes of concentration to do it RIGHT, so they’ll stay put and work well. And if you think you already know how to do this, you might want to read up on it anyway, unless you already know about the toothpick trick, and the proper direction to stitch your buttons… ThreadButtonNeedleScissors 1.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
How To Thread a Sewing Machine & Wind a Bobbin
Knowing how to correctly thread your sewing machine opens up a world of creative possibilities. The process might seem intimidating, but once you get the general idea you can apply what you know (give or take a loop or twist or two) on any machine you come into contact with in the future. It’s a two-part process in which you’ll learn how to wind the bobbin and then thread the machine. So dust it off, plug it in, and start practicing! Most sewing machines basically look the same.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
The Perfect Pair: How To Make Lamps from Decorative Vases
A pair of matching lamps can be a large investment, and it’s not always easy to find exactly what you’re looking for. A cheaper alternative is to roll up your sleeves, pull out the power drill, and make your own perfect pair by using twin vases and lamp kits. You may be surprised at how straightforward the process is – and, of course, this tutorial works for anyone who has a solo vase they’d love to upgrade, too!
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
How To Make a Tutu in an Hour or Less (No Sewing Required!)
Tutu skirts are a great stand-in when you don’t have a costume planned for a party or you need something fun to wear to a race. This fabulous, totally customizable tutu-orial is easy, inexpensive, and takes hardly any time at all, so grab your measurements, your toddler’s measurements, or your dog’s and have a blast with this goofy costume idea! You can purchase tulle off a bolt or from a spool, depending on how wide you want your strips to be.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
How To Make a No-Sew Tote Out of a Pillowcase
Widowed pillowcases are just as common around our house as single socks. I have no idea what happens to them, but apparently the same monster that eats socks also has an appetite for pillowcases.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
How To Make Slime
You never know when you’re going to need a slime recipe- and this one’s a good one- so pin it, bookmark it, copy it, do whatever you have to do to get it in your craft armory. The oozy green gunk will bounce, blow bubbles, drip, and splat with the perfect combination of gross and awesome. The most important part: it uses three simple ingredients and will be ready for play in mere minutes.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
How To Make Super Quick & Easy Drawstring Seat Covers to Update Outdoor Furniture
Are those chevron print seat cushions just not doing it for you anymore? Before purchasing a new set and forking over a large wad of cash (seriously, even cushions at the big box stores are pricey!), check out this handy DIY for drawstring seat covers. They’re easy to remove and wash, and can be changed out as many times as you like throughout the seasons. Now, there is a bit of sewing involved but it’s nothing fancy so don’t be intimidated.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
How to Stain Wood & Give New Life to Old Furniture
Beautiful wood tones in no time.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
How to Make Paper Flowers With Coffee Filters
Coffee filter flowers are positively the simplest paper flower to make—and quite possibly the prettiest. Their thin, delicate texture allows light to pass through the “petals” similar to those of real flowers, making them all the more ethereal, and causing you to do a double take. We had a bunch of unbleached coffee filters hanging out in our pantry that I decided to use (although I have no idea how they got there!
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
How To Make Paper Flowers: Spray Roses
Paper flowers are a creative and economic way to add color and cheer to your space. These particular flowers are a favorite because they don’t come across as overly “crafty” and you can make large quantities in hardly any time at all. As an added bonus, construction is simple and requires nothing more than scissors and quick-drying glue. Cardstock or construction paper Floral stem wire (or something similar) Glue gun + glue Scissors 1.
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019
How To Make a Terrarium
Making your own terrarium is fun and surprisingly easy – and equally easy to maintain. Whatever the climate may be in your large, expansive home or your teeny tiny apartment, a terrarium—given a healthy dose of indirect light and an occasional spritz of water—will be happy as a clam. You can usually find gorgeous, hand blown glass terrariums at any design store, but be prepared to pay a pretty penny for them!
Ashley Poskin
Dec 19, 2019