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To carve the pumpkins: We carved five flame-design pumpkins for this project. Build the Campfire with Pumpkin Flames When your carved pumpkin flames are ready, build a log base for your faux campfire. We made ours from cut log pieces used for firewood. Layer the log pieces directly on the ground in a circular shape. To make the pumpkin tower, stack the largest carved pumpkins on the bottom, and then work your way up with progressively smaller pumpkins....

For example, many contractors finish the walls of attached garages only enough to achieve the fire rating mandated by building codes. While the surface is serviceable, it’s often far from smooth. At the other end of the spectrum is a dining room wall that will have glossy paint and will be illuminated by ceiling canisters close to the wall that rake light across it at a shallow angle. Under those conditions, even a tiny imperfection will draw attention....

How to Dye Easter Eggs with Food Coloring Supplies Needed WaterVinegarSmall bowlsMetal spoonHard-boiled eggsRubber gloves Step-by-Step Directions Follow these simple how-to instructions to make homemade Easter egg dye. You should be able to color a dozen eggs in under 15 minutes. Step 1: Hard-Boil Eggs Before you can dye Easter eggs, you’ll have to cook them. Learn how to hard-boil eggs in a pan on a stove, or you can steam your eggs instead (it’s faster!...

Where to Plant Asparagus Fern Asparagus fern is grown as an annual or houseplant in most areas of the U.S., but it is a perennial in USDA Zones 9-11. Asparagus Fern Care Tips Asparagus ferns are easy-to-care-for plants that grow as houseplants and in shady gardens. Light When asparagus ferns are planted outside, they prefer a location with dappled shade. For best results as potted houseplants, asparagus ferns should be placed in indirect or filtered light....

String of dolphins are native to the southwest portion of South Africa where they grow in a dry, Mediterranean climate with hot summers and cool winters. As such, they make excellent landscaping plants for milder climates like along the California coastline, but also do very well as indoor plants in hanging baskets. Perhaps best of all, these easy-to-grow succulents are also exceptionally easy to propagate, so you can produce many plantlets and share them with friends and family....

But like our morning specialty java brews, it can get expensive. So how do you watch your wallet while still appeasing your cravings? One way to start is to make your own at home, starting with one of the essential elements. Here is how to make your own tapioca pearls. Step 1: Pick Your Tapioca Pearls Making your own tapioca pearls from scratch has a lot of benefits. When you create them yourself, you get to dictate the size, eliminate additives and preservatives, you have more control over the texture, and can add flavor....

Ahead, we’ll share our complete guide on how to make bread crumbs, including the best carbs for the task, how to recreate those store-bought Italian bread crumbs, plus how to save them for future use—in a way in which your homemade bread crumbs won’t spoil. How to Make Bread Crumbs Let your leftovers be your guide! Pretty much any kind of bread can be transformed into homemade bread crumbs: from squishy white to chewy sourdough and whole wheat to gluten-free....

This quick-growing annual (often planted as a perennial) makes an excellent filler for garden beds and containers. The soft color palette of impatiens allows them to blend well with pretty much anything. More recently, many impatiens have become susceptible to downy mildew, a devastating fungal disease, so look for resistant varieties. Where to Plant Impatiens Impatiens should be planted in humus-rich, moist, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic pH of 6-6....

Plus, we’ll show you how to put lights on your tree for any Christmas decor style. The glow of lights will enhance your tree’s natural beauty. From subdued and simple to merry and bright, these Christmas tree lighting tips will make sure your tree glows. Trust us: It’s easier than you think to light up a Christmas tree correctly! How to String Lights on a Christmas Tree When hanging Christmas tree lights on a tree, you should plan on using 100 lights for every foot of your tree’s height....

The first step is identifying what type of radiator you have. Many older homes are heated with steam or hot water radiators, while newer homes may have convector radiators. Below, we help you figure out which variety heats your home, then walk you through basic radiator repairs: installing a new valve, clearing the bleeder valve, and maximizing airflow, for example. Expect to spend anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours on these projects, and make sure you’re familiar with your system before you begin....

How to Tell When Sugar Cookies Are Done Recipes for sugar cookie cutouts often call for baking until the edges are firm or set. If that’s the case with your recipe, your sugar cookies should be set (not brown) and no longer appear soft and melty. The Light Brown Bottom Test Some sugar cookies and pale cookie recipes (such as Christmas sandies and thumbprint cookies) call for light brown bottoms as a doneness test....

How To Tie A Bow For A Wreath Follow these simple how-to instructions to tie a classic bow and add it to a wreath. You should be able to complete the steps in about 5 minutes. Supplies Needed: Step 1: Select Your Ribbon To make a big statement, opt for a thick ribbon that’s at least 2 inches wide. Ribbon with a wire edge gives the final look more shape and durability....

Before Getting Started Before washing a sleeping bag, check the label for care instructions. Sleeping bags with down filling can be washed in the same manner as synthetic-filled sleeping bags, but down filling requires a specialty detergent like Nikwax Down Wash. Down cleaners are formulated to protect the naturally occurring oils that give feathers their water-repellent qualities. Most sleeping bags can be machine-washed at home. However, sleeping bags should not be washed in a top-loading machine with a center agitator, as the fins on the agitator can shred a sleeping bag’s outer lining....

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Lovely as they are, apple trees are not a plant-it-and-forget-it addition to your garden. That’s because many insect pests love them, and these plants are prone to getting several diseases. Years of beauty and juicy fruit can still be yours, but keeping your apple tree healthy and full of fruit takes regular maintenance. Here’s what to watch out for and how to deal with it. Your apple tree has three kinds of enemies: Fungal diseases, bugs, and bacteria....

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Dishwasher detergents are typically offered as pods, tablets, powders, or liquids. Leslie Tam, co-founder of UrbanMop Inc., says to follow the dishwasher manufacturer’s recommendation for the best type of detergent to use. To find the best dishwasher detergent we researched a variety of styles, keeping in mind scent, form, and quantity. We also consulted Tam for additional insight. Overall, the best dishwasher detergent is Cascade Platinum Dishwasher Pods for their stain-fighting power that comes in convenient pod form....

“I would say the most important thing to consider is how you’ll use your couch and how durable it is,” says interior designer Emily Del Bello of Emily Del Bello Interiors. “You should always start by considering where the sofa is going and what type of durability level will be needed in this specific area. Measuring the area in which the sofa is meant to go is an absolute must!...

The number of fertilizers for indoor plants can seem overwhelming, but shopping is easier if you know a few basic facts. First, fertilizers provide different amounts of essential macronutrients to your plants: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (these are listed as N-P-K ratios on the packaging). Some fertilizers also provide plants with varying amounts of micronutrients and microbes to help the plant take up more of the valuable nutrients in the plant food....